Bio
(download press photos & extended bio here)
Buffalo, NY songwriter/guitarist Rob Falgiano explores light and shade with playful, intimate, often blunt lyrics about being vulnerably human, but resilient and determined. With a love of classic pop structure and fascination with the mysteries of sound, he unconsciously blends genres, incorporating jazz chords with pop melody, rock, R&B, funk syncopation, vintage country-folk (then called “hillbilly!”) and other mysterious influences. Plus, ambient electronics and synth bass low-end from 1980s American/Canadian/British alternative/college radio he loved growing up in a border-town. He is a proud Buffalonian.
Falgiano has released 10 full-length records of original music, plus three EPs. His songs have been used as background music on national TV shows, including: ‘Friday Night Lights’ (NBC), ‘Felicity’ (WB), ‘The Black Donnellys’ (NBC), ‘Everwood’ (CW-ABC Family), ‘Dude I Just Want My Pants Back’ (MTV), and ‘General Hospital’ (ABC). His 11th record “Everything is Only the Beginning” will be released later this summer; it includes 21 songs and is mixed by Rich Ells and Mike Bridges at GRC Audio, plus Mike Rorick at Rock Central.
Opening slots for a dozen national artists include: John Hiatt, Jakob Dylan, Nickel Creek, Ingrid Michaelson, Three Dog Night, Matthew Good, Goo Goo Dolls (twice, including the “Jed” record release at the American Legion in Kenmore, Feb ’89), Pursuit of Happiness, Ron Hawkins, Deep Blue Something, Nellie McKay, and Chris Trapper, also Buffalo-born. Rob has played more than 1500 shows in the northeast US & Southern Ontario in the last 30+ years, performing for tens of thousands of people.
Stream 8+ hours of Rob’s songs on shuffle here.
Falgiano is also an independent, non-corporate concert promoter in Buffalo, booking major and lesser-known artists in his hometown for almost 30 years, including: Mark Knopfler, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, The Jacksons (Jackson 5), Gregory Porter, Brian Wilson, Burton Cummings (The Guess Who), Ray Davies, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Pixies, Jeff Beck, Nikki Glaser, David Byrne, Samantha Fish, Sufjan Stevens, Robin Thicke, Brian Culbertson, Anderson Rabin & Wakeman, Chris Cornell (two remarkable solo tours), Kool & The Gang, Joe Cocker, The Head and the Heart, Joe Jackson, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Martha Ambrosius, John Hiatt, Leo Kottke, Monsieur Perine, Boney James, Petros Klampanis, Esperanza Spalding, Levon Helm, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Robert Glasper Experiment, Sarah Brightman, Dweezil Zappa, Buddy Guy, Feist, KD Lang, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, David Sedaris, Ray Charles (final tour!), Gregory Hines, Chick Corea, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Mythbusters, Lily Tomlin, Blues Traveler, Bright Eyes, Herbie Hancock, Tears for Fears, Straight No Chaser, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Jimmie Vaughan, Ian Anderson, Steve Vai, “Rain,” John Legend, Ne-Yo, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, “Experience Hendrix,” Ace Frehley, Trombone Shorty, Beth Hart, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Decemberists, Indigo Girls, Lucinda Williams, Will Downing, Pat Metheny Group, Randy Hauser, Alton Brown, Lewis Black, among hundreds of other events, at venues throughout Buffalo.
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DISCOGRAPHY: ‘Super Sexy Xmas EP’ (2025) | Burning Sun EP’ (2024) | ‘In It EP’ (2023) with Plaster Sandals | ‘Back With The Dreamers’ (2020) | ‘Little Vision’ (2017) | ‘Live @ Home: Acoustic Pink Floyd’ (2015) | ‘Nice Mouth’ (2013) | ‘All Star Heart’ (2010) | ‘Red’ (2005) | ‘Things I Used to Know’ (2003) | ‘The Contortionists Get Sweet For You’ (2001) with The Contortionists | ‘Down The Long Lonely’ (1997) | ‘Pop Revolution’ (1997) with Plaster Sandals | ‘Two Steps Left of Hip’ (1993) with Plaster Sandals | forthcoming: ‘Everything is only the Beginning’ (2026)
‘…an opening set by singer/ songwriter Rob Falgiano, whose remarkable vocal range turned some heads.’
‘Funk-rock band grooves with hints of soul and jazz, influenced by groups like Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and the Robert Glasper Experiment.’
‘His use of digital blips and beats as flourishes sound something like Elvis Costello singing with the Postal Service.’
‘Rob Falgiano took to the stage first. In a way, he was both Simon and Garfunkel. His stature and guitar skills invoked the former while his vocals recalled the latter.’ –
‘His (opening set) presented the audience with a mosaic of influences that conjure up a likable & sometimes funky sound. His work vaguely resembles that of John Mayer’s earlier soft pop rock albums.’ –
‘His strongest, most finely detailed and compelling collection to date.’
‘Daring and delicately understated.’
‘The album is gorgeous. His music smacks of a hard-won humanism, tempered by a clearly blossoming songwriting talent.’
‘What’s impressive about your work is your unwillingness to settle for the obvious. More challenging than simply crafting a pop tune, but when you put the elements together properly the sky’s the limit.’
‘Falgiano is more interested in making an album of value instead of writing one for the casual crowd.’
‘Many will be won over by Rob’s voice alone, Neil Finn-like on the opener and sporting a mellow-soul falsetto.’