For this week’s “Local Song of the Week,” we spotlight a train song from Philadelphia-based duo Artese N Toad, who recently performed a concert of their train songs and other compositions at the ArtsAltoona Center! Perry Artese and Tom “Toad” Dimeo have been creating music for more than 40 years. The duo’s fascination with creating train songs began with a tune called “Daddy’s Old Train Box,” but when they presented the song to a recording industry representative, the representative said that train songs weren’t relevant anymore, declaring, “They don’t write songs about trains anymore.” Artese N Toad didn’t agree with that assessment, and went on to create their first album about train songs, 2001’s “They Don’t Write Songs About Trains Anymore,” which contained not just their initial “Daddy’s Old Train Box” creation, but “Ghost on the Track,” which references Altoona’s historic Horseshoe Curve. The album generated interest among train enthusiasts and railfans, leading Artese N Toad to record a sequel album in 2005, “They Don’t Write Songs About Trains Anymore Vol. 2,” which contained the song “Altoona” – which ultimately led to the duo’s March 26 concert at the ArtsAltoona Center’s Sanctuary! (This wasn’t Artese N Toad’s first performance in the Altoona area; the group performed years ago during one of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum’s “Railfest” events.) After the success of the initial ArtsAltoona concert, it’s very likely that Artese N Toad will return to perform again, possibly during Christmas season. (The duo has a Christmas CD, 2007’s “The Americana Christmas Project.”)
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