Old Lyme, CT (January 2008): The annual Sennheiser Dealer Appreciation Party once again demonstrated how it has earned the reputation as a must-see event of the NAMM Show with a hard-rocking set from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, following soulful R&B show opener, Ryan Shaw and his three-piece band. This year’s concert, at the House of Blues-Anaheim on January 18th, was the tenth consecutive event, which annually draws hordes of music fans to see some of the latest talent to adopt Sennheiser’s RF and wired microphone and personal monitor technology.
As the show opener, John Falcone, CEO and president of Sennheiser Electronic Corporation welcomed everyone to the House of Blues: “This event is our way to say thank you to all of our customers, partners and friends for their continued support. Two-thousand-and-seven marked our fourteenth consecutive year of double digit growth – so let’s celebrate our mutual success.”
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, an early-twenty-something band formed in Middleburg, Florida in 2003, showed the crowd why they were one of the stand-outs on last summer’s Warped Tour. The band’s 2006 album, “Don’t You Fake It,” has achieved platinum status and spawned four singles, including the breakthrough hit “Face Down” and newest release, “Damn Regret.” With a stage full of Sennheiser evolution 900 series microphones and a busy touring schedule honing their playing chops, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sound better and better every day. Crowds of NAMM party-goers jammed the stage in appreciation of their talent.
Kicking off the evening’s entertainment was Ryan Shaw, a 26-year-old singer/songwriter from Decatur, Georgia. Shaw’s powerful performance made it clear why he recently earned a Grammy Award nomination straight out of the gate in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category for “I Am Your Man” from his 2007 debut release, “This Is Ryan Shaw.” The soul/R&B singer has had a whirlwind year, appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Yahoo’s “The 9,” “Last Call With Carson Daly” and ABC Family channel’s “Lincoln Heights.” Publications from People Magazine to the San Francisco Chronicle have been raving about Shaw’s voice and music, which recalls such legends of the golden age of R&B as Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson and Bobby Womack.