Todd Stuart Phillips
I am not a band, though I have performed in several. I am currently focusing on acoustic, solo guitar. But I also perform currently with the Highland Shatners here in New York City, who, as the name suggests, must be seen to be believed.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Todd Stuart Phillips, or Spoon to his friend, has haunted the progressive, Downtown performance scene in New York City for the past 15 years. Originally splitting his time between playing lead guitar for the quirk rock band the Cheese Beads, the house band for the Natural Coffee House Radio Hour on NYPR and serving as Artistic Director of the Stillwaters Theater Company, during their residence at Synchronicity Space, he has since retired from all of that to pursue the gentile life of a acoustic guitar soloist.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I have performed throughout the New York City rock and accoustic scene, as well as performing in a great many benefit concerts. I have also performed in other states as well, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New Jersey.
Your musical influences
I grew up with Lennon and Dylan. Becker and Fagen, David Crosby and Neil Young, Duane Allman and Eric Clapton, Leo Kottke and Django Rienhardt all followed eventually. But if I had a blank check and a record contract I would think my music would end up in that Counting Crows sort of vein, I guess.
