Hip About Time by Todd Burge

I like to write songs off the top of my head, like a fun conversation with an old friend, spontaneously going wherever that conversation takes us and not worrying about someone else’s opinion. It’s not some weird, unique, never been done before thing happening here, I mean, it’s mostly acoustic nowadays and I suppose you’d call it Folk, but it truly is mine and I’m proud of that.”

Burge’s latest CD, Hip About Time (2006) is a mix of Folk Rock, Country and Bluegrass.

“The recording is somewhat conceptual; I wanted to include songs that dealt with the passing of time. The concept hit me while watching the movie, Easy Rider for the fifth or so time in my life. The movie starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda is a real ‘time piece’ and it deals with freedom, misdirection and tragedy. At one point in the movie, the character, Captain America, played by Fonda says, ‘I’m hip about time, but I’ve got to go’. This line has meant different things to me through the years, but this time it was profound in a way as I was changing a diaper for my little baby Will. So, I put a bunch of songs together that for the most part revolve around time and family etc, but it’s not a biography, I’ve thrown in a bunch of fiction and I’m not even sure I know what’s true and what isn’t with some of it.” Burge said.

Burge has been called prolific songwriter and fearless performer with melody, phrasing and wit to spare. Burge is blessed with a rich voice, great guitar chops and a goofy sense of homegrown humor. From 80s punk rock to recording and performing with Grammy winner Tim O'Brien, Todd Burge has recently been called West Virginia’s best songwriter by Larry Groce, host of PBS’s Mountain Stage.

Born and raised in Vienna, WV, Todd Burge, like many small town kids, grew up living vicariously

through the music and lyrics of his heroes. But, unlike most kids, his heroes were Charlie Rich, Roger Miller and early Neil Diamond.

"My parents split up when I was ten. Dad liked Charlie Rich and Mom, Neil Diamond.

I spent hours and hours listening to these artists. Looking back, I think it was a way

to get closer to my parents. Connect them in some way." said Burge.

His earliest musical experience consisted of singing in Junior and High School Choirs. He also reluctantly took piano lessons.

Burge bought his first guitar while a Freshmen at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

After becoming inpatient with learning songs by popular artists, he spent most of his college years writing his own songs.

" I suppose attention deficit brought me to songwriting. I always seems easier to make up your own lyrics and chord progression, than learning somebody else's".

Burge quickly became involved in the Punk/garage band scene in Morgantown founding bands like the Larries, Bunj and the Beats and later, 63 Eyes.

"Going to WVU was very important to my career in music. I studied Psychology and English, but it all seemed to tie into music and lyrics. The study of human behavior and Shakespeare are great places for a young songwriter's head to be. But the most important thing was the support a songwriter or band would receive in that college community! A local band would play at the Underground Rail Road one night and

you'd hear their songs on WWVU-FM92 the next day! That was mind blowing to me. It just didn't happen in Vienna! People thought songs came from some mysterious place or that your had to be in NYC, LA or Nashville to be serious about music. Not true.” Says Burge

After college, Burge briefly moved to San Francisco to work for a small record label, then came back to WV to tour with 63 Eyes, but his heart was stuck in the acoustic genre. In 1990 he released his first solo CD on his own label, Bunj Jam Music entitled "Never Say Uncle". A very personal contemporary Folk recording . The recording was modestly successful, but was more than enough to convince Burge to embark on a fulltime solo career. Todd took the do-it-yourself punk attitude that was shared by many bands in the 80's and applied it to his new acoustic career.

Burge has released 7 CDs now and plays over 150 shows a year. He is currently performing shows in support of his latest release Hip About Time. The recording includes performances by 2006 Grammy Winner Tim O'Brien as well as Ammed Soloman and Steve Hill of the

Mountain Stage Band.

Todd has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists including Ricky Skaggs, Tim O'Brien, Bela Fleck, Tim Finn, Junior Brown, Rusted Root, Chris Smither, Jorma Kaukonen, Tish Hinojosa, Larry Groce, Johnny Staats, Robbie Fulks, Mike Seeger and Roy Bookbinder..

Burge has also played many times on Public Radio International's Mountain Stage , most recently backed by Tim O'Brien on their 20th Anniversary show. This show included Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Chris Smither among others) Mountain stage can be heard on over 100 public radio stations and viewed on PBS.

He was also the Workshop Coordinator for Mountain Stage's New Song Festival and owns Bunj Jam Mobile Studios where he records and produces his own CDs as well as other select artists including Moon Mullen, Dr. Matt Lambert, Josh Baker & Don Baker.

Burge is also the founding member of www.songwriternight.com.

The organization produces songwriter events and radio programs in and around West Virgina.

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