Ninth Round Member Bios
Who Is 9th Round?
Based out of Ottawa near Manotick, Ontario, NinthRound is a popular rock and top-40 pop band comprised of musicians with diverse backgrounds, musical tastes, and experiences.
The brainchild of guitarist Jim Costa and bassist Jeff Moss, the band has been playing together for close to a decade around Eastern Ontario.
With the later addition of vocalist Andrea Lambert and Joel Lepine behind the kit, Ninth Round’s latest powerful incarnation features four dedicated members who, combined, offer a unique, edgy sound, cutting guitar riffs, catchy melodies, powerful vocals, and strong beats.
See several pictures of the band. Or to know what kind of songs we play, check out our ever-expanding set list. From the Beatles to Bif Naked… the Doobie Brothers to the Dixie Chicks… and Led Zeppelin to Loverboy… Ninth Round is sure to please!
Andrea Lambert
Main Vocals
A vocalist with almost 15 years experience, Andrea Lambert, who was born and raised in Ottawa, started her artistic career in ballet at the tender age of five.
After 15 years of dance, she tried a hand at acting and later starred in a commercial at 17. However, by this time Andrea figured she had conquered that art, and moved on to singing. Her first gig was singing in a play at her high school, and she hasn’t stopped since!
Since her first dance recital, dressed as a purple frog, she knew that she wanted to perform. After spending hundreds of dollars on costumes over the next 15 years (thanks Mom and Dad!), she discovered a few other gifts — one of them being that she could actually carry a tune.
She recorded her first demo of cover songs in 2002 at Distortion Studios in the South end of Ottawa. Andrea has also hosted karaoke shows and entered many singing contests in and around Ottawa over the past eight years.
Today, Andrea Lambert rocks out weekly with her boys as the lead singer of Ninth Round, and is the band’s resident Princess.
Jim Costa
Guitar, Vocals
Amazed by the sound of a marble going down the strings of an old guitar laying around the house, young Jim asked his mother to buy him a guitar so that he could learn how to play. As soon as the new Aria classical guitar arrived, it was followed up by a Silvertone electric.
“A good path for me,” thought his dear yet unsuspecting mother, who must have later regretted her decision.
Because shortly thereafter, Jim set aside the classical guitar and wired the electric one to his mother’s console stereo, playing his very first guitar riff (which was, you guessed it, “Smoke On The Water”).
As he started playing, the speakers were buzzing. And by the last note of that famous Deep Purple rock anthem’s first riff, Jim blew his mother’s stereo! (Or what he optimistically calls his “first taste of guitar distortion.”) Many high school rock bands, girls, guitars, and beers soon followed.
Fast-forward 30 years later, at a time when a job and a growing family required most of Jim’s attention, something happened… One day, while sitting at the piano during a dinner party, one of the guests picked up that old Aria classical guitar sitting atop of the piano, and started pulling some bass lines.
That was the day the “Jeff and Jim” partnership was formed.
Jim, along withJeff, soon found himself jamming with friends and neighbors. He was in a band again, and Ninth Round was born. Several years later, Andrea’s angelic voice and Mike’s steady percussions joined, and the rest became history.
Jim Costa currently uses Gibson and Ovation guitars, with Traynor amplification, and Analogman and Goudie effects pedals.
Jeff Moss
Bass
Like most of his band mates, Jeff’s musical addiction began at an early age, growing up with the classic artists and tunes we all still love today. If he’s in the car, working, or in the shower, music seems to always be playing.
Exposure to his father’s band that entertained the Ottawa Valley for 40 years gave Jeff a clear understanding of what live music is all about. Beginning with piano, sax, then guitar, it was a lack of bass instruments in all genres of high school bands that provided the avenue to pick up the bass guitar.
He never looked back.
After taking some time to establish a career, marry his wife Joanne, and have two wonderful kids (Mariahand Riley), the timing was perfect several years ago to establish a band with Jim Costa and return to live music. That’s when Ninth Round was born.
Jeff’s talent, a vintage Fender Jazz bass, and a Traynor YBA 200 amplifier provide a smooth and steady low end to the Ninth Round.
Joel Lepine
Drums
Joel brings a big heart to match his big sound! He’s been playing drums since the age of 14, a self taught player witha very solid, heavy hitting, blues/rock style. He’s got a couple of all-time favorite drummers both of which make perfect sense once you know him. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Animal (of muppets fame) have both influenced Joel as a musician, believe us, it shows! He’s been a member of the Ninth Round off and on since it’s conception, he’s finally ready to settle down and stay in one place for a while.
He has three boys and one girl in his crew, his oldest Mitch (16) plays bass , they jam together along with his buds from time to time. His youngest Brody, loves to sit with Daddy and make some ‘music’ hitting the drums and cymbals. The whole family is musical to some degree, even his wife Wendy…at least when it comes to Guitar Hero.
Joel’s kit consists of an Amber Sonor 4 to 5 piece Jazz setup (12″, 14″, 16″, and 22″ kick - one tom top with two floor toms), with Sabian HHX cymbals, Pearl double kick, and Gibraltar hardware. Vic Firth 5A and 5An are his choice of sticks.
For more on Joel see www.joellepine.ca
Michel Fortin
Drummer Alumni, Website designer
Check out www.thesuccessdoctor.com