Meet Jim Boardwine
Taking the Family Band Aesthetic to a Whole New Level

Jim Boardwine is a busy man. The full-time English and songwriting teacher at Streetsboro High School, where he also coordinates the drama department and the school’s talent show, is the driving force behind Gateway City Records, who are having a CD Release Show and Coming Out Party at the Kent Stage on Saturday, June 27. And to hear Boardwine tell it, he is very enthused about this project.

"Because of my teaching position, and the things my own kids have done, I saw a need for something. With Gateway City Records we want to unselfishly encourage, develop, and promote some tremendously talented teen artists from our area, and then partner them with some successful regional and national acts to increase their exposure."

Boardwine knows the local music scene. He was the longtime lead guitarist and songwriter for the popular Christian rock band Know Peace; he is currently the leader of the Boardwine Family Band -- the same one which made it to the national finals of the "Top Family Band Compeition" on the CBS Early Show. He's the father of Desiree Boardwine, a Kent State freshmen, and guitarist and songwriter in her own right: she's taken two different bands to the High School Rock Off Finals during her days at Streetsboro High School.

The Coming Out Party at the Kent Stage will be a good mix of local acts with some regional performers who have had some national success. Maxx, a former lead singer with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, will perform a set of both originals and covers. Aaron Brooks of Simeon Soul Charger will play a set of new songs, backed by a choir of Streetsboro High School students. The Boardwine Family Band will do a set, joined by a few guest artists. Red Reign and Cheyne-Stokeds, two of the finalists from the 2009 High School Rock Off, will both do sets of original music.

Boardwine is looking forward to the Showcase.

“I am especially excited about some of the younger and new faces that will be performing. Maddie Utrup is a fourteen year old singer who is a great songwriter. She has over forty quality songs, unbelievable for some her age. See You Sunday, in this age of auto tuning, have quality live vocals and harmonies. Cheyne Stokes are a throw back to late eighties metal, they have a true rock metal edge.”

Backing many of these acts will be a house band of talented local musicians.

“The house band will be lead by Eclyptic drummer Eric Bobek and one of Northeast Ohio’s best lead guitarists Brian Poston. In my mind, he is a prodigy. The kid is amazing,” adds Boardwine.

Boardwine has three goals for the Kent Stage event.

“First, we are going to release a CD with a song or two from each of these acts. Second, to give the younger performers valuable stage time playing with some performers with stage experience. Thirdly, we want to have music fans of all ages show up and enjoy the evening and have a good time.”

Boardwine’s plans for the future include other regional shows, and an opportunity to take the show on the road to New York City later this summer. A long term goal is to release a full CD of music from each performer sometime later this year.

One of the keys to the whole project is the involvement of former Trans-Siberian Orchestra front man Maxx. Boardwine met him the old fashion way when Maxx started dating his sister.

“Recently Maxx has done some great things, including a recent staging of Little Shop of Horrors in New York City. We spent the summer of '08 writing and recording together, and we are excited about the stuff he is going to do that night,” adds Boardwine.

The Gateway City Records CD Release Show and Coming Out Party is Saturday, June 27, starting at 7PM. Tickets can be bought in Kent at the Kent Stage box office, Spin-More Records, Woodsy’s Music, and online at http://www.KentStage.org.'''

For more information visit http://www.MySpace.com/GatewayCityRecords.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Greg Cielec cielecAThotmail.com (:divend:)