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Sometimes when one says “solo, acoustic guitar, or songwriter”... it conjures up images of a smokey cafe’
and an overaged folk singer sitting on a stool, playing ballads to a handful of intellectual elitists that fancy the undiscovered.
Sometimes it conjours up the cover tune musician playing to unenthused happy hour patrons in a corner bar... Every so often there is one that rises out of the stereotype and crosses demographic boundaries, and
its heralded by peers and fans alike. One of these is Aaron Forsyth, a.k.a Letters to the Dead. Born as the brainchild of a veteran NW PA musician,
Aaron is a driving force in the NW PA market for years. He in the late 90’s achieved success the bass player for a unit
called Psyclone touring the Northwest PA/OH/NY area, but later found 10 fold notoriety 2000-2006 as the figurehead,
and bass player of a hard rock band called Seahollies.
Their regional dominance, and 4 CD library gained them national exposure (Rolling Rock Town Fair 3, a run on college radio stations,
and hundreds of regional shows, national and club)... it was a glorious moment in the time line but it wasn’t enough
to maintain...the times and crowds tastes were changing. Later he started (with members of Seahollies) an industrial/metal/rock band
called Pipeyard who still plays now regionally to sold out crowds (as seen with Mushroomhead / Godsmack / Drowning Pool, etc...).
So it is easy to discover Aaron is no stranger to large ravenous crowds, and aggressive music. He was award Erie's Favorite Bass Player in 2007 at the Rock Erie Music Awards by a landslide. But as a solo artist and songwriter he leaves all boundaries behind.
Other than the sleeves of tattoos you would never know he came from that world as you watch him
weave sonic stories about love, and loss in his Letters to the Dead project. Every song is an original, but lyrically shows his
intellectualism and sense of experience that is always at the forefront. The songs are timeless in nature and with the addition of the amazing Rick Sadlier (as keyboardist/piano player) the songs have reached new heights. It is impossible to catagorize his music...He
has energy to his live show, he never sits on stool like most acoustic people and he involves everyone in his brand of self expression...
Aaron proficiently plays his guitar spilling chord after chord of unexpected twists and turns of hook laden melodies.
You would never have guessed he is actually a bass player in his “other world”. And the chemistry and expertise between Aaron and Rick is obvious. He (they) has/have MASS appeal.
We have seen Aaron play in front of original alternative rock bands and win the crowd over,
he has entertained tye dyed hippy types, he has even been received by a country crowd as well...
Young teens with backpacks and blackened hair, middle aged housewives, alternative shoegazers, shop working
common folk, bikers, cross armed musicians...young or old... you name it - they all respect and welcome
Aaron and his universal approach to music. When you listen to his live show, he has that sense of humility, but
confidence that is needed to be liked. You hear his once broken heart, you hear his years of experience. You feel something
happening that you can take with you. Sadliers piano parts add to the fullness and drama...it really is worth hearing. That is why we believe they can be so much more than you see now. They have “something for everyone” and that is a rarity nowadays.
Sit back and listen to the “truth in Simplicity” CD or the live show and you to will be glad you opened your ears to
something that can be all yours AND JUST IN:
Aaron is currently working for a DEBUT of the full band behind him.
They have begun working with Aaron on taking the songs to new heights.
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