Checking my amp during sound check @ DC9 on Monday night. I love my VOX but man, it’s a bitch to carry. Folks may be right that I should have rolled with the AC15, but I still prefer the bite on my AC30.  Played with the trio (Matt Golden (drums) and Sean McCauley (bass) for a plugged in set.   Amazingly enough, I had folks at the show who had seen my solo acoustic show at Hotel Cafe across the country in Los Angeles, just the week before.

In 2002, a rock band I sang & played rhythm guitar in, opened for Phantom Planet at Vanderbilt University’s Rites of Spring concert in Nashville.   At that time, the drummer for the band was Jason Schwartzman.   Schwartzman (the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola) was more famous than the band at that time, due to his starring performance in the epic Wes Anderson comedy Rushmore (1998).   I wasn’t really excited to see the band and it was more about having “the dude from Rushmore” play after us.   Of course, Phantom Planet ended up having a huge hit “California” which, of course, became the theme song for the O.C. – perhaps the worst television show, I will ever admit to frequently watching. 

I point all this out, because I am about to drive down to Laguna Beach to visit a friend, and this song already popped in my head, without even the slightest attempt to grab for it.   The song will just lay dormant for months, years maybe, and any slight mention of visiting Orange County evokes that damn chorus  . . .that really friggin catchy chorus.   Yes.   Interestingly (to me only perhaps) I read today that the song was HUGE in Europe, reaching #3 in both Austria & Italy, and a top 10 in the UK.

As my show in San Diego fell through, I have a day off tomorrow and was able to get a ticket to go watch Conan tomorrow.   Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the guest.  The musical guest is The Dropkick Murhpy’s.  My Boston accent will undoubtedly become much more prominent during this hour taping and for perhaps the remainder of the day and trip.   Similarly, anyone that cuts me off, or slows me down on the California highways following the show will also be referred to as either a i) Fahking Douche or ii) you motha fahking fuk-stick

Tickets for my show @ Hotel Cafe on Friday night (7 PM) can be purchased here in advance of the show.   Looking forward to it.

Tickets for my show next Friday night in Los Angeles @ Hotel Cafe are now available on-line.    You can go here @ http://www.hotelcafe.com/tickets/ and scroll down.   I’ll also have the new album A Brief Head Spin on vinyl for sale at the show.   Really looking forward to this show and seeing some old friends.

- tom

A Brief Head Spin is now available in Limited Edition 12″ Vinyl!! Included with the record is also the immediate digital download of the album in MP3 format as well as a download card included within the vinyl package. To purchase, please check out the store on the link above or visit http://tommcbride.bandcamp.com/

Was traveling a lot this past month, but I wanted to pass along some cool news as more reviews and press come-in regarding my new album, ‘A Brief Head Spin’. American Songwriter magazine, something I used to pick-up and read in college, premiered my new single (track #1) “Into the Arms of the Wild-Eyed Young” last month. Check it out in its full glory here:

On Wednesday, after waking up at a friends place in Athens, GA who was nice enough to put me up while I came through town, I had the pleasure of listening, for the first time, to the entire record ‘A Brief Head Spin’ on vinyl. It’s been a long journey making this record for sure (they all seem long don’t they?) but having the pleasure of hearing it on vinyl this morning was an incredible experience and quite rewarding. A lot of the texture, mood and style I was trying to incorporate on this album was a result of listening to a lot of classic vinyl records that I always loved as a kid, and had grown up listening to on tape or CD. In many ways, I had hoped the record would sound best on a record player, and after just listening to the first pass through the album, I do have to say it did not disappoint. While the “digital” worldwide release for the album is fast approaching on Tuesday, August 9th, the vinyl will be in hand just a few weeks later. I’ll have pre-order information for vinyl posted here in the next few days.
tom

A BRIEF HEAD SPIN : SUMMER TOUR SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 14th: The Woodlands; Columbus OH
Friday, July 15th: TBD, Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, July 16th: Uncle Slayton’s; Louisville KY
Sunday, July 17th: Natasha’s; Lexington, KY
Tuesday, July 19th: The Basement; Nashville TN
Wednesday, July 20th: Knoxville, TN
Monday, July 25th: Eddie’s Attic; Decatur, GA
Tuesday, July 26th: Athens, GA
Wednesday, July 27th: The Evening Muse; Charlotte, NC
Friday, July 29th: IOTA Club & Cafe; Arlington VA (‘A Brief Head Spin’ Album Release Show!!)
Saturday, July 30th: The Camel; Richmond, VA
Sunday, July 31st: Brooklyn, NY
Tuesday, August 9th: Worldwide Digital Release of ‘A Brief Head Spin’
Wednesday, August 10th: Tin Angel; Philadelphia, PA
Friday, August 12th: Black Cat, Washington DC

+++ Make sure to check back here on my Tour page for updates on new shows added +++

NEWS

Hello there. It’s been a few months since last I wrote and I have missed you. All of you. I have a few exciting things to pass along here before you rush off to hit the highway in anticipation of lighting-up your Roman candles. It’s been a busy spring and I’m really excited to hit the road and play the new album for you. If you live nearby any of these show below, I hope you can make it out, say hello & bring along some friends. We also have some big home-town shows coming with the Album Release show on July 29th @ IOTA Club & Cafe and then a concert in August @ Black Cat in DC . Spread the word.

8.9.11 – DIGITAL WORLDWIDE RELEASE OF A BRIEF HEAD SPIN:

On August 9th, A Brief Head Spin will be available for purchase in all major music digital retailers, including of course, iTunes, Amazon, Napster . . .among others!! Mark it down. For those of you in the Metro DC area, you are all invited to join us for an album release show on Friday, July 29th @ IOTA Club & Cafe to celebrate.

12″ VINYL RELEASE

ahh . . yes, this is very cool. In addition to the digital release on 8.9.11, A Brief Head Spin will also become available in a limited run of 12″ vinyl ! This is exciting and I really can’t wait for you all to experience listening to this record on vinyl as well. It really sounds phenomenal. I will be updating pre-order purchase information for vinyl next month, so stay posted. The 12″ vinyl will also come with a digital download card as well so purchasers will receive both the digital and vinyl version of the record!

Also, up on YouTube I posted some new videos and songs from the new album that you can check out here.

Into the Arms of the Wild-Eyed Young

See you soon & have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Tom