Meet the Band
Drums
Damone’s musical journey began when he was 15 and started playing with his high school buddies in a band called Flyer. In his late 30's, he’s considered the "old man" of the group...friends and family call him Dad. With a career spanning more than twenty years, he’s played with so many bands even he can’t remember all their names. His talents range from the hard-hitting rock you hear him pounding out with the LEADFOOT boys to Country, Pop, Oldies and quite a few stops in between. He’s played all over the St. Louis Metro area and taken his rig on the road with bands the likes of: Flyer, Siam, Buzz Lightbeer, Subdivisions, Bazooka Joe, Renegade, Seventh of Never, Full Spectrum and Kick 22.
One of the highlights of Damone’s career (to-date) came while playing with Seventh of Never. The guys had fifteen to twenty originals under their belt, all recorded, and won the Battle of the Bands at the Alton River Front Festival. As reward for their victory, the group opened for Survivor.
Damone and his wife, Michelle, reside in the River Bend area with their daughter Hannah and a spoiled rotten Bichon Frise. When not putting the double bass petal to the metal, Damone is the manager of a local appliance center. His hobbies include bass fishing, enjoying time with his family, video games and playing baseball. He also enjoys working with his sound and light equipment...which other folks refer to as Damone’s Toys.
Bass
Anyone who knows anything about Shawn...well come to think of it, those that do are few and far between....
We do know that Shawn started out as a guitar player and occasionally still tests his dexterity playing around with "one more string." He played with several bands, before helping LEADFOOT become a reality. His musical interests cover a wide array of styles from Oldies to Rock, and even a Classical piece will sometimes get a raised eyebrow from his direction. Shawn is also known for his genuine fondness of fermented alcoholic beverages brewed from malt and flavored with hops...in other words, beer.
Amazingly enough, although Shawn often looks like someone out of a scary dream [especially when he’s singing something like Killing in the Name Of, Click Click Boom or Stupify] children seem to be drawn to him. They flock to him in groves at the family events and fund raisers the band performs for, and can often be found hanging on his leg or sitting on the floor in front of the stage gazing at him adoringly...go figure.
A member of the thirty-something crowd, the guys generally just call him Lovell. Shawn resides on the Missouri side of the river with, ‘the one he’s definitely not going to let get away,’ Brandy, and her two sons. When not thumpin’ on the bass, he enjoys spending time with Brandy and the boys, fishing and DIY projects around the house. In his real life, he’s employed in the aerospace industry.
Vocals
Jeremy’s musical aspirations began as a pick-up project in a basement band. Of no small surprise to those who’ve seen him bopping around on stage, he started his foray into the music world as a drummer. After several months of practice, the group decided they’d perfected their sound enough to take it out of the basement. They began playing the Alton area scene as Top Dead Center. Jeremy performed with the group for two years before deciding it was time to take a break. But as is usually the case once the music is in your blood, it wasn’t long before he hitched up with a new project, The Mourning After; this time as a singer. After singing with the group for awhile, he again got the itch to take a break and sold off all his gear thinking he’d put his musical career to bed for good.
Those touched by the muse know that she is a temptress of the worst kind, and when the LEADFOOT guys told Jeremy they were looking for a part-time singer the job seemed a perfect fit for him. He began gigging with the boys in the latter part of 2008 and worked hard to retrain his voice to sing the vocally demanding style of music LEADFOOT has become known for. Stepping into a band that’s already well established and tight, is no easy task. Attempting to fill the shoes of a singer with the range, dexterity and unfathomed ability of Matt Bauer, nearly impossible. But Jeremy brings to LEADFOOT a style and versatility that’s uniquely his own. Through hard work and determination, he’s made a place for himself on center stage with the boys. When the opportunity came to step up as the full-time singer for the band, Jeremy was ready and willingly rose to the challenge.
The single father of two wonderful children, Kairegan and Briston, Jeremy resides in Piasa Township. His musical interests cover a broad range encompassing everything from Oldies to Rock. When he’s not on stage he enjoys spending time with his kids, coaching his daughter’s basketball team and renovating his house. He’s also an aspiring teacher.
Guitar
Evan, is the newest "boy in the band." A long-time friend and one time student of former LEADFOOT guitarist Tim Oertel, Evan has joined the boys for a song or a set from time to time over the past few years. His familiarity with the guys and their style of music made him a logical choice to fill LEADFOOT's guitarist slot when Tim moved on.
Currently a full-time student at Lews & Clark Community College, Evan is minoring in Music and plans to major is an as-of-yet-undecided field of science. His musical dexterity ranges from the kind of hard-hitting rock you hear him play on stage with LEADFOOT, to Acoustic and Classical Guitar, as well as trombone, drums and piano...basically, he's willing to give just about any instrument he can get his hands on a try.
Evan resides on a small farm in Piasa Township with is family, two dogs, two cats, two horses and one lonely canary.
So Where's Thew?
Vocals
Those of you who've followed LEADFOOT for awhile, are undoubtedly wondering what happened to original lead singer, Matt Bauer...A.K.A. Thew. Not to worry folks, Matt's alive, well and doing more than fine. He's simply decided to take a hiatus from the hectic world of band life for awhile, in order to devote more time to beginning life with his wife, Kate.
Matt and Kate exchanged vows on November 7th, and he says that once things settle down a little in their busy lives he'll start thinking about coming back. In the meantime, he promises to drop in for a surprise appearance from time to time, or fill in for Jeremy on occasion if needed.
The LEADFOOT family wishes Matt & Kate all the best. You guys know we love you!
What Happened to Tim?
Guitar
Tim Oertel, original lead guitarist, has moved on to a job as guitarist for another band in the St. Louis area. With a new baby expected in August, The Kid's decision to exchange playing the bar scene for the brighter lights and more subdued venue of casino stages will hopefully be the right avenue for him at this point in his career and in his life.
Starting with LEADFOOT at the age of 17, the LEADFOOT family has literally watched Tim "grow up" on stage. We wish Tim, Ashley, Leah and their new baby all the best of luck whereever the future takes them.
