Brian Lam: Press

Augusta Native on American Idol
Brian Lam, a Lakeside High School graduate, is one of the 164 contestants who made it to the Hollywood round of auditions that begin tonight on American Idol. Brian was a member of the band Reverse Trend that won WAFJ's local talent search in the fall of 2004. This week's auditions will decide who makes it to the pool of 24 finalists. We are so proud of Brian and wish him the best on the show!

If you're a fan of the show American Idol...you how tough it is to get that Golden Ticket invitation to Hollywood...but Brian Lam from right here in Augusta did just that!
If you want to learn more about Brian and his music, go to:
www.myspace.com/brianlammusic

Stephen Lam, 17, is aiming for an amazing senior year.


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"I'm taking classes I've always wanted to take but never had time for before," the Lakeside High School student said.
His wish-list classes are guitar, AP photography and yearbook.
"After high school and college, I want to do something with photography. I don't know what, exactly, but I really enjoy it."
Outside of school, Stephen works at Hollister Co. in Augusta Mall.
His main focus, though, is his senior project, planning a concert that will benefit research and awareness of Lou Gehrig's disease.
"My friend's dad was affected by it, so I wanted a cause that meant something to me. It seemed like the right choice," he said.
The headliner will be someone Stephen knows well.
"My brother Brian Lam has been living in L.A. for a couple years now and just put out a new CD. I'm really pumped to have him out here to showcase his songs and be a part of the benefit."
The concert is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Warren Baptist Church on Washington Road. Tickets are available for $10 at Family Christian Bookstores. They are $12 at the door. The proceeds will be donated to The ALS Association.
"It's going to be a great evening for a good cause. Come on out and see it," Stephen said.
Want an advance peek of the show? Get to know Brian Lam's music at www.myspace.com/brianlammusic.

Stephen Lam, Lakeside High School senior, is hosting a concert to benefit The ALS Association which supports Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The event will be held Friday, January 30th at 7:00p at Warren Baptist Church on Washington Road in Augusta.
Brian Lam, Augusta native indie musician and Season 7 American Idol semi-finalist, will be the featured musician and will perform a number of new original songs along with other pop and contemporary Christian selections.

AUGUSTA, GA - What began as the obligatory senior project for Lakeside High School student Stephen Lam has now become something larger than just a mere report and media presentation. For Lam, his final paper has transformed into a benefit concert in support of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.

Better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, named after the famous baseball player, ALS is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor skills and muscle control. Often the end result is total paralysis.

Lam knows a little something about ALS. The father of a friend has the disease. The trials this man and his family are currently going through are the inspiration for the benefit concert Lam has put together.

“Over the summer I found out my friend’s father has ALS,” Lam recalls. “I thought it would be nice to do something for the family.”

Honorable though it is to support ALS, Lam also gets to complete his mandatory senior project and help out his brother. Stephen’s brother and Georgia musician Brian moved to Los Angeles three and a half years ago to pursue his music career. In July, the elder Lam brother finished recording his first full-length album, “My Embrace.” Also in 2008, millions of people all across the country witnessed Brian Lam on the seventh season of “American Idol” rise to one of the top 164 positions after the first cut.

Still, even with success possibly right around the corner, Brian isn’t too proud to forget his hometown. He has signed on to play a handful of originals and covers in his “John Mayer-but-Southern” style to benefit Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

From the roots of a research paper studying whether a band needs a major label to make it in the music industry, Stephen has launched something truly wonderful and selfless.

And what was the result of all his footwork on independent record labels versus the big boys? Bands don’t need the major record labels if “they’re good enough and know how to work the crowds,” Stephen says. “If they’re good to the fans, the fans will be good to the band.”

After graduation, Stephen plans to stay in Georgia to attend college, where he will focus on the entertainment business. In addition to the upcoming benefit and polishing off his senior paper, he reminds people the concert is also a great place to “come check out a very good musician.” After his “American Idol” popularity and the release of his new album, perhaps the next time Brian returns to Augusta, the James Brown Arena will be sold out.

The proceeds from the benefit will go to the ALS organization where it will then be dispersed as needed for victims of Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Brian's music is something everyone can relate to and it speaks to you in a very powerful way. Listening to this album makes my whole day better and I love to listen as I'm on my way to work...It brightens my "alone" times with some serious love and some great lyrics. you'' love his music and you'll be waiting in anticipation for any chance to listen to his voice.

Brian Lam is young but brings up every emotion in his song writing from young love, the fear of wanting to fall back in love after "bruises and scars", begging for forgiveness, love gone bad and love finds you. I would compare some of his songs to Jonas Brothers sounds. Most of the tunes are upbeat - others purely lip locking love songs. Any young man driving around with his girl is a nut not to have this CD playing! Soulful writing, great instrumentals and a good voice. Good clean music that stays in your head long after you listen. This is the album you would hear in any soundtrack like a drew Barrymore or jennifer Aniston Movie. Very relevant to today. Some sons could be applied as a Christian rock theme so it is like a pop and Christian rock genres. If you like Jonas Brothers pop or the love stories of Taylor swift you definitely will like Brian Lam's music.

I love this CD. I listen to it when driving with the windows down. Doing homework. Singing at the top of my lungs with friends. Or just when I'm doing any sort of household chore., It's very versatile. If you take a chance and buy it, you won't regret it. It's EXCELLENT.

Brian Lam, an Augusta singer, will be on American Idol tonight.

We've been playing Brian for about a month now, so we're excited about the possibilities that will begin tonight for this Georgia Artist.

Whatever happens, we'll keep you up to date (and we may actually watch the show now).

We don't think of ourselves as playing the style of music you'd here on American Idol, but we knew this guy had talent when we heard "If I Fall", and we've been proudly playing it ever since.

Good Luck Tonight Brian! - We'll be rooting For You!