bio
Rob Falgiano is most certainly a singer-songwriter, but the Buffalo, NY tunesmith cites a wider sphere of influences than the traditional strummer. Regularly incorporating loungy Brazilian (bossa nova), Cuban, and reggae rhythms alongside alternative-country twang and classic pop songwriting, Falgiano likes to take meaningful musical chances. He's equally influenced by 70s folk, 80s Brit-pop and 50s American big band crooners as contemporary jazz-based hip hop and LA electro-pop, and the resulting mish mash reveals a surprising, eclectic artist who follows wherever his latest sonic interests take him. Lyrically Falgiano will reach for the unexpected turn of phrase or sentiment, and you'll find simple, breezy melodies back to back with dark explorations of despair. Is it manic-depressive pop?
Falgiano has 6 independent full-length CDs to his credit, and is currently recording his 7th. His latest collection of bittersweet, melodic songs - Red - was released October, 2005. Falgiano's style has drawn comparisons to Alternative / Acoustic artists like Elliott Smith, James Taylor, Feist, Nick Drake, The Smiths, The Bird and The Bee, Damien Rice, Old 97s, Sufjan Stevens, Prefab Sprout & David Byrne.
Opening slots for more than a dozen nationals include: Jakob Dylan, Nickel Creek, Ingrid Michaelson, Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Nellie McKay, 10,000 Maniacs, The Pushstars, Goo Goo Dolls, Emerson Hart (ex-Tonic), Ron Hawkins, 54-40, Deep Blue Something, The Pursuit of Happiness, and Kevin Hearn (of Barenaked Ladies).
Rob's music has been featured on the TV shows "Felicity" (WB), as well as "The Black Donnellys" (NBC), and "Everwood" (The CW / ABC Family). In 2005, Rob's music earned him a 2nd place finish in the International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA), and he was a Semi-Finalist in the Disc Makers 2004 International Music World Series.
Falgiano earned First Prize Honors in the 1998 Conan O'Brien College Band Search (with a previous band), narrowly missing the Grand Prize of performing on the show. A multi-year Buffalo Music Awards winner, Rob was voted top Original Solo Acoustic performer of 2006 in voting open to the general public.
'Daring and delicately understated.' - Artvoice
'The album is gorgeous. His music smacks of a hard-won humanism, tempered by a clearly blossoming songwriting talent.' - The Buffalo News
'What's impressive about your work is your unwillingness to settle for the obvious.' - Taxi.com
'Falgiano is more interested in making an album of value instead of writing one for the casual crowd.' - SoundtheSirens.com