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 8 Lives Spent can be described as a high-energy, blue-collar, roots rock and roll band with a good time feel.  They mix up a four-hour show blending unique originals with obscure B-side covers long lost in the vaults of rock-n-roll.  They firmly stand on the ideology that people that lay down good money to see a band should walk away with a memorable experience and with that they thrive to be the hosts of the party.  In fact they recently pulled volunteers from the audience of a show to sing backup and the stage ended up being completely full of fans singing, dancing, and having a great time.

8 Lives Spent was founded by drummer Brian Holt who formerly played in the local group "Rabid Granny".  When that group disbanded in the early summer months of 2007, Brian kept in contact with another former RG member, bassist Joe Jones, and they in turn linked up with former "Off the Cuff" guitarist and vocalist Brandy James who introduced his own unique style of rock with a dash of funk.  The three immediately began building on the chemistry while discussing the overall state of music today.  They agreed that, for the most part, music had become somewhat stagnant and concluded that what the world needed was a rebirth of old-school rock-n-roll.  This is the type of stuff that you jammed to at field parties, small rock clubs, etc. during a time when rock took center stage in places all across the country.  It was a time when entire city blocks were devoted to live music, and it was a time that people went out to see a band to briefly forget about the cares of the world.  That is precisely the goal of 8 Lives Spent, to be remembered for generating a good time atmosphere where all the world's problems can be tucked away for a few hours.  Drummer Brian Holt recalls a few bands that did just that.  "Two bands immediately come to mind when I think of a good time.  The first is most definitely Root Boy Slim, and the other is Kix.  Although totally different from one another (and from us for that matter), these guys knew how to turn a normal night out into a full-blown party.  I remember the first time I saw Root.  There was this line around the venue with punkers, rednecks, bikers, yuppies,you name it.  These people had nothing at all in common except for the music and the band.  That's exactly what I want to achieve as a musician and I think this lineup is perfectly capable of attracting the same versatile crowd".

With a game plan in place the band took off and recruited guitarist Rob Saville to its ranks in September of 2007.  Rob immediately worked into the lineup both in style and chemistry (this is one twisted young man).  With a full arsenal the band is ready to come to your hometown and shake things up a bit.  So, if you're looking for a group that will have the crowd talking weeks after the show, book 8LS for your next weekend opening.

For a full-color electronic press kit including stage requirements, contract, etc. click here.  For our Sonic Bids electronic press kit click here.

Introducing the crew...        

Joe "Two Coat" Jones: Bass Guitar, Vocals
Born 1/13/79 Winchester, VA
Musical Influences : The Beatles, Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Slayer, Slipknot, Alice in Chains, Motorhead, Primus, Alice in Chains, Staind, Puddle Of Mudd, Crowbar, Alice Cooper, Down, Joe Satriani, Guns n' Roses, Hatebreed, Velvet Revolver, Incubus, George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Korn, Rick James, Lamb of God, Led Zepplin, Less Than Jake, Lit, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Static X, System of a Down, Weezer, Stonesour, , Queen, Foo Fighters, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Diamond Rio, Willie Nelson
Present Favorites : Black Water Rising, Revolution Mother, Avenged Sevenfold, John5, Breaking Benjamin, Alabama Thunderpussy, Buckethead, Chevelle, Coheed and Cambria, Full Devil Jacket, Hellyeah, Maroon 5, My Chemical Romance, Turbonegro, Army of Anyone, Pissing Razors, Brad Paisley
Hobbies/Pastimes : Writing and Playing Music, Guitar Restoration, Building, and Repair; All Things UVA live or on TV. Woodworking, Running a good game of B-Ball
Gear Used : Dean Basses and Guitars, Carvin R1000 Bass Head, Carvin BR410 and BR118 Cabs, Dean Markley Blue Steel Strings, Planet Waves Cables and Straps, Jim Dunlop Picks, ElectroVoice ND967A Mics, Hercules Stands, and a sexy-ass swagger!!!

Brian "B" Holt - Drums, Vocals, 12-Gauge Pump, Louisville Slugger
Born 11/18/60 Annapolis MD
Musical Influences : Hank Williams Sr, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Grand Funk Railroad, Pat Travers, Black Oak Arkansas, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Ronnie Montrose, Rolling Stones, UFO, Judas Priest, Foghat, The Winter Brothers, Frank Marino, Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Savatage, Lizzy Borden, GNR.
Present Favorites : Airborne, Collective Soul, Yell County, Michael Fath, Rhino Bucket, Revolution Mother, George Jones, Johnny Cash, James McMurtry, lots of new Indie stuff too numerous to mention.
Hobbies/Pastimes : Writing and Playing Music, Studying Music Theory/Piano, Reading (anything educational), Camping (anything outdoors), Target Shooting, Tinkering with ProTools and Finale, Hiking.  Of course I rarely get to do any of this.
Gear Used : Pearl Master Series kit, Pearl Vision Series Fusion Kit, Yamaha Stage Custom kit, Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals, Zildjian K Custom Cymbals, Sabian XS-20 hats, Roland Electronic Kit, Roland Acoustic Kick Trigger w/Roland Module, Sennheiser Microphones, Shure SM-57 Overheads, Ludwig Acrolite Snare, Donoho Custom Snare, Gibraltar Hardware, Yamaha EMX-5000-20 Board, Yamaha Club 15 Speakers, JBL, Vic Firth and Zildjian Dip Sticks.

Brandon "Cakes" James - Guitar, Vocals
Born 6/19/70 Los Gatos, CA
Musical Influences : Everything from BB King to Metal Church.  I have been influenced by virtually every genre of music therefore it's difficult (if not impossible to list them all).  I like it all and I try to take a little info from everybody.
Present Favorites : I don't really play favorites but here's a few that come to mind...SRV, Johnny Lang, Eddie Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, Ian Gilliam, Johnny Winter, Vivian Camble, Randy Rhodes, Maroon Five, Candlebox, STP, Dio, Savatage, Nickelback, Santana, Daughtry, Pearl Jam, Taj Mahal, Tesla, Mr. Big
Hobbies/Pastimes : Collecting guitars, motorcycling, any kind of water craft, martial arts, love weapons...guns, knives, etc.
Gear Used : Fender Strat (Sweet Thang), Fender Blues Junior amp synced with Fender Front Man amp.  Boss ME 50 Effects Pedal.

Rob "Nails" Saville - Guitar, Vocals
Born 4/09/80 Winchester, VA
Musical Influences : Gary Rossington, Mark Tremonti, James Hetfield, Godsmack, Tantric, John Fogerty, Kirk Hammett, my dad (Marvin Saville), and my brother Ben.  If it hadn't been for them I don't know if I would be playing.  As a kid I used to always watch my dad at family gatherings playing old CCR songs.
Present Favorites :Godsmack, Alterbridge, Godsmack, Tantric, Velvet Revolver, Disturbed are some of my favorites however I like a lot of different music including Bluegrass, which takes a lot of talent to play.
Hobbies/Pastimes : Hunting, fishing, riding ATV's, doing the family thing, and we can't forget playing music.  Hopefully it becomes my full time job.
Gear Used : Epiphone Les Paul Custom Deluxe, Fender Hot Rod Deville 212, Peavey Tube FX processor, Danelectro pedals to include Tuner, EQ, Fab Tone Distortion, Coolcat Chorus, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Ibanez Weeping Demon Wah, GHS Boomer strings, Jim Dunlop picks, Planetwaves Spectraflex cables.