Written by Ben Cox – They say music is the window to the soul. And nothing beats a view that inspires, excites, and entertains.

 

Local musician Zak Webb has been entertaining around Brownwood for several years, and his latest project is a band that has a name as encompassing as their sound.

“Zak & Nem” have been together for a year, winning the Texans Got Talent competition at Victory Life last February, for their original song “Calamine”.

That win, followed by local interest and a lot of hard work, has put Webb and his band in a position to begin to blossom in the local music scene. Playing music that covers many genre’s, Zak & Nem’s sound is truly unique.

The band is comprised of four members: Webb on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Kevin Kelley on Bass guitar, Frank Lopez playing electric guitar and dummer Daniel Graham. The time and effort put in to honing their instruments is readily apparent, two of the members with decades of experience behind them.

Webb, who has been singing around town for quite some time, has gone completely reliant on music as a career, and seems to be making a great showing of it. Lopez is retired from Union Pacific Railroad and playing music as much as he can and Graham, who describes himself as “self employed as a bee keeper and horticulture designer and this is also part of my self employment strategy!” Kelley, who is a professor at HPU, has been on bass for a handful of years, but his exuberance for the instrument has brought his skills right up to par with players who have twice the experience.

At a recent rehearsal in a back room of Webb’s home, the band played through three of their original songs: Heading West, When Mama Comes Home, and the award winning Calamine.

The first song was a mix of what can only be described as a wonderful mix of genre’s, along the lines of Stevie Wonder meets Grand Funk Railroad. It was a delightful, driving tune with an infectious energy that leaves the listener smiling.

When Mama Comes Home is fun toe tapper, sounding at times like The Moody Blues, Jimmy Buffet, and Matchbox 20.

Calamine, the song that won them the Texans Got Talent competition, is reflective and often times soulful, reminiscent of 90’s R&B artist P.M. Dawn and at other times 90’s Santana.

With songs as eclectic as these, it is not hard to imagine the entertainment that this group provides live.

Zak will be playing solo shows at the Hemingway in Odessa on Saturday, and at the Antebellum Ale House in Weatherford on the 17th. The band’s next show is the 23rd at Concho Pearl in San Angelo.

Represented by 7th Planet Entertainment Group, Zak & Nem can be reached via the agency’s Facebook Page, or via their own page.