Artist description Todd Burge is best known as a solo performer, playing his West Virginia bred Contemporary Folk-a-Twang. His quavering baritone vocals demand your attention as it rides over aggressive and at times, furious flat-picking. Burge?s songs are filled with sardonic & twisted lyrics and at a solo performance, one can expect to hear Todd plunge into stories of depression, oppression, hard times & hard traveling, hard drinking, sinning, beginning, ending, redemption, salvation, lust and loving, grinning and gritting.

Music Style Acoustic/Country/Folk

Musical Influences Greg Brown/Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson/Johnny Cash/Uncle Tupelo

Similar Artists Greg Brown/Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson/Johnny Cash/Uncle Tupelo

Artist History Over the last decade and a half, Todd Burge has become known as a songwriter who has inbred many genres. He started playing back in 1984 in a band called the Larries. Burge started this fun, abrasive punk band with Jimmy Clinton. Todd had barely learned four chords on the guitar when one night he asked Jim to come over and sing one of his first original songs entitled, ?The Molded Song?. Within a month, Clinton and Burge teamed up with Becky Gose on a $80 dollar Casio keyboard and Wesley Poole on Drums. (Wes played his first show with the Larries only eight days after he bought his first drum kit!) The band went on to win over a large regional following with four releases in two years which included the songs, ?Cavewoman? and ?I?m So Worried About the Kremlin.? In 1986, Burge started the band 63 Eyes with monster guitar player, Mark Poole, & Wesley Poole once again on Drums. Burge switched to playing bass. This intense, yet melodic Rock & Roll band was said to be one of the first to play what is now called ?Alternative?. A popular fan of the band, Jello Biafra (Lead singer for the Dead Kennedys) said, ?You were one of the first people to pioneer this sound?. The band is known for songs like ?Trucker?s Misery? & ?Brainwashed?. Living & working in the Parkersburg, WV area, (Not exactly a music hotspot) the band realized that if they were to play music full time, they would have to diversify. With this in mind the band Triple Shot was born. Triple Shot?s job was to perform Traditional Country & Rock-a-billy a la George Johns & Webb Pierce as well as a few originals penned by Burge. This enabled the Eyes Guys to perform in every honky-tonk in Wood County & beyond as well as sustain a healthy touring schedule for 63 Eyes up and down the East Coast. The band converted many an angst ridden P-rock lover to the wonders of Twang. Their mission continues to this day. But all the while, Burge has been relentlessly writing songs and playing hundreds of solo shows each year. He has released four full length solo recordings and is currently working on a fifth. His songs have landed him shows all over the U.S. in famous clubs like the 9:30 club in D.C. and CBGB?s in New York City. (w/63 Eyes). Burge has played solo shows with Chris Smither, Robbie Fulks, Lisa Germano, Barbra Kessler, Garnet Rogers, the Kennedys, Rusted Root, Roy Book Binder, Jorma Kaukonen and Tish Hinojosa . He has also played on numerous radio shows including Public Radio International?s Mountain Stage, which can be heard all over the U.S. and abroad on over 115 radio stations!

Group Members Todd Burge

Instruments Guitar, harmonica, Voice

Albums Dreams Upstairs, 2000, Never Say Uncle, 1990, New World Out Of Order 1992, Tin Since 1994, Live at Raveler's 1997

Press Reviews Read what some are saying. ?an impressive accounting of his fingerpicking skills and...expressive baritone...the real story of his songs is the lyrics, and on that score, Burge?s latest effort is predictably, a winner.? Graffiti (on Live at Raveler?s). ?Todd has conceived a subtle recording full of alluring seascapes and tangible visual abstractions.? Bob Prescott, Daily Athenaeum, Morgantown, WV. ?A Great Songwriter..? Larry Groce, Host, PRI?s Mountain Stage. ?Burge gives it all he?s got ...he?s rough and goofy, but honest and stark.? Dirty Linen. ?His guitar work is exceptional, intricate and string searing?.., he sings and plays with a fury and indignation that is awe-inspiring.? Mark Stacy Dominion Post. ?Todd Burge plays fresh compostions with manic energy and a characteristic baritone voice.? Empty Glass newsletter Jan. ?99

Location Vienna, West Virginia - USA

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