John Totaro and the Accidents
Bang, Crash, Drive (Spank Dawg)
by Scott Hefflon
Rawk Tawk with John Totaro host John Totaro interviewed John Totaro of John Totaro and the Accidents and the result was, well, humorous. The host seemed to have all those pertinent questions, huh? Pushing the latest release from John Totaro and the Accidents Bang, Crash, Drive (Spank Dawg), John and John discussed the name changes from The Tats to The Accidents to John Totaro and the Accidents. John Totaro said that he was contacted by a band on the West Coast that had already registered the name, The Tats, and so it was changed to The Accidents, a name that John had previously used and registered. When the 12 song CD was finally put together, it was discovered that John Totaro was the only band member who appeared on all the songs. It was discussed with his management (John Totaro Productions Unlimited) and they agreed that John‘s name should precede the band’s name to give him the recognition and credit he deserved. And thus John Totaro and the Accidents was born. The band’s latest offering has five singles (previously released to radio) and will be followed by extensive touring and a follow up CD in which John‘s band, The Accidents, will also participate. At the program’s conclusion, John wished John well and they shook hands like old friends.
The songs that followed proved John Totaro and the Accidents are still rock ‘n roll professionals. The tight, clean songs, shredded by Totaro‘s guitar jams, were filmed with fade-ins and fade-outs, interesting camera angles and rich production that captured John Totaro and The Accidents in all their glory.
The “Four Questions” chosen at random gave insight into John‘s mind: His heroes, his favorite songs, etcetera. Of the final songs performed by John Totaro and the Accidents, “Hey Frankie” stood out the most. Slowing the tempo, it caused that Scorpions arena rock feel with lighters in the air, the crowd swaying and staring with adoration upon the stage… They moved seamlessly into the final song, a real rocker, as effortlessly as Mr. Rogers slips into his sweater and comfy sneakers. The credits rolled slowly during the feedback wind-down and ended with the message “every band was once a local band.”
Rawk Tawk with John Totaro is a weekly aired cable show running in several dozen communities serviced by Continental Cablevision. Check local listings for details.
