The Morning News is special.
The Ketel One Brunch Music Series at Rocks on the River features live performances by talented local musicians every Saturday and Sunday at the popular street-level restaurant that is the anchor of the Bohemian Hotel.
The featured musician for September is a local singer and guitarist, who blends original songs with favorites. Thomas says he likes using music to tell stories about overcoming challenges in life and that he is on a mission to spread hope to the hopeless.
The Savannah Jazz Festival is back in full force and has a worldwide audience on notice.
The Charlie Fog Band is getting ‘Dead & In the Way’ for Jerry.
There are shows at Eastern wharf and other places.
From New York City to Colorado, Thomas has performed, singing and playing guitar. He spoke to the Morning News about the power of live music, the thrill of performing at Red Rocks, and the appeal of the Hostess City’s music scene.
What first attracted you to singing and songwriting?
I was a guitarist in a lot of the bands I grew up in. I played all types of music, from metal to worship music, and experienced the full spectrum of talent as a guitarist. When I decided that I wanted to pursue music as a career path, I realized that I preferred a great song over playing a particular genre of music.
I believe that a good song speaks for itself, regardless of genre, and that led me to focus on the craft of writing songs. That led to honing my skills as a singer as well, and that was the point at which things clicked for me. When I wrote my first song and sang it in front of a crowd, the connection I felt with the audience and the reaction they had to my art solidified in my mind, that this is my life’s calling.
What do you love most about performing live and why?
Seeing my music lift someone’s mood is my favorite thing to do live. Whenever a couple dances to the music, whenever someone gets excited about me playing their favorite song and sings along, whenever a child is enamored by the performance, those moments remind me why I fell in love with music.
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There is a shift in the energy when someone is performing, and I try to not take that for granted by giving my audience the best possible performance I want people to lose themselves in the moment and enjoy the moment fully. That is the power and the beauty of live music.
How has your approach to music evolved over the years?
As a teenager, music is very important to you. If the culture behind the music fits in with your lifestyle, you can connect with certain types of bands and sounds. Over the years, I have stopped caring about fitting in with a particular musical culture as I used to.
I now view music as something that connects me with other people instead of being something that defines me as an individual. Every new song or new artist is an opportunity for me to connect with new people, as I enjoy a wide range of different music. I think of myself as a pop artist, but that is a broad term. I don’t want to write songs that impress a small group of music fans, I want to write songs that connect with as many people as possible.
What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?
It would be performing at Red Rocks if I had to pick a moment. While living in Colorado, I was able to play at one of the most famous venues in the world. During the off-season, Red Rocks hosts local artists, and I was lucky enough to be selected as one of their artists for the 2020 season. I am proud of that accomplishment, it was a bucket list moment as well as a career milestone.
What kind of music do you perform at Rocks on the Roof for the Ketel One Brunch Music Series?
My specialty is pop music and I perform it a lot. If you see me perform, I will be playing songs by those artists, because I am often compared to them. Classic rock, country, blues, and whatever other music feels good in the moment are also included.
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I think my defining characteristic is the guitar work I do, since I play an electric guitar and add in lots of lead guitar work in most of the songs that I play.”
What are you grateful for?
I am fortunate to be a part of the music scene. I believe that we have some of the best musicians in the world. I am always amazed by my musician friends. I hope to be around making music for many years to come, and I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.