About Me
Bios:
Aron Elvis Honick
- Lead Vocals and Guitar
6.24.1981
Aron Elvis Honick was born and raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been in love with music before ever learning to even speak his first words. Performance is in his blood, and he has done so since a very early age. Whether it had been in church, or school productions, he always found a way to stop that craving of the seductive lure to the stage and singing. At the age of 17, he picked up a guitar and started strumming it. Without hesitation, he began letting the world around him write the musical soundtrack of his hardships, lost love, the lessons of life, and his journey through them.
Almost three years ago, though, Aron suffered a major injury to his right wrist during a performance. He was told by doctors that his career as a musician was next to finished. The injury was severe enough that he almost completely lost use of his right hand. However, determined to do what he felt he was put here to do, he voluntarily went back to the hospital for a risky series of operations. With two major surgeries and over a year of physical rehabilitation, he began to be able to play his guitar again.
At the moment he knew he was ready, Aron went into the studio to lay down all his music that was nearly silenced by the injury. Almost completely losing what he loved to do more than anything, he had taken adversity and stared it straight back in the eye. He now knows more than anything that music is what he wants to do, and music is why he is here. After 8 years of work, travel, and education, Honick has relocated operations to Hollywood California.
Travis Glasser
- Drums
4.15.1984
Travis is a self taught drummer who’s been playing the drums since a very young age. He was born in Indiana, PA, raised in Camp Hill, PA, but his heart has always been in Pittsburgh, PA.
Travis is a co-founder of the Shakedown and has been a long-time friend of frontline man, A.E. Honick. They met in Indiana while attending school, frequently hanging out together, and never missing their yearly Dave concerts.
His love for music and funky beats are what ignites his passion to play the drums. His biggest influences are Carter Beauford from Dave Matthews Band and Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Brandon Payne
-Back-up Vocals and Lead Guitar
1.23.1985
George Maue
- Back-up Vocals and Bass
4.29.1984
George Maue is a self taught bass player whos interest in music lead him to become the lead singer and bass player for the James Street Jam Session in high school and later fronted The Electric Kitchen and Wait for Green for the last 2 years before joining A.E. Honick and the Soul Shakedown. He is originally from Sugarloaf, PA but presently resides in Indiana, PA. Georges musical influences include Mike Gordon (Phish) Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead) among others.
George currently works as a rehabilitation specialist. and in his free time , when not jamming, he enjoys moutain biking, snowboarding, and playing frisbee with his border collie.
Mike Lynch
- Keyboard
8.23.1988
I was born August 1988 in a Philadelphia suburban town. I moved outside the city a few years later. I was enrolled in Catholic school and in second grade, at the age of 7, I was kicked out of class for bad behavior and wandered down to the cafeteria instead of going to the principal's office. There, I discovered a woman playing the piano. She told me that if I wanted to, I could begin lessons. I started taking lessons simply to get out of class and really had a way with it. I took lessons there until the teacher left and I found lessons elsewhere. I am formally trained in classical, baroque, romantic, waltz, jazz, gospel, blues, rock, stride,and improvisation. I also play the organ. I began gigging when I was 13.. My first piano job paid $8.50 per hour and since then, I have always used my talents to play out to volunteer and make money. I also played with various bands throughout high school.
I began playing the organ when I was 15 and do not consider myself to be adept at it, but I am capable. I found various jobs in churches and was able to prosper musically that way and build a strong gospel background. I played in churches until I was 19 and then I gave it up because it lacked the excitement I was looking for.
I stopped taking formal lessons at the age of 18 but did not discontinue my musical learning experience.
I worked in hotels, restaurants, and bars to supplement my income from the time I was 16 and could drive myself. I have played throughout the Philadelphia and New Jersey area.
I enrolled at IUP in 2006 as a freshman. I was accepted into their music performance program after an audition. I was a music major for three semesters and then I changed my major to communications because the music department focused solely on classical music and I was through playing it at that point in my life... at least all the time, as the department wanted me too. I also felt that I would be better suited to learn a field that I knew little about at the time... communications media. I have recorded many songs with many bands including a jazz quintet I am actively involved in. I have recorded with the North Side Serenade, an old band I played in while I was in high school, with The Usual Suspects, Amateur Night, with A.E. Honick and the Soul Shakedown, I was invited to play at an annual rock festival in New York City with other accomplished musicians and the festival was recorded live, and I have done back up piano for various other solo artists including a few females. I have also written the words and music to over 150 songs and continue to write as one of my passions. My ultimate goal is to write music for others to perform. I would appreciate this because I wouldn't have to put any of the work into practice and could still enjoy the music.
I began playing in a bar band at the age of 20. I enjoy it very much because it is fun for me and I get to do it with my friends.
