Marketing Student's Band More Than 'Halfway' to Success
Laura E. Rocchio
Issue date: 9/6/05 Section: University Life
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The band is made up of Mike Coomes on vocals, Adrian Albidress and Paul Fil on guitar, Marty Kramer on bass and the University of Baltimore's Matt Venditto on drums.
Halfway Broken's professionally produced second album, The Artist, follows their 2001 self-produced debut album, Life as it Seems, which sold over 1,000 copies. With songs in regular rotation at 106.9 The X in Delaware and 96 Rock in Salisbury, a busy concert schedule and a spot on the DC 101 Last Band Standing finalist list, Halfway Broken has earned a dedicated local following.
"We love them," Albidress simply stated when asked about Halfway Broken's fans.
In the Baltimore vicinity, Halfway Broken plays the Recher Theater, The Funk Box and Fletchers. Out-of-state gigs include shows in New York City, Washington and Fairfax, Va. The band has played for crowds of up to 600.
College shows include not only their Sept. 1 appearance at the UB Welcome Back Party, but also the upcoming Local Lix Live show in College Park, which is a monthly showcase of the best local bands sponsored by DC 101.
The band typically averages between three and five shows per month-showering eager fans with their brand of frenetic modern rock.
Albidress described the highly melodic sound of Halfway Broken as "meaty and girthy."
The band's long list of musical influences includes A Perfect Circle, Incubus, Pearl Jam and Tool. Over the last five years, Halfway Broken has shifted away from its early poppy sound to their heavier sound of today. This transition suits Coomes' voice, which is reminiscent of a Chris Cornell/Layne Staley hybrid.
"Sort through a million faces and find one that understands," commands the single "Alone" from The Artist.
Both the lyric and music writing for Halfway Broken are equally shared among the five band members, an alchemy with positively addictive results.
While Halfway Broken has been around for half a decade, the present five-man lineup has only been in place for the last two years.
The fivesome met, "through friends and random cosmic intervention," according to Albidress, and are currently working on their third album.
The band's goal is to one day get signed by a record label and, as their website states, "to help put the Baltimore music scene on the map."
Halfway Broken's ability to market itself may just make their goal tangible.
When asked if his UB marketing specialization brought anything to Halfway Broken, Venditto, a business administration student who will complete his bachelor's degree this spring, replied, "Most definitely...marketing is essential for getting [any band's] name out there."
Venditto began playing the drums in middle school and he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston-until Halfway Broken lured him back to Baltimore.
Berklee's program originally appealed to the young musician because he always had been passionate about music and he was contemplating a career in the music business.
"I had originally planned to move back to Boston and finish out my degree [at Berklee], thinking not much would come of [Halfway Broken]," Venditto said. "However, after four and a half years we are still going strong and I am about to graduate here in Baltimore."
Since the spring of 2004, Venditto has been taking classes at UB. Marketing always was an interest for the drummer, and UB's program offered him the flexibility he needed for his full-time job and his Halfway Broken commitments. Venditto now does a lot of the behind-the-scenes marketing for the band.
Like Venditto, each band member brings not only his musical talent to Halfway Broken, but also career savvy and a sense of humor.
When asked who in the future Halfway Broken could see opening for them, Albidress quipped, "Michael Jackson's son will probably start a band. They can open for us."