The Stage - Tomorrow's Music. Today.

Alan Troxell,
by Melissa Evanko

Occasionally you will find a performer who isn’t in it for the money or supposed fame but simply because they love the music their playing. Whether it is an original song or an obscure cover tune, Alan Troxell is your man. A virtual living book on the history of music, Troxell spins wondrous stories of the way music used to be in the early 60's and 70's. A self-described "throwback retro performer," and rock and roll history buff, Troxell is your professor of music and class is in session.

Alan Troxell calls the Lehigh Valley home. This former drummer is now a vocalist and guitarist. As a youth, Troxell "always wanted to sing and be a performer." His first band was Several Species, (name taken from a Pink Floyd song) which he was in for 7 years with Joe and Chris Kender. This year Troxell made the leap to being a solo performer and has enjoyed the change, "it's you or nothing, you are accountable for everything."

The song that Troxell performed on The Stage was "Hope To Meet You Soon." The tune to be an omen for the musician. The song was written around 2 years ago, a way for Troxell to vent his "complete frustration out of bachelorhood." Six months later he met his wife Nancy.

In the months ahead be sure to see Troxell play live, where you will hear his original songs as well as covers. His philosophy is "nobody wants to hear your stuff only, they also want to hear from bands they think they know." His angle is to not do the cover songs every other musician does, but "the songs you never hear very often," like 'Triad' by David Crosby, one of his favorite songs.

When playing a show Troxell has noticed that patrons will either "love him or look at him like he's from Mars." His fans are those who are "musically intellectual people." A lot of the songs he plays live may not be the biggest hit from a band, rather "you have to have owned the album," to enjoy the songs, not just turned on the radio to the one hit.

The inspiration for this music man is the "wantingness to succeed." "The want to get noticed and not "fade off without ever making an impact." Basically he has spent, "28 years of countless hours of playing, eating and breathing music."

If the way-back machine was up and running the band that Troxell would jump on stage with would be The Beatles. The time period would be around 63-66 when they were still in their mop-top phase. Simply, "they possessed and did it all."

For Troxell the music of the 60' s and 70' was simply "the best music." He tries to convey this feeling at his live shows. He wants his listeners to get back that feeling of "a moment in time when life was a lot easier." The listener "might daydream for a moment to when they first heard that song." Troxell feels with his acoustic show that "less is more." With an acoustic guitar and a voice you can "carry more meaning than a band with a thousand sound effects." The song will not "get lost in the clutter and chaos." And how nice to be reminded of that magical moment when you first heard your favorite song.