"I do about one-third of my own original music, and I mix that in with covers that range from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and James Taylor...to a lot of the alternative stuff you'd hear on The Edge," says acoustic musician Gerald Anthony.

Accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica, Anthony performs a wide variety of music, with some unusual arrangements. "I try to find songs that wouldn't normally be done acoustically and kind of put my own twist on them, add harmonica and some different chord progressions that wouldn't normally be used for that song," he says. "I do a song by Big Head Todd and the Monsters called 'Bittersweet' and in the middle I mix in 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door.'"

Of his originals, Anthony says, "The songs I write tend to be really geared towards experience, and are pretty graphic in the lyrics. I think that a lot of them tell stories...I find that a lot of people enjoy listening to the words, and that's another reason why I enjoy playing acoustically, because people can hear what the message is behind the songs. And, it's coupled with catchy tunes that will stick in their head."

Having recently produced his debut CD, which is available locally at Sam Goody, XYZed Music and Young Ones, Anthony plans to shop it to record labels and is looking to eventually turn his act into all originals. "My main goal in music is not really to play other people's stuff," he says. "I respect covers and I know that the crowd likes them, but I want to get out my own music."