Tom Savage Trio

Kingston, Ontario’s Tom Savage fourth studio album called The County Line recently founds its way to my ears. Even though it is a 2008 release it deserves your attention if you haven’t heard it. This is the first release under the Tom Savage Trio name. The trio consists of Tom Savage – guitar, vocals and mandolin; Geoff Chown – bass; and Sandy Mackenzie -drums, backing vocals. Think of them as a modern day Americana power trio, at least on this disc. While previous releases from Tom (solo) have been more acoustic, this disc is plugged in and rowdy!

There are nine high octane cuts on the disc, which opens in a hurry with Leaving In A Hurry. The highlight of the disc is the title track, with a guitar attack I imagine must be great to hear live! Perhaps speaking of himself, or maybe some of his obvious influences (Neil Young) is the line from the track Old Rock ‘N’ Rollers:
“Old rock ‘n’ rollers never die, they just keep rollin’ on”

The only time they slow down for a breath is on Tired Old Cliche. Then its back to full speed and on the road for 48 Hours. Then like a good power trio, they end with the lengthy tune Arizona, which features a long power chord fade out ending that even does fade out and return! I held up my lighter when it was done!!

If you like your Americana amped up, i.e. The Bottle Rockets or Drive-By-Truckers then you are sure to like this disc, yet another stellar release from our neighbors to the North! - Americana Roots

"By Far the best song that Tom did was his last song which was a Bob Dylan cover, he gave it all in this song. While I was looking around you could see that people where thinking the same thing that I was thinking holy Sh*t, It was simply flat out amazing. By the way he was hitting and the speed and which he was hitting his strings I can’t believe the he didn’t break any of the strings." - partyinkingston.com

" ...a bit of old-school country, a touch of punk, a smattering of Reverend Horton Heat rockabilly, a jazz jam and lot of rock ’n’ roll in the style of the Drive By Truckers, Wilco and Son Volt. " - Lethbridge Sun-Times

Kingston-based singer/songwriter Tom Savage's third CD, Never Shed No Tears is steeped in the folk tradition of Dylan and Nebraska-era Springsteen. Tasty Celtic touches like the flute work by harmony vocalist Vanessa Longul(Savage's partner in life and music) , and Zeke Mazurek's violin sweeten Savage's weary, resigned vocal style. While this CD features fine songwriting throughout, highlights include the title track and Wrong Side of Town which could almost be called 'Bossa Folka'; for its Latin feel in the guitar and percussion. It's the blending of the folk idiom with those extra international accents that makes this one stand out above the usual folk fare.'

- Scene magazine

"..moments reminiscent of Mike Scott's faux Irish take on Dylan, propelled by a country swagger and lit up with flute, mandolin, and violin. Much of the album smells like sweet hayseed but as is Savage's fashion, just when you think he's gone all Fred Eaglesmith he drops in a stray blues("Lovin' Arms"), or a flute-infused jammer ("Barstool Conversations," " Ragged Road").
- Echo Weekly

'He might be no relation to ECHO sex columnist Dan Savage, but Tom Savage is equally adept at raising the hair on the back of one's neck - albeit for purely musical reasons. Probably best described as a poor man's Bruce Springsteen - which is far more of a compliment than it might seem in print..Ironically enough, the album by the same name features a few vintage Savage tear-jerkers, along with his trademark politically-informed ballads.' - Echo Weekly

Tom Savage's Never Shed No Tears wins the prize as the surprise of the year thus far. First time through, I shrugged. Second time, I heard some things I liked. Third time, more. I'm on the tenth or eleventh listen now and it's at the top of my preferred listening stack. How it got there is a mystery. It's not the style, because I haven't quite figured out what it is yet. It doesn't seem like anything new, but with a voice somewhere between Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Young and a writing style which picks influences by the line instead of the song, Savage somehow put together one hell of an album without allowing himself to be pigeonholed. Folk? Yes. Rock? Yes. Folk rock? Yes. Good? Yes. Damn good? Yes, yes and yes.

Favored tracks at this moment (and they change with each hearing) are Beneath the Rocks with its Knopfler-esque vocals and guitar break (great twang and way too short), The State We're In which has slight touches of 70s Brit-rockers Home and a very slight nod toward Pink Floyd on The Wall with screaming folk harmonica on the break. Hang Your Head and Cry could very well be what Phil Ochs might be doing if he'd not passed on, its theme the simple shame that some politicians bring to an otherwise proud nation. Savage even stretches himself toward jazz with Wrong Side of Town, the guitar sounding as if it could have been taken from an early Steely Dan album.

Throughout the album, I hear ghosts of John Campbell, Knopfler, Springsteen, Steve Young and shades of newer artists who, while not well known, have their moments of musical greatness. They are the ghosts in my own head, though, for it becomes more obvious with each listen that Savage writes and performs what he has to, not what he hears. Such is of what the good ones are made.

A big huzzah to Geoff Chown for hearing what Savage had to offer, to the various musicians who added their little bits which made the whole as good as it is, and to Tom Savage himself who has found his voice, and I am not referring to that which emanates from his throat. What a voice it is. - Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange

Tom Savage's Never Shed No Tears wins the prize as the surprise of the year thus far. First time through, I shrugged. Second time, I heard some things I liked. Third time, more. I'm on the tenth or eleventh listen now and it's at the top of my preferred listening stack. How it got there is a mystery. It's not the style, because I haven't quite figured out what it is yet. It doesn't seem like anything new, but with a voice somewhere between Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Young and a writing style which picks influences by the line instead of the song, Savage somehow put together one hell of an album without allowing himself to be pigeonholed. Folk? Yes. Rock? Yes. Folk rock? Yes. Good? Yes. Damn good? Yes, yes and yes.

Favored tracks at this moment (and they change with each hearing) are Beneath the Rocks with its Knopfler-esque vocals and guitar break (great twang and way too short), The State We're In which has slight touches of 70s Brit-rockers Home and a very slight nod toward Pink Floyd on The Wall with screaming folk harmonica on the break. Hang Your Head and Cry could very well be what Phil Ochs might be doing if he'd not passed on, its theme the simple shame that some politicians bring to an otherwise proud nation. Savage even stretches himself toward jazz with Wrong Side of Town, the guitar sounding as if it could have been taken from an early Steely Dan album.

Throughout the album, I hear ghosts of John Campbell, Knopfler, Springsteen, Steve Young and shades of newer artists who, while not well known, have their moments of musical greatness. They are the ghosts in my own head, though, for it becomes more obvious with each listen that Savage writes and performs what he has to, not what he hears. Such is of what the good ones are made.

A big huzzah to Geoff Chown for hearing what Savage had to offer, to the various musicians who added their little bits which made the whole as good as it is, and to Tom Savage himself who has found his voice, and I am not referring to that which emanates from his throat. What a voice it is. - Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange

Tom Savage's Brand of Sympathy isn't so folky that it makes you run screaming, and this second self-release has enough twang to make it gentle on your mind, but not hurt so much that you cry in your beer. No fake accents or false emotions, Savage is lyrically honest and simple. He doesn't make grandiose statements about the world outside, but relies on life in general and how he lives it. Brand of Sympathy won't change your life, but it will make a Sunday afternoon a little sunnier and the silly everyday bickering less melodramatic. Look for Tom Savage at a coffeehouse near you, and buy him a pint. - Exclaim!

Tom Savage's Brand of Sympathy isn't so folky that it makes you run screaming, and this second self-release has enough twang to make it gentle on your mind, but not hurt so much that you cry in your beer. No fake accents or false emotions, Savage is lyrically honest and simple. He doesn't make grandiose statements about the world outside, but relies on life in general and how he lives it. Brand of Sympathy won't change your life, but it will make a Sunday afternoon a little sunnier and the silly everyday bickering less melodramatic. Look for Tom Savage at a coffeehouse near you, and buy him a pint. - Exclaim!

Ontario country-rocker Tom Savage's newest release, The County Line, is a continuation of the defiant, individualistic road-weary music that he made with his last effort, Never Shed No Tears.

With this album, Savage replicates the live bar-room feel that lends itself well to his music, which is somewhere between Bruce Springsteen and Guitar Town-era Steve Earle.

Highlights include the bleak Tex-Mex track " The County Line, " and the wistful, resigned "When You Were Mine".

This is a CD full of rousing music that seems like it was meant for dark nights driving on prairie roads.

- Beatroute Magazine

Tom Savage has been a very naughty boy.

This mild-mannered, Kingston-based singer/songwriter has parked the acoustic guitar for an electric and a whole lotta amplifier wattage. For this his fourth studio album titled The County Line (2008) he enlisted Sandy Mackenzie on drums and backing vocals plus Geoff Chown to play bass along with clever engineering, mixing and mastering duties. Vanessa Longul, Tom Savage's press agent contributes harmonies as well. Chown and Savage co-produced this edgy 9-track album with Savage writing all the songs. When my eyes glanced at the press release with it's self-claim of pure, unadulterated, dirt road rock ‘n’ roll the same time I hit the first track I was hooked!

Over the years I've seen Tom Savage host open mics and perform acoustic-folk songs and ballads from Never Shed No Tear (2006), the upbeat Brand Of Sympathy (2001) or going back almost nine years to his debut Day-To-Day Truths (1999). This new album is nothing like anything I've heard in the past from Tom. It's front loaded with rockin' music that will keep you on the dance floor, toes tappin' or as Tom says "The County Line is an album that begs to be thrown in the car stereo and turned up loud, while driving down the open road".

This alt country-rock album opens with Tom's thunderous guitar and his amazing voice on "Leaving In A Hurry". With vocals reminding me of Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen rolled and lit up like Festival of the Islands fireworks is what I'm feeling; he performs a kickass guitar solo midway through the song too. Accompanied by Geoff and Sandy this is a really impressive crossover song that could easily find it's way to a variety of music charts.

The title track "The County Line" has a great beat with that bold, raunch of roots-rock guitar reminding me of tube amplifiers delivering a big, beautiful sound. I'm looking forward to catching Tom Savage Trio live for a high-energy show but also to see the number of pedals Savage has going! It's an amazing sound he's delivering on guitar.

"Old Time Rock 'N' Rollers" reeks with awesomeness musically and stellar songwriting. One of Tom Savage's fine qualities is taking his thoughts to everyday observations and putting them on paper like a great storyteller; coming up with brilliant lyrics seems to come easy to him and I do consider Savage to be one of the area's best.

"The One" and "When You Were Mine" are equally as gritty from start to finish. I like Tom Savage's statement of taking this disc for a spin down the open road, but listening thus far I'd rather park the car, slam a bottle and two glasses on an old wooden table and enjoy with a good friend.

You'll discover a hint of the blues on "No-Win Situtation". (I wonder if Geoff can play an upright bass?). Their's a lot of heart and soul pouring out in this song with the backing vocals and harmonies making it complete.

"Tired Old Cliché", "48 Hours" and "Arizona" an outstanding seven and a half minute song rounding out this impressive album.

The album art on the cover is a beautiful, rustic hay shed set in a field of golden crop for as far as the eye can see. Some may say Tom Savage has reinvented himself musically; I feel that he has rediscovered himself and has come home. The County Line is highly recommended. Check out our concert listings page to see when Tom Savage Trio is playing Kingston and definately visit his website for cross-Canada tours. - PartyInKingston.com

have to admit, the first time I listened to Tom Savage's latest acoustic album Never Shed No Tears, I wasn't too sure about the whole thing.On the first listen, the album almost passes by unnoticed. Usually, that's when I would stop listening and move on to something else to satisfy my musical appetite. Fortunately, in order to accurately review the album, I was required to acquaint myself with it a little better than the surface knowledge gained on a single listening.
After letting the album play through a few times, it really starts to set its hooks in you. I've listened to it about a dozen times now over the past month or so, and I can honestly say it's one of the best finds I've come across in quite
some time. Blurring the boundaries of traditional folk music and more contemporary folk rock, with sprinklings of country here and there, Savage's musical style is hard to pin down.

Oddly, the music doesn't seem very unique at first, but that's part of the magic of it – it reveals itself layers.
Savage is an excellent songwriter. Often poetic in their deceptive simplicity, often politically informed, his lyrics recall the best folk singers of the sixties. The frequent comparisons to Dylan are, in this case, justified.
Savage is also a skillful guitarist, showcasing his ability to seamlessly move from folk, to country, to rock, all while incorporating a variety of other elements.

In the song 'The State We're In', Savage demonstrates a David Gilmour-esque ability to fully utilize space in the composition, allowing each note to grow, resonate and fade.'The Wrong Side of Town' shows Savage's ability to incorporate elements of Latin guitar into his folk repertoire. 'Never Shed No Tears' is an album that refuses designation and demands attention. It may not be the most easily accessible album you'll come across, but if you put the time into discovering its secrets, you'll be rewarded for your efforts. - Nanton News

Tom Savage's sound drifts from style to style, and at times you can hear echoes of other musicians in his work. His raspy voice and perspective are the commonality through the songs as both style and sound change from one track to the next.

The rough rasp of Savage's voice matches the edges the imagery in "Never Shed No Tears." The flute in the bridge marks the only stretch the music takes the lead in the song. The harmonica in the intro sets the old rock feel of "Beneath the Rocks" and the driving beat of the drums keeps it going. The lyrics drift quietly into a protest song in "The State We're In," and the tone of the music is understated to the content.

The finger-picking in "On & On" gives the music a bluegrass edge that the tone of the vocals builds upon. The music changes mode again, becoming the faint backing for "No Turning Back" and letting the images in the lyrics set the mood of the song. "Hang Your Head & Cry" could easily shift to call and reply if sung live as politics return to the lyrics.

There is a slight dissonance in "Wrong Side of Town" as the edge in the lyrics is not matched by the easy delivery of the music. Various cliches form the lyrics of "Patiently Wait," and the images they form are grainy and shift from verse to verse. The piano sets the tone of "I May Be a Lover," giving it all the feel of a slow closer, as melancholy runs through the lyrics.

Diversity can be a very good thing and that is certainly the case with Never Shed No Tears. Tom Savage gives a sampler of some of the different approaches to folk music with well-written lyrics and music. - Rambles.net

Tom Savage has been a very naughty boy.

This mild-mannered, Kingston-based singer/songwriter has parked the acoustic guitar for an electric and a whole lotta amplifier wattage. For this his fourth studio album titled The County Line (2008) he enlisted Sandy Mackenzie on drums and backing vocals plus Geoff Chown to play bass along with clever engineering, mixing and mastering duties. Vanessa Longul, Tom Savage's press agent contributes harmonies as well. Chown and Savage co-produced this edgy 9-track album with Savage writing all the songs. When my eyes glanced at the press release with it's self-claim of pure, unadulterated, dirt road rock ‘n’ roll the same time I hit the first track I was hooked!

Over the years I've seen Tom Savage host open mics and perform acoustic-folk songs and ballads from Never Shed No Tear (2006), the upbeat Brand Of Sympathy (2001) or going back almost nine years to his debut Day-To-Day Truths (1999). This new album is nothing like anything I've heard in the past from Tom. It's front loaded with rockin' music that will keep you on the dance floor, toes tappin' or as Tom says "The County Line is an album that begs to be thrown in the car stereo and turned up loud, while driving down the open road".

This alt country-rock album opens with Tom's thunderous guitar and his amazing voice on "Leaving In A Hurry". With vocals reminding me of Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen rolled and lit up like Festival of the Islands fireworks is what I'm feeling; he performs a kickass guitar solo midway through the song too. Accompanied by Geoff and Sandy this is a really impressive crossover song that could easily find it's way to a variety of music charts.

The title track "The County Line" has a great beat with that bold, raunch of roots-rock guitar reminding me of tube amplifiers delivering a big, beautiful sound. I'm looking forward to catching Tom Savage Trio live for a high-energy show but also to see the number of pedals Savage has going! It's an amazing sound he's delivering on guitar.

"Old Time Rock 'N' Rollers" reeks with awesomeness musically and stellar songwriting. One of Tom Savage's fine qualities is taking his thoughts to everyday observations and putting them on paper like a great storyteller; coming up with brilliant lyrics seems to come easy to him and I do consider Savage to be one of the area's best.

"The One" and "When You Were Mine" are equally as gritty from start to finish. I like Tom Savage's statement of taking this disc for a spin down the open road, but listening thus far I'd rather park the car, slam a bottle and two glasses on an old wooden table and enjoy with a good friend.

You'll discover a hint of the blues on "No-Win Situtation". (I wonder if Geoff can play an upright bass?). Their's a lot of heart and soul pouring out in this song with the backing vocals and harmonies making it complete.

"Tired Old Cliché", "48 Hours" and "Arizona" an outstanding seven and a half minute song rounding out this impressive album.

The album art on the cover is a beautiful, rustic hay shed set in a field of golden crop for as far as the eye can see. Some may say Tom Savage has reinvented himself musically; I feel that he has rediscovered himself and has come home. The County Line is highly recommended. Check out our concert listings page to see when Tom Savage Trio is playing Kingston and definately visit his website for cross-Canada tours. - PartyInKingston.com