Meagan Lane and Geoff de Mers, founders of Wammy-nominated 2nd Story Band grew up in the '50s and '60s during one of the most musically rich periods in the evolution of American Pop Music. It was a time when Rock-a-billy, Doo Whop, R & B, Tejano, Calypso, Cowboy Music (C&W), Swing, Rock & Roll, Folk, and Folk Rock could be heard on commercial radio. In fact since 1978, as a result of their ability to incorporate these and many other styles including West African, Latin and Celtic, Meagan and Geoff have developed one of the most interesting and fresh sounds to come out of the Metro Washington, DC area.

Over their 30 year career together Meagan and Geoff have worked with some of the very finest musicians in the area from various countries and cultures, especially on Drums, Percussion, Violin and Bass. As an example: in 1990 they formed a West African Band, Hedzoleh Story in collaboration with Amartey Larea, a multi-instrumentalist, singer/ song- writer from Ghana, West Africa. Their shows included performances at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art and Harmony Hall Regional Arts Center during African History Month. The African based music and dance grooves dramatically influenced the duo's musical growth and songwriting. Inspired by these rhythms and grooves the 2nd Story Band Duo developed an exciting new style, a jammin' World Beat Blend of funky Blues & Swing, West African, Caribbean and Pop Rock rhythms. They call it "World Beat Blues".

A 2nd Story Band performance gives the audience a chance to participate in various ways: call and response, playing authentic African hand percussion instruments and dancing, etc. And there is the magical "limbo stick" which Meagan and Geoff send out into the audience for the children of all ages who love to see "how low they can go".

2nd Story Band perform as a Duo or as a Trio with an Afro/Latin percussionist. Meagan has a smoky, expressive vocal style and Geoff's vocal harmonies and leads are a great complement to the sound. Meagan plays a massive acoustic bass guitar providing melodic and propulsive rhythm and also kalimba (African thumb piano). Geoff plays acoustic rhythm and lead guitar and slide guitar, flute and harmonica and adds guitar synthesizer samples simulating instruments like Caribbean steel drums (pan), Andean flutes and piano adding spice to the flavors in the mix.

"Lane's voice is a constant surprise - sweet, arch, rough, wanton and worldly in turn ... the meolodies are fresh and the lyrics both catchy and, yes, educated." —Eve Ziebart, The Washington Post