Bryce Avary: The Boy of Summer
Gina Bortolussi
Issue date: 4/12/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Avary is known for his connection with his fanbase. As soon as he starts the set, he is a ball of fire. He is energetic from start to finish, dancing and jumping, making it impossible for the audience to look away. There are a few stage dives into the crowd as he asks them to sing and clap along to the music. Avary walks around the stage and sings, microphone in hand, which performers do not typically do today. Avary brings them into the songs and makes them a part of the music because he believes his fans are the reason he is able to do what he does. The audience's memorization of every line to his songs clearly infers that they are as crazy about him as he is of them.
Rocket Summer song are filled with optimism. Such optimism is heard in songs like "Skies So Blue" with the line, "life ain't so bad you know, now the sky's such a sweet blue." Avary writes about his views on life and has refreshingly positive outlook. From his music one can tell that Avary has stories to tell, and a message he wants people to get.
He writes about hope because he thinks "everybody needs it," and anyone who listens to him would agree that this is a huge feeling you get as you listen to his songs. Avary draws inspiration, not only from life, but also from his "girl," which is his wife.
Another inspiration comes from Jesus. "I'm a Christian and just the love and hope that is in that is kind of behind the Rocket Summer," he says.
Avary started playing and writing music at 12 years olf, and started playing shows when he was 14. He is the heart and brains behind The Rocket Summer, taking on singing, playing every instrument on his albums and writing all of the music. No easy task, but it is natural to him and that is what you will hear on his EP: Rocket Summer and his albums: Calendar Days released in 2003 and Hello, Good Friend released in 2005.
The reason he handled all of these responsibilities in the studio was both out of necessity and because Avary simply loved doing it. "I always wanted to try it growing up...I made my first CD when I was 16 and then it became something I did," he says. On the next album, due out this year, Avary is thinking of inviting other musicians to play on it.