Tom McRae

Last Show I ALMOST Caught

Tom Solo In Store Performance at Fingerprints

I heard 7pm from the El Rey show. I'd read 7pm on Tom's official site. But for some reason my mind processed that information into: the show will start at 8pm.

It wasn't until I called my friend telling her that my sister and I were leaving from the Riverside area (at 6pm with a stop for gas) that I was told the show actually started at 7pm. Oops.

I navigated through traffic on the 15, 91, 55 and 22 freeways as best I could and got to Long Beach around 7:30pm. I spent another 10-15 minutes looking for parking (ahem: my parallel parking confirms the stereotype that Asians are bad drivers) before getting a call from Holly--who I haven't seen for ages and planned to meet at Fingerprints--telling me that the show hadn't started yet.

I circle around 2nd street a couple of times, finally find paid parking on Park and St. Josephs, get out of the car and start heading toward Fingerprints only to get another ring from Holly. "The show's over." Wah.

Despite missing the show, I was able to chat briefly with Tom. Wait, he chatted and I babbled. I don't recall (selective memory!) what was said on my end, but I gave him copies of the Hotel Cafe Release Party shows. He asked how the quality was, and I think I said: "Well, it's alright." Ah...nothing like a live performance though!

There was a segue to how Tom's audio guy (John/Johnny) does a bunch of recordings off the soundboard (!) (ahem: the quality would be great there). Tom's thinking of getting those shows online and making it downloadable, but there's legal issues involved and all. More of me babbling about him returning to Europe and having a warm welcome before I shook his hand and dashed out. What I really wanted to do was give him a hug and say a la Abba: Thank you for the music. But I'm shy. Besides, there was a line forming and I think Tom got the point.

I also got to meet and chat with Larry. And thanks to Larry, the crowd that gathered at Fingerprints was able to hear new songs, including Jet Engine Lullaby and My Vampire Heart. I overheard someone stopping Larry and thanking him for making those requests. :O)

The show must go on, and in Tom's case, it calls for a much anticipated return in Europe. Can you feel the anticipation?

Last Show I Caught

20 Oct. 2004 at the El Rey.

Multimedia coming up
01. Red Sox Won
02. Bloodless
03. Say hello to Oli on cello & Olli on piano
04. You Only Disappear
05. Home away from home, L.A., friends, buying drinks, cheer up with song about the end of the world
06. Walking 2 Hawaii
07. Our rock song, check out the shaker (piano Olli), taking down the crash barriers, have concern for those in the front
08. A&B Song
09. Don't stage diving on this next song, you'll look really stupid
10. Border Song
11. In store solo show at Fingerprints, come down, say hi and bring drink; my name's Tom and I haven't been sober any days...release of JLB from Nettwerk 12. Request from audience (LOF), in a minute...if you buy me a drink
13. Boy with the Bubblegun
14. Thanks
15. Language of Fools

Tom and piano Olli helped Rachael Yamagata out on one song and Tom played piano on the last song (before the encore) that Rachael sang. Great pairing.

Extra Shows & Shows in Europe

Tom's going back to New York for a solo gig at the Bowery Ballroom Tuesday 26 Oct. 2004

3 new tour dates (including the one in NY) are posted here.

Tom's gigs in Europe: tickets are selling out. Get yours while you can!

Wonderful Christmastime

Tom sighting! Buy from Amazon or from Nettwerk Records

Track listing:

The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Pedro The Lion - I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
Belasana - Bittersweet Eve
Ivy - Christmas Time Is Here
Royal Crown Revue feat. Vicky Tafoya - Baby It's Cold Outside
Tom McRae - Wonderful Christmastime
Pilate - Fairytale Of New York
Lisa Loeb - Jingle Bells
Jars of Clay - Christmas For Cowboys
Copeland - Do You Hear What I Hear?

22 Sep. 2004

Hurrah! Tom McRae (with band!) is on the road. Go see him perform at a venue near you and pick up the American Release of Just Like Blood. The Nettwerk Records release comes with two bonus tracks! Tour dates at Tom's Official site.

21 Sept. 2004

Last Show I Caught: Hotel Cafe Release Party

Thanks to Saffron, I was privileged enough to make THE LIST for an Industry Pre-Show party. Tom and the Olis performed a haunting set, and I was fortunate enough to get a recording of My Vampire Heart sans the crickets chirping. The second set, which I've dubbed the KCRW set because the show was presented by KCRW, opened to a full house. New songs included Hummingbird and Silent Boulevard.

Particularly memorable?
Pre-show: Overthrown. The instrumental section? ohmygawd! Chilling!
KCRW Set: Sao Paulo Rain. There's a change in the instrumental combination toward the end that sounds...smokier and darker. Different from how the song was performed before.

Post show goodies:
JLB Poster signed by Tom (with reference to Tomination thongs).
Napster Sessions CD (artwork available here).