_

While attending Fordham University, Dave Oberacker and Tommy Connors began showcasing their raucous acoustic show in the small clubs and bars of The Bronx and on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A year and a half later, the duo composed a variety of songs and doubled in size with the addition James Dunlop on bass and Michael Seda on drums. Seeking Homer as we know it was formed.

Seeking Homer continued on its path and expanded their touring from NYC to the rest of the country. The band steadily infiltrated the consciousness of clubs, radio stations, the music press, the volatile and exploding internet and most importantly, the listening public. The band’s strategy of non-stop touring, endless grass roots promotions, effective online and digital distribution, and a growing email list and fan base, catapulted this self-managed, self-produced act to unprecedented popularity. Seeking Homer’s live shows continued to win the praise and admiration of audiences, which consistently included a dynamic mix of faithful devotees who sing along to every song as well as new fans who can’t resist the contagious appeal of the four man band’s polished sound.

The Seeking Homer live show is a truly unique experience that is always interactive, emotional, intellectual and inspiring. Seeking Homer has been very fortunate to share the stage with many national acts, some of which inspired their music. Bands such as Maroon 5, Richie Havens, The Samples, Guster, Rusted Root, Cowboy Mouth, Corey Glover (of Living Colour), They Might Be Giants, Dispatch, Howie Day, The Lost Boyz, Naughty By Nature, Edwin McCain among other national acts, began noticing that the quartet from the Bronx was winning over their fans.

In New York City, Seeking Homer found its home at the Historic Wetlands Preserve. This famed club has been an outlet to such bands as The Bogmen, Phish, Blues Traveler, The Disco Biscuits, The Dave Matthews Band, and The Spin Doctors - all of which Homer has worked with in some capacity. As the new Millennium began, Seeking Homer found itself amongst the indie-elite as a solid touring act in the musical underground. The band’s brand of acoustic-driven rock began to morph into a unique sound that one critic called, “electric overground folk with a big beat.”

The band received national exposure when their version of “The Star Spangled Banner” was used as the soundtrack for the PGA’s US Open 100th Anniversary tribute on NBC. It was around this time that the band met producer Jon Wolfson through a mutual friend. Wolfson’s previous work with Quincy Jones, Steve Winwood, and Lonestar impressed the band. The feeling was mutual as Wolfson quickly recognized Seeking Homer’s special energy and songwriting talents.  The band recorded at the famous Avatar Studios in NYC (formerly The Power Station) where many of their favorite albums were recorded.  Among the seminal albums recorded there were Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” Peter Gabriel’s “So,” Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell,” and releases by Duran Duran, Elton John, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Madonna, Lady Gaga, the Clash, George Michael, and Blondie. It is a common legend that a young Jon Bon Jovi once swept the floors there, as it is well-known that the name of the studio inspired ’80s supergroup The Power Station, featuring members Robert Palmer, Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor. It was also where Jimmy Iovine honed his production skills, along with Bob Clearmountain and Scott Litt.   

The ten-song album, entitled Paradise was released with enormous critical acclaim. What began at a few college stations in the Northeast US had spread into songs like “Horses Running”, “Stung” and “Eastbound” getting charted in college radio. In their last studio album, Not So Far Away, they hand picked fiddler, guitarist, composer and producer Andy Happel (Thanks to Gravity) and his studio in the woods of New Hampshire to help develop their new 10 song project. Happel, a producer on the rise, has worked along side some of the best in the modern pop/rock genre including Rupert Hine (RUSH), Paul Fox (Rod Stewart, Phish), Steve Lindsey (U2, Phish, Guster), and John Alagia (Dave Matthews, Ben Folds Five, Jason Mraz). On this recent release Seeking Homer puts forth yet another fresh sounding album by combining a Modern Euro Rock sound with a rare form heartfelt heartland Americana.

In their latest DVD/CD combo, A Boston Bootlegger, Seeking Homer provides a glimpse of their versatility touching on elements of rock, reggae, country and jam sounds all while co-writers Oberacker, Connors and Seda each have their turn singing lead vocals. This concert recorded live in Boston, MA shows what a Seeking Homer show is all about. “Inspiring, Hope-filled and Enlightening” says the Boston Phoenix. They continue to be a model and provide hope for other aspiring rock bands. It has been said that their sound transcends musical timestamps. Put on a CD today and you cannot tell when it was released. Could have been 1989 or last week. Although the band does not get to tour much these days, all are still very active in music whether it's performing, producing or co-writing with others.