During a break in shooting in Kellerberrin, John Aliaga and I did this.
If you’d like to see me roll a whole set like this, I’m playing with Dave Graney (!!), Odette Mercy and Adam Brown at Mojo’s in North Fremantle, WA from 6-10pm on Sunday night. It’s going to be a rad night, so do come down. Simply do.
If you’ve been in Perth, you’ve probably noticed that I have been in a spectacularly busy patch of shows of late and have been all over the local music press. Half for the sake of keeping them somewhere I won’t lose them, and half in case you want to have a wee look, here’s some of what’s been around. We’ll start with the album review, because if you’re reading this, you should press play on this player (or click through to buy the album) as it would seem to be the obvious soundtrack, no?
An Audience With Tomás Ford
Album Review by Christopher H James, Drum Media Perth #275
Six years gestating, Tomás Ford’s debut album is the culmination of both his studio nous and lessons learned from his convention-challenging live show. After years of obsessively tinkering, Ford has distilled his own sound - a strain of mutant disco, with occasional industrial effects. Suggesting a kind of Jekyll & Hyde split personality might be at work, tracks like Rockets seem to express his optimistic - and dare it be said, feminine - side, whilst cuts such as Too Far bear all the sonic trademarks of a sadistic dungeon master. In conjunction with his evolving recording skills, it’s fascinating to hear how Ford has learnt to use his voice as an instrument, morphing from a fragile plea into a frustrated roar. His best moments arrive when, in the same song, he merges his polar opposites into one polysexual identity, such as during the opener Nice where the listener feels like they’re about to be dragged into something very messy.
A concept album of sorts, An Audience With… re-imagines one of Ford’s volatile live shows, from beginning to sticky end. Along the way, a few old chestnuts are revived, seemingly with red-hot branding irons. The confessional, id-wrestling I Feel Dirty sets the ball rolling, whilst Bash Myself reflects on a career of public degradation, detailing physical exhaustion and embarrassing fails. Climactically, on the crowd-baiting No Reaction, Ford demonstrates his exceptional testicular fortitude by chastising an unresponsive audience and explaining why this is the worst show ever.
Having forged a reputation for probing the boundaries of acceptable onstage behaviour, Ford has delivered, to date, the definitive document of his anti-apathy, techno-disco-cabaret.
I made the cover of X-Press Magazine’s SALT section (above) - you can read that story HERE. They also covered the launch and said some things that were pleasant to read.
FasterLouder also published a pretty exhaustive review of the amazing two-stage party, as did Drum (below). Also included for your enjoyment is a review of a support I did for my long-time heroes Regurgitator.
Hmm, what else? Oh yeah, interviews ran in The West Australian’s The Wire liftout:
Not to mention Drum Media Perth again, who ran a last minute interview in their Members’ Only section:
And then this week reviewed the amazing (for me and apparently their reviewer) Willy Wonka party:
…and there’s a stack more but that’s all the clippings I got. Still more craziness to come, I’m off up north to Geraldton this weekend to play Saturday night at The Provincial, so if you’re in town stop by. Then some hosting gigs for Tropfest on sunday at FTI and Gozzy Rock next weekend (with the splendid Abbe May headlining), before my epic acoustic cabaret at Mojo’s next sunday night with the one and only Dave Graney.
Then I sleep. Oh, no, wait, that’s when the east coast madness starts to kick in. Wheeeeeeeeee!
With great delight and fanfare, I present to you two new, shiny, FUCKING EXCITING things. My new album and a music video for its’ lead track, Nice. Let’s watch the video together first, yeah?
You may recall I launched my album An Audience With Tomás Ford a couple of weeks ago at Amplifier Bar. Since then, I’ve been on a rollercoaster of amazing shows including a support spot for Regurgitator, a rave party at Fringe World and all kinds of other craziness, which continues this Saturday at The Provincial in Geraldton (!!!!!!!!!), if you’re in town.
The album is now avaliable to stream and purchase online; there’s a few packages avaliable. If you just want the MP3’s, it’s $12. The album by itself is $19.95, or with a copy of my 2012 Erotic Adventure Calendar is $29.95. Or you can buy (nearly) EVERYTHING I’VE EVER MADE EVER in a deluxe $45 package. Stream the record below and click through if you’d like a copy - go on, get yr purse out. It’ll make us both feel better about being in the world.
I’m sitting here, hammering my songs into acoustic guitar-able shape so that I may be in good form for this gig with one of my favourite performers ever…
I’m promoting this one, and I’ve hand-picked a bill of some of the best performers in town. If you’re the Perth/Fremantle area, mark this in your calendar as it’s going to be a hell of a show. Here’s one of his tunes to get you in the zone for it:
Come with me! Take an E! It’s a world of pure imagination!
I’ve been having a blast playing at the Fringe World’s Treasury, it’s a beautiful outdoor venue with an enjoyably odd crowd and lots of things for me to jump on. And I want to do something special.
So bring down your glowsticks! Obtain lollypops! Pair your best Cross Colors hammer pants with suspenders! It’s time for a RAAAAAAAAAAAAVE!
For one night only, I will be performing the songs from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory as a rave party. You might have seen this at the Showtunes gig a few months back; I haven’t done it since, so this should be a special gig. After the Wonka set, join me for a special run through pretty much every cover song I’ve ever played. I’m going to try to play none of my own songs. Expect Bowie, Bjork, Radiohead, Hedwig & The Angry Inch and more… It’s going to be fun.
The rave-ier we can make this, the better. Let’s really get into this and make it the BEST MONDAY EVER!!!
I’m playing a free show tonight at Fringe World’s Treasury outdoor venue in Perth from 8:30pm-10pm. I played a dj set there on friday night (pictured) and it got a bit out of control, so I definately reccomend making your way down.
In the leadup to Simo Soo coming over to play the launch of my new album, I’ve just released a free download EP with him that you can get a copy of right now at http://tfvsss.bandcamp.com . I’m really proud of the remix I’ve done, it’s probably the best remix I’ve done yet, and Simo Soo amps the energy up on I Feel Dirty to a huge level AND THEN ADDS AWESOME RAPS THAT HOLLER OUT T.S. ELIOT.
Anyway, I wouldn’t release it if I didn’t think you needed it, and you do, so please get it and share it with your friends as that’s the only way these digital releases are worthwhile.
Finally, An Audience With Tomás Ford is coming out. I think that’s cause for a party, no? Well I’m throwing one. A big one. On January 27 at Amplifier Bar, Perth.
If one were to take six years between albums, one had better make sure that the album one is putting out is fucking awesome. One would probably also want to make sure that when one launches said album, one does so with a killer party. Tomás Ford agrees with these sentiments entirely and so is pleased to simultaneously announce both an awesome album and a killer party.
THE RECORD IS AWESOME
First, the record; An Audience With Tomás Ford. It’s a wierdo masterwork; twelve slices of skewed electro-pop that catalogue the weirdness of Ford’s live show. The album takes listeners on a strange and twisted trip, from messy Youtube hit I Feel Dirty, through the crowdsurfing love-in of Cuddle and deep into the dark industrial disco of Five Times… this isn’t the kind of pop record that you can play at a dinner party, unless your friends are really messed up. But Tomas Ford isn’t meant to be easy to take.
Recorded in isolation before being mixed and vocalised at Soniclolly studio in Margaret River and mastered to perfection by Forensic Audio, the album sounds rather splendid. It will be released in an initial limited run of 100 handmade copies on January 27, before hitting stores nationwide via Firestarter Distribution to accompany national touring in March and April. The launch edition will feature a beautiful fabric cover, a bonus disc of demos and alternate versions of songs from the record and a zine that’ll give you a bit of background to the songs. This is going to disappear quickly and if you don’t
pick up your copy at the launch, you won’t be able to get one until March.
THE LAUNCH PARTY WILL BE KILLER
Luckily you’re coming to the launch then, right? For one night only, Amplifier Bar will be transformed into two rooms of underground music, barrier-smashing performance and unmatchable debauchery. Obviously TOMÁS FORD tops the bill in the main room with his full live experience, plus Sydney’s 8-bit firecracker SIMO SOO will be along for the ride, Nintendo-popsters BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!, post-everything destructionists INJURED NINJA, all-star collaborators DIGER ROKWELL & FELICITY GROOM, BRASH AND SASSY’s GENNIA FEBBRAIO in her solo debut and Melbourne hip hop mixtape masters L-BURN DJ’s between sets.
The Beer Garden Cabaret Spectacular is going to be even more debauched, with SCHVENDES’ sultry songstress RACHAEL DEASE playing a rare solo show, circuit bending avant-pop ludicrousness from THE GIZZARDS, comedy cabaret from freewheeling freaks LADYBONER and a never-to-be-repeated audiovisual spectacular from LEON (aka LOON-X-WING aka LEON EWING aka THAT GUY FROM BEAVERLOOP) and partystarting blueslooping from ADAM BROWN.
Plus you can expect performances and intrusions by Fringe favourite HOT PINK BITS (NZ), ukulele genius JOHN ROBERTSON, the walking confuse-o-rama that is JOHN CONWAY, splendid character comic ZACK ADAMS, spine tingling storytelling from ANDREA GIBBS, the comedy debut of LAITH TIERNEY, elegant phrases from Perth’s poet laureate BYRON BARD, DOSH LUCKWELL’s salacious sex poems and Perth’s legends of underground drag, VOIX DE LA VILLE.
COMBINE BOTH PRODUCTS FOR MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT
Don’t fret, you don’t have to choose one or the other – you can come to the party AND obtain an album! Everything will be available at Amplifier Bar on Friday January 27 between 8pm and 1am. Tickets are available for $15 (or $25 with a copy of the album) from Moshtix online: http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=53631&ref=tomasfordamplifier
AN AUDIENCE WITH TOMÁS FORD
TWO ROOM ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY
AMPLIFIER STAGE SUPER-PARTY:
TOMÁS FORD
BOYS! BOYS! BOYS!
SIMO SOO (SYD)
INJURED NINJA
DIGER ROKWELL & FELICITY GROOM
GENNIA FEBBRAIO (EX - BRASH & SASSY)
L-BURN DJ’S (MELB)
BEER GARDEN LOFI CABARET SPECTACULAR:
THE GIZZARDS
RACHAEL DEASE (SCHVENDES)
LEON (AUDIOVISUAL SPECTACLUAR)
ADAM BROWN
LADYBONER
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ALL NIGHT:
HOT PINK BITS (NZ)
JOHN ROBERTSON
JOHN CONWAY
ZACK ADAMS
ANDREA GIBBS
LAITH TIERNEY
BYRON BARD
DOSH LUCKWELL
VOIX DE LA VILLE
AMPLIFIER BAR, PERTH
FRIDAY JANUARY 27
8 PM TO MIDNIGHT
BOOK NOW VIA MOSHTIX
More information at HTTP://TOMASFORD.COM
Oh dear, between the last post and this one, things are a little bit smutty around here at the moment. In a Benny Hill way though, so it’s all good. Anyway… bit of a fun announcement today. This thing was a blast to make and it makes me laugh every time I look at it…
Virility: Tomás Ford has it.
As he is finally releasing his new album An Audience With Tomás Ford in January after working towards it for SIX YEARS, Tomás is feeling spectacularly virile. Being as though he’s not entirely sure what to do with that sensation, he has channelled it into the production of a hilarious erotic calendar. 
Shot in retired art deco theatre Aurora in WA wheatbelt town Kelleberrin with photographer Shaun Ferraloro and filmmaker John Aliaga, the calendar is a byproduct of an intense fourteen and a half hour shoot that also spawned the sprawling album artwork and performance videos for album tracks Nice and Vice.
Each calendar comes with a streaming preview link for his forthcoming album, scheduled for launch on January 27 at Amplifier Bar, featuring a huge two-stage multi-arts megacabaret lineup to be announced in the new year. 
Oh, OK. I can tell you that it will feature Sydney 8-Bit lunatic Simo Soo whose recent self titled album on Lesstalk Records is a frantic burst of digital punk and distorted funk, with a hyperactive live show to boot. And there will be comedy, dance music, circuit bending, punk rock and all kinds of amusements. BUT NO MORE CLUES, ALRIGHT? JUST CALENDARISE IT ALREADY.
In the meantime, you need to get yourself a calendar to mark the 27th into. Tomás can help you with that. For $19.95, you can have a splendid A5 calendar (plus $3 P&H - international rates by request) on sumptuous card. They’re printed on glorious thick A5 card in full colour, and look sumptuously delicious.
The only place to get them is by emailing management AT tomasford.com with “I CAN HAS CALENDAR?” in the subject header. Payment can be made by bank transfer or Paypal and you will get your beautiful date-keeping object in the mail as soon as Australia Post can get it to you.
A bit of a good week for announcements this one. If you haven’t seen the new video clip, scroll down IMMEDIATELY, but otherwise;
This is my new weekly night at The Hydey in Perth every thursdady; I’m excited about it because there’s not much else like it around and it will be FUN. The presser looks a bit like this:
Comedians? Performance Art? Cabaret? Acoustic? Yep. We’ve got all that covered.
Welcome to Raw Hyde at The Hyde Park Hotel.
Every Thursday kicking off on the 28th of September will see your host Tomás Ford showcase the newest and most diverse talents from Perth.
Open mic nights have never looked so different. Free entry, and at the Hydey from 7pm EVERY Thursday evening, starting this one.
Our opening lineup is a cracker, with appearances from Bonnie Tessa Davies (fresh from Edinburgh Fringe), Belowsky (straight off an amazing Downstairs At The Maj season), tunes from Taun Band, Mike Cardy and Peter Bibby (Frozen Ocean).
Plus 5 minute open mic slots all night. Rego for Open Mic will fill up fast, so get down before 9pm to ensure your place.
It’s going to be a blast, make sure you come check it out sometime as I’m hoping it becomes the kind of place where performers can try out pretty much whatever you’ve ever wanted to try out. It’s going to be crazy fun.
