Based in Boston, Addison Groove Project (AGP) has gained a reputation as one of
the United States' hardest working and most talented young bands. With all of
AGP's members at the age of 25, the group has already garnered a national following
as well as appearances on some of the country's most prestigious festivals, including
Bonnaroo.
AGP ranges from heavy funk to sophisticated jazz and all points in between.
The band showcases their double saxophone attack (Dave Adams and Ben Groppe)
on some songs, while Brendan McGinn's guitar work and vocals will be showcased
on another. Just when you thought the band had no more surprises, keyboardist
Rob Marscher will take a solo to make you believe in a higher power. With Andrew
Keith locking everything down on drums, these five players bring a big sound
to the stage. Each member brings a different writing style to the table and
that is apparent in the band's diverse repertoire. More important than AGP's
diversity (and the strength of each individual) is their ability to play as
a whole. When all band members are clicking, that is when the true AGP sound
emerges.
The band's first album (called Addison Groove Project or The Orange Album)
was recorded in 1998 as a high school senior project. With that CD in hand,
AGP began to receive opening slots for national acts in clubs they had to sneak
into only months before. When high school graduation came, all six band members
were faced with the dilemma of immediately following their dreams of touring
nationally or pursuing a college education. Much to their parents' delight,
the band members decided to put school first.
While in college, AGP scheduled gigs on the weekends, arriving separately from
five different schools within a 200-mile radius of Boston. Sometimes, while
studying for finals in the back rooms of noisy nightclubs, or finishing term
papers in the wee hours after a long weekend of gigging, it didn't seem worth
it. Luckily, a major festival or high-profile opener was always booked when
times seemed darkest, saving the day and keeping the band together. Summer breaks
allowed the band to mount more extensive tours.
Along with their weekend warrior gig schedule and summer tours, AGP also released
three additional albums before graduating college: two live concerts in the
Wicked Live series and one more studio album, Allophone (which charted at CMJ
and was a "Top Add" in its first week). Wicked Live 2 was recorded
over a two-night stand at Boston's Paradise Rock Club. All told, the band has
sold over 10,000 copies of their releases combined.
AGP suffered a huge loss with the death of John Hall, the band's bass
player and a founding member. John battled cancer for approximately 18 months
and passed peacefully on Thanksgiving night 2004. With John's blessing, the
band has soldiered on as a quintet.
Dave Adams - alto sax, vocals
Ben Groppe - tenor sax
Andrew Keith - drums
Rob Marscher - keyboards, vocals
Brendan McGinn - vocals, guitar, trumpet