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The Reel

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Hometown	El Dorado, CA
Genres	Pop, Alt. Rock
Band Members	Cameron Stymeist - Lead Vox - Guitar; Curtis Van Winkle... » more
Achievements	» more
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Artist / Band Member Cameron info@wearethereel.com *
# Years Experience Performing Live:	7
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	20
Market Draw:	Placerville: 201-250; Sacramento: 51-75
Venue History:	Joshua Fest - Quincy, Ca Christian Music Awards - Nashville, TN Tom Fest - Stevenson, WA Spirit West Coast - Monterey, Ca The Boardwalk - Orangevale, Ca 2008 US Transplant Games - Pittsburgh, PA
Opener Experience:	Third Day; Stars Go Dim; VOTA; House of Heroes; Mxpx; Falling Up; Tyler Hilton; Josiah Leming; Phil Stacey
Similar Artists:	Lifehouse; Switchfoot; One Republic
Performing Rights Society:	ASCAP
Discography:	Stars LP—2010; Come Alive LP—2006

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Achievements

Reached 54th in Best of Pop chart in 2013. In the top 100 for 13 weeks.

Top 10 in Christian, September 2012

Top 10 in Christian, July 2012

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The Reel by Stars EP
I've been listening to The Reel's music for years now. I fell in love with their acoustic style and sincere lyrics. I bought their first CD, Come Alive Ch. 1 and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was recorded full band. When I saw them live, The Reel was just two guys, Cameron Stymeist and Curtis Van Winkle, with their acoustic guitars. They later decided to be a full band, adding Christian Midthum, Kevin Balzer, and Jacob Ricketts. Loving their first CD so much, I was really excited when I heard they were writing new music and coming out with an EP. I had very high expectations, and The Reel's Stars EP has definitely lived up to those expectations. The EP starts off with an intro song, "Who We Are"; it has a calm, relaxing feel about it. The intro starts with lead singer Cameron's voice, piano, synth, and soft electric sound, and then BAM, "Stars" comes on. My immediate reaction was to blast the volume, and of course I couldn't help myself but dance a little. Just when I thought I was done dancing the next song came on, called "Robot." It's super catchy with the chorus, "Am I in love with a Robot?" When this song comes on, I guarantee you'll be singing along too. After two "dance along songs," an acoustic song, "Made For You," follows, which is my absolute favorite song on their EP. This song shows Cameron's range beautifully, and I feel this song is the turning point on the EP, transitioning to what the rest of the EP sounds like, which brings us to their new song "Time Of Your Life." This song lifts my spirits, and I guarantee you can't help but bob your head, tap your foot, clap your hands, and of course, sing along too. The next song, "Alisha's Song," is an absolutely beautiful song played on piano. When this song first came on, I literally stopped everything I was doing and listened to every note, every lyric, every sound. It's such a beautiful song, and I feel like a lot of people will be touched and be able to relate and be able to interpret it in their own way that will make it special to them. The EP concludes with the song "Broken Story." Knowing a little bit about the background of this song and why they wrote it makes me appreciate it so much more. Of course you can interpret this song in your own way, but I suggest if you ever get the chance to talk to or message one of The Reel members, ask about the meaning behind the song. From the Intro song, "Who We Are," to the last song, "Broken Story," they created music and wrote beautiful lyrics that are meaningful and genuine. I loved their first CD, and even though their EP sounds different, I love them both. They are both great in their own ways, and overall, I can't say anything bad about this EP. I can't wait until their full length album comes out! Make sure you see them live; they'll blow your minds!

It's Really Reel by Alternative rock band to perform at local church
The Reel, an alternative rock band from Placerville, will be performing at the Living Water Church in Elk Grove on Sunday, July 18 at 6 p.m. Spirituality guides their music but they touch on a lot different topics, said Cameron Stymeist, lead vocalist and guitarist. “We want to give a message through the music,” he said. Stymeist and Curtis Van Winkle, who plays acoustic and electric guitar, started playing music together in 2005. Van Winkle met Cameron at church and asked him if he could be involved in the church band. Stymeist is the music director and worship leader at Green Valley Community Church. Other band members include: Kevin Balzer on electric guitar, Jacob Ricketts on bass, Christian Midthun on drums, and Tanner Stymeist, Cameron’s younger brother who they jokingly have listed on their MySpace page as their “roadie and back-up dancer.” Midthun graduated from Franklin High School in 2008. Their debut album titled, Come Alive Ch. 1 consists of 10 songs about “life, hope and second chances.” One song is about Cameron’s cousins who had to undergo a heart transplant when she was 18-months-old. Cameron recalled she wasn’t supposed to live past the age of 5. “She’s 20 now,” he said, adding that she gives speeches about her story to inspire people. That’s what The Reel hope to do as well through their lyrics: “inspire, challenge and move people.” Cameron said sometimes the easiest way to communicate is through song. They recently finished their second album titled, Stars, inspired by their myriad of their life experiences both happy and silly. They have a “fun” song titled, “Robot.” “I started singing it in my shower and I made myself laugh so hard I thought I had to pursue this,” he said. The song is about disingenuous people, “who say all the right things but are an empty shell.” “It’s the most corky song we have,” Cameron added. But the second album also has some heavy subjects as well. Cameron wrote a song about a friend who lost her husband in a motorcycle accident. Another song was inspired by the children he met who lived in the “projects” while visiting Washington, D.C. on a missionary trip with his church. “It seems like this CD is more about life experiences,” he commented. They perform at a variety of venues, including a recent show at a popular bar for up-and-coming bands, The Boardwalk in Orangevale. Cameron said they’re not consumed with the idea of getting famous. “Wherever this leads us,” is fine with him, he said. “We just want to play for as many people as we possibly can,” Cameron added. To learn more about The Reel, visit www.WeAreTheReel.com

Courage to Believe by Benefit concert’s proceeds will help build cottage
Less than half a year ago, Samu ventured to the United States in hopes of pursuing a music career. The Kenyan rapper is now on tour, with seven concert dates lined up around the Southland in March and April. But when he takes the stage for the first show this weekend, his career will be the last thing on his mind. Samu is one of nearly a dozen musicians touring to raise money for Courage to Be You, a charity that provides homes and support for girls rescued from human trafficking. Back in his home country, Samu said, musicians often played for a cause, and he jumped at the chance to do a benefit in America. “Back in Kenya, we try to reach out to the young guys with our music,” he said. “Hearing they wanted to reach out to young girls who have been trafficked, that got me in.” On Monday night, Samu and other artists will take the stage at Robinwood Church in Huntington Beach for the third stop on their tour. The event has no required admission fee, but through donations and merchandise sales, organizers hope to raise funds to create a home for rescued girls. The nonprofit started doing benefit concerts in October after producing a CD, “Believe in Me,” which features Christian-themed songs by eight artists. Monday’s show comes at a moment of hope for the organization; just a week ago, Courage to Be You bought a 50-acre property near Sacramento, known as Courage House, and needs funds to build cottages on the land. The property already contains a house and horse stables and may open by early summer, Creative Director Stephanie Midthun said. The facilities can house six girls; the nonprofit’s goal is to raise money for up to 92 beds. “As many cottages as we can build out is what we’re going to do,” Midthun said. The Elk Grove resident, who has her own band, wrote the song that provided the “Believe in Me” album with its title track. Los Angeles-based filmmaker Aaron Schnobrich created a music video for the song that tells the story of a child caught in the sex-trafficking world, and the CD and video will be on sale for $20 at Monday’s concert. In addition to Samu, other artists include Chaya, Christine Smit and the Reel, which will play its own set and serve as the backup band for many of the solo vocalists. Vicky Zito, the mother of a daughter who was kidnapped by traffickers, will also give a presentation at the show. Cameron Stymeist, the lead singer and songwriter for the Reel, said he recently visited Delhi, India, with a member of his church who is considering starting a nonprofit there for victims of trafficking. The trip, he said, gave him a sobering view of some of the world’s most blighted slums. Stymeist, though, believes many are unaware about similar problems in the U.S. “Here, it’s hidden,” he said. “A lot of people I’ve met and people around me are completely unaware, and they’re shocked when they hear anything about sex trafficking or someone being held against their will and sold for sex. It’s completely crazy.”

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