The Venture Rays are an innocent rock band for all your guilty pleasures. Our lead singer has an endearing twang, dreamy jet black locks, and looks 2-3 yrs younger than he really is. Our keyboard player loves the Dukes of Hazzard, while our guitar player loves Daisy Duke. Our bass player has a green thumb, and our drummer is a vegetarian who has been bitten by the guitar player's dog (twice).
More to the point, the Venture Rays are a Richmond, VA-based rock band specializing in classic covers, contemporary hits, and everything in between. Comprised of a lead singer, 2 guitars, keys, bass & drums, the band covers a lot of ground, from Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan to Wilco, Ryan Adams and Gnarls Barkley. We love making music, we love to entertain, and we will love you long time should you hire us for your club, party, wedding, corporate event, bar mitzvah, christening, confirmation, retirement, baby shower, graduation (high school, driving school, AA...), etc.
Please see the CONTACT page for all related booking info.
VENTURE RAYS' SONG-LIST
(songs are continually being added and/or dropped, so please feel free to e-mail one of us for the most up-to-date list):
contemporary...
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Magick - Ryan Adams
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
Heavy Metal Drummer - Wilco
The Late Greats - Wilco
Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne
Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
Babylon - David Gray
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
California - Phantom Planet
Steal Your Kisses - Ben Harper
Gold to Me - Ben Harper
Over My Head - The Fray
I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On) - Robert Plant/Alison Krauss
Luckiest Man - Wood Brothers
Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung
Read My Mind - The Killers
the 90's...
Ball & Chain - Social Distortion
One - U2
Creep - Radiohead
Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Sex & Candy - Marcy Playground
Rain King - Counting Crows
Champagne Supernova - Oasis
Never There - Cake
Hell - Squirrel Nut Zippers
Loser - Beck
Banditos - The Refreshments
Come As You Are - Nirvana
the 80's...
Down Under - Men at Work
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
And She Was - Talking Heads
JENNY (8675309) - Tommy Tutone
Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Jack & Dianne - John Mellencamp
classic...
Hey Hey What Can I Do - Led Zeppelin
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
Come Dancing - The Kinks
I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Into The Mystic - Van Morrison
Feel A Whole Lot Better - The Byrds
Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan
Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Forever Young - Bob Dylan
Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band
American Girl - Tom Petty
Breakdown - Tom Petty
Pink Houses - John Mellencamp
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash
Give a Little Bit - Supertramp
A Little Less Conversation - Elvis Presley
Walking on the Moon - The Police
The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
Driver 8 - REM
Begin The Begin - REM
One I Love - REM
Superman - REM
Paint it Black - Rolling Stones
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Cecelia - Paul Simon
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Come Together - The Beatles
The Weight - The Band
Dixie Chicken - Little Feat
Squeeze Box - The Who
Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Rolling Stones
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Black Water - Doobie Bros.
Rocky Top - Osborne Bros.
More - Bobby Darin
Venture Rays: All About Us
JB Jeter - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Lead singer, rhythm guitarist, family man, enjoyer of dark beers. JB is all of these things, and so much more! He's an unwilling cat owner, possesses a particularly inconvenient form of CD player in his truck, is a devotee of the band Southern Culture on the Skids, and can speak with authority on the distinctive properties of many forms of animal poop. All this, and he somehow has the words for hundreds of songs stored in his brain, which he can usually regurgitate in the right order.
Nate Brown - keyboards, vocals
Nathan first came to Richmond in the Summer of 1990. He went to VCU and got a Degree in Music composition. He spent the next 10 years forgetting everything he learned while touring with "The Headstone Circus". In 1999 his Daughter Zuzu was born and he left the road for a "regular job" where he spent 6 months a year on the road. He also joined the group "Oregon Hill Funk Allstars"; they play sometimes around town. Nathan's other project is "The Word Brown", a collection of original music that spans 25 years.
Donny Atkins - Guitar, Vocals
Raised right here in the Virginia's fine capital city, I stumbled into the guitar at age 16 while listening to The Cult's "Electric". I quickly realized that my hair was too curly to grow long, and afro's weren't really "rock and roll" in 1987. Instead, I chose to seek solace in the mountains of Virginia to continue my education at Radford University. While at Radford I focussed on music and rugby and somehow snuck out with a degree. After years of the corporate grind, I co-founded the band Turtlebox which found modest success in Virginia. Currently I reside in Richmond with 2 sons, 2 dogs and all the growing collection of beer cans left behind at each Venture Rays rehearsal. Has anyone ever heard of a trashcan for gods sake?
Tod Ellsworth - Bass, Vocals
Hi, I'm Tod and I like walks in the park, sipping chai tea in the afternoon while watching Dr. Phil and then Oprah. My goodness, she's FABBBBUUULOUSS! I also like to cuddle up with a good book, sip hot cocoa, and look out my window overlooking the bay. For fun, i like to play backgammon with friends and catch up on neighborhood gossip. My sister-in-law is teaching my how to knit and has asked me to join her book club ... Oh, I also play a little bass.
In my 25+ years as a working musician, I have been fortunate to perform with a variety of regional and national acts like John Fogerty, Trace Adkins, Richard Marx, Rufus Thomas, Mitch Ryder, Colbie Caillat, Phil Keaggy and many more. Currently, I've been busy performing and recording with a number of Central Virginia-based artists such as Steve Bassett, Wil Gravatt, The Dirty Truth, Rhythm Bone, and The Diggity Dudes.
Scott Milstead - Drums
I grew up in a town called Radnor - it's about 15 miles west of Philadelphia. I came to Virginia to attend Randolph-Macon College and never went back (not that I don't love Pennsylvania). I was a founding member of Carbon Leaf and was with them until August, 2007. Currently I play in several projects in and around town, including The Diggity Dudes and Near Earth Objects. I teach drum set at several places around Richmond, and I also instruct the drum line at Monacan High School. I love animals, Thai Food, and the Discovery Channel.