{"id":12663,"date":"2020-08-04T05:00:19","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=12663"},"modified":"2020-07-31T19:46:55","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T19:46:55","slug":"tommy-ray-interview-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=12663","title":{"rendered":"Tommy Ray Interview Exclusive"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a> Well, with a brand new album on the horizon we wanted to get the lowdown on whats going on with Tommy Ray and where he’s at musically. Having been a long time admirer of The Cry! and his punk rock record The Decayed Tommy branched out as a solo artist with an impressive debut solo album so, it was time to find out what makes the guy tick and where he’s at with the new record so here’s what we got once we tracked him down…<\/p>\n

Solo record number two already you seem to have hit a rich vein of songwriting.\u00a0 Are you writing all the time?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Literally, \u201call\u201d the time. It\u2019s how I see life; big hooks and jagged verses. My mind is always busy making verse or thinking through a production.\u00a0 Right now, not including \u201cHandful of Hits\u201d LP and the dozen tracks I am holding back for a third \u201cThe\u00a0 CRY!\u201d record (hopefully),\u00a0 I have over 50 titles in some active stage of production.\u00a0\u00a0 I will never have time to finish them all.<\/p>\n

As far a the quality of songs, I guess that\u2019s up to the listeners.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I think most people saw The CRY! as your vehicle and you are their focal point for sure.\u00a0 Where are you at with The CRY!?\u00a0 Could you not just have released the solo album under The CRY! banner?\u00a0 starting over even in the internet age seems like a bold move.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Naw. The CRY! is a band and that owes its sound from the members creating collaboratively. TOMMY RAY! Is me doing me.\u00a0 They are similar sounds for sure but my solo stuff has a much harder edge and the lyrical content is more real-life and not as clean cut.<\/p>\n

Right now, The CRY! is dormant. Brian Crace (singer\/guitarist\/co-founder) and I have some pretty bad blood going that needs to get taken care of before we can work together. In time I think we will work it out. Brian is my favorite guitar player and life is short.\u00a0 I do have an LP worth of material and have five or so tracks nearly completed but there doesn\u2019t seem to be the same energy to complete the project with Brian and I not working together.\u00a0 Also, our bass player (Michael Cortichiato) recently left Portland to play with Dr. Boogey in LA (I love those guys and wish them all much luck).<\/p>\n

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Photo by Michael McDaniel Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Going back to the debut solo record, I think it was a familiar sound obviously with your voice on it but there’s more of an edge to the sound, is that fair?\u00a0 In your opinion was it the best record you’ve made to date? Even songs like ‘Coming Back’ whilst having the keys is a rougher edge.<\/strong><\/p>\n

All fair!\u00a0 But the records are all different.\u00a0 But, here goes:\u00a0 It is really close but I like the first CRY! record better than the ‘Dangerous Game’ LP. \u00a0I recently listen to both and was really proud to be part of that.\u00a0 They are both really great records but I like the rock & roll feel of the first record just a bit more than the glammy feel of the second record. Brian wrote more of the 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0record (‘Seventeen’, ‘Hanging Me Up’, ‘Toys In The Attic’. He also co-wrote a few tracks) and that is reflected in the overall sound of the record.<\/p>\n

Also, Evan \u201cMaus\u201d Mersky and Dave Berkam also were HUGE contributors to both studio LPs by The CRY!. Maus recorded, engineered, and played amazing drums while Dave is simply a brilliant all-around musician.\u00a0 His current band \u201cThe Reverberations\u201d are pretty cool.<\/p>\n

I like the song-writing and production on the TOMMY RAY! Records because (as you accurately stated) the songs are honest, gritty, and produced only as much as needed to get the point across.\u00a0 My mind is a pretty chaotic place these days and I think that that gets across.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: I like the new \u201cHandful of Hits\u201d collection\u2026(until the next record) Buy it!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Decayed is real buzz saw punk rock DIY record?\u00a0 What’s the story behind that record?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s my shit!\u00a0 The Portland street-punk scene is where I grew up. I am proud to say that these songs were NOT all written by me. There are songs written by my early bandmates that we played at hard-core house shows and notorious drunken events.\u00a0 We had no way of recording tracks at the time, I didn\u2019t want the songs to be lost, and I still feel the youthful angst so I figured it was time roast those old chestnuts one more time. \u00a0\u00a0My old bandmates are super psyched to see me bring back those piss & puke proven classics!\u00a0\u00a0 My next record project will likely be a 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0Decayed record.<\/p>\n

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Coming up to date tell us about the new record?\u00a0 Whos playing on it?\u00a0 Where was it recorded?\u00a0 What’s it sound like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truthfully, I played guitar of only a handful of The CRY! recordings.\u00a0 We had better players in Maus, Dave and Brian so I was happy to just write songs and sing my parts.\u00a0\u00a0 We always said that the best player should record the parts, and they did!\u00a0\u00a0 Of course, I played the parts live.<\/p>\n

Now, I have learned how to play all the instruments so when I made \u201csolo\u201d music, I did it solo.\u00a0 I mean, I recorded all the parts tracks myself here in Portland.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0I think Brian may play a guitar part (like on Suzanne from the last LP) and Corsh was involved with recording a couple of tracks but the most part it\u2019s all me.<\/p>\n

It sounds like me.\u00a0 Not sure who to compare it too\u2026 it\u2019s honest\u2026<\/p>\n

What’s the lockdown been like for Tommy Ray?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fucked.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n

I just don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What influences have been coming out in your new record? I remember hearing a banana stand performance where you did modern kicks and thinking it was the perfect cover for you and you totally owned it?\u00a0 What other covers you been jamming on?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I seem to recall you asking this question a few years back and my answer is the same as always. Ramones. Exploding Hearts.\u00a0 Ramones. Paul Collins. Ramones. Beach Boys!<\/p>\n

I really like a 3 min pop song that moves.\u00a0 You know, \u201cDon\u2019t bore us. Get to the chorus.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been playing tons of music and busking in downtown Portland during the recent protests.\u00a0 Where there are people, I will play music. \u00a0\u00a0I play mostly standards from the past 50 years.\u00a0 Never gets old.\u00a0 It\u2019s my favorite thing to do.\u00a0 My dad plays a little guitar and slams through the old hits like a savage for hours.\u00a0 I learned from him…<\/p>\n

Pandemic easing what are the chances of you coming to Europe and the UK for some shows?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hell yeah, invite me and I\u2019ll bring the boys and kick it.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never been to the UK.\u00a0 I would like to tour Scandinavia too.\u00a0 My \u201cnever suck\u201d policy means the shows would always be epic!\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What other bands and performers out there currently delivering the good in your opinion?\u00a0Who would you think were the right bands for you to go out on tour with?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to tour with Green Day.\u00a0 They bring the goods and I could learn a ton from Billy Joe. Mad respect there. Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts are crushing it these days. Love his shit. \u00a0\u00a0Shit, there are so many great talents out there \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I will tour with anyone that is not boring.\u00a0\u00a0 Too many live acts are fucking boring.\u00a0 Great skills, okay songs, but boring and lacking any \u201crock & roll\u201d.<\/p>\n

So there you have it. the new solo album is out in October and its a belter if you’re already a fan then you’ll love it and if you’re not – why not?\u00a0 Its only Rock n Roll kids and Tommy Ray does it really well.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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