Rising Stars: Meet Ian Deady of Huntington Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Deady.

Hi Ian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We are Love For Covers – a five piece pop and rock cover band that plays throughout Southern California at nightclubs, bars, and private events. This project is the result of the collective vision of our lead singer Diana Chavez, lead guitarist and keyboardist Ian Deady, rhythm guitarist Lee Kaser, bassist Cameron Tong, and drummer Kevin Lott.

Ian and Lee had worked as a lead and rhythm unit for the better part of the last decade across several cover band lineups. They were introduced to Diana while searching for a frontwoman in their prior project. When the drummer and bassist for that project suddenly split just a few days before a big gig, Diana, Lee, and Ian were determined to find a new rhythm section and play the show. After all, the show must go on. Fortunately, Lee struck gold when he got in touch with Cameron, a seasoned musician who then introduced the group to his former bandmate, Kevin. As it happens, Cameron and Kevin’s former band had previously auditioned Diana and liked her chops, but that band dissolved before they could offer her the job. So things really came full circle.

The chemistry was apparent from that first rehearsal a few days before the big gig. It was the only rehearsal we could get in before the show, and the band was on stage for the big gig just a few days later. But we really rocked the place and that’s when we knew we had the personnel for a promising project. We all agree that what made it click is that we are all detail oriented and we all have a passion for playing live music at a high level. We strive to get it as close to the record as we can, and we all agreed that we wanted to focus on bringing the best modern pop and rock to the stage with the energy and presence that could get people moving. What has followed has been a steady stream of gigs and a residency at a local venue that keeps the band pretty busy.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Bands are a lot of work. You have to balance the interests and opinions of five experienced musicians. Then you have to deal with the business side of it, which involves managing equipment, booking gigs, and negotiating pay, in addition to the challenging logistics of putting on a live show with consistent quality in a variety of venues with different variables. So those things never really get easier.

But to be honest, I think we can all agree that this project has been about as smooth and enjoyable as they come. Everyone shows up prepared ready to work out the finer details before we play a new song on stage. Everyone is invested in promoting the band. Everyone wants to put on the best live show we possibly can, while enjoying it at the same time. Ultimately that is what making music is all about and we try to keep that in mind. It’s never easy, but with this group it just doesn’t feel like work.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We focus on playing a wide variety of the best modern pop and rock hits from 1990 to the present. Our set list is always evolving and it is the product of our collective musical taste as well as years of audience feedback we’ve received over our respective careers as performers.

We wanted to distinguish ourselves early on. When you’ve been doing this as long as we have, you find that there is sort of a library of songs that a lot of cover bands pull from because it’s tried and true. But it feels a bit predictable and tired at times. So we have aimed to craft our setlist to play the tunes other bands don’t play. Of course, there are staples that crowds practically demand us to play, and we love pleasing the crowd. But overall, the majority of our set is comprised of songs we just don’t hear other bands play very often, if at all. That’s what sets us apart.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
We’re all professionals by day. Lee works in county emergency management, Diana is a court clerk for a judge, Cameron is a high school math instructor, Kevin works in the audio tech industry, and Ian is a lawyer. We balance busy schedules to rehearse and perform with this project and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.loveforcovers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveforcoversband/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/love-for-covers