$10 cover

Christina Alessi and the Toll Collectors are a quintet led by a seasoned storyteller who sings from the heart. We counted off our first song in late 2014 in a former industrial building on the Jersey side of the Holland Tunnel. They say that friends are the family you choose, and our music is an extension of our bond.

And how do we sound? (Ah, every band’s favorite question.) Like rain on the windshield during a late-night drive. Or a jukebox sing-along in a neighborhood dive. A bit of country, rock, and soul. But something else, too. Heartbroken, yet defiant. Down, but never out. Resolute.

It might help to mention that there’s violin and mandolin, a lead vocalist who thrives on connecting with audiences large and small, and four more singers who pile on the harmonies. I guess you could call it Americana music. But why not just listen?