Oakland-based Adrian West Band is a four-piece acoustic rock ensemble that plays uplifting originals, catchy instrumentals and the odd cover song. Some say they sound like a cross between Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band.  

Adrian's approach to songwriting starts with the music. To be engaging, a song must stand on its own musically, independent of the lyrics. He usually composes the underlying music, including the melody that will be sung, from start to finish before writing a single lyric. It's only once he has something with solid musical "legs" that he will start toying with lyrics that reflect the mood of the music and his own musings, passions and concerns of the day. 

Ever the realist, Adrian's lyrics strike a delicate balance between hope and despair, between poetic language and social justice messaging. He takes peculiar delight in setting serious topics to joyful music.

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