Acoustic and electric fingerstyle guitarist Alberto Lombardi performs at Boulevard Music this week, so he told the News about what he has in store for Culver City…
When and how did In the Big Round form, and when did it get serious?
I started playing when I was 12, performing soon after with a cover band in town squares, a couple theaters and high school festivals. So much fun!
Describe your sound…
I’m a classic rock electric guitar player disguised in a fingertyle one. I love arranging famous songs in fingerstyle, from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder. But I also love writing rock songs and playing rock solos.
What are your career highlights so far?
I’ve been a sideman all my life, played stadiums and arenas with big Italian names, but nothing gets close to touring with Tommy Emmanuel, or mixing my record with Bob Clearmountain. I also got a very enthusiastic tweet by Nile Rodgers about that record. Speaking of Tommy, after teaching at his Rome camp last spring I’ll be touring Italy with him in February.
Do you have any recorded music available?
I have a fingerstyle album called through the years, with lots of covers and a few originals. That’s the third I do in that style. The most recent rock album is the one mixed by Clearmountain and it’s called Home.
Have you performed at Boulevard before? Any memories?
Yes in January 2020, right before lockdown. I had a great time, it’s a very music-oriented kind of concert. People know their stuff there.
What can we expect from the set this time?
This time I’m bringing acoustic and electric. So I’m playing many of my arrangements, from Italian classics like Volare, to the Beatles, etc, but I will also do some soloing with the electric. Another interesting addition is a drum machine–it’s enclosed in my looper and with an octaver I can get a full band sound. I’m used to playing with a band and the guitar alone is sometimes limiting for me, so I’ll bring a band… in a box!
What else do you have coming up?
The U.S. tour is extensive, more than 20 shows across the US, then back to Italy to start a new record that will be a mix of rock songs, fingerstyle pieces and even electric instruments! Can’t wait! And then of course, Touring with Tommy Emmanuel, 10 gigs across Italy in February.
Alberto Lombardi performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Boulevard Music. More info on the show at boulevardmusic.com. More info on the band at albertolombardi.com.th
Elsewhere this week
Culver City’s music venues have a full calendar of entertainment this week. For the Cinema Bar, that includes the Hot Club of Los Angeles (every Monday), Open Mic Night every Wednesday, The Collective, Hollywood Rivieras, Groove Union, Cats on the Bandstand, and more. For more information, go to thecinemabar.com.