"Tom Woodward slides into his set without introduction – appropriate really, given his music speaks for itself. His vocals a cross between Glenn Richards, Dylan and Gareth Liddiard, Tom's alt. country social commentary and observations of love put me in mind of a less saccharine Josh Pyke, and in all he's brilliant, particularly on A Little Tear For You."
- RAVE MAGAZINE
"Like a breath of fresh air being blown through a whiskey soaked cigar, [Tom Woodward's] words are a wake up call, not coated in fancy trimmings or novelty, but instead doused in realism and truth - then set alight."
- SCENE MAGAZINE
"Lyrics are the fundamental key to the folky / bluesy / storytelling genre in which Woodward operates, and in this regard, he is streets ahead of many of his contemporaries. Expect great things!"
- BEAT MAGAZINE
"This recording shows Woodward's maturity and development as a songwriter, showcasing his talents in a diverse and inspiring collection of work. It matches, if not betters, many high rotation "star" performers currently being heard on the radio daily both here and overseas."
- CANBERRA REVIEW
"Reminding Me Of You is the "Sweet Home Alabama" of 2007."
- HELEN THURA
Send an SMS to 1975 7 555 and say your name and request a song by TOM WOODWARD
DESIRE - DIRECTED BY TAJETTE O'HALLORAN
DRINKING THE DREGS
TOM WOODWARD'S DEBUT ALBUM, BLUE DAY REQUIEM (2007) IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING ONLINE OUTLETS
"Blue Day Requiem is heart-on-sleeve music for the spiritually battered, and whereas it might not be the most uplifting record, it's sometimes enough to know that when you're down at heel, there'll be someone there to keep you company."
- RICHARD STOKOE, LOSINGTODAY.COM
Influences
Fear of death, desire to eat, fuck & be merry.
Serge Gainsbourg, The Doors, The Velvet Underground, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, The Pogues, Jacques Brel, Kurt Weil, Marrianne Faithful, Dusty Springfield, Brigitte Bardot, The Waterboys, Bruce Springsteen, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Woody Guthrie, Blind Boy Fuller, Lead Belly, Kurt Cobain, Danzig, Konrad Lenz, Godspeed, Daniel Lanois, John Coltrane, Rach Maninov, Iggy Pop, Chuck Berry, Joy Division, Prince, Tom Waits, Sonic Youth, Loudon Wainwright, The Clash, The Drones, Kevin Smith & the seventh story jumpers, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Van Morrison... the list goes on.
If you could get the Dirty Three to play Brechtian folk songs arranged by Tom Waits with Bob Dylan’s devil conscience delivering the vocals, backed up by an army of brooding angels, you’d probably be somewhere near the musical junkyard where Tom Woodward put together his latest offering, Roadside Crosses.
The second full length LP from the ex-Canberran songwriter is a grittier and more dynamic
work than 2007’s melancholic folk album, Blue Day Requiem. It is a record that commands attention, seducing the listener with narrative tales of sex, politics, murder, revolution and of course, a bit of old fashioned love & longing. To be listened to at a loud volume (and preferably in one sitting), Tom wrote most of the songs whilst touring the country in late 2007 and early 2008.
He says: “I was sleeping on couches - catching planes, trains and buses, half the time at gigs or people’s houses, most of the time completely broke. Wandering the streets of major cities with no food, no money, nothing to do but wander… My imagination went into fifth gear.”
After ten months of touring, Tom moved to Melbourne, effectively ending his nomadic existence. Label buddy and one-time touring partner Justin Grounds suggested he drop by his house and record some of his new songs at Justin’s makeshift studio in his backyard apartment. Seven days later the two emerged with Tom’s new album.
“Justin was concerned less with the sound technicalities and more with the feel of the songs. He added the organ and violin parts which create the spooky backbone of the record.” says Tom.
The album features Yen Nguyen (Casual Projects), Andrew Dalziell (Mirrormen / The Henchmen), James Nichols (The Henchmen/Brackets), Tiana Morrison and Justin Grounds. It was mixed and engineered by Justin Grounds and mastered by John Ruberto at Crystal Mastering.
“It is an album full of individually powerful songs, but it works best in its entirety. It harks back to a time before Itunes and mp3s... when you listened to side one first,” says Tom.
Born in Canberra, Tom grew up in a musical household. Leonard Cohen, Joan Armatrading, Van Morrison, Marianne Faithful, The Doors, David Bowie & Otis Redding were just some of the artists that made up the soundtrack of his childhood, and have all become embedded in the creative psyche that he routinely pillages for his own music.
Roadside Crosses was released locally in Melbourne at the Evelyn on November 27th, and is available at shows and the listed records stores below, as well as digitally on Itunes .
TOM WOODWARD'S ALBUMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING STORES:
lol full on... Last time I saw you u were living in Northcote, was a while back now... Great to hear all is well and your keepin' busy though :) Haven't been playing w/ Jessica Paige for nearly a year bro (Since last August) Been doing a heap of solo shows, toured w/ my mates band Sleeplever and also playing guitar for a chick called Jessica-Jade now too so keepin' busy man which is always good, we do need to catch up though!!!
Mr Woodward :) Fuck feels like I haven't seen you in forever dude (probably cause its been forever) Hows things? Good to see your playing heaps mate, we'll have to have a catch up soon
Friday
Night Fire continues at Edinburgh Castle this Friday June 26 with Tobias Cummings and new band
Alaska Coats, Pony Face, and Voodoo Economic. Also Dan Lethbridge rounds out
his residency at Wesley Anne this Thursday June 25 with D Rogers in support.
Two great nights of local Melbourne
music, proudly presented by Hundred Fire Management. We hope to see you there!
Dan Lethbridge continues his June residency at Wesley Anne this
Thursday with support from one Tim Cannon. Come warm yourself by the
open fire, have a drink and relax with some great music.
yeah, good thanks tom. just started rehearsing up again after finishing the ep. lining up gigs for july onwards. maybe sep/oct for melbourne. would be good to play a few together. how bout you and sydney town? dan p
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