October Road has been in the Midwest music scene since the Fall of 2004, crisscrossing the region countless times in pursuit of the perfect show! Nights to remember have manifested from the mix of smoke and neon, and just as many nights have been forgotten and left behind, along with empty bottles of Budweiser and Jim Beam. Along the way, the members of October Road learned what it was really like to be working musicians. The joy and the heartache of being on the road, the thrill of a pulsing audience, the agony of missing the people they love for well over 150 days of the year, the realities of traveling with a band and crew in a cramped van, and the words of wisdom from those who have gone before us, and have shared their visions of how it could have been. What has been absorbed has led to more than one good song, with many more to come!

October Road is comprised of Shawn Smalley on lead vocals and Lead Guitar, Joe Thiele on bass and vocals, Mike Brunette on Keyboards, Guitar, and Vocals, and Pat "Patio" Hewitt on drums and vocals. Each member brings a deep love and respect for music, and dedication for continued improvement and growth. It's a group of guys who have been given the gift of sharing a stage together are are incredibly grateful for it.

October Road's original music has been called many things.  Country. . . . Rock . . . .. Country-Rock.  The truth is, the band's music has not been easy to classify.  The songs that have been showcased on their first three albums run the gamut from classic country, to full on modern rock, but the band likes to think their music has kind of a Country-Funk type groove.   A style well suited to the band's desire to keep the art of songwriting a vital ingredient of the songs overall composition, while keeping the tempo up and the dance groove ever present.

When it comes to their extensive cover song list, the band puts their own spin on songs from nearly every genre filling the radio airwaves.  Country, Rock, Punk, Funk, and Hip-Hop all have their place in an October Road show, making sure that every single person in the audience can enjoy the show! It's not uncommon for the band to follow up a Merle Haggard classic with some Bruno Mars, and then follow that with a Rascal Flatts tune straight into some Stevie Wonder!

October Road's current single "The Best That We Can" is doing very well, and the guys sincerely hope millions and millions of people get a chance to hear it. Whether that will happen is actually as much up to you as it is to them. So they say this. . . . . If you like their live show, come to another. . . . .if you like their original music, download a song or two. . . . .and if you feel they are genuine, hard working people, spread the word about October Road. They're on a mission to play everywhere they can, having a blast doing it, and putting out music that matters. And they hope that is what will take them to the top!

 
About The Guys
Shawn Phillip Smalley
Position in The Band : Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar
Favorite Food : I live for spicy food, and prefer "flavors" that border on Nuclear!  As such, ethic foods are usually high on my priority list, particularly Indian and Mexican.
Favorite Artist(s) : This list is way, way to big to go into much detail.  Strong songwriting is everything to me so people like Roger Clyne, James Taylor, and Wade Bowen are on constant rotation for me.  The only genre I give a pass to as pertains to lyrical strength is soul and funk, which are the styles of music that bring me alive.  There's just something about Tower of Power and Stevie Wonder that does inexplicable things to the spirit.
Weakness : Junk food.  The guys always tease me that I'll bypass a restaurant just to buy gas station crap . . .and they're right.  I mean, come on, how can you not love the Deli Express Double Charbroil Deluxe and a grab bag of Sunchips!
In The Band You Are The : I'm the obsessive/compulsive, Type A personality of the band.  I'm a workaholic, always writing, working on website and promotional stuff, and when I run out of that stuff, I find something else to do.  Sitting still is not a talent that comes naturally to be.  I'm also a "pessimistic/optimist", which basically means I always expect the worst, but always know I can find a way to remedy a bad situation or at least find the humor in it.
   
Mike Brunette
Position in The Band : Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals
Favorite Food : Beer, wines, and liquors ONLY for me.  The Doc has me on a strict health diet.
Favorite Artist(s) : Jamie Cullum is first on this list.  I'm also a huge Ben Folds fan.  Smooth Jazz turns my crank as well.  You all know this as "Weather Channel Music". Pop/Rock is where I turn to when I need to let loose and dance half-naked in a mirror, which quickly leads to me getting banned from local clothing stores.
Weakness : Spiders . . enough said! Anything with more than 4 legs shouldn't be living. Also peer pressure.  I'll do anything once or twice . . . or 14 or 15 more times.
In The Band You Are The : I tend to make sure humor is number one.  Any situation is much better with some humor to make someone smile.  I'm also a scatter brain at times.  My second show in October Road I left all my freshly made music "cheat sheets" on top of the van.  Just imagine how good I sounded the next show!
   
Joe Thiele
Position in The Band : Bass, Vocals
Favorite Food : Coming Soon!
Favorite Artist(s) : Coming Soon!
Weakness : Coming Soon!
In The Band You Are The : Coming Soon!
   
Patio
Position in The Band : Drums, Vocals
Favorite Food : Coming Soon!
Favorite Artist(s) : Coming Soon!
Weakness : Coming Soon!
In The Band You Are The : Coming Soon!