Fio

Artist Information

Biography

Fio is a New York based emerging singer/songwriter whose southern roots influence his acoustic rock style. His soulful catchy lyrics are reminiscent of John Mayer and Jason Mraz, with the southern edge of Gavin DeGraw.

Fio was born in North Carolina and then moved around the south with his military family before settling in the small town of Niceville, Florida. Fio’s vocal talent was discovered when he began singing in his church choir as a little boy, and then became one of the top singers in his high-school premier chorus, where he also got his nickname Fio (short for “Jeff Fiorello”).

But singing was only one outlet for his musical expression. At age twelve he picked up his father’s old acoustic guitar, and inspired by the greats he grew up listening to like Simon and Garfunkel, Elvis, Motown and The Beach Boys, Fio taught himself to play by writing original music. His early songs “History” (“You’re wasted in my head next to my own memories), “More” (“I am walking, but my feet don’t touch the ground”) and “Innocence” (“Come out of your innocence, and say what you need to say”) explore the themes of self-reflection and the journey to find growth and meaning out of heartache and adversity.

His song list and fan base grew while he attended college at Appalachian State, North Carolina in 2001 where he played the college circuit in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. He also received his degree in electronic media production and his documentary about Appalachian Folk Music, which Fio wrote, directed and produced, won the Collegiate Broadcasters National Production Award for Best Feature. The local attention he received garnered him gigs for a wider audience, including being selected to play at the legendary Mullet Festival which has hosted Alabama, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Dixie Chics, Lonestar, Montgomery Gentry, and Rascal Flats. Fio opened in front of a crowd of thousands, for Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins and Kenny Rogers.

Fio moved to New York City in 2005, were he met fellow band mates including Jon D’Angelo, the former guitarist for Gavin DeGraw at Berkeley. Shortly after the band formed, due to both his magnetic stage presence and moving lyrics, Fio garnered a larger fan base in and around Manhattan, playing regularly at recognized venues such as the renowned Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Justin Timberlake’s “Southern Hospitality”, Arlene’s Grocery, and the world famous Bitter End. He has also played such notable venues as 12th and Porter in Nashville, as well as Hotel Café, The Mint and Universal City Walk in Los Angeles. His shows are a blend of upbeat pop tunes full band, as well as subdued melodies which Fio plays solo on his acoustic guitar.

On the heels of completing his second album “Live at Rockwood Music Hall”, Fio was nominated as Wikimusic Guide’s “Artist to Watch” in 2006, and City Sessions “Top Ten Artist” for the web series “Best of New York” in 2007. In 2009 he was chosen to be the face of Dali speakers for its advertising campaign “Nothing Added, Nothing Taken Away” focusing on true music, after they discovered his music online. Based on his popularity and word of mouth, Pulse Music NYC offered him the opportunity to record his new album at their studio, where John Forte and Ben Taylor recently produced their latest records. The new album, currently entitled “Fio,” is nearing completion, with the bluesy song “Train Wreck” encapsulating the album’s vibe and signaling the arrival of a star on the verge.

Instrumentation

Jeff Fio Fiorello - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Eric Lense - Vocals/Percussion
Jason Krebs - Vocals/Keys
Ricardo Rodriguez - Bass

Discography

Two albums Released: Both available on iTunes

1. Jeff Fiorello: Jeff Fiorello

2. Fio: Live At Rockwood Music Hall

Links

• www.fiomusic.com
• Dali Loudspeakers Write-Up

Audio

• TrainWreck
  Listen  
• Rosaline (Album Sample)
  Listen  
• Home (Album Sample)
  Listen  
• City Streets
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Two Eyes (Excerpt)
• May (Excerpt)
• Train Wreck

Video

This Broken Road (Acoustic @ Rockwood)

Photo Gallery

Press

• fio! EP Review [+ Show ]
  

  fio! Fio caught my attention as a songwriter and singer with flair and a hip New York City flavo...fio!
  
  Fio caught my attention as a songwriter and singer with flair and a hip New York City flavor, that at times is down home "chicken fried" southern. That's because he was born in North Carolina, and moved from Florida to the Big Apple in 2005. He has a worldy maturity beyond his years, perhaps the old soul in a young mans body Jackson Browne sings about. You have a lot to prove when you put ! on your name, and he backs it up as one of my most impressive and grounded winners in the Sonicbids international competition.
  
  Fio! garnered a larger fan base in and around Manhattan, playing regularly at recognized venues such as the renowned Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Justin Timberlake’s “Southern Hospitality”, Arlene’s Grocery, and the world famous Bitter End. They have also played such notable venues as 12th and Porter in Nashville, as well as Hotel Café, The Mint and Universal City Walk in Los Angeles.
  
  Fio was nominated as Wikimusic Guide’s “Artist to Watch” in 2006, and City Sessions “Top Ten Artist” for the web series “Best of New York” in 2007. In 2009 he was chosen to be the face of Dali speakers for its advertising campaign “Nothing Added, Nothing Taken Away” focusing on true music, after they discovered his music online. Fio has opened for Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins and Kenny Rogers.
  
  Their first two albums are Jeff Fiorello and Live at Rockwood Music Hall, are available on iTunes as well as the new EP hopefully at about the time this piece is published.
  
  The new tracks I reviewed below are from a soon to be released EP and include: Fly, Rosaline, The One & Trainwreck. An interesting, melodic and even soulful compilation of songs that tell stories and take you on a journey like a classic movie or good book.
  
  Fly is dangerously contagious and haunting. It reminds me of REM in their prime. The song's emotions are wounded but determined. A stately, reflective, pop rich, heavy hitting ballad about faith and doubt. Fio is viscerally engaged in his singing and poetically lethal in his writing. The dynamics between the acoustic verses and the chorus are masterfully executed most often pulled off by very disciplined English bands, like Jethro Tull and Yes.
  
  Billy Joel and his drummer have a connection that I haven't heard since, until I heard The One. I love the vibe of this tune. It's magnetic, upbeat with great harmony. A pleasant surprise. Especially strong are the Steve Gadd style drums complimenting the lyrics and the power and dynamics of subdued to full band, is very effective. I suspect Fio writes and plays music as if it really matters to his musical soul and eternal being, his true spirituality. Two thumbs up for this track! This could be Fio's Piano Man, and that's saying a lot in my book.
  
  Rosaline is powerfully dramatic, oozing enthusiasm and musical straightforwardness that keep everything together and moving briskly along. The melody is interesting and the girl singers are a nice touch. The guitar solo starts off very jazzy and understated before it switches to a tasteful electric guitar. His less is more approach was taught to me by the master JJ Cale. Fio's lyrics have been compared to John Mayer and Jason Mraz, and I second that emotion. I personally see Fio scoring movie soundtrack hits and filling the shoes of a singer/songwriter the caliber of Kenny Loggins.
  
  I hope Fio! makes it to the radio air waves before Trainwreck becomes the next Black Crowes single. This track taps the big-footprint backbeat and raucous interplay of the 70's style guitar driven bands with meaty guitar riffs. An exploration of his southern rock roots remain the center or at least a tributary of American roots music. I love this track as the one that first caught my attention and put me in touch with Fio! and their music.
  
  Trainwreck makes me think Fio! can enjoy as much fortune in the sales charts as on the road. That is a good thing. The Charlie Daniels Band played everywhere with electricity. No videos or MTV then to do all the footwork. You may get to stay at home a little more often and collect checks from your mailbox. Cale loves that arrangement!
  
  
  - Gary Allen (JJ Cale, Stonewall Jackson, The Charlie Daniels Band)

• Strumming His Way Through The Big Apple [+ Show ]
  

  Jeff's drive, determination and passion for his music are noticeable not only in his music, but in t...Jeff's drive, determination and passion for his music are noticeable not only in his music, but in the way he promotes and performs it. On stage, in the studio, or with friends, music is at the soul of this Niceville guy.

• Runner-up - Best Song - "Trainwreck" [+ Show ]
  

  Gary Allen, drummer from The Charlie Daniels Band (The Devil Went Down To Georgia, The Souths Going ...Gary Allen, drummer from The Charlie Daniels Band (The Devil Went Down To Georgia, The Souths Going To Do It Again!, Long Haired Country Boy), JJ Cale (Cocaine, After Midnight, Call Me The Breeze) and Opry Star Stonewall Jackson (Don't Be Angry, Waterloo) is seeking original songs to evaluate for use by bands, soundtracks and licensing through his connections as a BMI writer and performer. The new contest will be featured in The Examiner, on TennesseeConcerts.com and in Gary Allen's The Music City Beat newsletter.
  
  Genres currently entering the contest include: Americana, blues, rock, R&B, soul, country, pop, jazz, punk, reggae, acoustic and instrumental. Selected songs will receive a written evaluation by Gary Allen and will be passed on to additional contacts such as managers, A&R, radio, TV, engineers, booking agents, record labels and program directors. The 2008 winner for Song of The Year was Sonicbids artist John Latta from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  
  Winners and runner-ups are posted monthly at TennesseeConcerts.com, Tennessee's most popular concerts event site and a top rated Google favorite among musicians and bands internationally.
  
  Winners, runner-ups, very honorable mentions, and Gary's Spotlight Sonicbids artists are featured in The Music City Beat newsletter, that goes out to thousands of hand selected recipients monthly. Gary will send the winner an autographed photo of The Charlie Daniels Band and/or give you a quote you can use on MySpace, CD Baby, your website, bio and on your CD.
  
  Gary Allen also has the greatest down home style sponsors that have been with this contest from the start including:
  
  Lynchburg Cake & Candy, made with Tennessee Jack Daniels Whiskey - A favorite with winners!
  Julia's LipTints, will send you a really cool lip tint that holds up under stage lights
  Sandy Forest-Hartman, of Mystic Angel Creations, will be sending the winner a gift certificate for some very unusual, handcrafted vintage jewelry
  Steven Stolk of Steve's Magnificent Products, makes BBQ sauces, dip mixes, salad dressings and marinades with bourbon, coffee, peppers and wildflowers
  
  Now in it's 4th year, Gary's Play It Again Jam, Nashville's longest running musicians rock and roll jam, is Yahoo's third rated musicians jam of 34 million related sites. Winners and runner-up songs will be played during the jam at The Elysian Inn in Nashville, every Sunday, for an audience of music business folks.
  
  About the promoter...
  BMI reports Gary is played on the radio every 4 seconds on Epic, Sony, Buddah, Mercury, Polygram, Shelter, MCA, Blue Hat, CBS, K-Tel and Polydor. Fire On The Mountain remains the top selling Charlie Daniels Band CD and he has toured with The Rolling Stones, Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Yes, Ted Nugent, Kansas, Bruce Springsteen and ZZ Top.
  Along with The Beatles catalog, the late Michael Jackson owns Gary's Charlie Daniels Band material.

• Fio Rocks Rockwood [+ Show ]
  

  Halfway through their second to last song the keyboardist finally showed; the lead singer forgot to ...Halfway through their second to last song the keyboardist finally showed; the lead singer forgot to tell the guitarist what songs they were playing and the air conditioning-less, tiny and quite fantastic music venue in the LES made the entire band sweat profusely. But the fedora-clad, barefoot Jeff Fiorello led his band through a pretty amazing set.
  
  On August 22nd, Rockwood Music Hall lent its Lower East Side charm to the group Fio. This wasn’t the first meeting of Fio and Rockwood. In fact, the band recorded their latest album aptly titled Live at Rockwood Music Hall here. Even though the band spilled off the stage and onto the floor, stage left, the two matched up very well. And even though the space is small and hot, last Friday none of its patrons minded packing in like sardines. From the young women sitting front row center and mouthing all the lyrics to the folks in the not-too-far back, everyone was enthralled by Fio’s pleading lyrics and rhythmic intensity.
  
  As I watched, I thought about what I would write to describe what I heard and I searched my brain for a comparison, knowing all too well that to describe music is like trying to explain a Picasso to a blind person. One more or less has to listen to or see a live performance in order to make sense of it. Words very rarely have the ability to do justice to a song or a voice or the right blend of guitar and keyboard. So I searched my brain to discover just who it was Fio reminded me of, but I couldn’t think of anything. I felt like I was failing or maybe I just had too many beers, but then I realized, I couldn’t think of a likeness because there wasn’t one. Fio’s sound is familiar but all their own. (Don’t be surprised if you find your head bobbing, as you smile and shake your head.) The band has a fun stage presence and they don’t take themselves too seriously, but their overall performance is tightly knit. Jeff’s voice is smooth and heartfelt. The mix of his vocals and guitar skills and the talents his eclectic crew: a bassist, keyboardist (who leaped into the mix without missing a beat), harmonizing backup vocals, drummer and even a cellist, who performed solely with Jeff for two spectacular songs, all made for a pretty memorable show.

• Featured Up & Coming Artist [+ Show ]
  

  "Up-and-coming acoustic / rock singer/songwriter Jeff Fiorello is already doing the rounds in the lo..."Up-and-coming acoustic / rock singer/songwriter Jeff Fiorello is already doing the rounds in the local New York music scene. His soulful, intriguing voice makes a perfect blend for his incredible lyrical talent............I like the way Fio fuses acoustic to his pop-laced voice. Here is musician we should all be looking forward to in the future."

Setlist

Jeff typically performs one to 45-60 min set of original music.

Basic Requirements

Calendar