the story…

Bringing things back to how they originated. Dos. In the post-pandemic (if that’s truly a thing) the music stays alive. Two more albums are freed (some say released). Blackwall in 2022. Once in 2024. And there’s another freeing on the way. Stay tuned.

The live show, now ridiculously catalog deep, adds some new live instrumentation — an alto sax here, an electric bass there, along with the standard keys and percussion. With a few interpretative twists, some larger hits are covered. Add that up and there’s no reason, other than looking for an easy way out, to ever do the same show twice. Like everything, there are pros and cons.

The machine continues to operate. And in this age of machines, one can question if that’s right. R&TV relies on the machine. Don’t you? It’s the dilemma. Sharing what comes from inside, through the established medium(s), so someone else can — enjoy.

There is so much more to sound out and sound off so sound away. These veterans still come at the game like wide-eyed rookies.

• ListenSpotify · Apple Music · Bandcamp
• WatchYouTube
• Contactreverbandtheverse@reverbandtheverse.com

And the show must go on?
The show goes on.

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NO THE RULES! If ever a slogan could encompass Reverb And The Verse during this era, this one did it. A self-proclaimed “5-person duo” #RATV was toeing the line between rebellion & revenge and restraint & refinement since BI-T (Before iTunes). Elements of hip-hop/rap, electronic, dance, and synth continued to blend together to make “pull your emotions out” music that would cause you to move — and to think while you were doing it. Rounding out the crew was Tisha Luna — whose haunting vocals ensnare immediately, David Blalock — rock star singer/drummer, and D-Trust — who never hits a sour note and drips cool.

Fresh off the January 2014 release of the double-album Revenge I+II — a massive 25-song discourse, capturing themes of love & hate and all in between — #RATV found themselves content with discontent. So back to the studio they went, to craft more and more genre-busting music… insatiable. At the same time, bringing diversity of thought, attitude, and style to the stage. This was a group that thrived under the hot lights, offering new material consistently, backed up with an impressive back catalog of hits, and driven to keep the show alive. Be encouraged. Listen and feel…

“When the dust settles, there’s six albums.”

How do you define ‘recognition’? When are you considered ‘legit’ by those outside of the immediate circle?

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Push the envelope, over and over and over. Repeat it again and then again. Break away from the society & color outside the lines, in a beautiful design. Start a blog and make more videos. Content, not content. Amateur hour was long over. Take it out on everyone…

What is the follow up? Why is the follow up? How is the follow up? When you make music because you can and because you dig it, you must continue. & beholden to no one, answering to no one’s style, residing in no one’s box — DIY becomes DWYF (do what you feel). The more you do, the more others know (if you’re willing to shine a light on yourself). Those others know others.

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It was thought that instead of playing normal shows in regular venues, why not try playing clubs that were not the typical run of the mill live venues? Places like Shag Lounge, Below Bar, benefits, universities, and random house parties were given a run. It worked, as Reverb and The Verse played to some packed houses.

“It’s not always just the music, but the passion that comes across.”

Rules needed to be broken: what is music? what is hip-hop? what is R&TV? Can you build a song around a talented and traditionally trained rock singer? If you hear FURIOUS with David Blalock you might think so. What about more casual “pop” songs. Can they exist in the R+TV world? Powerhouses are added to the soirée in the form of Tisha Luna, (WALK, EVEN DEEPER) and Miss So & So (MUSIC IS A BLACK HOLE, EXTRO).

Leave nothing to chance.

Whatever a hiatus is, take it. Do other projects. Whine, complain, hold grudges while pushing for the same things. Play show after show. Dive in with high expectations. Crawl out with beaten ambition.

Let life happen and make life happen. Split apart only to be held together by the thinnest of strings, proportionately stronger than a spider’s web. Reform and do more DIY.

Does one place opportunity above all else? Or is it better to wait and strike while the iron is hot? This is the question, indeed.

They continued to develop throughout changes in life, liberties, and the pursuits of happiness.

This struggle brings changes in working methods and methods of working.

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They begin to home in on a ‘style’. Hover around it and flee from it. Network. Follow others. Be genuine.

Play a show at the Gothic Theater and wait for “music salvation” to wash over you like a gentle and yet powerful waterfall (but don’t go chasing them).

Then Shane was on drums with The Verse on vocals.

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Reverb And The Verse formed in 1999. The meet cute? They worked together.

& almost by accident it was discovered that each had a talent that the other needed/wanted to complete a mission: make music. & why not merge those talents?

beats & rhymes … electronic hip-hop?

After some brief exchanges, demos were laid down.

“These opening sessions became the first tracks off the record Retake The Art.”

They took those jams through the north Metro… Boulder, Erie — through CU Boulder via the Basementalism crew, the Boulder Bandshell, roller rinks, and more…

Amanda Ray played a starring role in the studio and in the live shows. Bronwyn Shaffer brought the heat. & Anjanette Brandon Taylor brought the soul.