Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - The Tony

Tony "The Tony" Giangreco.

Where to start with this guy.  A musician's musician.  Tony plays "Ringo" in Meet The Beetles tribute band (on drums, obviously).  Tony plays bass guitar in Beatles cover band, The Time Bandits (as well as 6-string, as well as vocals, as well as drums).  Tony played drums in alternative-psych rock band Dead Feathers.  Tony plays drums in Danny Donuts' Crabby Road.  Tony plays drums in 2 folk bands The Pondhawks and Rainstorm Remedy.  And I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Tony also is learning sitar and plays balalaika, and again, I'm sure I'm missing something.  He also owns his own recording studio (Sound Finder Studios), which he uses for his own recordings as well as other bands.  In addition he also is a song-writer - words & music.

Now, lots of people play lots of instruments, right?  What makes "The Tony" special?  That answer is simple - he plays for the love of music.  Yes, of course he gets paid for professional gigs, but it is so clearly obvious when you see him, that he LOVES playing.  He is truly in it for the music.  He is willing to sit in for anybody who asks.  But what else?  He is great with the fans, he interacts, before and after - and during the set itself.

What else?  I swear, when it comes to drums, there isn't a song or style or beat he can't pick up on the spot.  Obviously, nobody knows every song - but give him one or two measures, and he is providing the beat as if he has been playing the song or style his entire life.  He can play heavy music, jam music, folk music, improv music, BEATLES music, classic rock, and on and on and on.  He can play on any kit and sound just as good as the greats - including a tiny little K-Mart style kit with 1 bass drum, 1 drum, and 1 cymbal - and play it like he was using Peter Criss's kit from Kiss's prime.  We get to see that each year at the Fest for Beatles Fans!!

I've read articles where Ringo Starr was called a "human metronome" (or maybe that was somebody else) - and called a "drum machine".  The Tony fits both of those.

There are gigs where I just get focused on one player - one instrument.  I really enjoy watching a great drummer at their craft - arms and feet everywhere (but not chaotic, unless need be, like in a Who song).  I just watch in amazement at the ease of which they can do that.  That is what it is like to watch Tony on drums.

A drummer extraordinaire!!

Here are some band links :
Meet The Beatles
The Time Bandits
Rainstorm Remedy