Jackson Free Press

Simply Human will surprise you. Four quiet guys, no egos. Just young dudes sharing a passion for the same kind of music: Fuel, Incubus, 3 Doors Down, Creed and Stone Temple Pilots. But, says Brad Gerrard, "We don't want to sound like anybody but Simply Human." Sam Donald, 20, one of SH's founding members, shyly talks about the four major labels looking at them: "We just got a lawyer, too, and a booking agent," he says. I'm thinking to myself, damn, these kids are serious.

Drummer Brad Gerrard, 21, explains that in the Showcase they won recently at Atlanta's Hard Rock Café, they beat out 230 bands. "A scout from Epic was there," he says. "He's seen us three times." Simply Human also played the Gibson Opry in Nashville. Scouts from Sony and Epic were there.

Simply Human is the real deal. This quartet of local boys will be getting major airplay within the next few months. Dan Haley at Haley Studios did a heckuva job producing "Driving On Empty." It was supposed to be a demo, but the album sounds like a Top 10 alternative CD. Fiery vocals, heady guitar riffs, then an unexpected quiet storm of passion.

"We'd only been together four months when we recorded the album," Gerrard says. "Driving on Empty" took six months to produce and was released last May. "We're a lot better now."

A few years ago, Justin "Cowboy" Boykin (now 19) and Sam Donald met though a mutual friend. Sam had played with Brad Gerrard in another band; they recruited him for drums. All three graduated from Terry High School. Taylor Reichart, a senior at Florence High School, was picked from competing bassists to round out the band.

Taylor almost lost his life in an auto accident in early 2003 but is back jamming with the group. "It was four days before our first major gig. Taylor was late for school," Gerrard recalls. "He hit a school bus head on: broke his leg, arm and had major burns. Taylor was in ICU for a week and a half. He actually died, but they brought him back to life."

The band used a replacement bassist for three months, while Reichart (now 18) made his recovery. "He practiced at home," explains Gerrard, "and progressed like crazy."

All four members are Christian, but they don't want to be known as a Christian band. Their sound and lyrics are much more diverse. Founding members Boykin and Donald find inspiration from old relationships—be it girlfriends, brothers, sisters, parents or Jesus. "There're a lot of metaphors in the lyrics," says Gerrard.

Simply Human's next EP is slated to be released by Epic next month. Epic wanted them to write new material, so the band took off the month of November to prepare for the album. "It's more emotional style rock, more in-depth," says Gerrard. "Individually, we've all grown as musicians." Gerrard says they'll probably relocate to Knoxville. "Our management company is up there."

"Driving on Empty" is available through their Web site (www.simplyhumanband.com) and at concerts.