Rob Klajda is an independent artist in every sense of the word. He carries his own gear, books his own shows, makes his own records, and writes his own promo. I guess I can talk about myself in the first tense now that the cat is out of the bag. I’ve always been ahead of the next big thing, and moved on before it happened. Visionary? All I know is foresight and $4 will get you a cup of coffee. After 30+ years of performing, I decided to release my first solo album – “Hopening” – because nobody else was making the kind of albums I wanted to hear. I live in Lansing, Michigan, and for the last 15 years or so I have played in a Celtic Rock band called The Lash. We have released three discs of original music, and have played all over the US. Before that, I was in a variety of bands, from punk rock to reggae to folk. I don’t limit myself by genre. I like all music and I want to play it all. I’ve played on both coasts of the US and many points in between, for crowds of thousands and crowds of ten. I don’t have a list of awards and accolades, but I’ve probably done a gig somewhere by you, wherever you are. I still play with The Lash, and a new project called The Hardwires. My first love though, is my solo work. Over a six month period in 2012, I recorded “Hopening” with 18 of Michigan’s finest musicians. I am able to perform in a variety of configurations- solo acoustic, an acoustic quartet, or a full on electric band of up to 12 people. My influences are many, but some of the people I look up to as a writer are Pete Townshend, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies, Guy Clark, Bob Dylan- and a few hundred others. My music is derivative in the sense that I don’t deny my roots, but I don’t really think I sound like anyone else.