tommy and the fallen horses

Tommy and The Fallen Horses is an Alt-Country, Indie-Pop and Folk-Rock flavored band featuring singer-songwriter Tommy Benefield.

Benefield rose to infamy around the New Zealand music scene with his group TOMMY headlining many festivals, getting several singles on high rotate on the indie and b-net radio stations and with their two albums released through LOOP Records making it onto the indie charts. Their album 4000 YEARS features on the sound track to Shortland St on a weekly basis.

TOMMY became festival darlings with their high energy performances, beautiful melodies, evocative lyrics and hilarious banter.

When TOMMY disbanded the remaining replacement members released their new album under the name Tommy and The Fallen Horses which had a new aesthetic and a more 70’s country-rock sound.

Their Debut album ‘Isolation Is The New Party’ has received rave reviews, had several songs receive major airplay on radio and T.V, and featured on the indie charts. Songs from this album have featured on Shortland St, Outrageous Fortune and several independent films.

Tommy tours relentlessly both with the full band and as a duet with his ridiculously articulate 19-year-old side kick, the bands lead guitarist, Finn Johansson.

Tommy and Finn are off to seek their fame and fortune in California early in 2011.

Some of the Festivals they’ve played: Visions, Cuba St Carnival, Auckland Bands in the Park, Destinations, Resolutions, Auckland’s New Years Eve celebration at Aotea Square ‘First Night’, Rhythm and Vines, Whooper Chopper, Taranaki Wine and Food Festival, Parihaka (3 years running), Riverside Peace Festival, Festival of Lights, Organic River Festival, Budahfield (u.k), Olympos Blues (turkey), e.t.c
They have co-headlined gigs with bands such as; The Phoenix Foundation, The Black Seeds, Kora, Cornerstone Roots, Hollie Smith, Odessa, Minuit, Tim Guy and the Tutaes, Steve Abel, Roy G and the Bivinators, The Raggamuffin Children e.t.c
and have opened for the likes of; Trinity Roots, Fly My Pretty’s, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Rhombus, The John Butler Trio, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Salmonella Dub e.t.c
Praise for their latest album:

TOMMY AND THE FALLEN HORSES
Isolation Is The New Party (independent)
* * * * *
“So few words, so much to rave about. Astonishing. Buy it. Clever. Dazzling. Engaging. Felice Brothers. Genius. Humorous. Iron & Wine. Jayhawks. Kiwi classic. Love (as in, I'm in). Mesmerising. No 1. Observant. Passionate. Quintessential. Repeat play. Springsteen. Thanks. Uplifting. Vital. Wry. X-factor. Yes, yes, yes. Zero filler. In 30-odd years of reviewing music, this is the most satisfying album I have ever had the pleasure of listening to by a bunch of Kiwi musicians. iPod essential: Cushions”
Mike Alexander – Sunday Star Times

“Warm acoustic guitars, and twangy electric ones, earthy keyboards and a vocal delivery that at times recalls Bruce Springsteen and at other times Neil young…
These are terrific songs, brutally honest yet beautifully crafted, with choruses that catch just like a chorus should… Both personal and poetic… His voice has a fragility at times that reminds me of the fine American songwriter Ray Lamontagne yet there’s also a hardy resilience that comes through. Isolation Is The New Party should establish him as one of this country’s classiest songwriters”
Nick Bollinger - National Radio
TOMMY AND THE FALLEN HORSES
Isolation Is The New Party
* * * *
Tommy Benefield is an honest and poetic songwriter and this album is sure to perk up anyone who is cynical about the talent of New Zealand songwriters.

Folk hunting for a mix of Americana, alt-country and indie-pop will be fulfilled. Benefield has put together 15 well-crafted songs with poetic lyrics, earthy vocals and the fullness of acoustic guitars, percussion, piano, organ, great harmonies and harmonica.

Tracks like Dead Poet and Take Tonight have the same feeling of time and space as Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska or Devils and Dust albums. Babe I'm Just Scared and Covenant Maker have a Dave Matthews vocal drama about them, while In The Middle of the Day is reminiscent of Neil Young's dishevelled early days. There is a true originality and heartfelt meaning to these songs, which shines through in Houston and Cushions - the catchiest song by far, with its clever melodies, soulful harmonies and odd lyrics.
ALICE COWDREY, The Press

****
“Indescribable… I recommend you listen.”
Pete Coleman - The Press

*****
“exceptionally solid”
Jon Andrew - CANTA Magazine
“These are songs about people struggling to survive, emotionally and physically. They are about fear: of time, life, even words. .. Yet there is an unquenchable optimism that bursts out…Benefield’s generosity as a performer, and willingness for others to find the common experience in his music, have compelled him to write a bunch of songs that, like hardy radio perennials, everyone can feel they own. Listen to Isolation is the Ne