Combs doesn’t waste time doing what he loves
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LEWISTOWN -- Allan Combs II takes the stage, making the same guarantee to those in the audience every time.
"Come spend some time at a solo performance. I promise you won't regret it," the Bloomsburg native boasted.
It's been the singer and songwriter's mantra for more than a decade. Combs also shared some sage advice that he credited to legend Billy Joel. "If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time," Joel suggested.
Combs returns to the Hungry Run Wine Bar and Bistro, 10042 Route 522 South, Lewistown, on Saturday for a 6 p.m. performance.
At age 13 - foregoing traditional music lessons, Combs taught myself how to play the guitar by listening to old blues and 1960s rock 'n roll records.
"Their early influence is obvious when you listen to my recorded works or come to one of my shows," Combs said. "I am often transported to a different place when I play; it is apparent in most live performances."
People often tell Combs that his songs are often throwbacks to the best of what classic rock, funk, soul, and blues have to offer.
"I feel like I have aligned my sound with that of the likes of older music," Combs explained. "I like to take a song that hasn't been heard in a long time and give it a fresh, new, unique take while keeping it true to its original framework.
"I do consider myself a good musical arranger," Combs added. "Although I feel like I have a unique perspective and sound, it was those living giants and dead legends that truly gave birth to my passion. Needless to say, I've spent countless hours listening at their musical feet."
While Combs can usually be found playing solo, he finds joining a band or ensemble to offer its own form of completeness. When he was younger, he created a band with childhood friends called the Neon Soul Session. Of course, it was fun while it lasted.
"We had fun doing gigs but as you know, all good things must come to an end," Combs said.
"For many years, I took a break from playing out and concentrated on honing my singer and songwriter skills," Combs added. "I spent this time writing a lot of music that appeared on my first independent release, "I Get My Kicks for Free."
That came in 2016.
Luckily his enjoyment of playing with other like-minded musicians never left him, and he has been part of several side project bands that he regularly played with from 2015 to 2018.
In January 2018, Combs assembled a group that focused on helping him perform and write original music. This group was named Soul Medicine, a song that I had written and recorded in studio the previous year.
Allan Combs' Soul Medicine consisted of Tim Latshaw on bass and vocals and Sean Madden on drums and vocals. In June 2019, the band released its self-titled debut EP.
Now Combs is back on the road solo.
"I am very proud of the things I have accomplished musically in the past 10 years," Combs said. "That being said, I have not felt satiated in regards to performing and sharing my original music. This was the goal 10 years ago - and now it's barreling towards me at an unimaginable speed."
This year, he hopes to releasing a full-length album for the first time since 2015. "I will be assembling a group named "AC II" to help perform this original music all over the country - hopefully," Combs added.
He will also be collaborating with excellent musicians, touring and releasing music with Tanjo and Crow, solo touring to promote original tunes, purchasing a property to host listening room concerts and founding "Soul Medicine Services" - a new compassionate care-style service that will focus on performing music for folks who are not able to leave their homes.
"It's a new year and a new frame of mind," Combs explained.
Just recently, he was also nominated for his first Central Pennsylvania Music Award (CPMA). "Kinda cool," he said. "Grateful to be recognized by my peers."
For more information, find him on Facebook or visit www.allancombsiimusic.com.