The SGC Bio
Jonny Vance and the SGC is an ongoing musical group that began as a collaboration between singer/songwriter/pianist Jonny Vance and guitarist Mike Henderson in the freshman dorms at BYU in Provo, Utah. Working both from material Jonny had written and was in the process of writing, the two polished Jonny’s piano-based acoustic songs for an Acoustic Explosion show in January and an open-mic performance at the Velour in downtown Provo.
Cellist Dan Newbold and percussionist Brandon Crofts joined in to provide needed rhythm and bass in JVATSGC’s first public outings. When an invitation to perform a Friday night show at Velour presented itself, the group kicked production into high gear. Violinist Kayla Hoover joined the fray, adding fine violin to the mix. Guitarist Colton Hicks also joined the swelling group to provide driving bass lines. The band hurriedly finished a setlist of six songs for the performance, including “The Puppeteer,” “So Much More,” “The Cave,” “Neptune,” and “Queen of Machu Picchu,” with a cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Stitched Up” rounding out the list.
The five original songs were then recorded the day after finals at Rosewood Studios in Provo as “Neptune EP,” with Jordan Rose adding rock-steady drumming. Neptune EP defines the “Jonny Vance and the SGC sound.” Guitar, bass, violin, and cello build off of moving piano arrangements and contribute to a tight, well-balanced sound that complements the Jonny’s soulful, mellow lyrics and vocals. Recorded in a single six-hour session as live recordings, The EP is the sum of the group’s efforts, and will be its last collaborative effort until most of its members return in the summer of 2012 from two-year missions for the LDS Church.
