Local man brings shows to Carey

CAREY — Brian Durst is kicking off his 2025 music endeavors with a bang in his adopted hometown of Carey. Durst, a performer, producer and promoter who grew up in Fostoria, is scheduled to headline a show at the Carey Brewing Station, 300 E. Findlay St., on Feb. 7 before on Feb. 21 bringing in Seckond Chaynce, an erstwhile rhythm and blues/hip-hop artist who has switched to performing country music and has developed an online following of millions. "The Seckond Chaynce show is going to be huge," Durst said, noting that its online sales have already reached about the halfway point of the brewery's capacity of 250. "Carey's never seen anything like it before." Along with promoting for Venue 18 in Fostoria, Durst has been helping bring acts to the Carey Brewing Station, the owner of the which, Derek Cunningham, formerly taught Durst in high school. Durst last year landed Seckond Chaynce for a gig at Venue 18, and they combined to record a song titled "No Matter What Happens." The tune has become Durst's most-streamed online. Durst, a hip-hop and pop performer, will be one of the opening acts for Seckond Chaynce at the Carey Brewing Station. They're collaborating on another song for the occasion, Durst said. "We're working on a new country bop right now," he said, adding that it has not yet been titled. "We'll have that ready before the show. So, I'm stepping out of my element. ... This one's cool. "I've got a little bit of a twang and everything," he said with a laugh. "I'm looking forward to it. It's fun. It's, like, country rock. Even if you don't like the song, you'll love the beat." Seckond Chaynce, whose given name is Trevor Thomas, found success in music after getting himself out of the drug scene of his native city of Jacksonville, Florida. His best-known song is "My World," which reached the Billboard country chart. He and Durst became acquainted after Durst booked him last year to play at Venue 18. That show was "absolutely amazing," Durst said. "It was one of the biggest shows of the year," Durst said. "Just being able to share a stage with him — not only did we perform our second together, but he let me stay up on stage and perform one of his (top) songs. It's actually my favorite song of his of all time. He has a song called 'Undeniable,' which is still, to this day, one of my favorite songs from anybody, and I got to perform it with him. That was probably the highlight of my career. Now, I'm hoping to relive it, maybe even top it, with this new country banger." Durst said that sometime after Seckond Chaynce played in Fostoria, he asked Durst if he was interested in seeing him perform in North Ridgeville. "You know me — I don't want to be a fan; I want up on that stage," Durst said. "... I just asked him, 'What would be the chances of me getting up on the stage and performing? Sure enough, he let it happen. When I got to hang out and do that show with him, I pretty much set it up right there. I'm like, 'I'm bringing you back.'" While Durst, of course, is hoping for strong attendance at his Feb. 7 show, he's hoping to sell out the Seckond Chance performance, and "I think we're going to do that." Both shows, he said, will have opening acts by "some of the best up-and-coming talent in the 419 (area code)." Tickets for the Durst-headlined performance are available for $5 each in advance at www.skeletix.com. Admission will be $7 at the door. Advance tickets at www.skeletix for the Seckond Chaynce performance are priced at $25 each. Admission will be $30 at the door.