More than a mix-master, TomFoolery is a student of the scene and of the sound, a journeyman and a spiritual leader that takes crowds on musical rides of self-exploration and enlightenment. A pioneer of Nu-Skool with a propensity for the hard and dark beat, he rounds out his big-bass sound with fuzzy and funky layering. It would be unfair to label his work as simply “breaks,” though he has taken the core of that genre and built a sound that is turning heads. TomFoolery fuses influences from breaks, jungle, house, cutting-edge bassline, trance, dub and glitch, which affords him the luxury of playing late night parties, big rooms, small clubs and festivals large and small. People are paying attention, making TomFoolery a staple on the DJ circuit and kingpin of the Midwest.
Having been immersed in the jungle and breaks laden scene of the southeast in the mid nineties, TomFoolery descended on the Midwest in 2004, where he found himself cooking up his new sound with house and techno ingredients popular in the region. He can spin a dark and gritty set suited for the small venues, yet reach into a crate of records more suited for the big room club sensibility, a capability that affords all fans of electronic music the opportunity to run with his spiritual voyage. Having been misappropriated to jungle rooms early on by promoters may have been one of the best things to happen to TomFoolery, as the culmination is this new and evolving sound, where listeners are exposed to big basslines over funky beats.
Yet it’s not just the music that sets TomFoolery apart from the others, but his devotion to the scene and creating the purest of opportunity to experience his music and his contemporaries’ in the most enlightening of settings. As founder of CatalyticSouls, he and his crew continually host underground electronic and live music festivals in several Midwest states. The festivals include the likes of Cave Stock, CaveFest, UnderGround Sound and Gamma Fest, which featured the ever-popular Psy sets of Shpongle and Hallucinogen. And more are on the horizon. CatalyticSouls was formed with the notion of spreading its musical vision with the mission of “evolving consciousness.”
What’s more is that TomFoolery studied and wrote on the electronic and rave movement under the guided hand of Phylis Johnson and Todd Herreman as part of a master’s degree he completed at SIUC. His extensive studies of the power of healing, chakras, Kundalini and the meta-physical realm have enriched not only his own sensibility, but pushed him to include the fan and listener as part of a collective vision.
This collective musical and spiritual mission is found not only in his live sets, but in the studio, where again a student, TomFoolery works heavily with classic analog equipment combinined with state of the art recording and editing techinques. Fans have fallen in love with the studio releases of “Mind Wrecker,” “Playa Dust,” and the DJ Fixx VIP mix of “Control.” The “Control” edit was atop the best-selling breakbeat charts on Beatport.com for months and the “Mind Wrecker” single has been played on TomFoolery’s MySpace page over 20,000 times. His name is constantly atop the breakbeat singles charts and his production credits for CatalyticSouls REC label are making him a leader on the scene.
Recently, TomFoolery was commissioned to remix tracks for the legendary Communique’ Records. They said of TomFoolery: “Tom has established himself as one of America’s most reputable electronic and alternative music event promoters, music producers and deejays. It is always a pleasure to work with him. He understands good business and good music.”
So ranging is TomFoolery and his work, his collaboration credits include: Transformerman UK, DJ Fixx, K. Larm and J. Raninen. He has shared the bill with the likes of: Bassnectar, The Glitch Mob, Tommie Sunshine, Computer Club, Evol Intent, Shpongle, Kaskade, Phantom 45, Simon Apex, John B., Ferry Corsten, George Acosta, SkyLab 2000, Hallucinogen, and Infected Mushroom.
From forests to beaches and from the smallest of venues to the airiest of night-clubs, fans will find TomFoolery spreading his musical message with every spin of the record. Last year alone, TomFoolery played in more than 20 cities spanning from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Islands. Stay tuned and expect that this musical journey will be sending you a local invite very soon.
Events performed at:
07/05/2009 - 5 hour Sunrise on Shakedown Rothbury, Michigan
06/27/2009 - Invite Only St Louis, Missouri
06/20/2009 - Wonka & the Bass Factory Masontown, West Virginia
06/06/2009 - Wakarusa Ozark, Arkansas
05/30/2009 - Club Lit St. Louis, Missouri
05/22/2009 - Bang Tech 12 @ Bookies Detroit, Michigan
05/21/2009 - Bassnectar Mochipet TomFoolery St Louis, Missouri
05/16/2009 - Robotown Getdown St Louis, Missouri
05/02/2009 - Interfuse OA, Missouri
04/30/2009 - Interfuse OA, Missouri
03/26/2009 - Tastemakers of Breaks WMC Miami, Florida
03/21/2009 - Freezing Man Colorado Denver, Colorado
03/14/2009 - Psychotronic 3 w/Vibesquad, BBB, & Noise Floor St Louis, Missouri
02/21/2009 - Planet Krypton Detroit, Michigan
02/12/2009 - Gbar Tampa, Florida
02/07/2009 - Gasparilla Party Tampa, Florida
01/08/2009 - Hawaiian Electronic Music Fest Hawaii
01/09/2009 - in the jungle big island style Hawaii
11/01/2008 - TomFoolery vs Dervish Halloween at the Cave!
10/25/2008 - Booty Halloween w/ Green Velvet + Monk St Louis Missouri
10/24/2008 - TomFoolery & Tommy Gunns Memphis, Tennessee
10/11/2008 - Nocturnal Elements Desoto Missouri
10/05/2008 - Coalessence Fest Sat Main w/Alex Grey & RITM Arkansas
09/27/2008 - CaveStock 5 w/ Pnuma Trio Illinois
09/06/2008 - Stoney Lonesome w/ BreakBeatBuddah Missouri
08/29/2008 - MoonBass Burning Man BRC Nevada
08/22/2008 - Vibesquad Afterparty Lincoln, Nebraska
08/15/2008 - UGS 4! w/Shpongle Hallucinogen Jackal & Hyde Illinois
07/12/2008 - SchwagStock 38 CAMP ZOE Missouri
07/04/2008 - TomFoolery Glitch Mob Freq Nasty B'ham AL
07/03/2008 - TomFoolery w/ The Glitch Mob Nashville TN
06/29/2008 - stoney lonesome w/Unkl Ryan Dervish & PS Brain Bananas MO
06/28/2008 - stoney lonesome w/ Unkl Ryan + PS Brain Bananas MO
06/21/2008 - Summer CaveFest Solstice IL
06/06/2008 - Apogaea Colorado
05/28/2008 - Pure Panic DEMF Breaks Party Detroit, MI
05/03/2008 - Interfuse Mid-West Burn MO
04/26/2008 - SIN Foam Party Carbondale, IL
04/18/2008 - CaveFest!!! Murphysboro, IL
03/30/2008 - Essential Breakfast WMC Miami, Florida
03/27/2008 - Tastemakers of Breaks WMC @ Jazid Miami, Florida
03/15/2008 - Shamrox!! Jackson, Mississippi
02/28/2008 - Fusion @ G-Bar Tampa, Florida
01/12/2008 - STL Psychotronic 2 St. Louis, Missouri
11/17/2007 - Instinct STL St Louis, Missouri
11/03/2007 - Terminal Groove 2 Springfield, Missouri
10/13/2007 - Shawnee Cave Murphysboro, Illinois
10/05/2007 - Shawnee Cave Murphysboro, Illinois
09/15/2007 - DJ Fixx/TomFoolery Jackson, Mississippi
09/08/2007 - MechaZilla Camp Zoe TomFoolery v Karizma, Missouri
09/01/2007 - Camped Out Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin
08/18/2007 - Eureka Music Park Eureka Springs, Arkansas
07/28/2007 - Forecastle @ The Belvedere Louisville, Kentucky
07/14/2007 - Whirling Dervish New Orleans, Louisiana
07/07/2007 - UnderGround Sound Murphysboro, Illinois
07/03/2007 - Sonotheque Chicago Chicago, Illinois
06/22/2007 - www.FIVEDC.com Washington DC, District of Columbia
05/27/2007 - DEMF Breaks Party Detroit, Michigan
05/12/2007 - Expo 5 Louisville, Kentucky
04/27/2007 - Earthtones Eureka Springs, Arkansas
04/20/2007 - CaveFest Murphysboro, Illinois
04/06/2007 - Club Anything Milwaukee, Wisconsin
03/17/2007 - Irish Spring Jackson, Mississippi
03/16/2007 - John B + TomFoolery Memphis, Tennessee
03/15/2007 - John B + TomFoolery + Karizma St. Louis, Missouri
02/10/2007 - J Scott G, Bassnector, TomFoolery St. Louis, Missouri
01/04/2007 - John B + TomFoolery Lincoln, Nebraska
12/30/2006 - Rogue Element + TomFooelry Amphitheater Tampa, Florida
11/04/2006 - Barn Yard Boogie 5 Peoria, Illinois
10/28/2006 - Vampire Stripper Sluts The Venue New Orleans, Louisiana
10/20/2006 - Safari w/BuruFunk Eureka Springs, Arkansas
10/13/2006 - Friday the 13th Jackson, Mississippi
10/08/2006 - PNI 3 Indianapolis, Indiana
09/23/2006 - Shawnee Cave CAVESTOCK3 w/Oteil
09/15/2006 - Annalyze + TomFoolery Lexington, Kentucky
09/02/2006 - TomFoolery Jackson, Mississippi
08/19/2006 - Roots Jackson, Mississippi
07/28/2006 - Port Cape Cape Girardeau, Missouri
07/22/2006 - TomFoolery Louisville, Kentucky
07/01/2006 - UnderGround Sound Shawnee Cave Murphysboro, Illinois
06/18/2006 - Party in the Park St. Louis, Missouri
06/15/2006 - Side Door St Louis, Missouri
06/03/2006 - Beatwave New Albany, Indiana
05/11/2006 - Skyy Box at the Sports Blast Carbondale, Illinois
05/06/2006 - TomFoolery Port Cape Cape Girardeu, Missouri
04/27/2006 - Skyy Box at the Sports Blast Carbondale, Illinois
04/21/2006 - CaveFest Shawnee Salt Petre Cave Murphysboro, Illinois
04/15/2006 - Heavyweight Stylez Saint Louis, Missouri
03/31/2006 - TomFoolery/Unkl Ryan Wilmington, North Carolina
03/25/2006 - TomFoolery Terre Houte, Indiana
02/24/2006 - Sky Box at the Sports Blast Carbondale, Illinois
Unfortunately this is as far back as my records go. However, 2005 included short tours with FACTORe and Evol Intent.
Sets for download: 2007 407 Internet only promo
TomFoolery Hurt
Far Too Loud Dis Da Rasta
Noa Nils Stereo Style
General Midi Never Gonna Stop the Show (Dylan Rhymes Mix)
Dark Mode Sirloin
Rektchords Street Slut
J Meca Zilly Zozzage (Deibeat Mix)
Koma & Bones Speed Freak
Rob le Pitch Twisted (Tom Real & Rogue Element Mix)
TomFoolery Defiance (Transformerman Remix)
Bassrock Old Skool Karnage (Baobinga Mix)
Slyde We Love It
2007 420 mix CaveFest promo (internet only)
Foolery 4/20 mix:
Unkown Raggamuffin white label
Rektchordz ft Profit The Realness (Specimen A RMX)
Unkown Dread Warriors
Pedro More Tequila (Diverted RMX)
Saria Ladies (Viro & Rob Analyze RMX)
Cut & Run Ground Crew
CTRL-Z Chemistry
Agent K Black Haze (Aquasky RMX)
TomFoolery GulfCoast
Paradox 3000 Disco Inferno
Kem I Rip It (Peter Paul RMX)
DreadZone Lion Shirt (Drum Monkey Mix)
Mix CDs
2001 Progression of Breaks
2002 TopCat presents TomFoolery
2003 NuSkool Compilation
2004 Fool in da Breaks
2005 Resolution
2006 USAmnesia
2007 407 Internet only promo
2007 420 mix CaveFest promo (internet only)
2008 Voyage of the NU
I never kept a proper log so there are some that have been forgotten or otherwise left unmentioned, if you remember any of these feel free to send me a note.
Published Singles 2007 on:
TomFoolery vs DJ Fixx "The Coast"
TomFoolery "Atomic Rock"
TomFoolery "Dance Sucka"
TomFoolery "Defiance" Transformerman UK Remix
Published Singles 2008:
TomFoolery "Mindwrecker"
TomFoolery "Electro Rasta"
TomFoolery "Control"
TomFoolery "Control" DJ Fixx VIP
TomFoolery "Jedi Mind"
TomFoolery "Be Good to the Grime" Electro mix
TomFoolery "Electro Rasta VIP" DJ Fixx mix
TomFoolery "Time to Freak"
Upcoming Releases include:
TomFoolery vs Mitch Mitchem "Charly Says" cover
For the most current releases search Beatport.com for TomFoolery
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