Columbus Against the World to showcase local bands on April 5 at Newport Music Hall
"I'm Adam Paddock, we're Adam Paddock, and after tonight, you will be, too."
Those spur-of-the-moment words were spouted by Columbus musician Adam Paddock at the start of his first show with a still-nameless band he'd assembled in 12 days. The statement gave the group its moniker and has since become a catchphrase and three-year running joke.
What's not a joke, however, is the mark that Adam Paddock is making on the local music scene, along with many other rising artists.
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That scene is what Paddock, 24, wants to spotlight with the second annual Columbus Against the World (CATW2) concert taking place on April 5 at Newport Music Hall.
"Last year, Columbus Against the World sold more than 1,000 tickets at the Newport," Paddock said. "We're hoping this year will sell out."
Who else will perform at Columbus Against the World?
In addition to showcasing Adam Paddock, the concert presented by Columbus Alternative 105.7 will feature three other alternative acts, singer Lisa Curtis and bands Jady and Summon Luke.
Paddock said his own band's sound has been described as "if Coldplay and the Killers had a child" and his voice is often compared to that of actor-singer Ben Platt. "I guess we'd be called alternative pop," he said.
"We have very ethereal, big-sounding songs. There's a lot of huge dynamics in our show."
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How Columbus Against the World evolved
After drawing a sellout crowd to The Basement, Adam Paddock repeated the feat at another PromoWest Productions venue, A&R Music Bar — and thus was the genesis of Columbus Against the World.
"After we sold out A&R, PromoWest asked if we could sell out Newport. I knew I couldn't sell it out by myself, but I figured, 'What if I get all my best friends in the local scene and treat it like an all-headliner show?' Paddock recalled
"With everyone billed at equal time, we all get to play a venue we've always dreamed of playing.
"I didn't want this to be as much about me as some people would. It's more about the scene; it's not about, 'look at Adam Paddock.' It's a rally to celebrate local bands."
If you want a preview of the sounds you'll hear at CATW2, all of the acts have their music on streaming services including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora and Spotify. In addition, there's an official Columbus Against The World playlist on Spotify and you can also check out these websites:
Adam Paddock — adampaddock.com
Jady — jadymusic.net
Lisa Curtis — lisacurtis.net (Curtis also is on TikTok, where she has more than 5 million streaming views. Paddock calls her "a budding star, one to watch.")
Summon Luke — summonluke.bandcamp.com
Leading up to the concert, Adam Paddock will appear on "Good Day Columbus" on April 5. The morning show begins at 4:25 a.m. on WSYX-TV (Channel 6) and at 7 a.m. on WTTE-TV (Channel 28).
General admission tickets for CATW2 cost $20 in advance, $25 the day of the show. Platinum seating is $45. To purchase tickets online, go to bit.ly/48Wl40K.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Against the World to take place April 5 at Newport Music Hall
