Tomatoes
tried to Kill me
But Banjos Saved My Life

An Award Winning, Inspirational True Story
Keith Alessi playing a banjo

Accolades

Awards

Pick of the Fringe
Mervyn Stutter's Pick
Edinburgh

Reviews & Press

Kings River Life Magazine - Rogue Festival 2022 Review
Kings River Life Magazine - Rogue Festival 2022 Review
March 11, 2022

Keith Alessi plays the banjo. Keith Alessi also tells jokes. However, Keith Alessi is not Steve Martin.

The Munro Review - Rogue Festival 2022
The Munro Review - Rogue Festival 2022
March 11, 2022

A banjo, the lean and kindly man tells us, draws a line to the past – back to circles of players whiling away pre-electric evenings in the Blue Ridge Mountains, back to the vestigial sound of bagpipes urging Scotsmen across a battlefield, back even to primeval times, with people sitting around campfires and vocalizing with grunts and hums.

Times Square Chronicles - Frigid Festival 2022 Review
Times Square Chronicles - Frigid Festival 2022 Review
February 25, 2022

The Frigid Festival at The Kraine Theater has been in existence for 16 years and what better month than February to put it on!

Audience Feedback

It's one of those outstanding shows you feel privileged to have experienced. We booked because of the link with banjos - and were curious - we got so much more. A show that will remain with us for ever as one of the great life affirming stories.

It's easy to see why past reviews have been so favorable. Great life story, and so well told. Kudos to Keith!

I went to see this because I like banjo music, but it was infintely more than that. The personal story of how a love of music can raise you from the worst that life can do. Highly recommended!