Big Society started in the early 90's as a backup band for the first Tom Shields album (originally issued as a cassette). Early in the sessions Jerry Kee played drums and Bo Taylor was on lead guitar. Thomas Wilson was brought in to play Bass. Mr. Taylor's band at the time (Motorcaster) left for a European tour and Jerry had production work to do. Tom Shields set out to put a more permanent band together.
It was in a downtown Raleigh club that he saw King's Dream playing one evening and at a break he approached Jim Biddell and Ric Ervin about working on the stalled project. Thomas Wilson stayed as the Bass player and Jim became the Big Society drummer and Ric the lead guitarist. This core of players has not changed 15 years later although guests through the ages have included: Sarah Bell - mandolin; Danny Moses - piano; Bo Taylor - guitar; Jim Smith- guitar; Estelle Collins- fiddle.
Though rarely playing live, (last live show was at the Berkeley in Raleigh- August of 2007) Big Society continues to record. Tom recently presented the boys with a batch of new material which is slow being churned into a full length disc. Though described as Americana, heard can be influences of blues, jazz, folk and rockabilly. Tom has been spotted on several occasions during the Spring of 2009 playing at the infamous Club Lar in Narragansett, RI.
Tom Shields and Big Society's Friend Space (Randomized)
HA HA That's Great! We should gig together sometime. I'm gigging in a duo "Shields & Witham" right now with a guy that sings with me & plays a bunch of instruments. I had a band called "Tom Shields & Sweetwind", "Tom Shields & The Sunrise Industry(one festival showing, so far anyway), & I'm trying to fill out a new one(doing what the duo's doing for the most part) called "Tom Shields & The Timber Barons"(or just "The Timber Barons"). & Thats just the Folk/Irish stuff. Trying to find kindred souls for a rock project with me singing & playing bass.
Too funny! I really like your music too. What's really funny is that we would mesh pretty well musically! Not too far from each other either.. I visit Westerly often.
In a friends studio recording an original folk album at the time, so should have some decent recordings posted in the not so far future.
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