I have had the joy and the blessing of studying with and learning from many artists whose playing and teaching have been incredibly influential, including Oz Noy, John Pattitucci, Fareed Haque, Chris Robinson, Kenny Werner, Dave Fiuczynski, and Ernie Watts.
People that I like to listen to: The Police, Charlie Hunter, The Beatles, Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Elling, John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Mahavishnu Orchestra, Kenny Garrett, Soul Coughing, Elvis Costello, Bill Frissel, Peter Gabriel, John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Miles Davis, The Black Crowes, Oz Noy, The Roots, Pat Metheny, Paco DeLucia, Joe Satriani, 311, Bob Marley, Ben Monder, Dave Matthews Band, Toto (Steve Lukather), Erykah Badu, Megadeth, Fishbone, Led Zepplin, Earth Wind and Fire, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), John Scofield, Incubus, Jimi Hendrix, Slash (G'n'R), Dave Fiuczynski from Screaming Headless Torsos, Pearl Jam, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Faith No More, Radiohead , Fareed Haque, Def Leppard, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Mayer, Steely Dan, Wes Montgomery, Stone Temple Pilots, Steve Vai...
Sounds Like
Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
-Victor Hugo
Rock'n'roll is just rock'n'roll.
-AC/DC
Some nice quotes about Luke Thomas:
"Bladdy L! You are a total groove-o-saur, dude! ME LIKE!!!!!" Dale Turner, ed. Guitar One magazine
Luke Thomas was born in a small town in Wisconsin. At 6 years old, his parents made him take piano lessons and he cried at every single one, making poor Mrs. Virchow extremely uncomfortable. In fourth grade, his parents made the mistake of getting him a drumset. Luke banged on it a lot in a basement with red carpet and almost died following an incident with a piece of butterscotch hard candy. Luke picked up the guitar after hearing the blazing harmonized guitar riffage of "Cover Girl" by New Kids on the Block. He played all-school mass for his Catholic school, and played Stairway to Heaven on a black Squier Strat for his eighth grade talent show. In high school, Luke discovered that chicks dig guitar and joined a "punk" band called Happy Hour that learned how to rap. From that day forward, they wanted to be Rage Against the Machine, albeit a more teenage-children-of-white-middle-class-parents variety. Luke went to college and studied jazz, but didn't really know anything except for Metallica and 311 songs. In college, he listened to John Scofield and Mike Stern and decided that jazz was cool. Luke went to school for a long time, and they gave him a piece of paper that said "Good Job, Thanks for the Money, Sucker! Love, University of Wisconsin." After graduation, he played guitar and taught other people's children to play guitar and run around and question everything. Finally, he decided Wisconsin was no place to rock'n'roll, so the ambitious young man moved to California to rock'n'roll there instead.
Luke currently resides in Oakland, California, where he is a full-time gigging musician, educator, composer, and recording artist. He is in the studio recording a full-length instrumental full-band album, titled "Inertia", scheduled for release in late fall of 2008 with Big Hit Studios. Inertia will feature 10 original compositions in a myriad of styles that feature Luke's compositional skills and some amazing guitar playing, as well as contributions by some of the most talented musicians in the Bay Area. Luke also recently composed an original score for a short film, entitled “Totemist,”
released at several international film festivals in 2007.
Luke presently handles lead guitar duties and vocals in the San Francisco Bay Area's "local maniacs" and jazz-funk-rock fiends the
Angry Philosophers,
Phoenix and AfterBuffalo,
5-On-It, and performs with coutry-pop crossover artist Bettina
and world-reggae artist Agent Double E (Renee Asteria).
He works as a writer, arranger, and producer throughout the Bay Area. Luke has played and recorded with a variety of musical projects, including Synapse, Aja, Big Papa Boogie, Finless Brown, Amber Haze, Soul System, Temporary Music Group (leader), Tensegrity Nine, and the Jazz Orgy. Luke has also performed in a number of musical theater productions, including "Fame" and "Footloose" and independent productions.
LT live with Phoenix and AfterBuffalo - One Love People's Day in People's Park, Berkeley, CA
luke, keep me posted on your shows. my show in santa cruz last week was cool! i am going to make it out to see you sooner rather than later rockstar, amy b
Actually it was to flirt with u and B!! Didn't u listen to the song on my profile? Since u have ur profile set to"female 108yrs old" I guess that song can applyto both of u!!
haha, i like the below comment! Whatchya up to these days, besides playing music? I'll most likely be at the Starry Plough Thursday night. Come out and hang for a while.
