Showcase

July 8 Showcase – Tom Bodine

      I have always loved music. My earliest musical memory dates back to 1962 when I was a kid growing up outside of Scranton, PA and heard The Beatles “Love Me Do” on the radio at a friend’s house. I was hooked. Later, following a move to the New York metropolitan area, I spent many a night tuned to 770 on the AM dial listening to “Cousin Brucie” (DJ Bruce Morrow) spinning tunes on WABC out of NYC. From Ultimate Spinach to The Monkees, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to Hendrix and The Lovin’ Spoonful, I’d listen to most anything coming in over the air waves or that I could get my hands on. Trips to the Woolworth 45 rpm cutout bin (three for a buck) were a treat. Banging on assorted boxes, trays, and other objects in my friend’s basement with the volume cranked on a Rolling Stones LP was a favorite pastime as was listening to my friend’s older brother’s band knocking out a spot on rendition of The Doors “Light My Fire.”

     Fifth grade presented the opportunity to take drum lessons and join the school band. Shortly thereafter “The Advanced Project” was born, featuring guitar, drums, and vocals. Our repertoire was limited, but we had fun. It wasn’t long before we landed our first gig (complete with go-go dancers) when we were invited to play at Mrs. Breton’s 5th grade class party. With the addition of bass guitar and keyboards along the way, The Advanced Project continued into junior high as did my participation in the school band, but by the end of junior high I was getting into other things and soon ended up quitting both.

     Listening to music absolutely continued to be one of my passions. As a member of our high school basketball team, I was also the guy who picked the pre-game warm up tunes and thought we led the league in that department (think live Allman Brothers “One Way Out”, The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and early Doobie Brothers). It was at this point, with my prospects for a successful NBA career waning, that I considered dropping out of high school and becoming an itinerant blues musician. Problem was that I was a white kid from Connecticut who didn’t play guitar or sing.

 
     Fast forward to upstate NY—senior year of college and my roommate shows up with a guitar he’d learned to play over the summer. Not to be outdone, I traded in my baseball bat that doubled as an air guitar and picked up a cheap lefty ax. Progress was slow, but something inside kept me going even though I was playing to the walls of my apartment for many years. Then a singer friend of mine cajoled me (after too many beers) into agreeing to perform with her at an open mic. We picked Gallagher’s Pub in Northwest, DC and I was freaking out for a full two weeks prior to the date. Thankfully, Monica ignored my pleas to bail on the event and I remain eternally grateful for her role in getting me to perform in public. “Tom & Monica” continued to perform open mics and paid gigs at various DC-metro area venues for a few years until we eventually went our separate ways musically.

     Lately I’ve been finding myself gravitating towards songs that tell a story. Albums by Canadian singer-songwriters James Keelaghan and David Francey and American-born Richard Shindell have been finding their way into my CD player. With a daily hour and a half round-trip commute to work, I spend a lot of time listening to channel 15 “The Folk Village” on XM Satellite radio. I feel fortunate to have discovered the Folk Club with all the wonderful performers and nice folks who show up every week to share their talents and love of music. It’s so nice to be able to play at a place where people pay attention and listen to the music. I hope you enjoy my showcase. Several of you have asked whether I’m related to (or am) Tom Burdette of Motel 6 renown. I can assure I’m not, but I will be happy nevertheless to “leave a light on” following the showcase.

 

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