| Brad Karel and 401 Run |
| In April of 2002, a new band was created. A band, not just put together to play a bunch of tunes, but a band created to create a party: good-times for everyone, laughs dancing, and a phenomenal way to get rid of the blahs that infect all of our lives. This band was a new country/ rock band, guarunteed to get your feet moving, your head bobbing, and hips swaying to the pulsating rhythms. This band is Brad Karel and 401 Run. The band is fronted by singer/rhythm guitarist Brad Karel, a native of Belleville Ontario, who now resides in Toronto. Brad is a rarity in the Toronto music scene: polite, good-natured, and honest without a hint of egotism at all. He brings this warmth to the stage, and then just crushes it with his soulful crooning one minute and then high energy singing the next. And he might already look familiar to you: he is also in many commercials on TV (most recently in the "Molson Canadian" cottage giveaway commercial). But the band membership doesn't end here. Brad's evil alter-ego is also his bassist dubbed "The Bubba" a loudmouthed, boisterous musician struck with "Aaron Neville" syndrome (big body, high voice). He utilizes this voice to sing back up and to tell really bad jokes on stage. He has a fair amount of experience in the music scene, both local and international having played with heavyweights such as "The Temptations", Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave) and even the Blues Brother himself: Dan Ackroyd. You can also catch him with other gigs in Toronto playing in nearly every genre possible: from jazz to R&B, to country (of course) to even rock and blues. To round out the band comes the Owen Sound connection: on guitar is Mark MacDonald- a player with so much energy that Duracell is trying to figure out a way to harness his power. Besides leading his own Blues project in Toronto, he also has done some session work with other country artists one being Marc Ekins. And the other half of the Owen Sound connection is Mark Hopkins, the newest addition to the Brad Karel/401 Run family. The big man (6'8") is perhaps one of the best drummers in the country music scene... the man just doesn't throw down a groove, he throws it down with authority. Those grooves will practically force ya to get off your ass and dance!!! Brad Karel and 401 Run specializes in the new country stylings of Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, and even newer acts such as Brad Paisley. One of the band's big pluses is that it doesn't sit back and just play the tunes that every other country band plays and has been playing for 10 years now. It believes that "New Country" should be kept fresh: even songs that are in the Top 20 today are being played by these cats. And when it comes to rockin' the house, these guys will bring the house down. If you ever get a chance, come check them out. If they're playing at a venue in your town, get out and check them out!! You owe it to yourself and your friends. ITs always a good time when Brad Karel and 401 Run plays. |