Tallest Trees

Alouette!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:10:49 -0700

Learn

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:10:47 -0700

TreeMan

Fri, 01 May 2009 17:38:26 -0700

Other Side, pt. 2 (the Corners cover)

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:25:44 -0800

Whiskey Please (live from an RV)

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:13:56 -0800

Round & Round

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:13:05 -0800

Alarm (Something Comin' in the Dawn)

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:11:46 -0800

Monsters (live at the 5 Spot)

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:10:55 -0800

Church of Blood

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:30:38 -0700

Clay Pots

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:15:22 -0700

If Not For the Rain

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:13:42 -0700

We All Got the Demons

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:11:56 -0700

Whisper Into the Wind

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:05:35 -0700

Down On Love

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:03:40 -0700

Finally Home

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 01:28:31 -0700

Killers, Liars, and Thieves

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 01:24:59 -0700

Trees

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:26:25 -0800

Love Dragon

We Are Just An Echo.

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:03:53 -0700

I've been working on a record with the band Tommy and the Whale as a bass player. It's been an interesting and rewarding experience. I love what we do as a band. I love the songs we produce. It's accessible. It's fun. It's just good music. However, I've been thinking about the thievery involved. We steal the Memphis pocket, the Motown horns, the layering of post-Beatles McCartney, the twang and thump of the golden years of country. Though it's extremely difficult to pin us to one sound or a single influence, the elements we love from the past 50 years of popular music are obviously present. The questions raised, at least in my mind, is there validity to our music? Is it original? The collective musical mind of the Whale is a Frankenstein of the rock and roll we have come to love in our time on this planet. It seems to me that all music created in this day and age is directly derivative. Is that how it has to be? Is there some grander goal, some new sound we should be searching for? Or is brilliance simply found in combination, the sum of the thefts arranged in a new way? Tallest Trees is a blatant theft of African-American tradition; blues, soul, spirituals, rock, all twisted together in a way that is hopefully fresh and interesting. But I want more. I want to define a sound, such a grand goal for such a meager musician. Is it possible to create a sound free of influence from other sounds. Is there something new under the sun? Could it be listenable and accessible? Now, obviously every genre evolved from another. Someone pushed the boundaries of funk and r and b to develop hip-hop. Some one sped up the blues and country to develop rock and roll. And to be at the forefront of these genre clashes was the stuff of legends. Is there another way? Questions. Possibly unanswerable questions. But don't the musicians out there owe it to themselves and humanity to search for something pure? Or shall we continue to copy and mock the greats, who also were copiers and mockers? Purity and Honesty in sound, what a thought! What a goal! Impossible? Someone at some point made a new sound not yet heard by mankind and it influenced the world. Shall we strive for that again or is it too difficult?

Ego-ism versus the Absence of Self

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:07:16 -0700

I am two-faced, or perhaps it's better to say of two minds. I'm in the midst of philosophical battle within myself. I have both a self confidence rooted in my ego and a desire to destroy that ego. Self-importance, sincere feelings of greatness, the sense that I am better than the average; these things drive me foward in my artistic endeavours. They in fact seem necessary to achieve that which I feel i deserve. The fact that I feel I deserve anything is evidence of this large ego in need of constant feeding. I crave recognition and compliment. I want validation. However, I'm aware that I need neither recognition nor validation from others. I have confidence that my artistic decisions are correct in my artistic philosophy. In other words, I can feed my own ego. With that stated, I also have a profound urge to destroy the ego that drives me forward, to become self-less. In the absence of ego one needs nothing. No validation is then neccessary from myself or from others. I would create from an organic place, a sound rooted in innocence, if you will. Sound for the sake of sound and it's beauty or dissonance as simple purity of creation. In a way, purposeless in the sense I am not of a mind to influence anyone or anything, but simultaneously the purposeless-ness becomes the purpose. The reason for creation is creation. A beautiful idea I think. Here-in lies the problem. Why I think it is quite beautiful to find that innocence in sound, I also have a desire to impact the culture in which I'm sorrounded. I don't approve of most music and the reasons and methods in which it is created. I want to stand as a pillar to my own philosophy of sound. Something solid in the boneless mass of noise that is popular music. And there it is, that sense of self-importance in obvious conflict with the idea of innocence in sound. The desire to aspire to greatness and inspire change is not that of an innocent mind. It comes from a jaded soul and mind responding to anger and disappointment in the actions of others. If I could destroy my ego, perhaps I could then actually inspire a change through my self-less appreciation of what God has gifted to humanity in melody, harmony, and rhythm. Again, the alterior motive is a betrayal to the root of the concept. It is quite a predicament. The two minds in conflict slow the advancement of creation. I need reason to create. I need either absolute purpose or the absence of purpose to make something of useful substance. In the end, a great artist must base his or her art on a solid idea. Though his or her ideas may change over time, each period must be based in love and respect for the philosophy in art and life that drives them to create. Dual-ism such as this is weakness and unmistakingly human. I suppose that provides at least a comfort that my struggles come from an organic place. But I have no time for hypocrisy. I must soon decide to give in to one mind or the other and endeavour to follow that mind as honestly and faithfully as possible in my human weakness.

Imaginary People

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:14:32 -0700

Imaginary People are coming. Nashville may never be the same. Dabney Morris and I have joined together to bring a spotlight to the artistic underground in Nashville. After many discussions on the stagnation of the Music City scene, we've decided it's time to do something about it. Imaginary People will soon be promoting music, visual art, and literary art shows around Nashville with hopes of inspiring community among artists on the cutting edge in Nashville. If you're tired of cookie-cutter art and highlighted hair musicians imitating what's "hip" at the moment, then we have a place for you. Head on over to theImaginary People site and check out what's going on. A virb.com page is in the works as well. <3thom