| ITEM:
Latest update on the UK release of my CDs on Spit
& Polish Records: it's the next release in the pipeline. The CDs
are all pressed and they're gearing up to unleash it. Should hit the market
in February or March. Woo hoo! Other estimable artists who've had releases
on the label include Laura Cantrell, Jason Ringenberg, Steve Young, Paul
Burch, Radio Sweethearts, and more. We're very pleased to be in such fine
company. |
| ITEM:
Wellsir I'm awful pleased to report that the indie DJs reporting to Third
Coast Music's FAR chart have voted me the #1
male Americana performer of 2002. Yup, that's right! I'm somewhat flabbergasted
to be in such heady company as Dale Watson, Dave Alvin, Justin Trevino,
Buddy Miller, and Steve Earle. Thank you thank you. |
| ITEM:
Plans are afoot for me to play a string of gigs in Scotland, England, and
Wales in October, 2003. I'll be sharing the bill on all the dates with the
estimable John Miller, an
excellent songsmith & fine singer. |
| ITEM:
Puremusic.com was very taken
with Clothesline
Revival's CD, which I contributed some vocals to. Frank wrote up an
exhaustive feature article, which includes and interview with yours truly.
Read all about it here. |
| ITEM:
My second CD, Songs That Make The Jukebox Play, is out now
and getting good notices. Check out snippets of reviews here.
Feature articles have appeared in Country
Standard Time and Blue Suede
News. |
| ITEM:
I served as a guest vocalist on a new CD from Clothesline
Revival called Of My Native Land, out now on Paleo Music.
My selections include two Hank Williams Sr. covers and an Onie Wheeler song.
Despite such traditional material, Clothesline Revival's music spins off
into genre-defying territory, blending acoustic and electric instruments
and my down-home vocals with samples and all manner of electronic atmospherics.
It's a very unique project; the strong opening cut "Ramblin' Man"
in particular is bound to catch some ears in the Americana audience and
beyond. |
| ITEM:
Cora May Armstrong celebrated her first birthday on October 6, 2002. She's
gone from being a big fan of "Roly Poly" to preferring her papa's
renditions of "Cotton Fields" and "Charming Betsy". |
| ITEM:
Tom Armstrong's debut CD, Tom Armstrong Sings Heart Songs,
placed #9 on Third
Coast Music's Freeform Americana Chart best of 2000 list. Tom also came
in #6 in the Best Male Vocalist category. The FAR chart is a reporting tool
for independent DJs who have roots music shows on public, community, and
college stations all around the globe. Click on the link above to learn
more and see the full list. |
| ITEM:
Tom Armstrong's debut CD, Tom Armstrong Sings Heart Songs,
was chosen by No Depression co-founder Grant Alden as one of his top 10
CDs of the year 2000. The list was posted on Icast.com for a few days, just
before they went belly-up and sank to the bottom of the dotcom deadpool.
You gotta love this "new economy." |
| ITEM:
Tom's first published writings about country music appear in the form of
brief topical sidebars in Kurt Wolff's terrific new book, The
Rough Guide to Country Music. This thorough, informative volume provides
a great introduction to the many sounds and styles of country music. One
of the biggest plusses is its refreshingly non-Nashville-centric POV. There's
even a whole chapter dedicated to the West Coast, covering underappreciated
performers like the Farmer Boys, Bobby Austin, Skeets McDonald, and Tommy
Collins. It's about time! Tom's sidebars tackle the topics of the evolution
of the steel guitar, suicide songs, and (of course) heart songs. Buy it
today, you'll be glad you did. |
