“The Hardrock Haven Band of the Month is a band we firmly believe needs to be heard. Each month, one Hardrock Haven staff member has their opportunity to pick a band they feel is going to break soon; a band that is deserved of nationwide attention; and lastly, a band that just kicks ass.” … Derric Miller. Hardrock Haven is proud to continue into our second year for our feature installment — Band of the Month — and visit Texas to discover Five Times August.

Brad Skistimas aka Five Times August has been stirring up the music industry in recent years but it is not all just about the quality music that this relatively new singer songwriter is ably creating. The side story is about an up and coming artist that courtesy of self promotions and TV soundtrack exposure has managed to rise above obscurity and beat all the odds as an unsigned artist. Everybody loves an underdog.

A local artist from the Dallas Metroplex area, Brad Skistimas began releasing material back in 2004. His first release was the ep entitled Something Clever with the subsequent sublime recording Acoustic Sessions the very following year. Loaded with stripped down charming and clever songs featuring Skistimas on his acoustic guitar it is here that you realize that his playing, though not overwrought, is very rhythmic and the backbone of his compositions along with his raspy wordplay. Comparisons with John Mayer and Jason Mraz are unavoidable, though Skistimas is by no means a mere copycat. While his music falls under the accessible sensitive singer-songwriter genre, Skistimas does not pigeonhole himself and draws lightly on country and folk roots to make for a very unique and eclectic trademark sound.

With a strong endeavor to pump up his public awareness, Brad aggressively made public performances as one of his priorities. His efforts were rewarded when tracks from his more assertive third album Fry Street began to get soundtrack exposure on several TV shows. However the album was only going to remain in this format temporarily. Brad Skistimas explains this to Hardrock Haven. “The Independent (lp) was actually a re-release of the album Fry Street. Same songs, different album cover and title. Fry Street was originally released in 2005 and during that time I had been trying to accomplish getting the album into Wal-Mart stores. It took me two years, but when they finally wrote me back I ceased the opportunity and repackaged the album with a nicer picture and decided to re-title it The Independent (lp) because it was the first album by an unsigned artist to get distribution in Wal-Mart stores.” A double disc that also included his previous recordings Something Clever and Acoustic Sessions, the new edition was a great value for its money and a creative way for newcomers to get caught up. It also included the energetic heart on a sleeve track “Better With You” with a boatload of additional quality compositions clearly illustrating that Skistimas was not going to be the one hit per album artist.

Up until this point all of his material had been self produced and he was now faced with the task of following up his success with another recording effort. In addition, the demands for continued success were essential for the artist to keep his momentum going. Wisely he brought in local outside producers Todd and Toby Pipes and also anchored the music with Vertical Horizon’s drummer Ed Toth. The results were a more mature and satiated sound yet without superseding his prior sensitive material. By the end of 2007, his latest release Brighter Side was completed and saw an official release early 2008. Once again Skistimas varied his approach to include a potpourri of material which included the accessible “The Good Life”, the firm “Overrated” and the country shadings of “Who You Are” just to name a few.

With a difficult name to remember and a group name created from his birthday of August the 5th, Skistimas has a lot to celebrate about. With his career in full motion Skistimas appears determined to succeed without assistance from the recording label giants. As an unsigned independent artist, Skistimas continues to overcome all the odds that in and of itself makes him a huge success story. But the likelihood is that you will equally love the simple yet alluring music of Five Times August. As previously stated, who doesn’t like an underdog, better yet a most talented one.

www.fivetimesaugust.com

www.myspace.com/fivetimesaugust