They say timing is everything when it comes to music, and the same can be said for great opportunities in life.
In the case of Vero Beach-based band East Harbor, its timing in both couldn’t be better. The four young men who comprise this upbeat musical brotherhood all began teaching themselves music at young ages in different parts of the world. Each participated in school-based and local band projects on their own. Then, as luck would have it, they found each other through friends and auditions, and discovered they shared a passion for performing as a cover band. They were also looking to be part of a group that could create, record and share a distinctive, contemporary sound.
East Harbor’s combined talents are appealing to audiences of all ages and have made them a coveted hire this season at venues like the coffee and wine bar Grind and Grape, Cork Wine and Sake Bar, and Orchid Island Brewery.
With covers that span Bob Marley to Maroon 5 and Eminem, their interactive and enthusiastic performances connect with their twenty-something counterparts as well as inspire an older contingent to get up on the dance floor.
“The energy and charisma of this band is contagious,” says Amanda Saunders, manager of Cork on Miracle Mile. “These guys are way beyond their years in talent.”
Lead singer Josh Dobson, who turned 21 last month, attributes the group’s broad appeal to high-energy songs and a lively stage presence. “We love to make people move,” says Dobson. “Stage sway is key.”
Born in Ontario, Dobson’s youth was divided between his mother Lori’s home in Arizona and his dad’s home here in Vero; Terry Dobson is a singer and guitarist who has performed for years around town.
It was Terry Dobson who gave Josh his first guitar at the age of 7. He taught him how to pick out the chords to rock classics while his mom sang along and showed him how to harmonize. At 10, Josh started piano lessons. By high school he was performing with his dad around Vero – they billed themselves as The Dueling Dobsons.
At the urging of his step-mother, Kristin, Dobson signed up to be a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2013. When his father drove him to the initial audition round in Georgia, Josh was shocked to see himself make it through that round. Continuing through the arduous competition process, he was ultimately sent home. But in 2015, an undeterred Dobson auditioned for the judges of Fox’s “American Idol” in Minneapolis. He passed the first rounds, making it to the coveted Hollywood Week. His luck fizzled there, but Dobson says he learned a great deal from the competitions.
Drummer Cory Kouns grew up watching his mother sing with a local Vero band. With a brother who worked as a DJ, it was no real surprise when Kouns, at 11, showed an interest in his middle-school band program. Gravitating to the drums, for two years he worked to acquire a basic knowledge in percussion and believes that helped him easily transition to guitar in the eighth grade.
Kouns has continued to study bass, guitar and drums. He also has an interest in music theory and composing, and has contributed to East Harbor’s original tunes. Kouns gives private lessons at Melody Music.
James “Robby” Staggs, lead guitarist for the group, was 14 when he began teaching himself the guitar. He would listen to groups like Linkin Park, Blink 182, Guns ‘n Roses and Led Zeppelin, and learn their songs by ear, recreating the guitar sounds and stylings of legendary rock-band lead guitarists.
Throughout high school, Staggs expanded his musical interests into playing the drums and piano with at Vero Beach High School. Staggs excelled in both his music classes and his academic classes, and earned a full music scholarship to Indian River State College; he recently received his associate’s degree.
Staggs and Dobson perform as an acoustic duo every Thursday at Cork.
Keyboardist, back-up vocalist and guitarist David Gonzales was born in Guam, and moved with his parents and two siblings to Virginia before settling in Vero Beach in 2008. Having loved classic rock and jazz as a child, Gonzales taught himself to play music when he was only 11. At Oslo Middle School, he studied piano, bass, drums and cello. By the time he was in high school he was already playing at open mic nights and booking gigs.
Also interested in music production, Gonzales has recorded and produced four albums using the software program Bandcamp.
East Harbor has been busy recording original works and recently finished its first EP. (Recorded at West Palm’s Iceman Studios, the tracks are on East Harbor’s website, www.eastharbormusic.com).
In the vein of progressive indie rock, the songs show technical prowess in layering lyrics and harmonies with atmospheric guitars, clear piano and tight percussion, without overpowering the well-pitched, highly stylized vocals.
“I think that part of our success in the creative process has been that we each appreciate what the other is doing musically because we all play several different instruments,” Gonzales explains.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool when your drummer comes into practice and says, ‘I’ve got the bass part figured out for the new song,’ ” adds Staggs.
With a growing following, a genuine support of one another, and a mutual egging-on creatively, this brotherhood of music seems destined for great things, together and individually. The band has hopes of playing larger venues in Orlando, Miami and beyond.
“Music has an incredible way of taking you places,” Kouns explains. “Emotionally, personally and also physically – we could be playing clubs around the world one day. But for now, we’re happy playing together right here.”
East Harbor is appearing April 22 at Orchid Island Brewery, April 24 at Captain Hiram’s, and April 29 at Grind & Grape.
They say timing is everything when it comes to music, and the same can be said for great opportunities in life.
In the case of Vero Beach-based band East Harbor, its timing in both couldn’t be better. The four young men who comprise this upbeat musical brotherhood all began teaching themselves music at young ages in different parts of the world. Each participated in school-based and local band projects on their own. Then, as luck would have it, they found each other through friends and auditions, and discovered they shared a passion for performing as a cover band. They were also looking to be part of a group that could create, record and share a distinctive, contemporary sound.
East Harbor’s combined talents are appealing to audiences of all ages and have made them a coveted hire this season at venues like the coffee and wine bar Grind and Grape, Cork Wine and Sake Bar, and Orchid Island Brewery.
With covers that span Bob Marley to Maroon 5 and Eminem, their interactive and enthusiastic performances connect with their twenty-something counterparts as well as inspire an older contingent to get up on the dance floor.
“The energy and charisma of this band is contagious,” says Amanda Saunders, manager of Cork on Miracle Mile. “These guys are way beyond their years in talent.”
Lead singer Josh Dobson, who turned 21 last month, attributes the group’s broad appeal to high-energy songs and a lively stage presence. “We love to make people move,” says Dobson. “Stage sway is key.”
Born in Ontario, Dobson’s youth was divided between his mother Lori’s home in Arizona and his dad’s home here in Vero; Terry Dobson is a singer and guitarist who has performed for years around town.
It was Terry Dobson who gave Josh his first guitar at the age of 7. He taught him how to pick out the chords to rock classics while his mom sang along and showed him how to harmonize. At 10, Josh started piano lessons. By high school he was performing with his dad around Vero – they billed themselves as The Dueling Dobsons.
At the urging of his step-mother, Kristin, Dobson signed up to be a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2013. When his father drove him to the initial audition round in Georgia, Josh was shocked to see himself make it through that round. Continuing through the arduous competition process, he was ultimately sent home. But in 2015, an undeterred Dobson auditioned for the judges of Fox’s “American Idol” in Minneapolis. He passed the first rounds, making it to the coveted Hollywood Week. His luck fizzled there, but Dobson says he learned a great deal from the competitions.
Drummer Cory Kouns grew up watching his mother sing with a local Vero band. With a brother who worked as a DJ, it was no real surprise when Kouns, at 11, showed an interest in his middle-school band program. Gravitating to the drums, for two years he worked to acquire a basic knowledge in percussion and believes that helped him easily transition to guitar in the eighth grade.
Kouns has continued to study bass, guitar and drums. He also has an interest in music theory and composing, and has contributed to East Harbor’s original tunes. Kouns gives private lessons at Melody Music.
James “Robby” Staggs, lead guitarist for the group, was 14 when he began teaching himself the guitar. He would listen to groups like Linkin Park, Blink 182, Guns ‘n Roses and Led Zeppelin, and learn their songs by ear, recreating the guitar sounds and stylings of legendary rock-band lead guitarists.
Throughout high school, Staggs expanded his musical interests into playing the drums and piano with at Vero Beach High School. Staggs excelled in both his music classes and his academic classes, and earned a full music scholarship to Indian River State College; he recently received his associate’s degree.
Staggs and Dobson perform as an acoustic duo every Thursday at Cork.
Keyboardist, back-up vocalist and guitarist David Gonzales was born in Guam, and moved with his parents and two siblings to Virginia before settling in Vero Beach in 2008. Having loved classic rock and jazz as a child, Gonzales taught himself to play music when he was only 11. At Oslo Middle School, he studied piano, bass, drums and cello. By the time he was in high school he was already playing at open mic nights and booking gigs.
Also interested in music production, Gonzales has recorded and produced four albums using the software program Bandcamp.
East Harbor has been busy recording original works and recently finished its first EP. (Recorded at West Palm’s Iceman Studios, the tracks are on East Harbor’s website, www.eastharbormusic.com).
In the vein of progressive indie rock, the songs show technical prowess in layering lyrics and harmonies with atmospheric guitars, clear piano and tight percussion, without overpowering the well-pitched, highly stylized vocals.
“I think that part of our success in the creative process has been that we each appreciate what the other is doing musically because we all play several different instruments,” Gonzales explains.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool when your drummer comes into practice and says, ‘I’ve got the bass part figured out for the new song,’ ” adds Staggs.
With a growing following, a genuine support of one another, and a mutual egging-on creatively, this brotherhood of music seems destined for great things, together and individually. The band has hopes of playing larger venues in Orlando, Miami and beyond.
“Music has an incredible way of taking you places,” Kouns explains. “Emotionally, personally and also physically – we could be playing clubs around the world one day. But for now, we’re happy playing together right here.”
East Harbor is appearing April 22 at Orchid Island Brewery, April 24 at Captain Hiram’s, and April 29 at Grind & Grape.
