Todd Apfel | Rockwired Radio Profiles #658

Any story arc having to do with chasing the rock n roll dream usually ends in glory, tragedy or simply fading into obscurity and if fame and fortune weren't the things the hero of the story was able to walk away with then at least he or she had a bunch of memories they could share with whoever is kind enough to listen. TODD APFEL got on that road to rock n roll glory as the lead of a band that had toured much of the Midwest. His band had even shared the stage with CHEAP TRICK. While APFEL experienced the highs of performing in front of large crowds and rubbing elbows with folks more famous it wasn't long before the grind of a life on the road caught up with him and his band mates and the rock n roll life was ditched in favor or Corporate America. Upon retirement from the corporate world, APFEL settled in the small town of VINING with a populations of 50. While this sounds like the denouement of some rock n roll tale, it is actually where the story gets interesting. It is the small town setting where APFEL has found the very thing that has eluded him for years - inspiration. We first became acquainted with him on his debut EP REFLECTIONS and now his music takes a more biographical turn with the aptly titled EP ONE HORSE TOWN.

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http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles658.mp3

Rockwired Radio Profiles #627 - Todd Apfel

Sure we could call the EP REFLECTIONS a debut recording for singer songwriter TODD APFEL but the recording is more than that. It is in fact a return to music making for APFEL who first had a taste of the rock n roll life when he had formed a "hair metal band" at the age of eighteen. That band won second place in some battle of the bands contest but more importantly had the tremendous opportunity of opening for CHEAP TRICK on a leg of one of their tours. Normally one would expect a rock career either great or small to have emerged from such a billing but the hard scrabble rock n roll life was dropped in favor of the pursuit of a business degree and a corporate career which came to an end in the early 2000's when the internet cut into the profits of his print-based business. After opening a bowling alley and then getting a divorce in which his ex-wife took the bowling alley APFEL settled in a small Iowa town called Vining which boasts a population of 50. While in correspondence with his friend CHRIS CAFFERY (of TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA)  he was urged to turn his attentions toward making music again. Slowly but surely APFEL invested in a home studio and began laying down the blueprints for the next leg of his musical journey. REFLECTIONS is the first step on said journey with songs that showcase a world-weariness and sensitivity that only a troubadour who has been there and done that is able to convey but the track HOT SUMMER LOVE shows that APFEL hasn't entirely shaken off the rock n roll. 

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT:
http://www.rockwired.com/temporarysite/rockwiredprofiles627.mp3