Tom Feldmann & the Get-Rites
Side Show Revival
Label: Magnolia Recording Co.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Feldmann may come from Scandinavian “dontcha know” country up in Minnesota, but he’s rooted in the misty mountaintops of the southeastern misty mountains. With a soulful Americana folk sound in the tradition of blues legends (Son House, John Lee Hooker) and newer artists (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo), Feldmann and his band, the Get-Rites, are forging new territory here in the north woods.
Side Show Revival, the group’s latest release, is exactly what it claims to be — a spiritual renewal. With lyrics addressing finding Jesus, evaluating spiritual gifts and the power of redemption, Feldmann sets an individual restoration example far more powerful than 1) your typical acoustic blues song about lost love or addiction and 2) traditional hymns that have all but lost their meaning in a sinful society.
We sat down with Feldmann to talk about faith, Minneapolis and what’s next…
Conversion, Satan, temptation, Jesus – we smell a theme here. Do you feel called to sing about your faith, or does it just happen?
TF – I am compelled to sing about what goes on in my life or around my life. I think it’s fare to say that our responses are based on our experiences so in a way it also just happens. I am “called” to play music and have tried to stop a few times only to come back with a stronger zeal to continue. I made a living for years singing about death, depression, drinking and women and I came to the conclusion that death is the easiest thing to do, everybody can do it, living on the other hand is much harder and for me is an inexhaustible subject. My life happens to be in relation to Jesus so I continue to strive to write compelling, provoking dare I say, interesting songs around that “theme”.
How do you feel the Twin Cities has shaped your “Gospel Americana” sound?
TF – I’ve done nothing but grab influences from outside the Twin Cities so I’ve never really thought about how it has shaped our sound. Other than it’s given us a place to shape that sound. We are extremely fortunate to have so many clubs in the TC as well as a large number of really good musicians. I can say without Mark Stockert’s Minneapolis based Underwood Studios I would not sound the way I/we do. I’ve worked with studios around the country and his is, in my opinion, the best and he, again in my opinion, is the best producer not only in this town but I’d rank him very high nationally as well. He’s produced my projects for the last 3-4 years and will continue to do so. Jed and Paul are the reason for the sound we have now. They bring so much to the table that to replace them would be impossible.
What’s audience reception like when you travel to say Des Moines, or Chicago?
TF – We do much better on the road. Audiences either pay attention or ignore you, so you know where you stand. I’ve been touring US/Canada since 2000 and I’ve always done better on the road. Simply because you’re the guy from someplace else, and you’ll always be the guy from someplace else no matter how many times you go back to that location. And, they either show up in strong numbers or they don’t show up at all.
How does it compare to Minneapolis?
TF – We can always count on folks coming out to the show, which is nice although it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on me to come up with a constant stream of new material which right now isn’t happening. We hit the other towns a few times a year so we can bring the same songs and it’s still new but when you play a few times a month in the same location I begin to feel sorry for the people who have to come listen to the same songs. I know that they obviously don’t mind because they keep coming but I know I grow tired of the same thing.
Ten albums, wow. You’re awfully young to hit the “tin” anniversary, right?
TF – Well I did my first CD in 1999 when I was 20 and I’ve done one every year and am now closing in on 29 so that’s 8 or 9 discs and I know I did a few live ones in between the regular releases. Out of those 10 I’d say I’m happy with 2, which are the most recent 2. I actually threw everything else in a dumpster a few years back so all my recorded work is in the garbage dump. It was a very necessary thing to do I might add as I felt like a slave to those discs and wanted a clean slate. I still have the ability press them again if I choose, but I do not. You can still buy a few online through the labels that released them but you’d have to search and I don’t recommend the effort.
What’s next for Tom Feldmann?
TF – We’ve got 2 discs in the shoot, and I am working on material for a 3rd right now. Next to be recorded is a 5 song gospel hillbilly disc Pedal Steel Heaven. Same line up of musicians with the addition of pedal steel. After that we’ll begin work on Tin Roof Sky sometime in the winter/’08.
Our national radio campaign will be underway through April so we’ll be touring around the stations that are supporting the release. That will take us through Fall, and I’m looking to get to the UK after that.
