7:00pm tonight (Friday night) the irrepressible Tony Memmel will make his return appearance at Stumpjack. We had such a fun time when Tony was here last year. You owe it to yourself to see this guy perform. In spite of what many people might consider to be a handicap (Tony has one complete arm) he is a very accomplished musician with a couple of CDs to his credit and a growing army of fans. Here's part of Tony's bio I pulled from his website:
Tony Memmel is a songwriter and performer with unique charisma and creativity. He was born missing his left forearm and taught himself to play the guitar, piano and harmonica. It is my contention that if you heard a song of Tony’s on the radio or on one of his CDs (“The Tale of an Underdog” (’08) or his most recent album “Potter Road” (‘09) - about to head into the studio for a yet-to-be-titled third album) and were not aware of his being an amputee, you would never know the difference at all. In fact, many people are often shocked to learn of it and/or don’t even notice at his live shows until he wipes the sweat from his face with the two characteristic arm bands that he wears on his left bicep.
But, Memmel is not one to try to sell you on his handicap alone. His music most definitely stands on its own. It is catchy, without sacrificing sincerity, and his lyrics are personal and real. Memmel has earned a Bachelor’s degree in music and is a classically trained and acclaimed vocalist. He has gained a loyal following and support from fans and musicians alike.
Memmel has performed extensively in the Midwest and is making a name for himself in such places as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis. He recently completed a successful U.S. tour during the fall of ’09, in support of his new album (With stops in New York City, Boston, Asbury Park, Cleveland, Indianapolis and more!).
It may sound trite, but in this case trite is just plain accurate, Tony Memmel has a talent and personality that you simply do not see every day. It doesn’t fit to say it’s the beginning, as Memmel has accomplished more in his life with one hand than I have with two. Get on board now, as many already have, and be on the lookout for great things from this bright young artist.
Here's Tony and his wife Lesleigh (she performs on keyboard with Tony) on the cover of his latest recording, Potter Road.
Join us tonight for good music with good people.