Rob Tobias & Friends
Eugene singer/songwriter Rob Tobias writes songs that celebrate the spiritual in everyday life with humor and hope. His music covers a wide stylistic range, fro
0
plays
Rob Tobias & Friends newest recording is called
"Bagel Roots & Water Dogs". Tobias' first CD, "Constant Rain" was released in 1994. His music has elements of folk, acoustic, swing, blues, pop, Jewish, reggae, and rock. Rob plays piano, acoustic guitar, harmonica, and sings. The group also includes bass, drums, mandolin/guitar, fiddle, and backup vocals. The bands live set contains mostly original songs but they do sprinkle in tunes by some influences including Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Prine, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and Taj Mahal. Rob Tobias & Friends play for Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Summer Festivals, Clubs, and special events.Band/artist history
Rob Tobias is a story telling songwriter, blending many styles of music to create an accessible sound that appeals to all ages. Whether performing with a group, solo, or as an arts educator, Rob projects enthusiasm, energy and spirit. A versatile performer, Rob includes his audiences in his performance through percussion jams, sing alongs, move alongs, and spontaneous imagination. Rob has co-written, directed, and acted in several musical theater productions and in 1994 released a CD/Cassette of original songs, entitled, "Constant Rain". Since that time Rob Tobias & Friends have been performing at parties, clubs, and festivals in the northwest. The new CD, "Bagel Roots & Water Dogs" was recorded at Rob's own studio, Maximo Productions in Eugene, Oregon. Some of the new recordings come from theatre productions and others, like his new compositions "Salmon Boy" and "Water" come from his experiences doing residencies and assemblies in elementary schools. Other songs include: "The Ocean", a story of a love blossoming and bombing in the presence of the steady force of the ocean. "Silver Moon" tells of an old friend, who passes on much too quickly and "Wandering Dog" is a cartoonish romp at the side of a traveling dog making his lustful way across the country. In the song, "Oregon" Rob tells of some of the things that attracted him to the state and why he calls it home.
Rob Tobias grew up in Wyoming, Ohio (near Cincinnati) and graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Rob moved to Eugene, Oregon where he studied Music, Video Production, Audio Production, and Photography at Lane Community College and the University of Oregon.Have you performed in front of an audience?Rob Tobias & Friends play for Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Summer Festivals, Clubs, and special events. Yes I like it. The private parties are especially rewarding because people are really ready to celebrate. I love playing hora dances at Jewish events because there is a great community feeling in the room. It's also great to play festivals and see people get turned on to the originals for the first time. We played at the Northwest Folklife Festival as part of a 3 hour block of Jewish artists to a packed house (about 1000 seats). People liked us and bought quite a few CDs.
Your musical influences
Influences include some of the great songwriters of the last 4 decades. Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Prine, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and Taj Mahal. In the Jewish mode, Shlomo Carlesbach and my friend Rich Glauber have been very influential.
Eugene, OR
USA
ID
222
Contact
Sorry, this artist currently doesn't accept email messages.
