Todd Novak

US guitar player and occasional producer. His journey began as he sprouted up in rural Pennsylvania and southern Ohio. He soon outgrew the scenery and moved to Columbus, Ohio where he met kindred spirits on the local music scene. After spending several years in the legendary "Ronald Koal and the Trillionaires", he was soon looking for a more rootsy/country band to scratch his itch. "Rickey Barnes and the Hootowls" became that back scratchin' band. Equipped with hay bales and an upright bass fiddle, the Hootowls played barns & club dates warming up for the likes of Rank N' File and many other early alt-country greats, with Dave Schramm often joining in on lap steel guitar. Todd felt he was out-growing his britches in Ohio (ouch!), and he moved to New York City to play in the Ska band "Cryin' Out Loud". C.O.L found themselves the first independent label band to have a video on MTV in regular rotation. Once again the britches shrunk. So Todd joined Dave Schramm's group "The Schramms" and recorded with them on their first CD "Walk To Delphi" on Okra records. Still in a growing spurt, Todd formed and fronted a surf band "The Dragsters". He left the Schramms when "The Dragsters" received a recording deal from Great Jones/Island records. Loads of touring, surfing, and sun followed. Enter Kevin Salem of Dumptruck, Freedy Johnston, and Yo La Tengo fame. Kevin asked Todd to join his group, and they soon landed a recording deal with Roadrunner records via Jeff Pachman. Todd appeared on Kevin's first CD "Soma City," produced by Nico Bolas (of Neil Young fame), playing guitar and singing harmony vocals with Syd Straw. The KS band played on national tours supporting The Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, The Bottle Rockets, and many others. Other New York activities included performing and producing cuts on the Brian Wilson tribute album "Smiles, Vibes and Harmony", and teaming up with virtuoso jazz guitarist/mandolin player Peter Brazier in a 1920's/Django-style group "The String Tickers". Soon the growing pains started again and sunny California started callin' Todd's name. He flipped coasts and formed a band of all-star Bay Area musicians called, "The Cowlicks."