Red Lion heavy metal band kicks off tour at Chameleon Club
It is a hot Saturday morning, barely 11:30 a.m., and yet it is almost 100 degrees outside. At this time and day, rain, shine or heatwave, you will find Essential End, a Red Lion metal band, practicing in guitarist Scott Hearn's basement.
It has always been a family affair with Essential End. Four years ago, Brady’s parents gave him his first drum set after he was inspired by watching his father’s band play music together. Not long after that, the Hearns sought out to form a band with vocalist Tad Davis, Scott's childhood friend, in mind. As if by fate, days after the Hearns discussed potentially adding the singer to their mix, Davis happened to call after the elder Hearns to catch up.
Fast forward a few months, and Brady’s two close friends, Connor Green and Caleb Staner joined the picture, with Green on guitar and Staner playing bass guitar. All five members hail from York County — in fact, Brady, Connor and Caleb were all part of the same graduating class at Red Lion Area High School.
“The best part is that we are a drama free band and that doesn’t happen often,” said Davis.
If anyone would know about playing in bands, it's the two most experienced members of the group — Scott and Davis.
Scott and Davis have been friends since the third grade, and have played in bands together since they were teens. Nearly thirty years later, they're finally getting a break.
“It’s been surreal how quick it has come together for us,” said Green. Though the band has only been playing together for about eighteen months, Essential End has opened for star studded shows such as Buckcherry, Saving Abel and Adrenaline Mob.
Over the last five months, they signed to Pavement Entertainment Music Label. They have received radio play on 43 radio stations, 17 of which are national stations.
Essential End, who only play original songs, is set to go on tour starting Sept. 10, with a busy schedule of 36 shows in 45 days. The band's tour spans the country, zipping through states including Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas and Illinois.
It’s fitting that it will start with a performance at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, a place with which they are very familiar. The band records their songs at the Atrium Audio Studio in Lancaster, where numerous famous bands have recorded such as August Burns Red and York’s own Live.
Perhaps the biggest reason for their success is their diversity. Tad and Scott are both in their mid forties, while Brady, Connor and Caleb are all 20 years old.
“It’s an old school meets new school kind of sound,” described Scott. “It makes for a very original and unique sound."
The group released an EP titled “Deadwood” on Aug. 26, which can be found on their Facebook page, which also lists their tour dates.
If you go
What: Essential End
When: 8 p.m. Saturday. Sept. 10
Where: Chameleon Club, 223 North Water St., Lancaster
Cost: $8-$10; buy tickets at chameleonclub.net
Join Essential End's social media following of 100K on these pages:
Facebook: facebook.com/officialessentialend/
Instagram: instagram.com/officialessentialend/
Twitter: twitter.com/EssentialEnd?lang=en