TomFlannery.com

Our first video. Directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Bruce David Janu. Filmed in Chicago over a few days this month. Our teen is Tony Fragale. And pay attention to when Annette calls. Check out that number. Dial it up. You’ll be glad you did.

Strummerville is a registered charity that gives support to aspiring musicians and help to projects that help change the world through music.

Set up by the friends and family of Joe Strummer in the year after his death, the charity seeks to reflect Joe’s unique contribution to the music world by offering support, resources and performance opportunities to artists who would not normally have access to them.

Visit our page over at Strummerville. We’ve posted our track “Maybe It’s True”. This is a huge honor for us. Joe Strummer is one of the main reasons I do what I do.

In a bit..

–tf

Yea….things get a bit weird when I venture out. Come visit…

In a bit..

–tf

The Death of Joe Strummer
(Tom Flannery)
from 2004’s release “Auctioneer“

What happens when the heart is too big for the chest
and it just can’t keep up with all the rest
what happens when it takes you on
and wears you down until you’re gone
what do we take from that Joe?
what do we take from that Joe?
now that you’re gone

I got these sounds in my head
they make no sense so we’re stuck instead
with recycled trash and computer chips
rock and roll for food and tips
what do we take from that Joe?
what do we take from that Joe?
now that you’re gone

You were Woody Guthrie with a mowhawk
and a scratching loud guitar
a ravaged voice from screaming
telling us where we are
now you’re knocking at the backstage door
trying to get in
panhandling on the boardwalk
wondering what might have been

It still don’t feel right that you’re gone
without the blaze of glory of a deathbed song
so used to watching ’em waste away
eaten to the bone by a brand new day
what do we take from that Joe?
what do we take from that Joe?
now that you’re gone

All good so far. Check out what the folks are saying over on the band website…

In a bit..

–tf

Come with me to those thrilling days of yesteryear…

In a bit..

–tf

“Teen Angst and the Green Flannel”
by
Tom Flannery and the Shillelaghs
will be released on June 15th

visit us on our band website
www.theshillelaghs.com

Finished up the mix and mastering last night, helped along by a copious supply of Schlitz cans. The “original 60s formula”. Hard to pass that up when you’ve just recorded a loud sorta 60ish rock and roll record. It seemed to fit like a glove. At least Wiggy and Borthwick thought so based on what was left when the night ended.

So the Shillelaghs are real. The record exists. 11 songs. No frills. Just some serious bashing. No official release date yet. Still gotta handle the artwork and the duplication. And come up with a title. Right now I’m leaning towards “Angst and the Green Flannel”, but that could (and probably should) change.

Once the release comes, look for a serious of riotous shows by the Shillelaghs around town. Things could get loud, but it’s a glorious volume when the boys get locked in. Shows will be a mix of the record and a pile of specially chosen covers (ie. easy ones to play).

A Shillelaghs website is coming soon with all the ugly details. Pics, videos, bios etc. Perhaps the ability to stream the new record before it’s released. Join the mailing list to keep up to date on what we’re planning. We’ll probably do the Facebook thing too.

For now, I’ll just leave you with the line-up.

Tom Flannery – guitar, vocals, harmonica
Joseph “Wiggy” Wegleski – guitar (he’s also desperate to get some ukelele in there)
Lenny Mecca – bass, background vocals
Chris Condel – drums

honorary members include…

Tom Borthwick – piano, hammond organ
Lorne Clarke – background vocals

Combined, the boys have been pounding out rock and roll for over 100 years. So I feel pretty confident in saying that I got me the best band in the land.

Rehearsals for our world tour of Avoca bars start in earnest this Sunday night. Stay tuned.

In a bit..

–tf

My play Maybe It’s True will have a staged reading on May 23rd at the Old Brick Theater in Scranton.

Come on out if you can. Info is here…

Here’s my cast…

l to r Sarah Stachura Regan, Ellen O’Brien Sherry, Kimmie Wraizen, and Eric Lutz

Directed by Alicia Grega

I’m truly honored.

In a bit..

–tf

We start mixing the new record next week. Recorded 12 songs. At least 10 will make the cut I think. We’ll see.

In case you think I’ve been slacking….here’s a new blog post too…

In  a bit..

–tf