In a nutshell, I'm a rock-influenced acoustic guitar player/songwriter who loves great, heart-felt music. My acoustic influences range from Jimi Page to Greg Lake; David Gilmour to Nick Drake, Pete Townshend to Pete Seeger. I play primarily acoustic 12 string guitar with some piano from time to time. I place a high premium on melody and use many altered tunings for a unique result and might consider The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, and Neil Young to be among my greatest song-writing influences. While I've played a lot of solo shows over the years, the band I'm best known for is Tim McHugh and the Lost Poets.
Growing up, my dad, a first generation Irish American used to complain about all the British music flowing through our house as "music of the empire." To me, it was just great music. Besides that, I hadn't yet heard of that great Irish band U2. I also wish I could have told him that it was John Lennon who actually wrote the song Bloody Sunday as a tribute to the Irish fighting for independence! But, it doesn't matter where music comes from as long as it's good sincere, and inspired. I continually strive to demolish the boundaries between folk and rock music. Some of my music is fairly electrified, and some of it is pretty stark.
I've also shared the stage with a variety of artists ranging from the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Sara Maclachlan, WAR, Tower of Power, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, John Trudell, The Cult, Country Joe McDonald, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.
In 2004, Kearney Street Books published my debut novel, The Poet Chronicles about a group of misfit musicians trying to survive on the road. Sam Andrew from Janis Joplin’s legendary band, Big Brother and the Holding Company calls the book, “hilarious,” and writes that it should be “wrapped in dishonored contracts and entombed in the cornerstone of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
In the fall of 2011, Turner Publishing published my new book, Ivan! A Pound Dog's View on Life, Love and Leashes on October 11th, 2011. This story was inspired by my former pound dog Ivan who has strong opinions on everything from war to poverty and globalization and who could be better suited to put forth a message to the world than a one-eyed, underbitten shelter dog?
In the fall of 2012 I'll finally be releasing the long-awaited, Love Songs for the 21st Century CD. Some of the songs including The 911 Song are being released as MP3 singles.
Between music, writing, teaching high school English, and raising a family, I've been quite busy.
Please do sign up on my email list so I can keep you informed as to book readings, upcoming concerts, and info regarding my Love Songs for the 21st Century release. Thanks so much for visiting!
Tim McHugh
