Secondhand Serenade
by Max Giffin
Photo: Facebook
What makes a serenade? According to John Vesely (vocals and guitar) of Secondhand Serenade, it’s a mixture of love and sincerity–you have to really mean what you write. This recipe has launched, and sustained, Vesely’s career, one that started by building a national fan base online. This fan base was responsible for selling out the Bluebird March 16, when Secondhand Serenade played with Boyce Avenue and the After Party.
What attracts such an audience to an acoustic guitar player? Vesely claims that there’s no secret-online tool behind it, no magic. He claims that being personable leads to people sharing his music with others exponentially. Vesely’s ability to be personable shone through in his performance, as he mockingly sang a cover of Enrique Iglesias’ “I Can be Your Hero,” that had people smiling, laughing, and singing along. Instead of dodging fans after his set, Vesely mingled with the audience.
Vesely is a very grounded musician. He relaxes in the company of good friends and family, and values the father-son bond. When he isn’t winning people over with serenades, he enjoys cooking. His eyes get dreamy when he imagines cooking chicken and steak fajitas, and he gets very animated while describing his recipe for making eggrolls.
So what wisdom can Vesely share?
First, kangaroos don’t have furry pouches. They are his favorite animals to see at the zoo, and he informs me that the pouches aren’t fuzzy. He gets a satisfied smile while describing a disgusting place that most people don’t spend time imagining.
Second, every good relationship is based on listening. Whether it’s a friendship or romance, he has realized all too often that his friendships are not symbiotic anymore. Recently, Vesely had a rude awakening when he realized that the person he considered his best friend, only considered him a friend. Vesely listened to what his friends had to say. He said the criticism was harsh and unkind at first, but necessary, and he has put in a lot of effort becoming a more positive person ever since.
This transformation has motivated Vesely to view his previous success very humbly. “It was a successful single, it wasn’t the end of the world.” During his set, Vesely announced proudly, that enough money had been raised to fund his next album, an album that “will belong to you and me, not a record company.” Stay tuned to his social media for updates.
Category: What's Up?
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