May 18: Lend an ear in the Southside

	Anthony Rankin EARLY SHOW Special Guest - Brooke Annibale
	Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 7:30PM Anthony Rankin writes, plays, sings, produces and performs his own songs of guitar-driven, melodic pop rock. He released a well-received debut CD last year and performs regularly at venues in and around Pittsburgh, such as Borders bookstores, Buffalo Blues, Metropol, Moondog's and Nick's Fat City, to name a few. The Forest Hills resident is only 19 years old and is not new to the music scene. Rankin has been performing in clubs since he was 13, five years after receiving his first electric guitar at the age of 8. He also plays piano and drums, but the guitar really captured his imagination. "Something about the guitar was very instinctive." He became proficient on the instrument so quickly that he played at Nick's Fat City and Buffalo Blues while in junior high school. "It was intimidating," says Rankin. "When I was 13 that was huge." The audiences liked the prolific, young musician, and from that moment on, he was hooked on making music and performing. "There's something you get with an audience that's irreplaceable." As a performer, Bruce Springsteen is Rankin's biggest influence because of the intensity of his live music. The soft-spoken, contemplative young man becomes intense when performing and, like Springsteen, he strives to leave his audience emotionally and physically exhausted. "A lot of people tell me I'm a different person on stage." The 2003 Woodland Hills High School graduate is able to keep his personal life separate from his public persona, but music is integral to everything he does. The biggest influences on his music include Peter Gabriel, Prince, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi and Journey. The last band is a good example of where he got his foundation in songwriting. Musically, he's often trying to reinvent something and expand upon an idea. His style is versatile, ranging from energetic rock songs to poignant balladry to intricate guitar work. Songwriting "is either very easy and comes naturally, or is something that takes a while," says Rankin, who always liked to write short stories while growing up as a means of expressing himself. Most of the lyrics are based on his own experiences, whether describing actual events or capturing how he felt at a moment in time. All of his material has to do with "love and life and emotions" because the subjects are universally understood. Rankin's soulful, raw voice adds to the intensity and energy of songs on his debut CD, "Every Part of Me." The title track and the cut "What I Live For" have together broken the record on the Top 10 Countdown Internet radio show on paXposure.com. Rankin has the most consecutive weeks on the Top 10, at 42, and he is the first pop artist to have two songs on the show in the same week. Rankin credits his father, Ned, for much of his success. His dad was his drummer when he started playing clubs as an adolescent and continued for many years to play in his band. His mother, Kathy, his "biggest fan," also encouraged him to pursue his dream. In the past year, Rankin has written about 60 songs. He is planning the massive undertaking of recording either a double album or two separate albums at the same time using 25 of the songs, which "fit really well together." Rankin hopes to begin recording this month with an expanded band, most of whose members are his classmates at Duquesne University, where he is a full-time student studying music technology. "It's a constant battle of balance," says Rankin, of juggling his career and studies. He is reluctant to give up any time at the university because he loves attending the school of music and getting the feedback and honest opinions of his peers. "It's the hub of my wheel, as far as audience and support." Rankin plans on doing more shows on campus that are separate from his music school curriculum, which is mostly jazz-related. Although his music is "not jazz music by any means," the influence has given his music a more unique tone and elements that aren't typical pop. His new band of five members has a keyboard and an added guitar to accommodate "the essence of the material, which is very dense," he said. "There are lots of layers and things going on." Rankin also performs regularly at public venues, such as the USX Tower Summer Series in Pittsburgh. But his recurring solo acoustic appearances at Borders bookstores have brought him the most acclaim. His "unplugged sessions" at the Borders in Monroeville on Oct. 8 and the South Hills Borders on Oct. 22 featured a more intimate and conversational style. The appearances were "more of a personal experience" for the audience and enabled them to really get to know the man behind the music. There's one thing that will be apparent to all who see Rankin or listen to his recordings. He will be leaving his mark on the music scene for a long time to come. "The wheels in my head are always turning." Anthony Rankin's CD, "Every Part of Me," can be purchased at local Borders bookstores, Forest Hills Coffee Co. and Enchanted Forest, also in Forest Hills, as well as online at www.anthonyrankin.com.
	Doors Open At 6PM $5 Cover Charge Call Club Cafe at 412-431-4950 for more details.
	www.anthonyrankin.com