AMP Booking Bio

Like many professional musicians, Adam Powers’ love of, and passion for, music can be traced back to his formative years. Coming up as a teenager in small town Ohio usually meant ample time to succumb to the temptations of rural boredom. Rather than fall victim to the more mundane social follies symptomatic of teen hood, however, Adam chose instead to divert his attention to honing his skills as a musical craftsman and ardent student of the music business.

Adam’s first instrument was the drum kit. He began playing drums in grade school and continued into early high school, during which time he concluded that it was time to actually start a band. At the time, a capable bassist was not available in the area. So he decided to pick up the bass guitar and master the instrument himself. Thus, he would become the band’s bassist. Inspired by the likes of master hard rock bassists Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted, he devoured the instrument and never looked back. However, recognizing the songwriting limitations of his chosen instrument, he dove right in and developed proficiency on the guitar as well.

While in high school, Adam played with several bands. But, it was not until he co-founded his first band, Nevername, that he would really begin to grasp the complexities of what goes on behind the scenes in order to make a band go. Adam quickly learned that, in order for the band to really be successful, he would have to handle all aspects of the operation, from writing and learning new material to the business of making music, including the arduous and unglamorous tasks of booking, marketing and promotions. Ultimately, it was the diverse demands of his gig with Nevername that really ignited his passion for the business of music.

Nevername had a good run and left its mark on the local music scene. Adam’s affiliation with the band lasted throughout his college career. However, upon graduating with a B.S. degree in Business from Heidelberg College, Adam sought the challenges of more ambitious musical projects in larger markets. His search led him to Hampton Roads, Virginia to fill the recently vacated bass spot for freshly signed Digitone Records modern rockers, Red Metric. The band had nearly exhausted a national search for a bassist when a call from Adam for a last minute audition sealed the deal. Adam joined the band and, while simultaneously juggling his final college exams, immediately flew to Virginia to perform a CD release show and then hit the road for a national promotional tour.

The band racked up tens of thousands of miles, sharing the stage with several great national acts, including Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and The Smithereens. Though thrilled to be living his dream recording and touring with Red Metric, Adam aspired to a more prominent role in the business of running Red Metric. And the band was elated to have him take the lead. He assumed primary responsibility for managing booking and promotions for the band’s parent company, Red Metric Entertainment. Here, Adam excelled, booking more expansive tours with increasingly more ambitious and successful indie rock acts. His tireless work ethic and a grueling tour schedule substantially elevated the band’s national profile and reputation.

During his tenure with Red Metric Entertainment, Adam was able to really cut his teeth booking on the national indie booking scene. The result, aside from more tangible national successes for Red Metric, as well as a prestigious new guitar endorsement deal with Spector Basses for himself, was the establishment of (and growing respect from) a growing and diverse network of booking agents and venue owners nationwide. His achievements did not go unnoticed and he soon garnered the attention of national indie booking agencies Milestone Agency, and later MBM Entertainment, who were eager to recruit him to book their rosters of accomplished touring bands.

In the service of these agencies, Adam quickly became a favorite of management and bands alike, earning a well-deserved reputation as a hard working, ethical and affable booking agent. He soon blossomed into a formidable journeyman booking agent. Eager to make a more lasting mark in the booking and greater music business community, however, Adam struck out on his own and started his own national indie booking agency.

Adam founded AMP Booking in 2005 in order to provide an approachable, capable and well-connected booking service for indie acts worldwide. Since its founding, AMP Booking has successfully booked more than 200 shows for more than a hundred bands nationwide. Adam has had the privilege of contributing substantially to the careers of some of the hardest working and touring indie acts in the business. Some notable acts with which AMP Booking has represented include indie alt-rockers Sun Domingo, Brooks Wood Band and The Influence, just to name a few.

With more than 5,000 venue contacts coast to coast, Adam has established AMP Booking as a nationally recognized, one-stop-shopping booking house for indie acts of all styles. Where he once of necessity groveled to book his acts in even the lowliest venues, AMP Booking is now nationally recognized as a first-call booking agency. With that in mind, drop them a line and let them put years of experience and dedication and thousands of venue contacts to work for your act.

AMP Booking has recently relocated its home office to Chicago and is now booking shows/events in the greater Chicago Metro area. And, as if running AMP Booking were not sufficient to exhaust a mere mortal booking agent, Adam has recently signed on as one of the Talent Buyers for the Elbo Room in Chicago and now books shows for that venue.