Rich O’Toole
By Howie Doyle
Photos by Derek Riley
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Rich
O’Toole |
In the last decade the term “Alternative Country”
has come to refer to lo-fi country music, pumped up
with rock 'n roll influences, and stripped of that
glossy Nashville buildup. It is a sprawling genre in
which the music of Rich O'Toole fits comfortably, as
does much of the creative output from contemporary,
touring Texas artists.
Perhaps that's why, in my mind, the “Texas Music”
genre equates to Alt Country. Rich O'Toole, a
23-year old Houston native, is a fresh new voice on
the Texas Music scene. He waited until he finished
his studies at Texas A&M to release his first CD.
Now that he has graduated, he is spending his days
sleeping late and hanging out at radio stations, and
his nights are spent in honky tonks and bars. In
other words, his career is right on track.
Released in July, 2006, his debut CD, Seventeen,
is an impressive first outing. All ten songs on the
CD were written by O'Toole, who stamps them as his
own with a full, charismatic voice that was made for
storytelling. O'Toole has a rakish charm and a heart
for people that transforms his songs into an
interactive experience.
“I write music for the fans,” comments O'Toole.
“From the beginning, I wrote music simply to have
fun. I have always enjoyed getting a response from
someone, it kept me going. I was writing to try to
grab attention!”
Many of Rich O'Toole's songs are based on
personal experiences, but he also enjoys going the
opposite direction and writing complete fiction.
“But never reveal which is which!” he adds with a
smile. “I want listeners to live the stories in
their heads, and for them to have meaning.” He
remembers the first song he ever wrote, entitled,
“Blue Eyes,” back in fall of 2001.
“I don't even remember how to play it, but I have
it recorded and it sounds hilarious.” One listen to
his first single off of Seventeen, “Queen of the
Misfits,” tells the listener that Rich has come a
long way in only five years. Not only is his
songwriting mature and substantial, his band can
really rock an audience, small or large.
“Right now I have the band of my dreams,” said
O'Toole. “We are all levelheaded guys with talent
and know-how. We all get along great, and we are in
it for the right reasons.” The band, all Texas
natives, consists of Barrett Hughes on drums (“he
has a real passion”); Jason Ybarbo on bass (“just
joined the band but plays like no other”); and
Robert Cherry on lead guitar (“amazing, lots of
energy, a great friend”).
The band has played for large crowds (20,000 at a
recent outing opening for Dierks Bentley). Rich
still enjoys performing solo – playing unplugged -
as well. We caught him at a recent show at Kay's
Lounge in Houston. Sitting onstage, guitar in hand,
bathed in a neon glow, he connects with his audience
in a different way. “I am always up for just
shooting the breeze,” Rich commented, and he paused
every once in a while during his acoustic set to do
just that. He opened with “Queen of the Misfits,”
and seven of his first ten songs were originals (he
also played “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Ring of Fire”
by Cash, and “The Weight” by The Band).
He encourages fans to come meet him at his shows;
that connection is the artist's payoff. “Last week
we played in Luckenbach and it was freezing, so half
way through the full band set, the manager built a
bonfire and I played 'unplugged' to the crowd around
the campfire! It was by far, one of the coolest
experiences I have ever had.”
For information and local show information:
www.richotoole.com.
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