Braxton Adamson and his band, 3 Story Fall, are doing things backward. Adamson's played at Gator Growl in front of 40,000 people. The band has played in front of enormous crowds, opening for legendary acts such as Kansas and the Doobie Brothers, and it has sponsorships that provide members with free instruments, clothing and equipment. These are all privileges usually only enjoyed by major acts, but this band doesn't even have a record deal.
3 Story Fall, whose sound is acoustic rock with a southern tinge, is made up of Adamson playing acoustic guitar and singing, Alex Hall on the bass, Nate Lezniewicz providing the lead guitar licks and Dan "Chewy" Howard on the drums and supplying back-up vocals. The band conjured up the name after Nate took a three-floor-tumble from an airplane hangar. He amazingly suffered no broken bones, and thus, the band had a name.
Adamson and Lezniewicz have been playing around Gainesville for about three years, doing the cover circuit, as Adamson described it. Last November, the band became whole, and with the addition of Howard and Hall it became a full-fledged, gig-playing band. This year's Gator Growl, however, was a solo venture for Adamson after he won UF's Talent Night in the solo category.
3 Story Fall could not enter as a band because not everyone was in town for the tryout. Adamson played the band's original song "Title Town," a song about his beloved Gators.
"It was awesome," he said. "I got to play for my school in the stadium."
Adamson's success and commitment to music can be attributed to more than a driving passion. Music is in his blood, and his blood is in his management team. Adamson's father is Billy Greer, singer and bassist of the rock group Kansas. He is also the band's manager - a luxury most up-and-coming bands aren't afforded.
Adamson said his dad, despite his vaunted status within the music community, has kept him grounded while encouraging him to pursue his own career.
"He's completely influenced me," Adamson said. "He would always tell me to go for it, but he reminds me that I've got to pay my dues. When I call him and tell him we just played in front of like seven people at a woodser, he laughs and says 'You're paying your dues.'"
The band consistently plays fraternity and sorority functions but tries to have one or two big shows a month.
Adamson said the band doesn't really get big gigs through his dad's connections. After playing their first huge venue opening for Kansas, the jobs have come in on their own.
"A company called AEG puts on big concerts and shows," he said. "At first they blew us off, but after that first show we did, they started to come around."
On Nov. 30, 3 Story Fall will be playing at the Florida Citrus Sports "Gator Jam" in Orlando at the Amway Arena.
