Songwriter Tyrone Wells will bring pop-rock flavor and acoustic sound to SLO Brewing Co. (SLO Brew) Tuesday.
Where We Meet, Wells newest album, hit the shelves in March. His fourth full-length album cracked the top 10 list on iTunes and No. 1 on the singer/songwriter chart upon release, which was a first for Wells.
Wells said his past records were mostly acoustic, but some were more epic and lush in production. This album was a nice mixture of the two, he said.
“I think, on this record, I was able to meld my influences better,” he said. “There are sparse moments and epic moments.”
Where We Meet is Wells’ first record to be released since he split with his former label, Universal.
“It was a joint decision,” Wells said. “I didn’t like the terms under which they’d release my next record, so instead of keeping that relationship, we decided to part ways.”
Wells said it has been a positive decision for him.
Recently, Wells had a baby girl named Aria, which is Italian for “song,” who he said is inspiring some new music.
“She’s definitely rocking my world in the best way,” he said.
During the concert at SLO Brew, Wells said he’ll play a mixture of songs from his previous albums as wells as songs from Where We Meet. All of which will reflect Wells’ influences from a wide variety of music.
“It’s like U2, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor got all screwed up into one person,” Wells said.
Daniel Schricker, bioresource and agricultural engineering sophomore, said Wells has talent. While he wasn’t too fond of the music video for “Freedom” — a song on Wells’ most recent album — he enjoyed the song, he said.
While fans enjoy his music, Wells’ fellow artists enjoy another side of him. Mike Annuzzi, a former Cal Poly student, works as Wells’ assistant tour manager and guitar tech on his national tour.
Working with Wells has been a great experience for Annuzzi, he said. Annuzzi will open for Wells at SLO Brew along with Tyler Hilton — called Wells an “outstanding person with the biggest heart,” as well as one of the most talented people he has ever known.
“His words touch people in ways I desire my music to be able to touch others,” Annuzzi said.
Like Wells, Annuzzi grew up around music. His father was a professional accordion player, and Annuzzi said he was in awe of his father.
“When I was 8, I told him, ‘Dad, when I grow up I either want to be just like you, a chef or a rock star,’” he said.
According to Annuzzi, Wells also has a great work ethic. A typical day consists of driving to a venue, sound checking, the performance and tearing it down, he said. Annuzzi said they sometimes drive to the next venue that night. However, Wells always takes time to meet his fans, Annuzzi said.
Annuzzi said his own music falls under the pop/acoustic/blues genre. The word he used to describe his sound: “happiness.”
“I want someone to listen and take the coolest story out of it,” he said. “I want them to take the words from my story and use them for their own story.”
He graduated from Cal Poly with a bachelor of arts in music with a concentration in guitar; however, Annuzzi started his education at Cal Poly as an economics major. His reasoning: Mick Jagger was an economics major. He worked for Associated Students, Inc. for three years, and during this time, he said he brought groups such as One Republic and Death Cab for Cutie to campus when they were “nobodies.”
Annuzzi will return to Cal Poly May 31 to perform at Concerts in the Plaza, as well as later that night downtown at Creeky Tiki.
Annuzzi said the concert is going to be a great event filled with fun songs, love songs and songs that audiences can sing along with and dance to.
“It’s songwriters being true to themselves and showing others who they are,” he said.
Wells’ all-ages concert at SLO Brew begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. In addition to opening for Wells, Annuzzi will perform during UU Hour on Thursday, and his show at Creeky Tiki will start at 7 p.m.