Brent Asten: AKA "Lucky Brent"
Brent Asten is a rocker on the San Diego music scene, with the stage name "Lucky Brent." A name coined in 2012 by his music promoter. He comes from the Coachella Valley, the home of the Desert Rock Scene.
He attended Palm Desert High School and played on the Football team with Josh Homme of "Queens of the Stone Age," and "Kyuss." He attended English classes with Jesse Hughes of "Eagles of Death Metal." His sister even dated Lead Singer John Martinez of "Kyuss," at one time, so his connections to the Desert Grunge sound were imbedded in his early youth.
Palm Desert High School Yearbook 1990
1st Row:
Brent Asten SENIOR
2nd Row:
Josh Homme SOPHOMORE
3rd Row:
Jesse Hughes SENIOR
"One of my favorite things was Josh Homme blasting Danzig in the locker room before going out to the game." - Brent Asten
"Lucky Brent" Music Career
After receiving an acoustic guitar from his best friend Trevor McCormack for his 30th birthday, Brent Asten started playing guitar every day. He learned at an unprecedented rate, while also attending college at Purdue University in Indiana. As a beginner, he naturally played Flamenco Guitar, finger picking immediately. Trevor McCormack was an amazing Lead Guitarist and they formed the band "Freudian Slip," writing music, creating songs, playing guitar, and recording. Those early years in Indiana created a strong writing and guitar playing core for Brent Asten, until he moved back to California.
Photo: Brent Asten of the "Wain Braves" taken outside the Red Barn, Palm Desert CA 2007.
Upon arriving back in the Coachella Valley, Brent Asten bought a Fender Stratocaster and Cyber Twin amp. Now powered up to Rock, he formed the Rock-n-Roll band "The Wain Braves," with Bass Guitarist, Melissa Cervantes, a former Armed Forces Radio Disc Jockey in the US Air Force, and Drummer Keith McConechie.
This was a quick forming band with an original Rock guitar sound and a hard pumping back Bass rythm. This band played all throughout the desert including the Red Barn, The Hood, The Village Pub, Pappi and Harrietts as well as many other local dive's.
Wain Braves (2007-2011) Wain Braves
Photo: Bass Guitarist Melissa Cervantes and Brent Asten taken at Village Pub in 2010.
After leaving the desert, Brent Asten moved to San Diego, California. In 2012 he met up with a music promoter who was a part of starting "check out my music site," and also coined the phrase "Lucky Brent." With this new approach he started the "Lucky Brent Band," with Pacific Beach Lead Guitarist, Justin Binns. This was a raw duo of guitar talent and they played an entire season hosting a Thursday night Open Mic gig at "The Aussie Pub," in Pacific Beach.
Semper Sound Band
In 2013, Brent Asten was volunteering to give guitar lessons to wounded warriors on Camp Pendelton as his way to give back to his fellow Marines. While there, he was introduced to Johnny "V" who would become his Music Producer and he was also introduced to the "Semper Sound Band." Joining up with the Semper Sound Band for the 2014 season, they performed at many veteran supported events throughout San Diego County, including the Belly Up.
The Alpha Vets
After meeting so many different veteran musicians he came up with the idea to start an all veterans Rock-n-Roll band. Over the years the band grew in size and many different musicians came and went, living their various lives, always making this band interesting and exciting with new players. Over the years the band has attracted better and better musicians just by the nature of the project. They have done many things to give back to the veterans in our community, which is the bestpart of the entire project. Please see a detailed list of the bands entire history from the begining, in 2013-2018.
ON THE RADIO
iHEART RADIO
Playing for a major event at the Belly up, I was being sponsored by iHeart Radio. One of my fans heard my name announced on the radio and sent me this text. This was not the only show I did for iHeart Radio, and over 2016 and 2017 my name, as long as the name of the band "The Alpha Vets," was heard on the radio many times. As a musician this is one of the most amazing feelings you can ever have,
to hear your name announced on the radio.
A true thanks has to be given to our Music Manager at the time, iHeart Radio Sales Executive Kourtney Glor. She did some amazing things promoting the band and the various events we did helping veterans in the community. -Brent Asten
Photo: Text on phone 2017
Bougie Way
People always like to ask "how is the band," and "what are you up to these days?" Well the new project is Bougie Way. This project is being put together because over the years here in San Diego, I have met many different musicians and not all of them are veterans. So, this project is opening up the ability to play with new musicians and put together an awesome new band, 2019. - Brent Asten