Don Argento
Columbus Grove, Ohio, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2013 | SELF
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Press
As work and family occupied more of his time, Don Argento took a breather from music.
The absence couldn’t last.
“I’ve tried to walk away from it a couple times,” said the 49-year-old Upper Arlington singer-guitarist employed by day as a writer and consultant. “I can’t give it up. It’s in the blood.”
His namesake trio, set to release a sixth album in August, strives to maintain the necessary balance to sustain a passion that’s “certainly a focus of our lives — but not the only focus.”
Argento will offer melodies inspired by Bob Seger and John Mellencamp on Saturday.
Q: How would you describe your music?
A: (Rush drummer) Neil Peart called it “heartland barroom.” He sent me back a review of one of my albums. I met him through motorcycling . . . at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum . . . in 2008.
As a songwriter, I used to get kind of frustrated. I grew up listening to the big rock bands — AC/DC, Journey — they all had a sound.
I finally realized it’s OK: Emotions change, songs change in style, but, at the end of the day, we sound like we sound.
Q: What has changed most about your approach to music?
A: Confidence is a big one. People told me when I was younger: “You have to go to Nashville or New York.” Looking back, I would have been a huge failure.
Songwriting is about living. Some people live a lot when they’re young; I didn’t. I wrote a lot of crap to get to where I am.
Q: What do you sing about?
A: It’s definitely not always autobiographical. I’m not a storyteller in that sense.
Sometimes, it’s a turn of phrase that becomes a great little nugget for a song. Other times, it just pours out. I almost think of it as opening a gate and allowing it in. You have to be in the right frame of mind.
Q: What was most rewarding about playing music again after a hiatus?
A: I don’t know that you can stop. I’ve known people who have sold their gear and then, two years later, they go out and buy new gear.
There’s a lot involved. People don’t see the hours you practice and the gear you schlep around. It’s relationships; it’s time.
You put your heart and soul into it.
— Kevin Joy
kjoy@dispatch.com
@kevjoy - The Columbus Dispatch
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
An American singer-songwriter raised in the cornfields of Ohio,
Don Argento grew up in the era of supergroups like AC/DC, Journey,
Rush, Van Halen, and Queen, Argento's influences pushed him to craft
songs that are riff driven and hooky.
Often compared to Tom Petty and John Mellencamp, Argento says, "Those
are some great tunesmiths to be likened to. When you write songs that
are guitar based and you can't sing like Geddy Lee or Bon Scott, you
gravitate towards what you can do - use your words and passion to get
your message across."
When it comes to songwriting Argento confesses, "Writing songs is
pretty easy, writing great songs is tough." Asked if he thinks he's
written any great songs, "There are a number of songs I feel
very strongly about. I think if you feel comfortable with the idea of
being in a room full of people while one of your songs is on and you don't squirm then you're
confidence has risen to your ability."
But when it comes to whether his
songs are on par with those he's compared to Argento asserts, "Like any
art, whether certain songs are appealing is really up to the listener.
Some tunes can be really great, but that doesn't mean anyone will like
them. Conversely, there's some real crap out there that lots of people
really like. There's no formula. All I can do is try to write songs that
I'll be proud of now and 20 years from now. If I do that I'll be happy
regardless if anyone else likes them."
Along with song writing, Don Argento is also a freelance journalist
with published feature articles on Billy Joel, Neil Peart, Jay Leno, and Daryl Hall.
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