viola

Download the album or just a tune or 2 from these sites (and others to come.) I truly appreciate it!



*



Apple iTunes (direct link to my page)



*



AOL Music Now



Music Net



Music Match



Cingular Music Store



Sony Connect



Buy Music



Bit Monk



Pass Along



MP3 Tunes



*



*



*



VIOLA: Far From the Maddening CrowdA singer/songwriter mixing acoustic guitars and indie rock into a smooth, home-grown sound. A bit Elliott Smith, a bit Beatles and a touch Nick Drake, with a healthy dose of that well-worn "recorded in the basement" vibe.



*



BIO



This indie-rock singer/songwriter’s voice is best described as a “silent scream.” His understated delivery conveys plenty of emotion, without resorting to contrived vocal “acting” or flashiness. In fact, to see him play is more like listening in on a private moment than being performed to.



Sonically, he’s a mix of ‘60s British invasion and ‘70s singer/songwriter, with a healthy dose of indie-rock heaped on top. Though his hands are usually wrapped around an acoustic guitar, he’s no folkie. The one-man band throws plenty of garage-rock drumming and boozy, Stones-inspired electric guitars into his recordings.



some things he’s done:



• Released self-produced full-length, “Far From the Maddening Crowd” in spring ‘05.



• Has appeared on WRUW 91.1 FM’s “Live From Cleveland” radio program, and

receives airplay on several WRUW programs.



• His songs have been used in the films “Kingsbury Run” (2004, by Brian McCollum)

and “3:15” (2005, Autumn Haze Productions.)



• Was a founding member of the band Vanity Crash, named one of “Ten Local Bands

to Watch in 2004” by the Cleveland Free Times, and nominated for “Best Pop/Rock Act” in the 2004 and 2005 Scene Music Awards.



• Shows with Vanity Crash have included The Scene Pavilion side stage (opening for

The Darkness) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (their performance was

featured on WKYC Channel 3 News.)



• His first solo incarnation, The Viola Contingent, was included on the “Best of 2001” CD released by Portland, Oregon’s CD BABY.COM online record store.



• He fronted a full-band version of The Viola Contingent, regularly playing Cleveland’s

bigger rock clubs (The Grog Shop, The Beachland, etc.) and out of town shows.



• The Viola Contingent headlined Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom in 2002, thanks to a

Jim Beam Whiskey sponsorship that covered their expenses, including promotional

radio spots on WMMS 100.7 FM.



Viola “went solo” in summer 2004, retreating into his tiny home studio to handle all the instruments and production on “Far From the Maddening Crowd,” which he created on a simple 8-track recorder.



He now lives, records, writes and drinks in Portland, Oregon.



___________________________________________________



VIDEO FOR "STRANGE & SANE."



Had a good time making this. We filmed around my town (Cleveland) and in my little home studio/spare bedroom and basement. We met a nice house cat who wanted to be in it. We had a few drinks, and here it is. Let me know what you think.



VIDEO MAY LOAD FASTER HERE. MORE FUN TO NAVIGATE TOO:



viola on the Autumn Haze Pictures website



*



___________________________________________________



*



VIDEO FOR "CINNAMON" (unreleased song)



___________________________________________________



___________________________________________________



Thanks To Knucklehead Strings for the endorsement! click the logo to visit 'em:



.



___________________________________________________



You scored as Keith Richards. Keith Richards, the lead guitarist of The Roling StonesKeith Richards80%Gary Rossington75%Slash75%Eddie Van Halen70%Jimmy Page60%Jimi Hendrix60%Angus Young40%Elvis Presley40%Kirk Hammet15%Famous Guitarists Betacreated with QuizFarm.com

This profile was edited with Thomas' myspace editor™ V2.5