•Our 31st Year Proudly Promoting The Music Scene• FREE November 2016 Boyan Hristov Nicole Knox Murphy Department of Everything Tom Guerra Also: Metronome Madness, CD Reviews, The Time Machine & more Tom Guerra by Brian M. Owens Singer-songwriter-guitarist Tom like Bob Dylan (laughs). I think it was technical proficiency some of the young school, which had no real art program to Guerra is a world class musical tour-de- (producer) Jim Chapdelaine who told me kids I see on YouTube have. speak of. As such, I started really getting force. Boasting high profile credentials that our styles are formed not only by our METRONOME: What kind of guitar(s) into music as a form of expression. Writing playing with the likes of the Mambo influences, but also by our limitations. I do you play? it seemed like a good idea. Sons, the Delrays and the Dirty Bones think there’s a lot of truth in that. I know I love all types of old instruments, METRONOME: How many original during his esteemed career, Guerra has my many limitations and try to work but my main guitars are older Fender songs do you have in your catalog? earned his journeyman status. On his around them; you have to be creative Stratocasters. I think they’re the perfect I think between the Dirty Bones, latest solo release, Trampling Out The when you have a five note vocal range electric guitar, and the one that allows the Delrays, the four Mambo Sons albums, Vintage, Guerra displays his mastery (laughs). With that being said, playing the player’s style to come through the most. my two solo records and the stuff I’ve for songcrafting while giving listeners a guitar in the style that I play, came pretty You look at Richard Thompson, Jeff Beck, done for other people, I have ninety or healthy dose of his impressive playing natural as well. Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly, Stevie Ray… so copyrights. and singing. Make no mistake ladies and METRONOME: Do you play other they all played the same guitar, but all METRONOME: You just released gentlemen, this is one of the best new instruments? sound vastly different. an outstanding new album called records you’ll hear all year... I do, and when I’m writing I typically METRONOME: How old were you when Trampling Out The Vintage. What will demo a song by playing all the you wrote your first song? inspired the name? METRONOME: Where are you from? instruments to try to get the arrangements I wrote my first song when I was a The name is from the first verse of Tom Guerra: I was born and raised in together. Freshman in high school-so what’s that, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” - “Mine Hartford, Connecticut. METRONOME: Did you ever take 14? Looking back on it now, I think I eyes have seen the glory of the coming of METRONOME: You’re clearly an formal music lessons? understand what happened. I was always The Lord / He is trampling out the vintage accomplished music vet. When did I have not. I pretty much learned by trial very into visual art, drawing, painting in where the grapes of wrath are stored.” you catch the music bug? and error. I definitely think that lessons are particular, and took advantage of the It’s a play on words since the album My folks were big Beatles fans, so I a great way to get up to speed quickly art programs in my public schools. After was recorded with a bunch of vintage guess it was always there. The first album though, and it amazes me at the level of eighth grade, I was sent to a private high guitars and amps that I beat around in that I had was Revolver, which I had my the process (laughs). Grandmother buy for me. METRONOME: How many songs are METRONOME: Who were some of your on the recording? early musical influences? There are ten songs. Of course, The Beatles, The Stones METRONOME: Are they all original and and Bob Dylan. As far as guitarists, I loved did you write them yourself or did you Mick Taylor, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix, co-write with someone else? though it wasn’t until I first heard Rory I wrote all the originals myself, and this is Gallagher that I knew what I wanted to do. the first album where I also covered other METRONOME: What are some of the artists’ songs, not for a lack of songs, but early bands you played with? Any because I wanted to interpret someone groups of note? else’s music in a certain way. One of the Up until 1999, I played in Connecticut covers, is “Pay in Blood,” written by Bob bands including The Dirty Bones Band, Dylan for his recent Tempest album. The The Easton Bros. Band, Second Son and first time I heard it, I got real excited about The Delrays, which all were relatively busy doing it in a rock and roll arrangement, on the club circuit during those days. using open G tuning. In 1999, I formed Mambo Sons with Bob’s songs are a great blueprint for Scott Lawson Pomeroy. Our first album interpretation. So I cut it, and it sounded featured the great Rick Derringer, also like a demo until I added that Hammond on guitar. We had about a 15 year run, organ to it. I played something that I releasing four albums that were very well envisioned Al Kooper might have played received, on Omnicide Records, including and it became the glue that holds that a few that charted in Europe. track together. Our last effort, Heavy Days, was It’s funny, I was taking a long ride a double album set. For the past 18 the other day and put Tempest on, and I years, I have written for Vintage Guitar had honestly forgotten what the original magazine, so I have been fortunate version sounded like when it came on. I enough to learn first hand from many of didn’t realize I had changed it that much. the greats regarding how they choose The other cover is a rocked up version their instruments, get their tones, how of Mann / Weil’s “Make Your Own Kind of they go about writing, etc. I recently did a Music,” made popular by Mama Cass. show with the great guitarist, Jack Sonni METRONOME: Where did you record from Dire Straits. That was a gas. the CD? METRONOME: What came more I recorded Trampling at my home naturally to you, singing or playing the studio. guitar? METRONOME: How long did it take to I always loved singing, though I was record from start to finish? very shy about it. I wanted to sing like It took about 10 months, from the first Otis Redding, but it came out sounding demos through the finished songs. METRONOME: Did you produce the it’s a kind of declaration of independence, record? after working for so many years with other Yes, I recorded, mixed and produced people. the record. Mastering was done by METRONOME: “Grow On Your Own” Massive in Chicago. had a trippy, tremolo-drenched vibe. METRONOME: Who else played with How did you come up with that one? you on the album? That one has the greatest dynamic Trampling features Kenny Aaronson range, from all-out heavy distorted power on bass, Mike Kosacek on drums, chords to the mellow, pretty piano played and Morgan Fisher and Matt Zeiner on by Morgan. “Grow” is about a lady that keyboards. jumps from relationship to relationship METRONOME: How did you meet without even getting to know herself and Kenny? what she wants out of life. I’ve known Kenny for twenty something METRONOME: Do you have any other years. He played bass on the first Mambo CDs out under your name? Sons albums and I always enjoy our In 2014, I did my first solo album, All chats. of the Above. That too is a rock and roll METRONOME: Who is Morgan Fisher song-based record. and how did you meet? METRONOME: I heard hints of Delbert Morgan Fisher is probably best known McClinton and Robben Ford in your for his keyboard work with Mott the singing and playing. How would you Hoople and Queen. His presence gave some of my favorite guitar sounds on the Dolls. It’s how I imagined those days to describe your sound to someone who the proceedings a certain level of British record. The funny thing about that track is be. has never heard you before? class. He’s a great player. when we went to track it, I had the worst METRONOME: You transformed Oh, I’m sure you did. They are great METRONOME: Your drummer Mike cold that I’ve had in years, and was very “Make Your Own Kind of Music” into at what they do and I have seen both of Kosacek was outstanding on the hoarse. I recorded the vocal and thought a superb pop-rocker. Does it hold any them live. I think there is a huge difference album. How did you meet him? “Oh, I’ll fix that when I feel better.” I got introspection for you? between rock vs. rock and roll, as I think He’ll be glad to hear that. Mike Kosacek used to the rougher sound of it and ended I’ve always loved that track ever since I the latter has roots that can be traced all is a drummer from Austin, Texas. He owns up really liking the sound of the vocal, so was a kid when I saw Mama Cass perform the way through Sun Studios to the blues.