About
Dream…With A Deadline
Sundrown started out in 2007 with Guitarist/Vocalist Van Hartsell and expanded with the addition Drummer Daniel Namias and Bass Player Beau McCray. McCray went on to Professional Wrestling (no joke) and Sundrown were lucky to land Heather Gainey on bass in early 2008.
Their debut LP, 2008s ”Something or Another” moved freely through the internet at the bands directive. “We all knew where the internet was headed”. Van recalls. “There was MySpace and I think MP3.com out there at the time. I wanted the album to be free so I figured I would make the studio costs back touring. It worked out."
2009 saw the release of Sundrown’s 2nd album, The 8th Day Bliss.
“The songs are great, the band on point, but recording it was hell. Day one ended with breaking my hand.” Van says. “A story for another time."
2010 was the “make it or break it year as we we‘re all moving away from the area”. “Needless to say, we didn’t make it”.
The Bass Player On Call
“I met this guitar player in ‘10 who was working with a vocalist that just blew me away." They needed a Bass Player, so I bought a used rig and we went to work." The band picked up steam as we mixed originals with covers, and we did well." This led to other opportunities and I was able to go about 12 years as kinda an on call bass player." I worked a 9-5 and played in bands, filled in with groups, played Churches, etc. I made some great friends”.
Then there was Covid...
”I went from 130 shows in 2019 to 3 in 2020". “That was tough on all of us." We were gearing up for ‘20. Gonna hit up the Southeast fierce, but fuck…Covid." 2021 brought in work, but it staggered. Hell the first 6 months there were so many rules for the bars. ”Done with drinks at 9pm. Close at 11pm. Cops shutting bars down. By the end of the year, I pulled back." Crowds were different and understandably so. “I’m sure things are back to normal now”.
The Studio
“The 9-5 deal paid the bills." Van says. “Gig money paid for the gear." 2022 saw the release of ”Reclusivity” a 10 track album that spanned various genres. 2023 has brought the new single “Vial of Promises." An expansive song that has been in the works for many years. “I have so many variations by so many different musicians throughout the years, they're all good versions. This last attempt was the take."