Tom Yarbrough

After 10+ years of lending his instrumental skills to recordings and live shows for a variety of other artists, Tom Yarbrough is excited to announce the release of his own debut album, “Far Cry From Gone.” The new recording is available now as an iTunes download and on compact disc at CDBaby.com. Several years in the making, “Far Cry From Gone’ features 13 masterfully original songs, all written by Yarbrough and recorded in Nashville and Texas with a first rate cast of musical friends, including long-time studio collaborator Ryan Taylor (engineer/guitar), Jason Collum (drums), Aaron Sands (bass), Stephen Gause (recording/mix engineer), and Yarbrough himself on a variety of instruments. Guest musicians include Phil Madeira (Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris) on B3 organ, Kenny Meeks (Sixpence None the Richer, Chris Knight) on electric guitar, and Kenny Hutson (Katy Bowser, Vigilantes of Love, Julie Lee) on pedal steel guitar. On “Far Cry From Gone” Yarbrough has created an ageless collection of songs in the American tradition. Guitar and vocal arrangements on the record are backed by drums, foot stomping and hand percussion. Grinding electric guitar feedback and mandolins float through and a tuba thumps out a bass part under a National resonator slide guitar. A pedal steel whines out a lonesome and gritty line under a Hammond organ. Running through the center of it all is Yarbrough’s worn but willing voice and his trademark lyrical turns that draw the listener in for a personal encounter. Stylistically, the album ranges from rich, atmospheric folk as can be found on the title track to the heartbreaking, country inspired “Pretending”, a duet with singer/songwriter Elizabeth Foster. Some tracks, such as “Untitled” and “Rock of Ages, offer minimum instrumentation other than Yarbrough himself on guitar while the country-rock flavored “Fightin’ Missin’ Lovin’ You” and the album opener “Santa Fe” are full band affairs. All the songs find Yarbrough where he has always been most comfortable, immersed in the timeless tradition of the song.

In 2007, Tom hit the road backed by his newly formed band, The Broadcasters, some of whom appear on "Far Cry From Gone." With the lineup of Kenny Meeks (Sixpence, Chris Knight, Sandra McCracken) on electric guitar, Aaron Sands (Glen Phillips, Jars of Clay) on electric and upright bass, Jonathan Surratt (Eliot Morris, The Early Evening) on drums and percussion, and Nashville newcomer Robert Phaneuf on mandolin and harmony vocals, local and regional crowds alike have been treated to the raw, Americana sound and the skillful instrumentation and striking harmonies The Broadcasters provide. Any evening combining this group of musicians and Yarbrough's solid brand of songwriting is sure to be enjoyed by a variety of listeners.