The Long Island Sound: Garden City rocker

John Sullivan is ready for a change.

After nearly two decades of indie rock, culminating in the release of the rock opera "Live My Dream Rock True" with the John Sullivan Brigade earlier this year, the Garden City singer-songwriter says he's ready to try something else.

"In 2011, the word 'rock' is a generic music term everyone uses," he says. "It's such a shame that there's such a small market for the rock music genre right now. . . . It's time for me to try out my new country/Americana songs. I'm 47. Change is good right now."

Sullivan still holds out hope that his rock opera, which got airplay on 70 stations, will find an audience. He's been talking with some Broadway producers about turning it into a musical. "The potential is definitely there," he says. "It's loosely semiautobiographical -- about five guys in a band nobody knows who win a songwriting contest and become famous faster than they can imagine."

However, after two years of writing the rock opera's 24 songs, Sullivan says he's more interested in playing music for a wider audience. "I can only write the music," he says. "I can't force people to play it. I can't buy the radio station."

Sullivan plans to head to Nashville later this year to record a new album, more in the style of The Band and Bob Dylan, but in a way that reflects his interest in Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean.

"Sometimes, it's hard to let go," he says. "I'm not afraid. I'm looking forward to something new."

John Sullivan plays Mike Ferrari's Aural Fix Edition of The Rock Show on WCWP 88.1-FM at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Contact The Long Island Sound at glenn.gamboa@newsday.com or follow @ndmusic on Twitter.