Downbeat Switch
In the Summer of 2002; Downbeat Switch started as four friends and a passion for music, life, and positivity. Originally from the small town of Mathews County in South-Eastern Virginia, Wayne Todd (bass), Michael Register (drums), and Meredith Brooks (guitar/vocals), moved to Richmond after high school. Lead vocalist and Mechanicsville native, Bryan Clark joined the group later in the fall of 2003, when he met the band at a party in Richmond. Bryan fit in well with the sound immediately by combining raps and vocal harmonies with Meredith. They began practicing and writing songs in the guitarist/vocalist's basement beneath his apartment. The band started playing Richmond bars and clubs and opening for bigger bands to gain local recognition. Blending old-school funk riffs with rap-rock, reggae fusion, Downbeat Switch developed a really open minded and diverse fan base throughout Virginia over the following years. With the release of their raw self-produced, 20 song debut L.P., "Funk Shui" on June 29th, 2004, the band finally had something tangible to present to their growing number of supporters. Near the end of 2004, Doug DeForge (keyboard, cuts) joined the group adding a whole new vibe to the sound. Bringing with him yet another unique style of playing, Doug contributed the classic Hammond B3 organ sound with spacey piano, Fender Rhodes, and vintage analog synth sounds, adding more depth and classic feeling to the music of the band. The keyboard player also doubled as a D.J., providing sampling and scratching, adding more fuel to the funkiness. Doug had also grown up in Mathews County and had played with Meredith and Michael in previous bands. Downbeat Switch began to write more and gig less for the next year until Summer of 2005-The band released a follow up album entitled: "Seconds" on July 6th, 2005, and gigged heavily in support of it. "Seconds" became more of a definitive step in the direction Downbeat Switch wanted to take towards their music. Focusing more on song structure and vocal harmonies with stronger lyrics, Downbeat met a great response from the local scene in Richmond, and elsewhere. You can buy both CDs on www.cdbaby.com/downbeatswitch. The band is planning a release of their third L.P. in the late Summer of 2008. All the albums are written, recorded, and mixed by the band. Downbeat Switch continues to record, play shows, and operate completely independently of any record label at this time. They participate in everything from keg parties, festivals, to local bars and clubs, and even the Richmond Channel 6 News. New and older songs can be heard @ www.myspace.com/downbeatswitch. The band can also be heard on the Y101(101.1) and 102.1X Richmond's local Rock Shows on Sunday evenings at 7:00pm and 8:00pm. And at 102.1 the X's "Triple Threat Thursdays" at The Canal Club in Richmond(www.thecanalclub.com). Please contact DbS for setting up a show, or for more info on what's to come in the future for the band, at our site by email at (downbeatswitch@downbeatswitch.com) or by phone: 1-(804)-815-9654 So check out some of the tracks above from Downbeat's first two albums and see where they're playing out next. Thanks for reading this and showing interest in our passion! -"We'd like to give thanks to all our families and friends, whom have given so much love and support to the band. You continue to be the light that guides us towards our dreams.We seriously couldn't have accomplished what we have without you.THANK YOU."
~DbS~
Bryan- Meredith- Wayne- Michael- Doug-
© 2002 Downbeat Switch