Guitarist and producer Mike Krompass has spent years behind the scenes writing and producing records for other artists. But with The Fell, he’s stepping forward with a project built purely on instinct and love for rock music. Featuring legendary bassist Billy Sheehan, vocalist Toby Rand and drummer Nick Chiarore, the band is bringing their high-energy sound to venues like the Token Lounge. I caught up with Krompass to talk about how the project came together, the philosophy behind the music, and what fans can expect from his live show.
Brandon: Hi Mike – I appreciate you taking the time to do this, especially in the middle tour prep. I’ve spent the last decade photographing live music, and I’m always interested in how something that starts as sound in a studio becomes a physical experience at a venue. I put together a few questions that lean into the craft side of your process and how that studio work evolves once it hits a stage like Token Lounge. So to get started….
Q: How did this project first come together, and what ended up shaping the direction of the EP?
Krompass: This project started from a very personal place. I had spent years producing and writing for other artists, often in the pop world, and I reached a point where I wanted to do something completely self-indulgent — something that felt honest and exciting for me. I initially thought of it as a solo rock record and asked myself, If I’m going to do this, who would my dream collaborators be?
The first name that came to mind was Billy Sheehan. We didn’t know each other personally — we were just mutual friends on Facebook — but I messaged him anyway. To my surprise, he showed up the very next day with his bass. I played him part of a song, and about thirty seconds in, he stopped it. I thought, “Oh no, he hates it.” Instead, he said, “So… what do you want to do with this?” I told him I wasn’t sure — maybe I’d pay him to play on it — and he replied, “Why don’t we just start a band?”
At the same time, I had already been working closely with Toby Rand on another project, and he felt like the perfect fit as a front person. He’s an incredible vocalist and collaborator, and we immediately developed a strong writing chemistry. From there, things grew very organically. What started as a personal creative outlet became a real band, and now we’re finally at the point where we get to take this music on the road and see where it goes — which is incredibly exciting.
Q: How did your approach to this EP differ from earlier projects, and were there any conscious choices to leave certain habits or instincts behind?
The biggest difference was that we allowed ourselves to trust our instincts more. Of course, we still care about melody and hooks — we want the music to connect — but we spent far less time worrying about how everything would be perceived or whether it fit into a specific commercial box. When it’s your own band, you can sometimes be overly critical because you’re so close to it. But we really made a conscious effort to let the songs feel natural and honest, and to lean into the identity of being a rock band. I still draw from my experience producing other projects — that never goes away — but this time the priority was authenticity over perfection. That’s really the essence of what The Fell is.
Q: When you’re writing or recording, how does the eventual live setting influence the way you shape a guitar part?
Honestly, it probably should influence me more than it does. If I thought too much about the live setting while writing, I’d likely simplify parts to make my life easier later. But I tend to follow my hands and ears in the moment and write what feels right creatively. Once the song is finished, then I figure out how I’m going to pull it off live. Sometimes that can be a bit of a challenge, but more often than not it works out — and that process keeps things exciting.
Q: How does building a set for a smaller room like Token Lounge differ from a larger theater environment?
The mindset doesn’t really change. Whether we’re playing a small room or a large theater, we approach it with the same level of intention and energy. You still want to give 110% and deliver the best show possible. The main difference is logistical — fewer cabinets on stage, maybe a more compact setup — but the performance itself doesn’t scale down. A small room deserves the same commitment as a big one.
Q: What keeps guitar exciting for you at this point in your career?
What keeps it exciting is that I’m still learning. I genuinely love the guitar, and I’m constantly inspired by other players. The reality is that I don’t get to practice as much as I’d like because I spend so much time producing records for other artists. So when it’s time to work with The Fell, I make a point of carving out time to practice, rebuild my chops, and reconnect with the instrument purely as a player. It honestly makes me feel like a kid again — like I’m learning for the first time — and that feeling never gets old.
Q: As a music photographer, I notice some performers create big visual moments while others stay more contained. Are there parts of your set where you know, “This is going to be a big moment”?
I try not to think about moments in terms of how they’ll look on camera, because if I do, I start overthinking everything — and that never ends well for me. I’m pretty sure I look like a complete dork in most photos anyway. My focus is really on being present in the performance and doing the job the best I can. I trust that a great photographer will find something interesting to capture, even if it’s from one of my unintentionally ridiculous facial expressions.
Q: Do you recall ever seeing a live photo of yourself that captured something you didn’t even realize you were doing?
All the time. I tend to get completely lost when I’m playing, and I’ll later see photos or videos of moments I have absolutely no memory of. One particularly intense example was last February when I ruptured my Achilles tendon jumping on stage. There are a ton of photos and videos of that moment, and seeing them afterward was surreal. I had no recollection of how dramatic it looked until I saw it documented.
Q: Lastly, what kind of experience can fans expect in a room as intimate as Token Lounge from your show?
They can expect a loud, fun, no-nonsense rock show — played by a group of guys who genuinely love making music together. It’s high-energy, honest, and meant to feel exciting and personal in a room like that.
Brandon: Thanks again for your time!
Take a listen to Footprints below! You can catch The Fell at Token Lounge on March 28.
