The Rafter on Spotify

Take a listen to the new record which is up now on Spotify. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me during the creation of this project. Now it's time to spread the word...

  

New Single Dresser Drawers available October 10th

For the past couple months I have been squirming with impatience, waiting for my finished album to return from the mastering studio in its fully matured form.  At last, it has arrived. And although some final pre-release tasks for The Rafter must be completed (i.e. album art and CD printing), I can confidently say that the first single from the album, Dresser Drawers, is presently barrelling it’s way through cyberspace towards your favorite digital music retailer. Here’s the album art courtesy of Robin Sathoff, if you haven’t seen it already

Since the new single will be available for free download, it will be replacing my previous free release, It Took Five Years but Now We’re Doing Fine. After all, I have given away about 1,000 copies over the past few years. So please click on the link to my bandcamp page below and get the EP while it’s still free.

By the way, it’s nice to meet you.

the story behind the Hammond

Every good instrument should have a story, a touching journey through time and the elements endearing every wise and weathered note to your nostalgic ears. Take for example the stories of Paul McCartney’s old Hofner violin bass with accompanying decade-old black and white photos so iconic that one forgets all about the instrument’s characteristically weak tone and appalling lack of sustain.
My Hammond Romance Series Stage II Rhythm, is accompanied by no such charm. Just a call from my father-in-law about a call from his best friend about a call from his plumbing customer whose anxieties about her leaking fixture were compounded by the lack of space in her garage. That dusty old organ that hadn’t been used in years. “I’d like it to go to a good home” the elderly woman said. Mine is a good one.
Romanceless, indeed. However, the faded plastic buttons and retro style of the organ piqued my curiosity as to it’s origin and led me to do a bit of research online. My results were equally mediocre. One had just sold on ebay.co.uk for £1.49. But every good instrument should have a story.

“It was 1977 when the two young lovers eventually decided that New York City was not a place to raise a child. Brooklyn was home, but too many bad news reports and police sirens rang in their ears along with the persistent nagging of an uncle who was retiring in Florida and who had just scored a  piece of land for an incredible price in a place called Deltona. It sounded to the couple that the town would be safe for the newest addition to their family who would irresistibly come in just a matter of months now.

The young father remembered his young father playing the wall piano in the sun-drenched dining room on Saturday afternoons. His home too would be filled with music. So, after the baby came and all the necessities were arranged in her white and yellow room, Mother acquiesced to her husband’s insistence.  Considering the ample income from the young man’s new management position at the dairy plant, within several weeks, the Hammond would complete their home.”
I am in love with this organ. It’s quirky multi-colored buttons labeled with pictures of instruments the sounds of which share no correspondence to the noises coming out of the speakers are none-the-less adorable. The click-buzz-hummmmmmm that welcome’s you when you flip the switch seems to say, “Hey, there. It’s been a while. So glad you plugged me in, let’s jammmmmm-hmmmm”
I embarked on The Rafter project determined to capture a warmer, fuller sound than I had on my previous EP.  My mind’s ear heard keys of some sort, MIDI organ sounds probably. But as I moved the recording process to my home, I am now left working with what I have on hand. So I rolled the Hammond from the living room to my office/studio, stuck a condenser mic in it’s mouth and hit the record button.

Below is a sample of a riff from the Hammond that you will hear again on the album. I’m quite proud of it:

“It Took Five Years...” Review in Daytona Beach News-Journal.

If you happened to pick up the Friday, July 8th edition of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, I hope you ventured past the all too disturbing local headlines to the local entertainment section, GO 386.

Thanks to entertainment writer Rick de Yampert and Dave Wersinger in editing, the entertainment section featured a spotlight on recent releases by area musicians. And the second titled highlighted...? Tom Moore. “It Took Five Years but Now We’re Doing Fine”.

Those guys are great. Big thanks! Although I haven’t heard enough of James Blunt’s material to really comment on that reference, anybody who compares my music to a track from The Beatles is alright with me!

Read the entire review on the GO 386 website.

It’s nice to get a little momentum whilst waist deep recording my new project. Or should I say: projects. More on that later.  Thanks for all your support.

TOm

I Need You Now by tommooremusic

"I Need You Now" Music Video Shoot

Of all the tracks on my latest release It Took Five Years but Now We're Doing Fine, the most successful track by far on the web and from listener feedback is the song "I Need You Now".  Perhaps it's because my song coincidentally shares it's name with  the cross-over country pop single that airs incessantly on your local top 40 radio station. But more than likely, it is the charming voice of my lovely wife Meagan, who debuts on this duet, that has captured the hearts of my central Florida listeners.

That being the case, "I Need You Now" was the natural choice for the music video shoot that was organized as an extra curricular project for the digital video students from Seminole State College in Heathrow, FL.  Thanks to Dan Walker and his students for offering to help me out!  We really had a great time and I can't wait to see the finished product!

The shoot was filmed at our very own downtown Lake Mary.  We filmed a few shots of Meagan and I acting out our little marital squabble that is depicted in the song. Then we did a few takes of us performing the song live.  It's in the creative hands of the SSC students now!  And rest assured that I will share my first official music video with you as soon as I can.

Be sure to put your name on my email list so that you get all the latest news!

TOm

Deltona Coffee House

The Deltona Arts & Historic Center, where I teach guitar and voice lessons, has just started hosting live events every Saturday night as part of what they call the Deltona Coffee House. "Good for them" for trying to bring some arts into the creative wasteland of Deltona, FL!

But, bad for them for misspelling my name on the April 2nd Grand Opening Songwriter's Showcase flyer. That featured artist there at the bottom "Tom Martin".....that's supposed to be me.

Check out my Calendar page for a list of my upcoming performances.

New Videos

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has been coming out to support my shows recently. You guys are really the best! This past weekend ended up being a success thanks to you. I had a really good turn out at my concert at the Gateway Center and at the Deland Original Music Festival.

Thank you, thank you.

I managed to get some pretty good videos from the Gateway Center. I performed a few songs that were probably new for most of you. So now you can see the video again and get a bit more familiar with them. Do me a favor: grab the link and post it on facebook, twitter, blogs for me so we can get a little more buzz about my new music online before I start recording them for my new album.

Thanks so much

Tom Moore

Daytona Beach News-Journal

The article below was featured in the Daytona Beach News-Journal's local section Friday August 20th. The interview is also posted on their entertainment section's website go 386.com if you want to check it out there.

In the Spotlight: Tom Moore

August 20, 2010 9:49 AM

Tom Moore

Vital Stats

Age: 25

Instruments: Guitar, bass, vocals

Bands you perform with on a regular basis: On the Soap Box (my high-energy, jazz-inspired indie alternative band), the Phlauds, the Blackhands, and Pas Secret (my wife's experimental indie-rock band)

Day job: Music is my full-time job. During the day I teach guitar, bass and voice at V Music Academy in Deltona.

Hometown: Longwood

Current residence: Deltona

Type of music you perform: My original music is indie acoustic rock/folk. When I perform I over-dub live guitar and vocal loops to give my music a fuller sound.

Repertoire sampler: "Tables Turned," Tom Moore; "It Took Five Years But Now We're Doing Fine," Tom Moore; "Stupid Fairytales," Tom Moore; "I Need You Now," Tom and Meagan Moore; "Once Around the Block," Badly Drawn Boy; "The Dress Looks Nice On You," Sufjan Stevens; "Misread," Kings of Convenience.

Upcoming area gigs: 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Gateway Center for the Arts, 880 N. U.S. 17-92, DeBary. $10 advance.

CDs: My debut EP, "It Took Five Years But Now We're Doing Fine," was released on June 12. It is available for digital download on iTunes, and Amazon mp3. You can order the CD at tommooremusic.com and cdbaby.com. Digital download is $4.99, CD is $6.99.

Website: tommooremusic.com

Taking Notes

Who or what inspired you to take up music?
My father was a guitarist and used to play a lot of James Taylor songs and British folk songs from the '70s. He got me my first guitar when I was 10. I grew up listening to the Beatles, Paul Simon and Gilbert O'Sullivan. These artists were a big influence on me.

What was the most unusual or memorable gig you've ever played?
Once I played at an event at a fitness smoothie cafe between speeches from a very passionate and unorthodox motivational speaker. When I came back from my break there was a gun on the coffee table in front of me. I didn't ask questions -- just finished my set and packed up quickly.

What musician/celebrity/historical person would you most like to have dinner with?
Paul McCartney

What was the last book you read?
"Berklee Modern Method for Guitar - Volume 2"

What CD/tape/music is in your car/home stereo/iPod right now?
I'm listening to the "Summer Sampler" from Dangerbird Records, an indie label from Silverlake, Calif. It was offered as a free download on Amazon mp3 and it has some great music from Minus the Bear, the Dears and Sea Wolf.

What is your favorite movie?
"Primer"

What was the best concert you ever attended?
I saw Paul McCartney in Fort Lauderdale when I was in high school. It was absolutely amazing! He opened with "Hello Goodbye" and after he had played a full-set with his band he performed solo, just him and his acoustic guitar for another 45 minutes before bringing the band back up.
I was impressed with his ability to stand there alone, holding the attention of thousands of people and perform so flawlessly.

"If I didn't play music, I would ... ":
cease to exist.

"I'd sell my soul for ...":
A Gibson custom 1959 ES-335 semi-hollowbody electric guitar.

Tom Moore - Live @ WPRK 91.5

I sincerely hope you are by a computer or radio on August 2nd at 11:00 am! I am doing my first live radio appearance. I have been invited to do a live performance on a radio show called "A Case of the Mondays"

"A Case of the Mondays" is a local radio show highlighting live performances and interviews from local Orlando area artists. It airs every Monday from 10am - Noon on WPRK 91.5. I am planing on performing a lot of my original material and a few covers. In between songs the guys from WPRK will be interviewing me. If you are in the Orlando area you will be able to catch it on your radio on 91.5! If not, you can stream online at http://wprkdj.org/.

I am super excited about this. It's a first for me. The guys at the studio have arranged for me to record the whole session (if, for some reason, you won't be able to hear it live) so that I can share it with you later. Also, I'll put the videos up on YouTube. So, tune in: Monday August 2nd at 11:00am!

Find out... more at:

Tom Moore Official Website: http://tommooremusic.com/

"Case of the Mondays" on facebook