Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
One of the characteristics of the international blues scene is the big variety
of independent labels and independent productions. Therefore there's a great
chance to experience some surprises. I guess that Tommy McCoy isn´t a very familiar
name in Austria. But he should be because "Lay My Demons Down" can easily compete with big budget productions! The man from Tampa Bay plays an emotional guitar, has a catchy voice and has written most of the material. McCoy is influenced
by acoustic and electric "classic" blues schemes but expands this scheme like on "They Killed That Man" featuring Ed Lanier on the acoustic bass. It seems
that intensity and atmosphere are very important for McCoy. The same goes for
McCoy´s keyboard-man, Lucky Peterson, who brought his own band to the studio.
This is another good sign for McCoy´s abilities because Peterson isn´t usually
working with no-names. The title-song is a fantastic slow blues with deep, honest
emotions. "A Man Who Cried" on the other hand documents McCoy´s love of soul-blues,
whereas "When Your Heart Can Feel The Blues" seems to be born in the swamps. McCoy
doesn´t try to be spectacular but tries to deliver honest work. "What more can you
want?"
- Dietmar Hoscher
"Lay My Demons Down" review:
Here's a winner from the King Snake Records studio, produced to perfection by the late Rock Bottom. Guitarist and singer Tommy McCoy makes all the right moves, working out ("I Hate To Wait"), getting funky ("Follow the Rules"), and slow-blues testifying on the title track Lay My Demons Down (Green Swamp 11616). A strong complement of acoustic tunes adds variety. McCoy's electric guitar is terse and toneful, his songwriting is excellent, and the disc's few covers are intelligent choices (including "Billie Jean"-ized "Ludella" and two from the great Robert Nighthawk). The wonderful deep soul original "A Man Who Cried" is drenched, with the rest of the album, in Lucky Peterson's sublime B-3.
- Tom Hyslop
"Blues guitarist McCoy may be one of the area's most profound players working...McCoy proves to be a master of all trades and licks. McCoy's playing and songwriting throughout is superb, frankly. This is a top-shelf blues album." - Mark Warren
"Contributing to this fine effort are Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Double Trouble' rhythm section, Tony Coleman of the B.B. King Blues Band and Charlie DeChant, long time sax man for Hall & Oates. Tommy's original songwriting and his stunning guitar work make this a world class recording deserving of world-wide recognition." - Bob Greenlee
"Deff jazz-inspired archtop pirouettes alternate with hot'n'spicy Texas-style Fender bending on,Florida's blues guitar guru,Tommy McCoy's solo debut. McCoys sliding octaves and tastier-than-thou bends, all delivered in a tone best described as 'succulent', but the attack and attitude is pure down-home greasy."
- Mark Warren
"Having 'laid his demons down', bluesman Tommy McCoy is letting nothing stop him now. While still reaping success in the states and in Europe of his latest acclaimed effort, 'Lay My Demons Down'(Green Swamp Records) with Lucky Peterson, McCoy is indeed hitting the ground running and showing no signs of slowing down." - The Blues Stalker
"McCoy's songwriting and guitar finess on his 3rd CD show the maturity of his riffing. Combined with the genius of Lucky Peterson on the B3 organ, this is notably the finest blues guitar and B3 recording of its genre." - Boscoe Tweede
"McCoy is not only one of the best blues guitarist in Florida, but across the country." - soulman
"It's great to hear a new voice in the blues. Southern blues rock at its best, done with traditional integrity and contemporary originality." - Thomas Cullen III
ANGELS SERENADE
Veteran bluesman Tommy McCoy has certainly disproved author Thomas Wolfe's theory that 'you can't go home again.' Having aptly demonstrated his mastery of the blues in his previous releases, McCoy decided to return to his roots and early influences with his new release, Angels Serenade. McCoy's early love of The Band, Gram Parsons and Rodney Crowell are fused in his masterful songwriting ability in this crossover into Americana. A collaborative effort with his Nashville-based brother Gary, and his song-writing partner Doug Thomas, McCoy joined with former Band members Garth Hudson and Levon Helm to produce an eclectic mix of tunes that demonstrates the versatility of these talented musicians. While blues purists may not want to wander down this stretch into Americana, it would be a shame to dismiss this endeavor as not worthy of a listen. Tommy's guitar solo on Ray Charles' blues classic 'Hey Now' is sure to capture their attention and not disappoint. - Blues Stalker
Discography
1.Telephone Kings- More Than You'll Ever Know.
2.Tommy McCoy w/ Chris Layton
& Tommy Shannon- Love N' Money.
3.Tommy McCoy & Lucky Peterson- Lay My Demons Down.
4.Tommy McCoy- Live In the UK.
5.Thomas McCoy Band- Angels Serenade.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
McCoy is quite the veteran of the Florida music scene, playing first with the Screaming Bluejays in Orlando and then with the Telephone Kings in St.Petersburg. The Telephone Kings consisted of Tommy and three former members of the Gregg Allman Band(Chaz Trippy, Bruce Waibel & John Street) and in 1993 released their first CD "More Than You'll Ever Know".
His next release was "Love n' Money" in 1996 and included Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton of SRVs Double Trouble, Tony Coleman of the B.B. King Blues Band and Charlie DeChant, long-time saxman for Hall and Oates. Tommy was friends with Stevie Ray. When in Texas, Tommy contacted the studio who knew Double Trouble, called them, and they agreed to do 6 cuts on the album at a session in Austin.
Next Tommy recorded at Kingsnake Studios in Sanford and Panda in Clearwater. 'Lay My Demons Down' was released in October 2002. Produced by Rock Bottom and recorded with Lucky Peterson's band, it consists of 5 acoustic cuts and 10 tracks with Lucky on Hammond B-3. Tommy wrote 11 of the songs and there are 4 covers.
American blues guitarist Tommy McCoy is now set to release his latest CD "Angels Serenade" featuring special guests Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of "The Band". Angels Serenade taps into the Americana genre of music, reaching back to the roots of American Folk and Country Rock, while still keeping a strong blues foundation.
Tommy has opened for Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gregg Allman, Albert Collins, and Robert Cray to name a few. Tommy has worldwide airplay, especially in Spain, Austria, and the UK with his song "Blues Thing" from 'Lay My Demons Down', which received a five star review in CONCERTO magazine in Austria. Tommy McCoy was featured in an interview on La Hora Del Blues from Barcelona, Spain. Tommy's two successful tours in the UK got him great reviews and led him to sign with UK label 'Blues Matters' which is scheduled to release 'Tommy McCoy Live in the UK-British Blues Tour 2002'.
Tommy's recent performance at "Austin City Limits" received a standing ovation and an encore. Former Telephone King, Gentleman John Street, currently with Sam Myers & Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets, played Keyboards. Great reviews are being received from The Texas Press Association.
Angels Serenade is Tommy's fifth CD. The title cut is currently being illustrated for a childrens book about the little angel who couldn't sing.
Tommy McCoy will be touring the festival circuit promoting his new release, and is planning his next UK tour.
THE STORY OF ANGELS SERENADE by Tommy McCoy
This CD came together as a combined effort with my brother Gary McCoy and his songwriting partner Doug Thomas, along with Levon Helm and Garth Hudson. As songwriters, Doug and Gary are known as Thomas / McCoy, my name is Thomas McCoy and with "The Band" hence, the "Thomas McCoy Band".
By chance, I was sitting in at 'Darwins' in Atlanta and I met a woman from Woodstock N.Y. who said she was friends with the wife of Garth Hudson. I'm a huge fan and asked her to take one of my CDs and a note to Garth. Two weeks later, I meet Jimmy Bennet at a club in St. Petersburg, Florida. Coincidentally I tell him about sending Garth a CD and he tells me he occasionally works with Levon Helm and the Barnburners. He sends Levon one of my CDs. Three months later we're all recording in Woodstock at Levons Barn. These sessions were like my dream had come true. Just to watch Levon Helm recording songs that I wrote, was the most rewarding experience of my career. The songwriting on this CD is what makes it special. Gary and Doug (Thomas/McCoy) wrote 4 of the 12 songs, I wrote 4 songs and arranged 3 covers. The title cut 'Angels Serenade' started out, sort of, as a bluegrass ditty. I had the concept and most of the words written. George Tricomi, our pianist, had sent an instrumental original he had recorded with just piano. While Gary, Doug and I listened to it, Doug picked up my lyrics and started to sing my words with Georges melody. It worked! He said "Give me overnight and I'll arrange the words to the music". The next day "Angels Serenade" was complete, written by me, George and Doug.
This is truly an Americana style CD, covering a spectrum of influences, sounding something like, The Band meets Little Feat meets Neil Young meets Gram Parsons, with a sense of the Blues. Garth added wonderful keyboard tracks, a sax solo and even accordion on one song. Completing this project has been an accomplishment for me getting back to my roots and early influences. My younger brother, Mark McCoy, also contributed by playing bass and giving moral support. Steve Connelly expertly engineered the final mix, adding 12 string Rickenbacker and pedal steel tracks, making those songs stand out. Levon's daughter, Amy Helm, contributed vocals on "I'm Your Toy" the Gram Parsons song, adding an original dimension.
Although this CD is a departure from my predominantly Blues di
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