24 February 2011

The Blues Room# 265 Thomas Oliver Band

The Blues Room presents ...
Thomas Oliver Band
Episode 265, 16 February 2011


Wellington 5-piece The Thomas Oliver Band have spent the past few years touring and playing live throughout New Zealand with the likes of Fat Freddy’s Drop, Gin Wigmore and Britain’s Oli Brown. Within this time the band have also written and recorded their debut full-length album ‘Baby, I’ll Play’ to be released in early 2011.

“From the sexy, dirty blues/rock of ‘Nothing Left’ and ‘In My Bones’ to the glorious, perfect-pop balladry of ‘A Letter’, Every Penny is flawless. This is just the beginning. If you do not know who they are, watch this space: they are simply too good to stay underground for much longer.” - M2 Magazine

Initially a 3-piece, The Thomas Oliver Band grew into it’s current form following the release of ‘Every Penny’ thanks to the lifelong friendships crafted while the five boys studied at the New Zealand School of Music. It is the fresh instrumentation of the 5-piece, including lap-slide guitar, double bass and baritone saxophone, which creates The Thomas Oliver Band's distinctive sound. The new album is “more organic, earthier and rich”, says Oliver, “and the step from 3-piece to 5-piece has completely opened up our sound, and allowed a lot more creative expression for us, and particularly for me as the writer.”

The Thomas Oliver Band have created a staunch following through their live performances. It was their stage show which saw them selected by the New Zealand Campus Arts Network as the Emerging Artist of the year to complete a full national tour in 2009. They have gone on to play at some of Aotearoa's renowned festivals and joined the bill with our country's top acts. 2011 follows this trend with The Thomas Oliver Band named in some of the best summer series including Wellington's Garden Magic, Auckland's Zoo Music, and A Day on the Green with legends Joe Cocker and George Thorogood.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to share the stage with you guys. Definitely the coolest original sound I have heard in... since I don’t know when the hell when” - Oli Brown, Winner Best Male Vocalist, and Young Artist of the Year at the British Blues Awards 2010
"Thomas Oliver is what cool dude. I enjoyed interviewing him on The Blues Room and love his bluesy stuff, the band have really got a good thing going on. I wish them all the very best, nice to have young talented guys like the Thomas Oliver Band representing New Zealand." Nate Taiapa

Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/thethomasoliverband

1. Gary Moore with Albert King - Stormy Monday
2. Thomas Oliver Band - Baby I'll Play [NZ]
Interview with Thomas Oliver
3. Thomas Oliver Band - Goin' Home [NZ]
4. Fiona Boyes - Women Be Wise
5. Peri Kohu and Nate Taiapa - Walking Blues
6. Muddy Waters - What Is That She Got
7. Luther Allison - Cat Blues
8. Junior Watson - Wolf Pack

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 265

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