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QUOTES "The soul of a poet ... a voice of tremendous power and whimsy … one beautiful talent waiting to explode.” SEE Magazine (Edmonton,AB,CANADA)
"[four stars] ... like prime Costello" Eye Weekly (Toronto,ON,CANADA)
“Brilliant … Cobain-worthy." Erie Times, (Erie,PA,USA)
“… story-driven melodies showcase his sharp-wit and ability to write outside of the tired and usual love-song ballad." Exclaim! (Nation-Wide,CANADA)
"A perfect blend of accessible yet sophisticated acoustic pop." Duluth News Tribune (Duluth,MN,USA)
"Szabo's no amateur, and his songwriting clearly telegraphs it." Origivation Magazine (Philadelphia,PA,USA)
*Full Articles & Features coming soon ...
PRESS PHOTOS Photos by Matt Barnes
More Photos on the PHOTOS PAGE
BIO
A “gifted musician” with “the soul of a poet” and “a voice of tremendous power and whimsy”, Toronto-based Rob Szabo is a tireless touring troubadour and an acclaimed songwriter. His music has been called “accessible yet sophisticated acoustic pop”. Szabo’s lyrics are beyond-heartfelt and have a "psst, did you know that?” confessional air to them, prompting journalists to compare him to Elliott Smith, for his emotional intimacy, and to “prime Costello” for his lyrical smarts.
Life & Limb, Rob’s third full length studio album continues in the tradition he established with his 2006 CD/DVD Like A Metaphor that was championed by Canada’s CBC Radio 1 and 3 with its sleeper-hit single “Breaking Even” who’s animated video went top 10 on Much More Music’s viewer request countdown and peaked at #2 on BRAVO!’s video chart .
Co-produced with longtime friend roots/blues dynamo Steve Strongman, Life & Limb was recorded in the serene environs of The Barn studio high on the Niagara Escarpment in tiny Caistor Centre,ON. The renovated 100 year old barn provided the warm wood-ey sound and a sort of casual intimacy that permeates the record. If you listen closely you can hear the birds from the daytime sessions and the crickets at night … you can almost taste the sawdust and feel the history …
“That Cold Hard Sell”, a tirade about omnipresent advertising and consumer culture stomps the album off to an old-school-Dylan-on-speed start. Other highlights include “All The Sleepy Souls” a stark sincere pledge of love with swooping cellos and the epic “He Loves You” a twisted romantic plea complete with military snare-drum corps and children’s choir.
The album also features an old-timey duet(“Last Night’) penned and performed with Kerri Ough(Good Lovelies) and a who’s who of ace musical guests: Bob Egan(Blue Rodeo), Adam Warner(Royal Wood), Dave King(T Bone Burnett), Karyn Ellis, Jesse O’Brien(Matt Barber), Mike Olsen(Arcade Fire) & Paul Intson(Renowned Film Composer).
Rob’s voice remains front and centre throughout, at times tender, at others aggressive, all the while committed to sharing the words he so evidently put so much of his life into crafting.
Rob tours North America logging over 100 dates a year, from T.O. to Van to the Alaska Highway, from San Fran to NYC to D.C. He recently retired his ‘89 Dodge Van whose odometer he had pushed to nearly half a million kms. His live shows are garnering him an increasingly devoted fanbase of music lovers who often travel great distances to see him play in person. His fans always mention Rob’s ever-present wry smile, and how he makes you feel like you’re in on a shared secret …
Rob plays honest intense music for music lovers.
Thanks for listening.
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