By Dave Hoffenberg
updated
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 08:56 AM
The region has a new voice and that voice has a new home,
Outback Pizza in Killington and in Ludlow. Andy Lugo sings socially
conscious songs presented with a skater attitude in a voice
uniquely his own. His music is an amalgam of funk, reggae, hip-hop,
nasty rock hooks and sing-along chorus that make you believe
"United we fall, divided we stand," and: "Hope is a must."
Andy was born in Boulder, CO and has lived in Ft. Collins, Denver,
Greeley, Trinidad, Arvada, Redlands, California and Long Island, NY
before settling down in Vermont. He now lives in Burlington and
commutes to play his music.
Lugo first picked up the guitar when he was 19, living in Colorado.
He used it as an emotional outlet from a family tragedy. His first
guitar had only three strings but he managed to save enough money
to buy a twelve string at a pawn shop because music was another one
of his passions (others include acting, art and
skateboarding.)
After moving to Burlington he started playing at open mic nights.
Fifteen years of honing his chops on the streets, in bars and on
concert stages all over New England has paid off. Andy Lugo has an
infectious stage presence and has developed his sound: a sound that
at times evokes Sublime, Michael Franti, Smashing Pumpkins and Jimi
Hendrix. In the words of one reviewer "Lugo is something of a cross
between Everlast and Peter Gabriel. That may seem an odd
combination, but it works, especially during the acoustic
breaks."
Lugo released an EP in November titled "Loved Ones." His album is a
documentation of who he strives to be. He says, "It reminds me why
I play music. In a society where self-expression has become a
popularity contest and honesty is masked by vanity. I find it very
important to stay altruistic devoted to my craft. My songs are
about dark and light."
Listening to his music, on can hear how his subconscious creations
constantly attempt to make sense of the human condition. Unlike
songwriters who thrive in the abyss, Andy's lyrics about pain and
depression always rebound-the light wins over darkness and a
solution is reached. His songs are invariably about positive
messages or as Andy calls it, "the light."
One of his most personal songs is "Bob Lives" a reggae tinged
tune that was created on Bob Marley's compound in Nine Mile Jamaica
under the auspicious witness of a black cat who is the sole
inhabitant of Marley's house.
For the past decade in Burlington, Lugo has been playing in the
band Second Agenda. According to Seven Days music editor Dan
Bolles, "they have become something of a scene cornerstone." They
have released a few recordings with their latest EP, "Hope is a
Must" coming out this past year. Their music not only has a
powerful underlying message that is carefully woven throughout the
song's tracks, but is purely danceable hip-hop/rock an' roll music
at the same time.
Andy's solo shows add another dimension to his songs. The riffs
played on his black acoustic guitar firmly adhere his words to the
core of his philosophy and draws the listener deep into his
artistic web, offering a curative refuge from the world we live
in.
Tagged:
Andy Lugo, rockin' the region, rockin the region
