The Act is the new trio. A mixture of pop music enriched by a jazz, blues and R&B soul. They deliver melody, harmony and hooks like a well oiled machine powered by heart and passion. The trio is made up of three seasoned musicians, Adam Carter, Corey Riley and Rick Allen. Carter sings, plays piano, guitar and is the trios key song writing asset. Classically trained in piano from age 5 Carter draws influence from all music. He is a sponge. He takes from a wide range of genres and styles then considers each songs potential during it’s production and arrangement stages. He believes that if a song can’t stand alone with just a vocal and a guitar or piano accompaniment there’s no use in trying to make the band fix it. Riley, a jazz drummer since age 7, has toured with numerous groups and is a multi-instrumentalist. He brings a melodic and rhythmic style of original songs to the bands arsenal. He actually plays a drum kit like a dynamic instrument unlike the repetitive squashed kick and snare so common place in popular music. Riley certainly ads charm and warmth to the trios rhythm section the way Motown artists used to. Rick Allen is the bands bus driver. In other words he plays the bass. Allen makes a bass guitar sound like someone pounding out low keys on a piano. He manages to find openings in the drums to help give them bounce while simultaneously using Mcartney style counter point. Allen has toured with countless groups and done session work on dozens of records. He is the glue that holds The Acts act together. The Act has unique characteristics that create the bands original sound. The listener will be captured by catchy refrains and clever “heart on the sleeve” lyrics. However, a closer look will reveal the groups use of counter point, rich chord textures and masterful voice leading. All the while masquerading as a pop band that makes what they do look easy.