Meet the Next is a Modern Classic Rock Band with influences from the Beatles, John Waite, Tom Petty, The Cars, and Train. Meet the Next delivers the highest levels of musical talent, and a driving sound with reflective lyrics, melodic hooks, and distinctive harmonies.

With an array of awards from the listeners of the indie website garageband dot com including: Best Melody, Best Production, Best “Feel Good” Track, Best Beat, Best Drums, Best Guitars, and Track of the Day, listeners around the world are saying:

“This is how real rock has always sounded.”- Perrysburg, Ohio
”Great guitar based pop rock.” - Somerville, Massachusetts
“Harmonies akin to Supertramp… musicianship is excellent…”- Middletown, Ohio
“The Beatles meet ELO. On the nose feel good music.” - Dalhart, Texas
“… lots of real emotion and great instrumentation...”- Eureka, California
“5 stars” - Manchester, United Kingdom

Meet the Next - Bio

Although Meet the Next was formed in August 2004, the members have known and played in various configurations together since their early school years. Lifelong friends, and now for the first time, they have finally joined forces creating a distinctive combination that only happens in the rarest of instances.

Vocalist and principle songwriter Ken Gilmer is the voice and conscience of Meet the Next. Over his years, Ken has had the opportunities to work with various artists from Ray Charles to Slash. Ken's unique style and pop sensibilities lead the group with a presence that reveals his passionate yet uncomplicated demeanor. "With each song, I hope to share feelings and images that are universal in nature, but are also pure to my own experience, reflective of moments when I experienced aspects of life and love. Through good and bad times, I have never regretted any of the things that have happened, only those that did not."
With extensive knowledge and background in audio and sound design, the melodic sensitivity of Jonathon Cain, musical veracity of Rick Wright, along with his years touring as a rock keyboardist, Ken is an extraordinary talent providing the lush undertone and unique voice of the Meet the Next sound.

Guitarist and vocalist Randy Norman has long been one of the top musical talents in the Birmingham area. Randy's earliest influences include the Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. From these beginnings, Randy focused his talents towards the heavier side and played in several of the area's hardest rocking bands. Randy has played continuously in clubs and in concerts around the country for the past few years opening for major artists, and is the very definition of a seasoned musician. An accomplished, guitarist, bassist, and incredible singer, Randy provides Meet the Next with a driving edge that creates an extraordinary energetic passion within the music reminiscent of Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn, yet thoroughly unique.

Ray Noe began playing drums when he was just 10 years old, and first played in a band with Ken when he had just turned 16. Over the years Ken and Ray have played together in many various bands all over the country. From Atlanta to L.A., Ray has played in bands with many of the country's top talents, from the bassist currently with Lynyrd Skynyrd to a guitarist featured on the Generation Ibanez Project and other various progressive rock projects. Meet the Next began out of a collaborative project began by Ray and Randy. Ray's the drummer that as soon as he begins playing, you think of John Bonham or Keith Moon, guys who lived and died for rock and roll and their instrument. Ray is the backbeat of Meet the Next that pumps the life into and out of every beat.

When Meet the Next added Brian Dunnagan on bass, they achieved unique distinction as a group. Brian's extraordinary talent gave the group the melodic bottom that it needed. Brian has lent his talents to many acts in the southeast, playing hundreds of shows during the past five years. With his unique musical talents, Brian provides Meet the Next with the proper distinction of a progressive rock edge reminiscent of John Paul Jones coupled with the divergence and pop flair of Paul McCartney.




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