List your band members and the instruments that they play:
Anthony DeRosa: vocals/guitar
Matt Castronova: vocals/ guitar/ bass
David “Teaspoon” Hulett: drums
Steve Padin: drums
Lars Rizzuto: drums
Mike Brown: lap-steel/mandolin/acoustic and electric guitars/ vocals
Sometimes I join my brother, Vinnie DeRosa’s band “Vitamin D” on electric guitar as well (see Sounds of Buffalo)
What is the name of your group?
Depending on the venue and the budget and availability of “personnel”, the name of the group is The Misfit Love, The Can Rattle, The Pirits of Allentown, or just me: Tony DeRosa.
How did the name of the band come about? When did it form?
The Misfit Love is derived from the title of a song by my favorite band (we play cover songs: we chose a cover name.) The Can Rattle is my attempt at making an original band name and we’ve been billed as that several times now. The Pirits of Allentown is for when my buddy Mike Brown and I play at Nietszche’s – the liquor store across the street lost its first letter so “Spirits” became “Pirits”. As for either Tony or Anthony… people call me both and I don’t have a preference so, there ya go.
We also played a Halloween show recently and I called us The Ralking Dead.
Where are you from originally? If not from Buffalo, why are you here?
Buffalo. Born and raised.
Why am I here??? I didn’t know this interview was gonna get so… heavy.
What’s it like to perform in front of a crowd? Give me three words.
Terrifying. Exhilarating. Addictive. I still get anxiety but overcoming that with a good performance is quite a high.
When and why did you start playing?
I started playing guitar at the age of 10 after listening to “…And Justice for All” by Metallica and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Even as a child, I noticed a similar urgency in my reaction to what some would say are very different styles of music. Then I asked my dad how to play the riff from “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones.
What was the first tune that you remember “really” playing well, when you knew that you would be a musician?
When I played “Blackbird” by The Beatles, I figured I had it goin’ on but when a kid at school asked me to write a song for a girl he liked based off of a poem he wrote–and then I got the girl?–I knew I ‘d never stop.
Describe your voice/instrument. If you were to name your instrument (maybe you have) what would its name be?
I have a wide range in my voice. I can comfortably sing baritone choir parts but I can reach pretty high. I’ve been studying vocal anatomy and technique to expand my ability and make it more consistent.
My guitar doesn’t have a name…I’ll call it: Hoal-bawks Jee-strung.
Did music come naturally to you? Or were you driven to learn and play/sing? What sparked the passion? Do you come from a musical family?
Thinking differently has always come naturally to me. Music allowed me to explore and express my perspective. Listening to intense music captivated my young mind like nothing else, and I sought to recreate that sensation myself. My brother Vinnie DeRosa is a fantastic local musician and my 3 other brothers all share a deep love for the arts and music. My mother has a beautiful voice and father studies classical guitar.
Are you schooled in music? From where?
I am self-taught and still learning but I realized that I loved great recordings so I studied locally and in Nashville about becoming a recording engineer.
Which famous musician(s) do you admire?
My favorites are great song-writers who sing and play guitar. Think of anyone who fits that description and you”ll have your answer.
Where is your favorite place to play/sing in Buffalo? Where would you most like to play/sing in Buffalo?
Just having a place with nice acoustic properties and absolutely no-one around is my favorite. The freedom to express without a soul around allows the voice in my head to keep quiet long enough to discover something new. It’s a rare place and I’ve been searching for it for years now. However, a song isn’t complete until its performed for an audience. Nietszche’s and The Sportsmens are good for that as well as The Tralf. It’d be cool to play The Ballroom but I’d really like to have a band worthy of Shea’s.
I’m just doing music for now. The one job I won’t quit.
How would you describe your music style? Influences?
I really don’t know my style. There’s too many influences. Sometimes I sound like Jack Johnson. Sometimes I sound like Tool. I’ve written techno-classical music. I’ve done movie sound-scaping. Mike DiSanto is my big bro. We work together sometimes and he never ceases to impress me.
What was the last live music performance that you caught? What was the best show you ever caught? What was the show that got away – the one that you never got to see?
The Hip at the waterfront – both the rained out one and the make-up show.) The LAGQ several years ago was amazing. The one that got away? I’m pretty broke. I miss a lot of great music that comes around. If I were rich, I wouldn’t stop going to see live music ever.
Do you play/sing covers or all originals? Ar a combination of both?
Both
If you could play/sing for one famous person (alive or dead), who would that be?
God
If you could play/sing with one famous band (any time in history), what would that band be?
U2
What are your strengths?
I always strive to make a beautiful sound and do my best.
What are your weaknesses?
I have very low self-confidence and it takes a lot for me to overcome stage-freight. A good sound-guy will make or break my performance.
Do you have a label? A recording studio? Have you recorded a CD?
No label but I’m affiliated with Tempermental Recordings out of Geneseo and The Bass Trap in Williamsville. Both owners are good friends (Mike Brown and Matt Castronova) as well as being fantastic musicians and producers. Their respective studios are very different and provide a musician with different creative resources and results.
Where and when is your next gig(s) in the city?
I’ll be playing at Buffalo Iron Works on Wednesday, November 6th from 5:30-7:30pm.
Anything else?
Shout out to KD Cherry. Watch out people. She’s on her way.
Where and when is your next gig(s) in the city?
Buffalo Iron Works | Wednesday November 6, 2013 | 5:30-7:30pm.
Iron Works 49 Illinois Street (Cobblestone District) Buffalo, New York 14203
See more Sounds of Buffalo:
If you play in a group/band (or solo) here in Buffalo, and have an upcoming gig at a venue(s) in the city, consider sending buffalo rising an email requesting to be emailed a Q&A interview that we can then post, along with concert dates. It’s a fun and easy way to get your name in front of another audience that is interested in learning about the local music scene. The requirements are: