Georgia Recording Session Exceeds Expectations!

Back from our trip down to Athens, Georgia, and I have to say, the sessions with David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction exceeded all of our expectations. We had a short window to lay down tracks for the album, and we took full advantage, recording more songs than we had anticipated, and really capturing the Dead Root Revival sound.

16-track 2 inch tape. The parameters put in place by this technology might be seen as a hindrance in today's digital world of limitless tracks and limitless possibilities, but when dealing with a band known for live performance like DRR, there really was no other way to go. Limitations can be a good thing! They can allow you to get right to the heart of the matter.






Dead Root Revival. When deciding upon this band name, we wanted to convey our mandate as a band:

Dead = Lamenting things we feel are being lost: An appreciation for the rock show, that is being swallowed up by karaoke machines, home theatre systems and big screen televisions, and corporate-run streaming behemoths all across this land.

Root = Where we came from: Our influences, our rock and roll heroes, and our search for the magic tone that speaks to us.

Revival = Bringing the jams back to the people: The older generations who may have seen Jimi Hendrix in concert, and also to the younger kids who find themselves listening to the classic rock hits from 40 and 50 years ago because the music of today doesn't speak to them. DRR is here for you.😎🤘🎸


It only made sense for us to record the way artists like Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, and Deep Purple did in the 1970s. There's definitely a change in perspective when "fix it later" is taken out of the equation. You've got to perform! And that, my friends, is exhilarating.

Tracking for the album is complete, but it will be a couple of months until mixing and mastering is finished. Stay tuned!


SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWS

I'll be putting on my singer-songwriter hat for a bunch of shows in April. Coming up first, I'll be performing alongside umberlune and Brock Zeman at ABC Hall (3166 Bolingbroke Rd, Maberly ON K0H 2B0) on Saturday, April 1st. Three songwriters with distinct styles performing in-the-round in a welcoming country hall setting.
Grab your tickets online at Eventbrite 👉 https://tinyurl.com/57zuazhh or send an etransfer for $20 to tomsavagemusic@gmail.com to reserve your spot. You'd be a "fool" to miss it! 😉😄

Doors at 6 PM/ Show at 7 PM

There will also be coffee, tea, and PIE available!

Fresh-baked pie and live music. How can you say no?!





Brock and I will be out performing some shows later in April as well...

April 20th - Jethro's - Peterborough 7 PM - Get tickets
April 21st - Bracebridge Hall - Bracebridge 8 PM - Get tickets
April 22nd - House Concert - Guelph ( Contact Larock Productions for details)
April 23rd - Havelock - matinee show as part of Stone Hall Sessions (2 PM) - Get tickets


TUNESDAY

Thanks so much to Jon McLurg for filling as host for the Tunesday jam while I was away. By all accounts it went swimmingly and our bass player streak is still in tact. Awesome! 😁👍🏻 I look forward to getting back to this fun-filled Tuesday routine at the RCHA(4-7 PM, live music, drink specials, and pizza!).


See you out there!

Cheers,
Tom

Sensory Overload : Folk Music-Style

Steve Purtelle stands proudly in front of the Acoustic Jam Records elevator skin

Steve Dawson laying it down

It has been a week since I got home from the Folk Alliance conference in Kansas City, and I think I am almost recovered. Lots of late nights and quite a festive atmosphere! 

However, underneath the reverie, one could feel a strange energy permeating from the hundreds of musicians that were gathered in the halls of the Westin Hotel last week. A quiet desperation if you will. Musicians spend a good deal of money to attend these conferences, so it only makes sense that there is some pressure to "get something out of it", as it were. It can be overwhelming.  I decided to approach the week as a time to play lots of music, have fun, and to meet new people and connect with old friends and acquaintances. I came away from the conference having accomplished all of these goals.

Brock Zeman

The coolest thing about Folk Alliance is the "private showcases" that happen after the official conference wraps up for the evening. Basically, three floors of the hotel are taken over by musicians, with a series of mini-concerts going on in every room. It was really cool walking from room-to-room and checking out different music. Most of my time was spent in the Acoustic Grill/ Acoustic Jam Records room helping out Steve, playing lead guitar for Brock Zeman, and playing my own sets of music.

Me, Rick Fines, and Brock hanging out after the show

The most fun we had was hanging out after the shows. Myself, Steve, Brock, and Rick Fines, would sit around strumming the guitar, sharing songs, shooting the breeze, and drinking a few. We all thought it was ironic that we travelled 2000 miles to hang out with a group of guys that live about 2 hours apart from each other. That's how it goes sometimes. 

     Musically, it was the Canadians who impressed ( there was a large Canadian contingent in attendance). I got a chance to hear my buddy JD Edward's new project, The Small Glories, and they were great. JD and Cara Luft have a great chemistry on stage, and I predict this group will be a Folk Fest Favourite over the next few years. Another group that impressed me was Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar. The sheer vocal power of this group is inspiring. Good, solid (R&B Folk/Blues) writing. Check 'em out!

Rick Fines and I jammin'

Kansas City Here We Come!

If one were to compute how many times the famous song was referenced when speaking of Kansas City, they would most likely find an error message on their calculator. Yet I still choose to refer to the song in my subject line. It never gets old I tell ya!

Very excited to be heading down to Folk Alliance next week with my friends Steve Purtelle and Brock Zeman. Steve is the owner/operator of the Acoustic Grill in Picton, Ontario, and also has his own record label, Acoustic Jams. Brock and I both have records released on the label ( recorded Live At The Acoustic Grill).

              


For those not familiar, the conference has their official showcases throughout the week, but also allow for "private showcases" to be put on in the hotel rooms later on in the night. A lot of great music and partying is going to happen!

The Acoustic Jams Showcase has got a great line-up of acts performing. Along with Brock and myself ( I'll be playing lead guitar for Brock's sets as well which I'm really looking forward to) will be Danny Michel, Rick Fines, Ray Bonneville, Slocan Ramblers, and many more. It's gonna be hard to leave that room.

I hope to grab a bunch of pics and share them with you when we get back.


Cheers,
Tom

Show your community radio station some love!

In a world in which radio is dominated by music content that is determined by a handful of people at corporate headquarters in Toronto or L.A. , it is refreshing that we still have community radio  to turn to when we want to hear something different. Something new! 

As much as I love CBC, I have to confess that Radio 2 can leave me flat, after having heard the same song at same time every day for a month. Contrary to what their advertising suggests, there is definitely playlisting  going on, and the general feeling of having a tune shoved down your throat. "You will like this! This IS REALLY GOOD!" Well, maybe it was good before you played it 50 zillion times...

Community radio cuts away the music business BS, and focuses on the music and its merits. This gives my cynical little mind hope for the future of art. 

And of course there is the community aspect. Supporting local musicians and promoting local community events is what they are all about.

This is why on Friday I will be lending my talent to help kick off CFRC Kingston's funding drive at Musiikki Cafe on Brock St. It's going to be a great night of entertainment and a fun party! Also on the bill will be Megan Hamilton ( who sang on my new record, and will sing a couple of songs with me on this night) and The Nate Crockett Band.

Lay down your 10 bucks and support your local community radio station Kingston!

8:00 PM start

Brock Zeman at The Toucan this Saturday

Saturday night I'll be playing an opening set down at The Toucan,  for my friend Brock Zeman and his band. Brock is one helluva wordsmith and he plays the bass parts with his feet! It's gonna be a killer show. Check out this video for his tune, Day Before Tomorrow.

10:00 PM start