AllOne
Written by: Cait Elizabeth - March 2019
Edited by: Travis Ryan
INTRODUCTIONS:
If you combined an encyclopedia, a rhyming dictionary, and a dash of dandy you’d get the broad strokes of AllOne. Comprised of wordsmith Bruce Pandolfo and a revolving cast of talented characters accompanying him in beat production, instrument playing, and vocalizing, AllOne ironically stands far apart from other hip hop projects in approach and content. Bruce is a stunningly prolific musician who draws inspiration from literature, poetry, historical facts, and emotional journeys. His parents encouraged a deep and early love of music, reading, and writing that has served him well his entire life. An interest in hip hop blossomed after a punk rock connection via a Sage Francis song on Epitaph Records' "Punk O Rama" series. “My first performance was in a historic home in an old art gallery, shakily reciting a piece about self-consciousness to a group of fellow poets, none of them younger than 60,” Bruce recounts. Getting feedback from an audience member that his piece resonated with her ignited a passion for performing that burns hotter every day.
Bruce was a frequenter of cafe open mics for years, stopping by a few times per week to collaborate, perform, and network with anyone who shared and appreciated his vision. Finally Bruce decided that he needed to start recording. In the summer of 2010, AllOne’s first album, “Coal Aberrations” was released. What does he have out as of today? Just four solo AllOne projects, two projects with a band AllOne & The Room, one split EP with Drent from Rhode Island, two albums as Almost Elijah, two collaborative and b-sides compilations, and a slew of singles as well!
One of AllOne’s most unique projects was his Dusty Dossiers EP. It followed the hit podcast Criminals’ first season, taking true crime cases and filtering them through rap music. Each track is a history lesson and Bruce is a storytelling dynamo. His talents aren’t limited to prepared verses either; I’ve witnessed him freestyle on the most bizarre and spur of the moment topics. He is constantly making connections between themes, words, and emotions in ways that are well outside the box.
TOURS & SHOWS
AllOne has performed up and down the East Coast, adventuring as far out as Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Texas, and Tennessee. Some of Bruce’s favorite tour memories include a string of shows at Corktown Studios in Detroit with friends Jay and Lisa of Rogue Satellites, on a tour with Alexa Dexa. The venue led to an enthusiastic crowd as the performance space lived within an art museum. In 2013, AllOne met up with Alexa Dexa again, this time at a magical venue in Houston called Super Happy Fun Land. A surreal and whimsical gallery/performance space/consignment shop housed in a giant warehouse made for a great show where Bruce shared the stage with a projected Charlie Brown. In 2014, while staying with musical friends the Beshures family in Rochester, he was part of a huge and eclectic lineup at a handmade longboard shop. The crowd was united by barbecue, skateboarding, and great music. Bruce can’t get enough of the road — if you like him and his music, reach out and set up some shows together!
AllOne is a content creating machine. He maintains a weekly video series called Spontaneous Sundays, which functions as a improvisational hip hop workout. An all organic, no-frills approach to creating and sharing spontaneous art, Bruce often collaborates with other musicians from the front seat of his car.
If you’re interested in the adventures of AllOne, you can read the daily journals of his travels over at the AllOne Network. Each trip he takes is followed by a detailed record of who he has met, where he has gone, and even what he has eaten!
INSPIRATION & INFLUENCES
AllOne is influenced by authors, rappers, poets, and musicians. Pulling inspiration from legends like the late Micheal "Eyedea" Larsen, Sage Francis, Slug of Atmosphere, and Aesop Rock, Bruce sets himself a high bar for technical details as well as rich and varied topics.
“There are too many people to thank! Cait for creating and hosting this incredible catalog of unsung-but endlessly singing- Long Island performers. The many talented people who have collaborated with me and inspired me in this scene over the years. The cafe and bar owners, the promoters and the mentors who have given me sage advice on being a better artist or doing this thing more professionally (that’s always a work in progress). So much love to my family and friends and supporters from around the country who buy my projects and show up at the events and know the words or share their stories and inspire me to keep doing what I do passionately.”