Tommy Fields
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After growing up fronting several bands in Indiana, Tommy moved to Los Angeles to study engineering and vocals at the famed Grove School of Music. Over the years here in LA, Tommy fine-tuned his musical roots and set forth on a long journey of musical and personal evolution. After many odd jobs (several of which required wearing a polyester uniform), fronting different hardworking LA bands, and just living through the unrelenting sun blasted grind that only LA can offer, Tommy finds himself informed, changed, inspired, and occasionally overwhelmed by it all. Anyway, for Tommy the single golden thread that runs through it all is his music. Tommy has played to packed houses in most of LA's premier venues (Viper Room, the Roxy, et al), and he has played a plethora of coffee houses too. The thing that keeps Tommy coming back regardless of the venue is the unique connections that he makes with people when he plays. Music to Tommy is an experience that is best expressed and shared with an audience live. Every time Tommy plays out, he is reminded of why he plays in the first place...
Why this name?
You would have to ask the good people who raised me.
Do you play live?
After spending most of the last year writing and recording loads of songs, it feels like a breath of fresh air to finally hit the coffee shops and clubs and perform live. That is where the magic happens. Just turning up and going for it.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
With most of the record stores going out of business and the recording industry freaking out, I would say the internet has changed the music industry in a monumental way. The good side for artists is that there are so many more opportunities to get their music heard. To be able to have another avenue to distribute their music besides trying to get the big corporate conglomerates to carry it.
Also, artists can save a lot of money they don't have by sending out email notices for gigs instead of sending them via snail mail. :)
Also, artists can save a lot of money they don't have by sending out email notices for gigs instead of sending them via snail mail. :)
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
Only with the right situation.
A better senario would be signing with a indie that really "gets" what I'm doing and who has major distribution.
But, we'll see what happens when it happens.
A better senario would be signing with a indie that really "gets" what I'm doing and who has major distribution.
But, we'll see what happens when it happens.
Band History:
In Indiana, I started out playing the guitar at age 11. By age 13, I played my first gig singing and playing guitar in a rock band. From then I played many parties, fairs, whatever. Wherever I could play a show.
Once I moved to LA, I played in a couple of heavy rock bands that acheived moderate success. In the later part of 2003, I came home to phone messages from Duff and Slash (who later became Velvet Revolver). They came across a demo of the band I was in at the time and invited me down to rehearse with them. I jammed with them for about a month until they decided to persue their chosen path. I, at that point, quit the band I was in and began writing and recording songs for my solo acoustic rock project.
And here I am...
Once I moved to LA, I played in a couple of heavy rock bands that acheived moderate success. In the later part of 2003, I came home to phone messages from Duff and Slash (who later became Velvet Revolver). They came across a demo of the band I was in at the time and invited me down to rehearse with them. I jammed with them for about a month until they decided to persue their chosen path. I, at that point, quit the band I was in and began writing and recording songs for my solo acoustic rock project.
And here I am...
Your influences?
I love "energy" in music and "hooks".
My influences have quite a range:
Jeff Buckley - for the mood he creates in his music, and courage to follow his heart when it wasn't popular.
Chris Cornell - for his "big time" rock vocal and Superunknown.
John Mellencamp - for his honesty in his music.
Miles Davis - inn=o=vator. What can you say!
To name a few...
My influences have quite a range:
Jeff Buckley - for the mood he creates in his music, and courage to follow his heart when it wasn't popular.
Chris Cornell - for his "big time" rock vocal and Superunknown.
John Mellencamp - for his honesty in his music.
Miles Davis - inn=o=vator. What can you say!
To name a few...
Favorite spot?
Three places mean the most to me.
1) Montpelier, IN. That's where I was born and raised. The people there are the "real deal"!
2) Los Angeles. Beautiful weather, beautiful people (more fun to look at than talk to usually), and you can snowboard and surf on the same day.
3) Costa Rica. Amazing! There are real monkeys in the wild there! Cool. Warm friendly people and incredible scenery.
1) Montpelier, IN. That's where I was born and raised. The people there are the "real deal"!
2) Los Angeles. Beautiful weather, beautiful people (more fun to look at than talk to usually), and you can snowboard and surf on the same day.
3) Costa Rica. Amazing! There are real monkeys in the wild there! Cool. Warm friendly people and incredible scenery.
Equipment used:
Taylor guitars and a bong slide.