Near - ROCKSPOSURE.....Be Heard

Band Bio
Near’s distinctive blend of acoustic indie-rock and baroque pop is crafted by the musical talents of Michael Sherry (vocals, guitar), Timothy Pearson (vocals, piano), Kevin Finn (keyboard, guitar), and Ray Gallagher (percussion). Often described as “Coldplay meets Elliott Smith,” Near’s sound is characterized by strong melodies laden with tight vocal harmonies and penetrating lyrics, backed by a unique blend of piano, acoustic guitar, and synthesizer. Citing its major influences from sixties acts such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon and Garfunkel, as well as more modern acts like Radiohead, and Death Cab for Cutie, Near transcends the traditional boundaries of pop, and uses its songs to explore not only relationships, but mythology, poetry, and literature.

Formed in 2006, Near began as a songwriting collaboration between longtime friends Kevin Finn and Michael Sherry. Both having studied music theory at a college level, Michael and Kevin devoted their time to honing their songwriting skills, and spent the next two years focused solely on writing songs. In 2009, Near recruited friend and former schoolmate Timothy Pearson, who had been active as a singer-songwriter in the area for the past few years. The addition of Timothy helped further define Near’s sound by giving them the ability to incorporate three-part harmonies into their music, as well as offering a fresh and contrasting perspective on songwriting.

After several initial collaborations and performances proved the chemistry between the three to be a perfect match, Near recruited percussionist Ray Gallagher, and recorded their first demo together.  Based on the strength of this demo, plus  the loyal support of their local fanbase, Near has recently begun to break into the Philly scene: booking gigs at venues such as The North Star Bar, and The Trocadero Theatre. Near is currently concentrating on booking more live performances and is in the process of recording their debut album.