Big Rain will bring its distinctive brand of music to troops stationed in Southwest Asia, April 8- 26. The California group is known for its unique blend of rock, country and contemporary adult sounds.
Bruce Guynn is lead vocalist for Big Rain and plays bass, piano and keyboards, while Peter Alaimo plays lead guitar and performs vocals. They are joined on the tour by drummer Byron Bonham and Bruce Wandmayer who plays steel pedal guitar and saxophone and also performs vocals.
Guynn says the group is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform for the men and women serving in Southwest Asia. "As an American, going over to perform for our troops is a way for me to give something to them," he said. "I know they need some positive inspiration, which is what we'll bring them with our music. I want them to have a chance to relax, enjoy themselves and feel good about things."
Big Rain's performances effortlessly flow from upbeat dance songs, to heartfelt ballads, to improvisational jam sessions that the band calls "free falling." The group got its name when, after trying out numerous band names, Guynn mentioned the name "Big Rain" to Alaimo. As it had been raining every day in their hometown of Santa Cruz, Calif., for months, the name seemed fitting. It also reflects the groups' commitment to environmental causes.
After releasing three albums on their own Indie label, Big Rain was signed by Oak Records, which released their self-titled album, "Big Rain." The album's first single, "I'm Not Running," stayed on the charts for 24 weeks and hit no. 27 on the Indieworld Country Report and no. 36 on the New Music Weekly national charts. The second single, "Sweet Inspiration," hit no. 14 on the New Music Weekly Indie Top 30. The third single, "December Night," charted at no. 12 on the Indie Top 30 and made the top 40 on the New Music Weekly chart. The songs have received significant airplay on both country and adult contemporary stations around the U.S. as well as in Europe and Australia.
"Big Rain is tremendously talented crossover band that puts on an uplifting show," says Army Captain Trevor Garrett, Armed Forces Entertainment circuit manager for Southwest Asia. "The breadth of their musical repertoire is remarkable and, as a result, they offer something for everyone. Once you hear these guys, its hard to get their songs out of your head -- they're just that good."
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Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment.
Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
To learn more about Big Rain, visit www.bigrain.net.
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