Biography

Lionel Lodge
Definitely Schrgged
Excellent acoustic folk CD.
Reviewer: Jean W. for RadioIndy

"Definitely Schragged" by singer/songwriter Lionel Lodge is an acoustic CD that stands in a class by itself. A masterpiece is made when the right conditions, the right musicians, and the right music converge. In this case the right place for it's first formings is the infamous "Cafe Schrag" in Vienna; The performers are musicians who enjoyed making music at the Schrag; And the music is Lionel's unique brand of acoustic folk eclecticism. The result is music that is real, authentic, and organic. The listener is invited to join the ambiance at the Schrag! The performances are all memorable and unique with contributions from a tuba, a violin, accordions, harmonicas, and various percussion instruments. This is real talent that does not need to be disguised! Our favorite track is "The Greatest Thrill of All," which features an exquisite guitar/accordion accompaniment. This CD captures the essence of friends creating music together and invites the listener to become a part of the experience. This CD is a classic for your collection! Pick up a copy today!



Definitely Schrgged was born out of weekly sessions held at the infamous Caf Schrg in Vienna. The caf is run by Reinhard, a definitely schrgged but extremely lovable rouge. His enthusiasm and love for the music fuelled the continuation of the weekly ramblings. The sessions started with just Gernot Feldner and Lionel wanting to have a place to get together and bang through some songs, simply for the fun of it. Caf Schrg had a piano, one that was pulled from a garbage pile but hey ...


After a few weeks of sessions with Gernot and Lionel schrgging about on their own, they started inviting other players to join in. All was done with casual attire, sitting around the piano, like cattle in the shade, mainly ignoring any audience that would gather, just playing though stuff they felt like playing through at the time. Some players came once and never again (usually due to an indiscretion on Lionels part), some came once and kept coming back to get a little more schrgged out. Over the weeks the group slowly gathered, kinda like dust under the bed. By the end of the first six months of sessions they had accumulated the players that are on Definitely Schrgged, like minded, schrgged folks who enjoyed the distraction of ambling through the songs.

In December 2006 they spent one day in the studio and recorded the main part of the band. Markus, the tuba player, couldnt be there as he was sick (hard to play a tuba with a head cold) so it was the remaining five left to stink it out that day. In the following weeks they added the tuba and some extra guest players who were not part of the core session group but who had joined in at the sessions when they could and who definitely churned the engine of the music.

The sessions came to a floundering end when some music critic of a neighbour to Caf Schrg started calling the police and complaining they were too loud (them? never!). They tired to be quieter but the piano didnt have a volume knob on it (most acoustic pianos dont) so they could only wallow so low (without getting morally damaged). The Cafe was fined a couple times, they tried playing without the tuba and without the cajon but the police still came. So they, sadly, had to end the sessions. All satisfying escapes must come to an end they say.

"The weekly sessions at Schrg will be missed
but at least we have this CD to remind us of what was."

Schrg Not square, slightly bent.

Lionel Lodge lead vocals, guitars, percussion
Gernot Feldner piano, backing vocals, harmonica
Franz Haselsteiner accordion
Peter Beinhofer accordion
Markus Weissenbach tuba
Dave Da Poller Koller cajon, cymbals, udo, percussion
Stephan Stoney Steiner violin, nycke harpa
Pedro Duarte flute
soulHsistas backing vocals
Meena Cryle, Mary Lamaro, Anja Wise