Location : Houston, TX, USA

Band Members :
Mark Mireles (Lead Vocals/Guitar)
Chris Portman (Drums)
Allen Portman (Bass)
Terry Wilbanks (Acoustic Guitars/Vocals)
Cesar Ruiz (Vocals)

Band Biography :
It all began 3 years ago when Chris and Allen Portman had assembled a makeshift
bedroom studio. A place where they could throw down simple musical ideas at
will. This helped with the sense of emptiness that had settled over their
musical lives since neither had been playing out much for the past several
months. They had been sequencing some music on a PC with Acid Pro, laying a few
audio tracks, trying to capture those fleeting glimpses of musical ideas that
they dreamed could one day turn into a masterpiece. They knew this guy from
church who was quite exceptional on the guitar. They didn’t know him too well
but knew that if he was willing he could definitely add something special to the
songs floating around in their heads. Mark Mireles agreed to bring his guitar by
the house and just see what happened. If nothing else, everyone would jam for a
while, maybe rattle some windows before going home. But something special took
place on that fateful Tuesday night. These amazing songs started coming out of
that bedroom as if they were a force all their own, able to give themselves life
at will. Chris would start a groove, Allen would lay the bass line, and Mark
would work out some ethereal melody on top it all. The chemistry was there.
Somehow, in spite of or maybe even because of the differing backgrounds of each
musician the most creative songs began to take form. There were still rough
spots and some areas needed tweaking. For one thing, they didn’t have a singer.
But the music was so “in your face” and powerful, such a unique dreamscape that
words weren’t really fitting at the time. But despite the powerful sound of the
music alone, the band knew they needed a singer if they were ever going to
become a serious band with a message. And they knew that message had to be
spreading the love of Jesus Christ. Mark had always played jazz and country
guitar along with steel pan drums for local bands and at church. Chris lived and
breathed bands like the Smashing Pumpkins and The Cure, and found his drumming
inspiration in guys like Jimmy Chamberlin and Chris McHugh. He had a diverse
background in playing gospel, country, and blues tunes from all of the years
spent playing in church and going on choir tours. Allen had originally played
drums for many years but had abandoned them altogther, choosing instead to pour
his heart and soul into playing the bass. He had been playing the bass for at
least two decades and had developed a signature style from his experience
playing in church and by learning techniques from such artists as Abraham
Laboriel and Tommy Simms. The three members of this fledgling band had the
diversity, the spontaneity, the giftedness, and the experience to instantly lock
into each other and play like they had been together for years but they were
still missing that essential element: a singer. Everyone begged Chris to sing
but he preferred to stay behind the kit. They claim he sounds a lot like Billy
Corgan, but there’s also lot of people out there who probably wouldn’t like that
whiney, screeching voice in a Christian band. And besides, there’s only room for
one Billy at a time. Allen wasn’t going to do it either. So Mark said he would
give it a try, at least until someone else came along to replace him so he could
just focus on guitar. Everyone was amazed at his bravery. It was a completely
new musical role to take on. Suddenly the band realized it was time to stop
looking for a vocalist. Mark’s voice kept getting better and better. Soon it
became clear that the vocalist had been in the band all along. Mark’s voice had
the slightest hint of country while still being smooth enough for pop, and with
only a slight twang to let the world know this band was born and bred in the
great Lone Star State. It was just Mark’s sound. And it fit the sound of the
band perfectly. The music began to take shape in the form of 70’s bands like
America and Fleetwood Mac, yet it retained this jazzy, funky feel that couldn’t
easily be dismissed after all of the gospel years. So what does a band like this
call itself? What kind of name fits music that doesn’t fit any genre and all
while retaining a Christian motif and purpose, even if not overt? After a few
weeks of throwing ideas back and forth, ideas with which no one was totally
happy, Chris felt a psychic thunderbolt suddenly strike his brain and had to
tell the rest of the band immediately. “Let’s call ourselves Adora. It’s short
for Adoration, it has a nice ring to it, it’s catchy and ambiguous–just like
the music.” “Perfect,” everyone agreed. This was the day Adora has born. Since
the band’s inception they have performed at a variety of Houston area coffee
houses, churches, musical venues, and festivals. Along the way connections were
made with the Houston based producer of many stellar Indie bands: MD Thompson.
The band just calls him “Mike.” Mike loved the music and wanted to record and
produce it immediately. He believed in the sound enough to stick his neck out
and produce the whole thing before Adora even had enough funds collected to pay
for his services. So off they went to Sugar Hill Studios to record their first
album. Sugar Hill is the same studio where many chart topping artists have laid
tape, including The Rolling Stones and Destiny’s Child. The album is still in
the works and will be titled, “All You’ve Ever Wanted.” The release date has not
been set but you can probably expect it sometime during July 2005. Adora is
playing out more and more. Their reputation for cutting edge, original music
with a message is spreading across the state and even across the Atlantic.
Adora’s music is currently being played on college radio stations in London and
in Israel. Over the years, Adora has changed members a few times, for varied
reasons, while the core founders of Allen, Chris, and Mark have been the bedrock
of its existence. Recently, Terry Wilbanks has joined the band, adding harmony
vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar. Cliette Hodges, whom the band simply refers
to as “Cly-T,” now plays keys, giving the band somewhat of a piano driven feel.
Think Keane or Coldplay. David Robertson plays electric rhythm guitar. And Cesar
Ruiz adds even more vocal punch with third part harmonies and some percussive
elements. The sound has changed without changing. It is constantly evolving,
growing into something bigger and better at every show. The music; however, has
and always will remain unmistakably Adora.

Mp3 Links :

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Band Website : http://www.4adora.com
Contact Email : mark@4adora.com