With the onslaught of COVID-19, good news is hard to come by. When I found out that Richmond, Virginia native, Sid Kingsley, was going to be a contestant on NBC’s The Voice, I jumped for joy. The adventure of first meeting Sid, to him performing at The Underground by Round Guys Brewing Company last year, to him shining on The Voice is a simple, yet serendipitous, one.
Back in August 2018, I was diving into the music industry with more gusto than ever before. I connected with Mark Brown, the organ player for the jam band trio Hambone Relay, through Facebook as a networking contact. You may remember Hambone Relay from the June 2019 Discover Lansdale First Friday, as they rocked the house on Wood Street outside Round Guys. They were looking for someone to travel with them to do some roadie stuff on a short weekend tour run in Virginia.
One of the stops on the tour was on Aug. 23, 2018 at Martin's Downtown Bar and Grill located in Roanoke, VA. That night was the first time I saw and met Sid Kingsley. I was blown away by the soulful voice that I heard on stage. Sid was putting his heart and soul into every word he sang. I knew that, if I was going to continue my music industry career in Lansdale, that I needed to introduce Sid to the area. After a long night of performing and chatting about music and where he got his merch sign laminated — you know, the fun stuff — we parted ways as I ventured on to the next stop on Hambone’s tour.
Fast forward to 2019, I was fully immersed in booking The Underground and securing dates constantly. I hadn’t spoken to Sid in a while, so I eventually reached out to see if he would be interested in coming through Lansdale during any part of an east coast tour. We eventually settled on October 19, 2019 as a performance date with the local band Two Rocks Rye opening up. Click here to see a clip from his performance of the song “Moonshiner” from that evening. I was so excited that I had the opportunity to book a shining talent. Sid, being such a kind and gracious human being, left a very positive mark on me that I carried through the rest of my time at The Underground.
Fast forward, again, to 2020, I was continuing to follow Sid’s music on social media and his Spotify channel. A few weeks ago, I discovered a post on Facebook that stated he had auditioned for The Voice. My mind was blown, as all the memories I had of my interactions with him came flooding back. I was so overjoyed for him and I couldn’t wait to see his performance.
On Oct. 20, Sid’s audition aired and I was glued to my seat. He performed the Bob Dylan classic, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” to wonderful praise from the judges, eventually choosing John Legend as his coach. What I saw on The Voice is exactly the Sid that I came to know. Honest, hard-working, sincere, dedicated, gracious and full of emotion. The guy I had met in a bar in Virginia, by chance, is now on the national stage, where he should be.
You never know who you’re going to interact with or where those interactions will take you. Continue to support local, original music during the pandemic. These artists keep our spirit alive and our music channels rockin’!
Round Guys Brewing Company
Daily at 4 p.m. - Borough Wide Toast | Join owner Scott Rudich for a daily update on the pub and a virtual toast!
Monday - Friday from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. - Happy Hour at Round Guys Pub | ½ price apps, $2 off pints, $5 seltzer pints and daily specials!
See also:
10 Years Later: Remembering Mike Pelone
Round Guys: Teaming Up With Headway Art Collective For ‘Artist In Residency’ Series
Pennbrook Middle School Production Of ‘Mary Poppins’ Cancelled Due To Coronavirus Concerns
Lansdale Artist, North Penn Grad Selected As Finalist For Pabst Blue Ribbon Can Art Contest
Tantric To Play The Underground In Lansdale This Spring
