Louisiana is built upon a rich foundation of musical culture, ranging from eclectic jazz and blues to heart stomping southern rock. The capital city, however, has offered a much sweeter taste of musical talent to Louisiana’s homegrown beat. Subject Optional, a small solo project turned hometown hit, is just that. In an underground music scene made up of primarily hardcore, metal and punk genres, Tony Romano has managed to create a sound of his own, proving that ’underground’ does not have to be equated with gritty drum solos, screaming vocals, and manic moshing. Romano, a young singer/songwriter born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA, first got his start with Subject Optional in late 2003 while playing with his current band Launch the Boy, a local pop punk band. Before Launch the Boy, Romano also showcased his musical talents as lead vocalist/guitarist in his high school band Second Nature. As a member of Launch the Boy, Romano’s skill as both a singer and musician improved with great dedication and heart. It was then that his thoughts of working on a solo side project, Subject Optional, first came to mind. Launch the Boy eventually evolved into As of Now in May of 2004, where Romano played and recorded a 3 song demo with the band before ultimately parting ways after about a month. However, Subject Optional was one thing he did not intend to part ways with. Since the emergance of Subject Optional, Romano has rapidly climbed in musical popularity within this deep south boot state. He has released 2 EPs, "Closed Caption of a Blank Screen" and "Goodbye," as well as putting out one full length album, "No Regrets, All Mistakes" (released to the public October 2005). Romano has also had the opportunity to share the stage with several highly acclaimed bands, such as The Spill Canvas, Ryan Adams, Paramore, Tyler Read, Meriwether, Rookie of the Year, Anberlin, Meg and Dia, As Tall As Lions, Copeland, Umbrellas, Mae, and The Academy Is..., to name a few. Subject Optional is what one would describe as a breathtaking tapestry of sweet southern vocals, haunting acoustic melodies, and lyrically catchy songs that one will not soon forget. The singularness of Subject Optional is sure to get Tony Romano an ever expanding fan base, raising a few eyebrows of curiosity and lifting a few hearts with his song.
