Tommy Strazza: Vocals, Guitars...
The Model Citizens are:
Jeff Fernandes; Drums/ Backing vocals, Gerry Rosenthal;Guitar/ Keys/ Backing Vocals, Justin Bornemann; Bass.
BUY OUR MUSIC ON iTunes!!!
A Rock & Roll Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist who meshes arena, indie, and punk rock, with great songs, memorable recordings, and an exhilarating live show.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN FOR WELCOME TO THE REST OF YOUR LIFE--
JERSEY BEAT
Tommy Strazza delivers spikey, painstakingly detailed songs (the title cut, "Detour," "Good to See You," "Goin' Solo") that deliver indie-pop payloads in less than four minutes. He uses minor frills to embellish the songs, but his voice is full of passion and imagination. Tommy's vocal range goes from soulful sandpaper-rough, to loud and expressive. Songs like "Far Away From Home" and "My Love" contain jagged little hooks, and there's also the killer cut "Love Don't Bring Me Down," with sweet funk running through the chorus. This album probably won't change your life, but when the songs are this good, you'll be glad they exist! The only minor problem I can hear is that at times Tommy's vocals sound a little tinny. Otherwise, this is one heck of a good album!
- Phil Rainone www.jerseybeat.com jerseybeat.blogspot.com
THE BAGEL AND THE RAT
When you've had enough quiet intensity and you're ready to rock, try Tommy Strazza; he writes hooky power-pop songs and puts them across with a voice and a classic, old-fashioned rock style that calls to mind Perry Farrell or Mott the Hoople - hoarse, passionate, triumphant. He's not just a screamer, though. "Don't mind walkin' with some holes in my socks / If I can do my own thing hangin' outside the box," he liltingly sings in the folky "Goin' Solo," and his love song "My Love" is spacey and gentle. Still, his abilities shine brightest in his uptempo rockers like "Detour," "Liberated," and "Good To See You," and the power ballad "Love, Don't Bring Me Down." Listen to some tracks at his Myspace page.
-Jon Sobel www.blogcritics.org
ROCK OF AGES
When does adulthood begin? New Brunswick musician Tommy Strazza asks the question on the excellent rocking new album "Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life." The LP — musically arena, punk and indie rock — is at once both sweeping and personal. It's a little dark, a little angry, but not bitter. It's certainly not a downer when lifted by its sweeping power chords and sing-along anthems. Strazza follows his own muse — and she's holding a Les Paul. Let's nominate the album's final track, "Goin' Solo," as the '07 Hurt Single Guy Anthem of the Year.
-Chris Jordan The Home News Tribune
Type of Label
Unsigned
Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens(are recording)'s Latest Blog Entry
[Subscribe to this Blog]
About Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens(are recording)
Here is a quote from one of Tommy Strazza's biggest fans, and is by no means biased by their friendship to him or by the fact that they are in actuality writing the very same bio you are about to read:
When Tommy straps on his guitar, whether its in a dusty, drunken New Brunswick apartment, or on stage at the world famous Stone Pony, he becomes a completely different person altogether. Its the kind of person we dont get to hear from too often these days the kind of person looking to take us somewhere special and its somewhere each and every one of us will never want to leave.
Tommy Strazza was born to play rock and roll music. And thats not a quote; its a fact. One of the east coasts best kept secrets, Tommy grew up in the quiet suburban town of East Brunswick, New Jersey and has been flapping his musical wings across the country since the early 90s, spreading his rock n roll gospels for all to hear, performing both solo, and currently with his band Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens.
The live show is church to me, explains Tommy. Some bands and artists take you to school I want to take you to church baptize you in all that is good, pure, and sacred about rock and roll music and everyone is welcome.
If the live show is church, then the albums and songs are the scriptures from which I, and the band refer to they have to tell a story, and serve a purpose not just be a collection of songs on a record. They have to be related to one another, and co-exist for the same cause.
Since many of the bands Tommy has played in have had rotating roster issues, and in order not to lose momentum, Tommy took the liberty to learn how to play several instruments. In addition to writing and producing all of his own songs, he performs some of them entirely on his own, as well.
He started his first solo project, Crawl, in 1999. His self-titled second release was kicked off with a highly acclaimed performance at Asbury Park's Stone Pony on September 22, 2002.
"That was one hell of a show I'm glad to have been a part of Tommy Strazza's world for an hour." - Tris McCall, Jersey Beat Magazine.
Currently on his third solo album, and playing all over the east coast, both solo, and with his band, Tommy continues to leave an impression on the growing New Jersey rock scene.
"I want to be an inspiration, a risk taker and an envelope pusher I want to excite people about music, the way that it grabbed me as a kid."
Time to get excited folks, because Tommy Strazza has arrived!!!
Tommy's song "Detour" has been nominated for "Song Of The Year" at the 2007 Asbury Music Awards!!!
Tommy was nominated for "Best Male Acoustic Act" at the 2008 Asbury Music Awards.
Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens(are recording)'s Friend Space (Top 16)
Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens(are recording) has 1707 friends.
Be sure to visit us on FACEBOOK & check out Wave Gathering on Twitter!
The Fourth Annual Wave Gathering Emerging Artist Music Festival will be held in Asbury Park, NJ on June 19th, 20th, & 21st. Tickets for one- and three-day passes for the 2009 Wave Gathering are available now for sale online and by phone via TicketWeb. http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=23381
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for the Friendship!
The Fourth Annual Wave Gathering Emerging Artist Music Festival will be held in Asbury Park, NJ on June 19th, 20th, & 21st. Tickets for one- and three-day passes for the 2009 Wave Gathering are available now for sale online and by phone via TicketWeb. http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=23381
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for the Friendship!
The Fourth Annual Wave Gathering Emerging Artist Music Festival will be held in Asbury Park, NJ on June 19th, 20th, & 21st. All artist submissions for the 2009 Wave Gathering Festival are currently being accepted thru Sonicbids.com Deadline for submissions: May 1, 2009
A Special SOUND GIANTS Presentation.... Feat: DJ KAVA GOLD turning wax stacks of the most presidential R&B, SOUL, ROCK, REGGAE, FUNK...All directly from the big O's very own playlist!!!
next our "Bigfish live show" is scheduled on 7th December at Kichijoji MANDA-LA2, Tokyo. Three Japanese Female singers; Hana Saito, NAORYU and Rika Shinohara play there. it seems peaceful, heartwarm and acoustic. thanks for checking our live information.
Online Now!
![justmegan [NEW SONG!]](http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/119/s_f6b1c8585de42f6bd6bf40270b08bd08.gif)
