A musician’s life can sometimes be glamorous but often involves a lot of time away from family, the rigors of the industry, and trying to keep a stiff upper lip often in the face of doors being closed or slammed shut. The temptations touring and the road offer can also destroy many physically, emotionally, and mentally as an artist tries to survive for the original love of creating one’s art. For Toronto blues rock musician Frank Cosentino, the challenges of being a songwriter and performer are starkly captured in his latest weighty single, “Making The Rounds.” It’s a song Cosentino sounds like he’s lived through and persevered.
“It’s the story of every songwriter, performer, and artist,” Cosentino says of “Making The Rounds.” “The struggles, the loss, the countless rejections that come to an artist trying to get his art out to the people. It truly is the nature of the beast. The result was a gritty song about the truth of the life of the artist.”
Cosentino, a longtime blues rock musician who has over four decades of experience in the business, says the origins of “Making The Rounds” emerged from working in Studio Cardinal Toronto recording with JUNO Award-winning producer Derek Downham. Downham said to Cosentino it was “time to write a song from scratch.” With a clean slate, Cosentino says “the riff was born, and the song literally wrote itself.”
“After dedicating four decades to touring, writing, and producing new music, I arrived at a personal crossroads and realized the need for a change in lifestyle,” Cosentino says. “I overcame the challenges of addiction and got sober seven years ago. With renewed inspiration, I returned to songwriting with increased focus and energy. The story of ‘Making The Rounds’ symbolizes my journey. Throughout the process, my progress was evident, and I emerged as a stronger writer, player, and human.”
“Making The Rounds,” composed by Cosentino and Downham (who also produced the song) starts with a thick, infectious riff courtesy of Cosentino, who sings, plays lead guitar, with Downham on the well-crafted treasure. Teeming with confidence and knowing this is a groove that could go on forever, Cosentino has help from Downham, who plays the second bass guitar in addition to keyboards and drums. It’s a track that brings to mind the work of Gary Clark Jr., Robert Cray, Buddy Guy and The Fabulous Thunderbirds among others.
A lyric video for “Making The Rounds” was recently released. The song, mastered by Mariana Hutton at The Lacquer Channel Toronto, is the latest track for Cosentino, who has performed throughout Canada at major festivals and clubs. Inspired after seeing the Jimi Hendrix Experience at Toronto’s CNE Coliseum on February 24, 1968, Cosentino has released four full-length albums leading The Frank Cosentino Band. He has also shared the stage with artists including Cowboy Junkies, Sue Foley, Buddy Guy, the late James Cotton, the late Jeff Healey, and Duke Robillard among others.
Having played routinely for over 40 years, Cosentino still tours while his music has received airplay and North American radio as well as internationally. He has also gotten a figurative turbo boost of sorts after having been loaned a 1955 Guild CE 100 guitar by Frank Troiano, a guitar that was used by the late Canadian guitar great Domenic Troiano.
Having released previous singles “Vibin'” and “You Can’t Call Back” earlier this year, Frank Cosentino is riding a momentous 2024 higher with the delectable “Making The Rounds.” Judging from this excellent effort, it’s apparent Frank Cosentino will be making the rounds in blues rock circles the world over.
