TOM COERVER: Backwater Tales

Tom Coerver

Backwater Tales

© 2003 Tom Coerver (641444922024)

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Roots, Rock, & Blues from Planet Louisiana - a gumbo of Allman slide, Creedence howlin', and Stones groove from the deep south backwater...

notes

Inundated Music is proud to announce the release of "Backwater Tales" by artist Tom Coerver. This solo album features eleven original tunes of energetic roots, rock and blues music from planet Louisiana. From the swampy bottomland groove and snaky slide guitar of "Dust in the River" to the relentless syncopated slam of "Badlands" to the jittering swing of "All About A Dollar" to the solo piano and homesick vocal of "Mississippi Mud", Tom puts together a gumbo of blues slide, southern rock sizzle, bayou boogie keyboards, and a hint of jazz harmony here and there to keep the flavor down-home southern. For reviews of this CD, see www.tomcoerver.com.

It all started with a second-hand piano at home and then the neighbor kid got some drums and the world then revolved around rhythm. After a move to the Houston area from native Baton Rouge, Tom's teen years were filled with guitar licks and broken turntables after learning licks from the Allmans, Creedence, ZZ Top, Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, and many other blues-rock icons of the day. On returning to Baton Rouge, Tom played drums and guitar in various bands and added keyboards back to his palette along the way while attending LSU. Then the search for gainful employment led to Jacksonville, Florida and a government job that provided enough funds to get band equipment and join the chase after the golden carrot with Bobby Ingram (now with Molly Hatchet). Six years of songwriting, showcase gigs, opening act gigs (for Rossington-Collins Band, Johnny Van Zant Band, Molly Hatchet, etc.), management and artist development deals led to a major-label record deal that resulted in the album "China Sky" and significant airplay.

After China Sky, Tom got back to his roots and settled down to engineering work, keyboard and guitar gigs, and married life back in Baton Rouge. He put together a digital recording and mastering studio and got back to the blues while producing, engineering, playing and recording albums with Louisiana notables such as the Delta Rockets, Rockin' Tabby Thomas, Chicago Al and the Backburners, Burton Gaar, Tab Benoit, Larry Garner, Henry Gray, and John Lisi. These lineups took him back to the stages of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Baton Rouge's Bon Fete Festival, and many more in search of the thrill of connecting with fellow music lovers. Tom is currently performing with his band "Tom Coerver & Backwoods BBQ" and the acoustic duo "Tom & Patty".

PRODUCED, PERFORMED, RECORDED, ENGINEERED, MASTERED AND MASSAGED INTO EXISTENCE BY TOM COERVER

PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE, ADVICE, AND FRIENDSHIP - JOHN LISI

ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY TOM COERVER, ALL INSTRUMENTS, VOCALS AND OTHER NOISES BY TOM COERVER EXCEPT HARMONY VOCALS BY BOB CHAMBERS ON "Dust in the River" AND "All About a Dollar".

reviews

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  • awesome cd ! vocals and slide guitars unbelievable
    author: Glenn Shipe

    Just love that blues/southern rock that Tom makes on this CD. They don't make them like that anymore.

  • Top drawer guitar playing, a voice made for rock and roll, and excellent product
    author: Michael Buffalo Smith, Gritz Magazine

    from p.52 of the Fall 2003 issue of Gritz magazine (with Del McCoury on the cover), by Michael Buffalo Smith: Tom Coerver Backwater Tales www.tomcoerver.com Up until now, Tom Coerver’s claim to fame was as a bandmate to Molly Hatchet’s Bobby Ingram in the hard rocking group China Sky; but that was only chapter one. Tom kicks it into fifth gear on “Backwater Tales”, playing all the instruments himself, including some absolutely scorching slide guitar. His vocals fall in somewhere between Leslie West and Warren Haynes. Boy howdy, was I not expecting the assault to my senses I received when I slid this little silver disc into my CD changer. I mean, it’s kind of like Mountain meets Molly Hatchet with some Gov’t Mule tone tossed into the mix. “Badlands” screams like a banshee, with excellent, deep, dark lyrics. As a matter of fact, Tom proves himself an all around excellent songwriter as well as multi-instrumentalist, playing the hell out of the piano on the slow blues of “Mississippi Mud”, and breaking out the funk on “She’s A Dancer”, with a kind of ZZ Top meets Little Feat vibe. Top drawer guitar playing, a voice made for rock and roll, and excellent production all help to make “Backwater Tales” a truly powerful album.

  • This One Man Project sounds magnitudes better than much of what established rock
    author: Joachim Domrath

    Some of you may remember the band CHINA SKY. Tom Coerver played in that short lived band together with Bobby Ingram (now with Molly Hatchet). Fast forward a few years to the release of his first solo album “Backwater Tales”. The back of the cover says “Roots, Rock and Blues from Planet Louisiana”. Unfortunately, not many people will read it, as you can be sure this CD won’t make it into the bins of German record stores. (this is a cynical remark addressing the pitiful state of the music retail business in Germany. It doesn’t refer to the quality of the album. Well, in a way it does, in that it says something to the effect of: “this CD is too good for the stores”. Hogy) Trained multi-instrumentalist Tom Coerver played all instruments on this album, with occasional help of Bob Chambers on background vocals. I am typically skeptical of these kinds of One Man Shows. I’ve heard too many where the drums were played by a computer. But don’t worry here. Every chord will make you believe you’re listening to a full band. Not surprising, given the fact that Tom is an accomplished drummer. The album contains 11 very different tracks, all containing a common message: pure enjoyment of Rock & Roll. “Dust In The River” is a beautifully groovy swamp rock number. It’s a delectable mix of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Hiatt. Besides the aforementioned excellent drumming, Tom’s fat slide guitar tone and gravelly voice are especially convincing. The southern Boogie Rock number “All About A Dollar” on the other hand sounds a lot like early Molly Hatchet. Again there is plenty of slide guitar. Those of you who like the honest, hand-made Delta Blues of the Muddy Waters brand will be served well by “Mississippi Mud”. Featured here is Tom’s dynamic piano playing. Despite being limited to only the interplay between piano and voice, the song never gets boring. Hello Dan Baird! “I Got Your Number” gets down and dirty with the best of them and is certainly not aimed at the Rondo Veneziano crowd. (Rondo Veneziano was a very popular show band leader in Germany. Compare the name recognition to that of Lawrence Welk in the USA. Hogy) On “Roll On Down The Line” Tom once again pulls out all the stops. This is a catchy, classic Rock song that is very recognizable and features more prominent slide guitar. “Badlands” turns out to be pure Southern Rock in the tradition of the Allmans and Government Mule. This killer song thrives on a great melody and thoroughly heavy guitar riffs. In “I’ll Take The Blame” Tom conjures up memories of Frankie Miller. Even his voice sounds like that of this bedrock of British Rock. It is honest, down to earth Rock with well put together piano and guitar arrangements. My God, how beautifully old fashioned this number sounds. Even Jam Rock fans will find something to like about Tom. “She’s A Dancer” may not be 10 minutes long, but otherwise possesses all the qualities of a bona fide Jam Rock piece. On the final song “Stealin’ With Both Hands”, Tom presents us with pure Government Mule feeling. What a heavy rocker, and what a way to end the show! “Backwater Tales” is strong medicine for all fans of Roots, Southern, Blues, Cajun, and Boogie. All of those ingredients are expertly mixed with a healthy dose of pure Rock & Roll. Tom Coerver has delivered a great first album. This One Man Project sounds magnitudes better than much of what established rock bands deliver these days. Sound and production are both very good. Joachim Domrath, (Impressum, Artikelliste), 30.08.2003 – Translated from German to English by Hogy (Holger) Notzel

  • Tom shows his musical & production know-how on his solo debut
    author: Hoodoo Jimmy Simpson

    The liner notes enclosed with Tom Coerver's new CD read, "Produced, Performed, Recorded, Engineered, Mastered and Massaged into existence by Tom Coerver". A very ambitious undertaking, Baton Rouge's own Tom Coerver shows his variety of musical talent and production know-how on his debut solo offering, "Backwater Tales". And as if that's not enough, all music and lyrics are written by Mr. Coerver. Eleven tracks feature the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard work of this accomplished Baton Rouge musician. The opening cut, "Dust In The River", burning with slide guitar, laments those reflective moments of love found and love lost. With a nicely driven "Allman Brothers" feel, Tom takes us through "Roll On Down The Line", "Badlands", and "All About A Dollar". Answers are sometimes hard to find, as Tom aptly points out in his moving ballad, "Take It On Faith". Tom Coerver's prowess as a pianist is highlighted on the cut "Backwater Rising", and searing political comment is found on the closing track "Stealin' With Both Hands". As an extra added bonus, Tom has taken the time and ink to provide lyrics to his songs in the liners, and it won't be surprising to hear several of these cuts covered by others in the near future. From his days with Route 66, John Lisi, and his softer sided acoustic duets with Patty, Tom Coerver has culled a little from all his diverse experiences to share with us in his telling of "Backwater Tales".

  • hot rock 'n' roll numbers that sound like a band instead of one guy
    author: Doug Treadway - Nightflying Magazine

    "Roots, Rock & Blues from Planet Louisiana" is the subtitle on this collection of blistering original works from the mind heart and soul of Tom Coerver (and his Firebird). Even though it says "Produced, Performed, Recorded, Engineered, Mastered and Massaged into existence by Tom Coerver," it does not sound anything at all like a one-man deal. This disc comprises eleven slick and hot rock 'n' roll numbers that any sane person would be hard pressed to identify as the work of one guy by himself. Okay, he had help with the harmonies from Bob Chambers on a couple cuts; it's still Tom Coerver's incredible talents hanging out there rocking on the bayou, inviting one and all to join in the dance of life. I've seen Tom play backup to a chick singer and as part of the Burton Gaar band and as a sideman and producer on an excellent John Lisi album, but I don't believe I've ever heard him rock as hard or as meaningfully as he does here on his own. By Doug Treadway, from "Nightflying" magazine in Little Rock, Arkansas. www.nightflying.com , "News of Record" section.

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