Videos by American Songwriter
Todd started playing piano at five, and then picked up a guitar at age 13. It was years later, after a healthy diet of Michael Hedges, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Wayne Krantz and Béla Fleck, when began writing his own songs at 17. Lombardo spent his youth in upstate New York, but now calls Music Row his home.
Todd Lombardo “Song in the Walls”
Todd started playing piano at five, and then picked up a guitar at age 13. It was years later, after a healthy diet of Michael Hedges, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Wayne Krantz and Béla Fleck, when began writing his own songs at 17. Lombardo spent his youth in upstate New York, but now calls Music Row his home. “Nashville has been wonderful. I have done so many great things in the short time I have been here…I have made my place into a little nest of music and creativity. I record and produce all of my songs on my pro tools rig here in my living room and track everything in the closet under the stairs!”
He’s played for Taylor Swift, been on tour with Rascal Flatts and is now taking a crack at recording and performing, shifting from “the mind set of being a guitar player who writes songs. I have started to visualize myself more as one. So, I have been performing my music out a lot more recently.”
“Song in the Walls” is the Staff Pick for this year’s compilation. We certainly wish Todd the best here in the Music City and hope you all enjoy the song. Check more of his music out at myspace.com/tlombardo
Alpha Rev
Casey McPherson is the principal songwriter of the Austin, Texas-based band, Alpha Rev. The other members of the band include: Alex Dunlap on bass, Tommy Roalson on drums, Brian Batch on violin, Dave Wiley on cello and guitar, and both Derek Morris and Candy Harris on keys. While McPherson holds the reins as far as the songwriting, the band dynamic is essential to him, especially when recording. “Brian and Dave helped a lot with the arrangements, and Alex was instrumental in finishing the lyrics. Couldn’t have finished the record without them.”
“Colder Months” won our Online Voting contest for the compilation. McPherson shared the story behind this song with us, “The song came about out of a writing exercise I do with Bob Schneider, Jason Mraz, Steven Poltz, and some other amazing songwriters, honestly…I’m not sure why they let me in! I was staying at a friends house in L.A. and had been writing like crazy preparing for this upcoming record. The phrase Bob emailed us was ‘Colder Months’ and I had about 6 hours at the house before anyone showed up. I started with the chords and thought about what the phrase meant to me. Colder months…immediately I thought about being in New York during the holidays. I lost my brother and father to suicide over the last 10 years. When the holidays come around, it’s unusually hard to cope with the ‘social graces’ required be amicable on such a family affair, when you are missing them. And so the song was born.”
Check out the band at myspace.com/alpharev.
