Pazfest II: A New Orleans Tribute to Joni Mitchell

August 31st, 2010 admin No comments

pazfest posterLater this week, Mr. Michael Paz (who seems to be on a first-name basis with every musician that’s ever come through New Orleans) is hosting Pazfest II, a tribute to Joni Mitchell featuring some of the Big Easy’s finest musicians… and l’il ole moi. Funds raised will help the Ruth Paz Foundation to provide life-changing medical care and support to underprivileged Honduran children and their families.

This show will mark the 10-year anniversary of the original Pazfest in 2000, a glorious event captured for posterity on a two-CD set. How did 10 years go by so quickly? Thanks again to the great Paz for having me.


Thursday, Sep. 2, 2010. 6 pm

Pazfest Preview
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp Street New Orleans, LA

Friday, Sep. 3, 2010. 8 pm

Pazfest II: A New Orleans Tribute to Joni Mitchell
The Howlin’ Wolf
907 South Peters Street, New Orleans, LA


I’m flying solo this time, but last time I had a heluva band backing me up: Matthew Loiacono and Taylor Price (on loan from Troy Pohl). Here’s a quick clip from the set:

Also, for my money, this was the best performance of the night: Susan Cowsill with Robert Mache performing “Chelsea Morning.” Mercy.


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Reviews are in. Pics, too.

July 28th, 2010 admin No comments

Nona Hendryx graciously poses for a photo moments after blowing me off the stage. (Courtesy Rudy Lu)

Thanks to everyone who came out, thanks to Nona and her band for a great night of music and special thanks to Sara Hill and Michael Eck for inviting me to join in the fun. Be sure to check out the photos from  Matt Mac Haffie and Hidden City.

Here are the reviews.

Mike Hochanadel in the Daily Gazette:

When a boy jumped up to dance, during his solo opener [for funk rocker Nona Hendryx], soul-rock troubadour Bryan Thomas challenged, “What you got?” and danced himself, all this is a deep, politically sophisticated song about race and sex that everybody got at their own level. He sang about Schenectady’s underworld, gender, hope and despair. Hope won, but it was close.

In a betrayal lament, he sang, “You can tell him I said that” with such towering force that everybody applauded, even if its message zoomed past some. Later, he warned about “the boomerang of history,” advised “keep a steel helmet handy” and consoled “truth is light.” His “Babylon” had the apocalyptic punch Rastas give the term, and he made the political personal and vice versa with tremendous grace and aplomb through his too-short set.”

And then Nona and her band took the stage and blew it up.

Here’s Greg Haymes in the Times Union:

Delmar singer-songwriter Bryan Thomas boldly opened the show armed only with an acoustic guitar, but he quickly won over the crowd with an all-too-short, six-song set that included gems from his latest album, “One Three Six Nine Lights.” And he left the crowd wanting more when he wrapped it all up with “Jennifer” from his ‘02 album, “Ones and Zeros,” singing, “You think you’re too big for Schenectady? You ain’t big enough.”

And then Nona and her band took the stage and blew it up.

Photos: Matt Mac Haffie | Hidden City

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Opening for Nona Hendryx this Sunday

July 22nd, 2010 admin No comments

No, seriously.

Sunday July 25 @ 7 pm.

Nona Hendryx

Nona Hendryx, the Original Funk Rocker

Nona Hendrix w/s/g/ Bryan Thomas
The Music Haven @ Central Park
Schenectady, NY
Sunday, July 25. 7 pm. FREE.

“The legendary diva Nona Hendryx started out singing 60s doo-wop and came to fame in a big way with LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” in 1975, but she’s has been creating her own pioneering, bold brand of music all along — a fearless mix of funk, art and proud, proud soul.”

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Five Firsts with Mister Six

June 9th, 2010 admin No comments
Tess ponders how she will next kick my ass. Circa 2003.

Tess is absolutely thinking about kicking my ass. Circa 2003.

In anticipation of Thursday night’s benefit for Tess’ Lark Tavern at the Linda, Nippertown gives yours truly the Five Firsts treatment.

For instance: The first album I ever bought was… Can you guess?

Fear not: Nippertown has the answer.

See ya at the Linda.

“A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern”

Thursday, June 10, 2010. 7 pm.
WAMC Linda Morris Auditorium, 339 Central Ave, Albany

Albany Poets’ Poets Speak Loud
Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys
MotherJudge & the Best Damn Open Mic EVER! Band
Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble
Ramblin Jug Stompers
With special guest Bryan Thomas. No, seriously.

Admission is $15 at the door, and all proceeds go directly to Tess Collins and the staff of Tess’ Lark Tavern.

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Thanks, Tess

May 6th, 2010 admin No comments

Tess let us take over the Lark Tavern Labor Day weekend of 2005 to shoot the music video for “Babylon.” What did she charge us? Nothing. Nada. Zilcho. And she fed us, too. So this was the video thank-you card we created at the end of the shoot.

In the wake of this morning’s fire, the sentiment still applies. Several times over.

“There’s a party going on at Tess’…”

The Music Video

Behind the Scenes

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Video: I’m Not Dead Yet

April 11th, 2010 admin 1 comment

Boom: here’s a couple quick goofy demos for new songs up on the YouTube, recorded in January and February and all but forgotten about until a few glasses of wine on a Sunday night in April. Let’s call these transitional tunes – the kind of songs I write between album projects to remind myself that I’m not dead yet. So quick-and-dirty that they usually never see the light of day. Kickstarter songs. The double novelty here is that 1) I’ve recorded the songs on my iPhone and 2) I’ve captured the recording session on the camcorder. That’s right: the iPhone is in the shots below because that’s the recording studio. The app is FourTrack by Sonoma Wire Works, and all sounds were captured live with the iPhone’s internal mic, working overtime to capture every little flaw in my performance. And so it goes.

Demo for ‘Cake’

This song is dedicated to the United States of Have Our Cake and Eat It Too. So I’m gettin’ my falsetto on. And yes, I am the worst drummer in the world. For god’s sake, my finger is the kick drum. PS: Did I mention that I am the worst drummer in the world? [See 'Cake' on YouTube]


Demo for ‘Parts’

Recording the demo of a song about recording the demo of a song. Warts and all. The beat here is canned: it came with the FourTrack app. I should note that the song didn’t sound quite so pop-bland-smooth in my head when I wrote it. But songs can smash to pieces. [See 'Parts' on YouTube]


Live excerpt of solo-acoustic ‘Parts’

You can hear how the song has mellowed in the month or two since recording the iPhone demo. A minor key chorus, even. From the show at Bread and Jam in March with Julia Brown. Songs can smash to pieces, indeed. [See solo-acoustic 'Parts' on YouTube]


More on the way, old and new

In the near future I’ll be pulling some footage from the archives and shooting video for some of the newer, post-transitional transition songs. And by “near future” I mean sometime between now and 2014. Thanks.

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The Birthday Girl

April 5th, 2010 admin No comments

Maya turns 2 and hunts for Easter eggs with big sister Zoe.

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1369 Lights = Free MP3s

February 28th, 2010 admin No comments

Did I mention that 1369 Lights is now available to download for free at BandCamp.com?

Well it is! Have at it.

You can learn more about the record at the Music page – and all of the other records.

Did I mention that they’re free, too?

Well they are! Have at it.

Bryan and Julia @ Bread and Jam

February 18th, 2010 admin No comments

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who came out Friday night. Special thanks to Julia for kickin’ my butt.

And thanks for Nippertown for the great review. (READ IT!)

Pics and some brief video clips from my set below.

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Video: Perfect (Excerpt)

Video: Parts (Excerpt)


POSTED FEB 18, 2010

Julia Brown and Bryan Thomas perform live at Bread & Jam Cafe in Cohoes March 19 at 8 pm.

A long overdue show with the great Julia Brown in a great room for music: Bread & Jam Cafe in lovely Cohoes, Friday, March 19 at 8 pm. They’re at 130 Remsen St. See ya there?

PS: Have you seen Julia’s new video? Have mercy.

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Photos: The Neighborhoods Return to the Hood

December 15th, 2009 admin No comments

The Neighborhoods returned to Albany after a seventeen year absence to rock your face off with special guests Charlie Watts Riots and John Powhida International Effin’ Airport.

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More info at Nippertown

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