It just might be true that the best rock n roll music today is coming out of Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music.Tom Hambridge’s new CD, Boom, out on Tuesday, August 30th makes a convincing argument for the truth to that statement.
Boom show cases Tom in all his disguises; first call studio drummer, outstanding vocalist, Grammy® Award-Winning Producer, ASCAP Award winning singer/songwriter, and Blues Music Award winner on multiple occasions. This is roots rock at it’s best, with it’s feet firmly spread all over the musical map of influence; blues, 60’s rock n roll, country, southern rock, and folk.
There are two, if not more tunes on this outstanding album that are ready made to rule the charts for weeks. First, Upside of Lonely, penned by Tom along with Gary Nicholson opens with a simple but infectious bass line reminiscent of Alannah Myles’ Black Velvet. Bass man, and fellow Berklee School Of Music alum, Tommy MacDonald lays down the bottom end throughout the CD with a quiet authority that makes this fellow bass player envious. And the guitar work of the prolific Rob McNelley (he plays guitar on a bunch of my favorite albums lately, and is on the new Shane Dwight CD as well as usually found accompanying Delbert McClinton) . Rob’s guitar work is the perfect yang to Tom’s spicy drums and voice.
My other favorite is Two Thumbs Up, which sounds like it was lifted from a 60’s rave up, despite the bluesy lyric. Kevin McKendree’s on keys shines in the accompaniment. I wanted to get up and dance and flirt and howl at the moon.
Other favorites are Nine Pound Hammer, The Pistol, and I Got Your Country Right Here as well as the instrumental, Bangin’ Around which not only show cases Tom’s skills on the drums, but in typical fashion for Tom, isn’t JUST a drum solo, with parts written for the other band members with particularly nice piano work.
Superstar Records is supporting the release of this great CD with an extensive tour, which is already under way. The next event will be held in Nashville at The Bluebird Café on September 6. It’s planned to feature many of the top artists and songwriters that Tom has successfully partnered with over the years to write and produce Grammy™ nominated and hit songs and albums.
In addition to his CD release showcases, Hambridge is set to open a number of tour dates in July and August with good friends Lynyrd Skynyrd and, in September/October, with George Thorogood. Hambridge produced the new Thorogood CD, 2120 South Michigan Avenue, a tribute to the iconic Chess Records catalog, released in July from Capitol/EMI Records.
An update, since Tom’s killer release of Boom yesterday, it’s now available for download at CD Baby. This CD is so damn fun, you won’t want to miss out. It should be available shortly on iTunes so check back.
The Dirty Lowdown
Copyright © 2011 Robert Carraher All Rights Reserved
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