The Understudies were born simply and without ceremony over a pitcher of beer at a local Catholic University watering hole. Following a Gospel Church revival in downtown DC, three friends,
Pokey, Laura Van Duzer and
Ryan Hehman sat down to relax and their conversation as usual turned to music. They knew each other well but were unsure of how to unite their common passions yet distinct talents. Pokey and Ryan, former roommates, were accustomed to playing music both original and borrowed for anyone who would listen. Sometimes it involved a stage, but most often it involved a few friends sitting around sharing good times. It was in those places – house-trailers, living rooms, beaches, front porches and bustling bars – that they crafted a smooth and familiar style and honed their sound, all the while playing as many open mics as they could find. When Laura “Dooz†van Duzer came along, and the two realized she could harmonize to anything (including vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens), they looked for opportunities to jam, which soon presented themselves more and more frequently. And so they decided with the last swish of a pitcher of Yeungling and short prayer to throw it all in and start a band. The almost immediate addition of
Jarrod Jabre on drums turned the three into a diverse quartet self-deprecatingly named “The Understudies†in reference to the commitment to excellence but settling for mediocrity that Pokey and Ryan have so frequently experienced. Also, Liz, a long-time friend of the band and professional actress just thought it had a nice ring.The group sets out to challenge not only current notions of what popular rock and roll should sound like but also what Christian musicians can write, sing and be about. Self-described as “music too Christian to be secular and too secular to be Christian,†the band writes to fill the void that much contemporary Christian music leaves between religious experience and our shared human experience – the nitty-gritty of life, love, loss and everything in between.In their short life-time, the band has already cultivated a diverse style that smoothly and naturally incorporates soulful and bluesy melodies, driving guitar riffs, catchy hooks and a touch of the transcendent. This last feature is no doubt a product of the band's extensive and varied musical experience in ecclesiastical performance - leading worship at Catholic Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and praise and worship services. As a result, they are able to craft a rich musical experience in a variety of settings. But they feel most at home wherever they can simply find a listening ear - which has recently taken the group to bars, restaurants, outdoor events and soon to Catholic Underground in Philadelphia, PA.Although they boast a song-style that varies as widely as the venues they can play - from straight up alternative rock that just might get you to dig out your flannel shirt to jazzy ballads for the heart-sick lounge lizard - their passion and energy ensures you that every song has been thoroughly lived.
Be prepared, because their music just might get you thinking, tapping your feet, dancing or gazing heaven-ward.
Peace, love, and rock & roll.If you would like to book the Understudies, email Mike at
[email protected]
