Music
Press
“On his solo guitar and vocal album Blues Gone By, Thad Beckman concentrates on time-honored songs. Beckman works authoritatively in styles ranging from Charley Patton (“Banty Rooster”) to Brownie McGhee (“Sportin’ Life Blues”), including fine interpretations of Mance Lipscomb’s (“Ella Speed”) and John Hurt’s (“Spike Driver Blues”). He even expands his scope to include Merle Travis’ (“I Am A Pilgrim”) and contemporary David Lindley’s shimmering (“Look So Good”). Beckman’s own compositions are both serious, as in the reverential title song, and humorous, in the near-rock-‘n’-roll (“I Hate My Life”). With commanding yet understated vocals as strong as his finger-style guitar playing, Beckman crafts a quietly compelling set.”
(Tom Hyslop, Blues Review) - Blues Review
"Beckman plays an engaging blend of folk, singer-songwriter and blues music. Not everyone can pull off such a combination, but Beckman has chops, writing talent, a big personality and a bag full of true stories which all dovetail for a cool show. Check out Beckman's latest album,'Carry Me Back', for proof.”
( Jim Beal, San Antonio Express-News) - San Antonio-Express News
“With a voice that rasps like shoe leather on roadside gravel, and a finger-picked guitar on which notes fly by like railroad ties under a fast moving freight, not to mention a long history of vagabonding behind him, Thad Beckman seems ideally suited to the wandering troubadour's tradition.
The Oregon native has been gigging around Austin for the past couple of years, but this is his first CD, and the portraits it paints are long on disillusionment, only occasionally leavened with moments of abandon. Beckman sings of lost loves (“When the Sun Goes Down”) and lost ideals, (“Song for JFK,” “Freedom Slowly Sets on America”). When sorrow’s coin turns to reflect a sunnier flip side, it is in sprightly blues-flavored tunes such as “Well Bottom Blues” and “Headin’ On Down The Road Awhile.”
Occasionally, Beckman balances the two emotional landscapes very nicely indeed, as in the lovely and wistful title track. Though he doesn't expand the wandering minstrel’s canon either musically or lyrically, he paints some detailed portraits (“Dust Bowl Madonna,” “Pretty Senorita,”) and turns a few nice phrases (“All them colors that I thought had died/ I can see ‘em shinin' right there in your eyes”). File “Carry Me Back” under postcards from the road.”
( John T. Davis, Austin-American Statesman)
- Austin-American
“Thad Beckman covers a fair amount of territory on Carry Me Back, taking his accomplished guitar and sincere voice and tackling tunes from bounce to blues, from Delightful Ditties to Deep Brooding Ballads. Witness “Well Bottom Blues” and You’re Just So Appealin’”: both are quirky fingerpickin’ songs that sound distinctly like the tunes that might pop into your head when you’re on your way to buy gumballs. Compare “Freedom Slowly Sets On America” and “When The Sun Goes Down”: Both are somber, almost sinister songs, heavily invested with a very basic despair born deep in the belly. While the disc does end with a measure of cheer, it’s the darker mood that prevails on Carry Me Back, with Beckman coming off as a vaguely gloomy truthseeker and self-described lost soul. Sometimes it works (“Song For JFK” is a somnolent and spacious gem) and sometimes it doesn’t (“Where Do I Belong?” is a touch over-wrought), but there’s scarcely a song on here that doesn’t carry a mood with it. Quite a few carry a growl as well. Solid Stuff from a good songwriter.” (Jay Hardwig, The Austin Chronicle ) - Jay Hardwig
Discography
Let Me Down Easy
These Boots
Carry Me Back
Beckman
Blues Gone By
Photos
Bio
The dust-filled wind sweeps steadily down and across the flat, arid plains of Woody Guthrie's America. Beginning many hundreds of miles from Portland, Oregon it carries with it the hopes and dreams of those who have gone before…the dreamers and seekers. It whispers a birthright to the singular voice of a modern compatriot-in-arms…singer/songwriter Thad Beckman.
A professional musician for more than 25 years, Thad Beckman has paid his dues on these same dusty roads which run from California to New Jersey and points in between. His finely-crafted original songs are the story of life, the voice of modern America...from the growling delta blues of the Deep South to evocative contemporary folk...bound by the common thread of experience gleaned from the road . You can hear it in his voice....he's been there.
Moving from Portland to northern California in the late 1980's, Thad was quickly recognized by music promoters as an exceptional talent. As a guitarist, Thad Beckman has been hired by Bo Diddley, The Shirelles and Earl Thomas. As a bandleader he soon found himself sharing the stage with such renowned artists as B.B. King, Albert Collins, James Cotton, The Band, Emmylou Harris, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks.
Realizing his natural talents lay in painting tapestries of lyrical narrative, Thad moved to Austin, Texas in 1993. Quickly rising to the top of the burgeoning local acoustic live music scene, Thad began performing with Dave Heath, (Robert Earl Keen) and Merel Bregante, (Loggins and Messina) and recording his fine all-original CD, “Carry Me Back” (1998) with Dave and Merel acting as co-producers. His writing blurs the lines in “...dusty increments between Steve Earle and John Hiatt” (John T. Davis, Austin-American Statesman) and he has received critical local acclaim as a songwriter in a songwriter's town. The real thing is hard to find, but as Jim Beal Jr.of the San Antonio Express-News says, when it comes to Beckman, “...Woody Guthrie would be proud”.
Now living back in the Northwest Thad splits his time touring in Europe, Oregon, Washington, California and Texas. In 2002 he released a collection of songs simply called “Beckman.” As Paul Jonker of ROOTSTOWN Ezine says: “Thad belongs to the unique species of guitarists that can sing. He is a passionate performer who combines his tremendous guitar technique with very soulful singing; “
Just recently Thad released a beautiful solo album of old blues and folk songs called “Blues Gone By.” Penning only two of the songs himself the CD is a tribute to the men and women whose music profoundly influenced his life and art.
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