Do you think most country bands sound alike? If so, you haven't heard Shilo. The five member band is hotter than coffee fresh out of the pot! They are natural entertainers and will keep you on the edge of your seat or on the dance floor until the last word of every song has been sung! Their energy level is second to none. They drive hard whether they are playing cover songs or originals. They know how to work a crowd like any hit artist or band and the people love them.
They have performed with Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womack, Joe Nichols, Gary Allan and the list goes on and on. They recently played at the Cadillac Ranch in Music City. It was a virtual standing room only crowd and they brought down the house. To say the people loved them is a serious understatement.
Shilo is not a good band; they are a Great Band. All the guys have a good repoire which accounts for their longevity as professional musicians. They recently debuted with their first hit radio single; "DODGIN' A FORD IN MY CHEVROLET". The song was recorded in Hendersonville in the famed Project Room Studio and sent out to country radio. It climbed to the number one spot on the Independent Charts and received critical acclaim from a number of sources. They received major airplay throughout the nation and internationally. Their second single ( A Pick Up In My Pickup ) is out to radio and is apparently climbing the charts faster than their first release!
Shilo fills a void in today's country music scene that has long been empty. They have a unique niche and it is their's Alone. They can be "country to the bone" when belting out a stone cold ballad, and they can "smoke the rubber" with a dance floor rocker! Nobody in today's country music scene does it like Shilo. The industry would do itself and country music fans a grave injustice if Shilo is not given the opportunity to become bigger and better than ever.
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Band Bio's
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Bryan Brager
Some of Bryan's earliest musical influences were going to church with his
grandparents and singing along with the hymns. Growing up, Bryan's Dad
would have country radio on or have one of many of the greats' cassette
tapes in such as; George Strait, Keith Whitley, and Hank Williams Jr.
Other influences span many other music genres such as R&B, Classic rock,
Alternative, Classical, and even Jazz. He was in choir in school starting
in 7th grade, all the way up through one year of college as a music voice
major. There were even a few musical theater credits added to his resume.
Through all of this, music has developed into a passion for making music,
performing, and pouring his heart and soul into every note.
"I just feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to make a living
doing what I love. Thank you all of you Shiloheads, from the bottom of my
heart for sticking by us, and coming out show after show to make all of
this possible." –Bryan
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Mike Stoner
The only original founding member of Shilo, Mike has enjoyed 10 great
years with the band. Mike serves as lead guitar player, vocalist and band
leader for Shilo. “Music has always been in my life. I saw Buck Owens in
concert when I was 4 or 5 and was hooked from then on.” Mike took his
first guitar lesson at the age of 6 and by age 8 was playing with family
friends at area functions and parties. “While the other kids were out
playing, I was the kid with the adults that played guitar or fiddle, and
we would play all the old classic country songs till three or four in the
morning.” By age 15 Mike was playing professionally in local bar bands
every weekend. “I pretty much spent my high school career in the bars!”
“My musical hero’s are many, but I really respect the work of greats like
Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs.” “My heart lies with the roots of Country
Music, and where it came from. I love the Opry and all that it stands for.
I can’t imagine what an honor it would be to someday be invited to perform
the sacred stage of the Grand Ole Opry. That would be the high point of my
career. Touring, charts, records all would be great, but the Opry, that’s
the top!” Mike resides in Northern Indiana with his lovely wife Amy and
two daughters.
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Travis Gow
Travis’s first venture into music was not with country, rather in
bluegrass. Travis honed in his fiddle, mandolin, banjo and guitar skills
by playing with several bluegrass bands and making appearances at
bluegrass festivals across the state. Travis and Mike lived in the same
town, less than a mile apart for years, but it wasn’t until a chance
meeting at a music store that a friendship formed and soon after Travis
joined Shilo. Travis loves the outdoors and riding his Harley when not
making music. “Music has always been a big part of my life since I was a
child. I hope to someday be able to support a family with just playing
music. "If you love your job you will never work a day in your life.”
Travis lives in Northern Indiana with his wife Tiffanie and his daughter.
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Doug Chopson Jr.
Doug was born with music in his blood. He grew up listening to band
practice at the house every week. He began playing the drums at age 11,
when he asked his dad to teach him how to play a beat. His first gig was
2 weeks later at a family party, playing several songs with the band.
Doug played in every school band he could participate in, including
concert band, marching band, jazz band, pep band, and show choir band. He
started playing in clubs at the age of 19, playing genres ranging from
alternative, to heavy metal, to country. Doug’s musical influences
include Neil Pert, Kenny Arnoff, Lars Ulrich, and Mike Portney.
In his spare time, Doug enjoys aviation, Hunting, fishing, camping, snow
skiing, water skiing, martial arts, traveling, and of course music.
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Randy Blankenship
My love of music came early in life, my father, Leonard, played bass and
mother, Pauline, sang in a band called Night Riders. Many nights were
filled with music and laughter when they held weekly practices at our
home. I was 11 years old when I started bugging my Dad to teach me the
bass. Then it happened, I was 20 years old the first time I stood on a
stage, (a Moose Lodge on New Years Eve) and played my bass for people
other than my family. From then on I was hooked. Rare was a time I wasn’t
either playing in clubs or practicing in a garage somewhere. Over the
years I have played the golden oldies, old rock, old country, and modern
country. When I'm not out on the road playing music I am about as big a
homebody as anyone can be. I love spending time with my wife of 21 years
and our daughter and two sons, and yes even my granddaughter.
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Richard Moser - Road Manager
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