Toby Forrest fronts hard-rocking band Cityzen in his wheelchair.
By Rebecca Kellogg
It is a chilly March night on Santa Monica Pier. Even in darkness, anglers huddle by baited lines at pier’s end. Beyond them the famous Pacific Wheel spins steadily, brightening the night with a light show visible for miles up the Pacific Coast Highway. Near the mouth of the pier, at Rusty’s restaurant, a battle of the bands is underway.
The bar is full, and so are most of Rusty’s tables. Decked out with an ocean theme, Rusty’s sports surfboards on walls alongside surf movie posters. The tables are draped with plastic beach floral tablecloths with lit candles as centerpieces.
At 8:30 p.m. the second band of the evening’s competition is ready to start its set. Cityzen, a five-member band, has completed its sound check. In the middle of the stage, Toby Forrest, the lead singer and a wheelchair user, is the center of attention. Forrest is flanked on the left by a keyboardist and on the right by a drummer and two guitar players. The band is ready to put on a show.
The introduction is brief, exuberant, filling the cozy restaurant with a wall of sound. It is similar in length to the Dolby digital sound clip from the beginning of many movies, an audio cue to pay attention.
Forrest has an easy rapport with the crowd. “In this economy—free music!” he exclaims before launching the band into the first piece of their set. “Lizard People,” it is called, featuring lyrics Forrest calls “tongue-in-cheek”: “I believe in the lizard people, lizard people taking over the world/They hide behind disguises, look like every boy and girl/That’s why you shouldn’t trust children, because they could be lizard folk/It could be your own son or daughter and you would never know . . .”
The patrons are enjoying the show, turning their chairs to better watch the performance. Pianist Chris Woods, blonde hair bouncing, dances at the keyboard. Drummer Nick Woods punctuates the song energetically, standing out in a yellow smiley T-shirt. Guitarists Jeff Line and Nick Lopez dance and sway to the beat.
And lead singer Toby Forrest chair–dances, cutting a stylish image in jeans, a black button-up shirt and tie, a black hat, and a head mic. Confident, he makes eye contact with audience members as he sings and moves with his band to an energetic crescendo.
Circling Back to Music
The battle of the bands tonight at Rusty’s is just the latest stop in Forrest’s storied career. Born in 1975 in San Francisco, Forrest attended high school at Valley Forge Military Academy and then attended Northern Arizona University. Forrest first performed with rock bands as an undergraduate. “I sang in high school choir so when my college buddies needed a singer for a gig they had, I stepped up,” he said. “I did a horrible job but loved performing.”
One of his college band mates was musician Jeff Line, who would later be a founding member of Cityzen.
Forrest graduated with a B.A. in jewelry. But in 1998, he was involved in a cliff-diving accident that damaged his fifth vertebra and put him on a respirator for two months. He went back to school, this time at Nova SE University in Florida, where he earned an M.S. in psychology. But after deciding psychology wasn’t for him, Forrest moved on to Los Angeles to study acting and do Loco-motor research at UCLA. In Southern California, Forrest reconnected with old college band mate Jeff Line.
“I visited Jeff, who was a biochemist in San Diego,” said Forrest. “He moved to L.A. to pursue music about two years ago and we just started hanging out and writing songs on an acoustic guitar. Since we’re both more the electric guitar, rock band type of guys we decided to start a band.”
Cityzen Band
In November of 2007, Forrest and Line formed Cityzen.
“I was trying to find something that could be interpreted in a couple of ways,” Forrest said of the band’s name. “I was hoping to imply that the band name pronounced as ‘Citizen’ would represent how we can all find peace individually despite being surrounded by the masses.”
In speaking of his band mates, Forrest has nothing but praise.
“These guys are all amazingly talented at what they do and really are what make the band so different,” said Forrest. “Jeff Line is a gifted guitarist whose vocal and song-writing skills have helped shape Cityzen into such a solid band. Nick Woods is a time machine whose drumming skill is the foundation of why we are so unique. Chris Woods creates an amazing variety of progressive keys that elevates our music and helps to define us. Nick Lopez adds a rock element and killer bass to give us the full sound that makes up Cityzen. We are known for delivering a great live performance with lots of energy, amazing timing and smiles all around—we truly do have a great time playing music together!”
Cityzen averages three or four performances a month and plays at a range of venues. One of their favorites is called Good Hurt.
“It has a hospital theme so it’s kind of ironic that I’m in a wheelchair performing onstage,” said Forrest. “Plus they have hot nurse bartenders and the owner is a really great guy.”
Playing on the pier is a first for the band but they take to it well, delivering a solid concert. They play a compelling set: “Restless,” “Suite 68,” “Fatal Lullaby,” (a haunting rock ballad that riffs on a lullaby theme), “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin (‘The only cover we do!’), and “Smooth Dirt” (‘Our favorite song.’) Their enthusiasm remains high throughout the concert, and changing lighting throughout the show enhances the performance.
Battle Line
The evening draws to a close. The judges deliberate, make their decision, and announce to the crowd: “Two good bands, only one can go on. And that band will be… Cityzen!”
Forrest smiles. The crowd cheers.
Though certainly cutting a unique figure as a lead singer and wheelchair user, Forrest takes obstacles in stride.
“I am a pretty confident person who truly feels that passion can overcome any obstacle,” said Forrest. “Mentally, I rarely feel pressure, I’m ultimately playing music to have fun and express myself. Physically, due to my injury level, I have very little lungpower and use primarily my diaphragm to compensate. Also, stages are rarely accessible so my band just lifts me up every time; they are amazing guys, talented musicians and great friends.”
He encourages other individuals with disabilities to pursue their own music dreams.
“Don’t hesitate to get started and don’t worry about the obstacles because you will find a way to overcome them,” he said. “Find the closest open mic and perform A.S.A.P. Record and share your music online and also support your local musicians. Building relationships and supporting other music is a key to getting booked with bands that share your style and fan base. Lastly, don’t fear scrutiny. Some will love you and others will not. Play music for yourself and enjoy what you do.”
Rebecca Kellogg is a freelance writer and editor based out of California. Read more of her work at rkellogg.blogspot.com.
