About Bryan
Soul rocker Bryan Thomas is a punk clown fool from New York's capital city of Albany. He recently released his fifth independent CD, 1369 Lights.
The Albany Times Union named Thomas "Best Male Singer-Songwriter" shortly after he released his acoustic hip-hop debut Radio Plastic Jennifer in 1999. The follow-up soul rock epic Ones and Zeros was Metroland Magazine's "Album of the Year" in 2002.
He was recently in the studio with punk legend Tommy Ramone, making a special guest appearance on a track produced by Ramone for New York City's genre-smashing neo-punksters Collider.
Bryan's music can be heard on the opening track of the Black Rock Coalition's Bronze Buckaroo Rides Again which also includes a track by BRC founder/ Living Colour guitar wizard Vernon Reid. He has three songs on the double-live Pazfest: A New Orleans Tribute to Joni Mitchell recorded on a steamy Louisiana night at the Howlin' Wolf in the summer of 2000.
Samples of Bryan's music, video and poetry can be found online at his award-winning web site bryanthomas.com, and at TheHiddenCity.com, a webzine for underground arts in Albany, New York. Thomas is a founding member of the Hidden City collective.
They Write Reviews
J. Eric Smith, Metroland
"Ones and Zeros stands strong as one of the most thoughtful, heart-tugging and hip-shaking records of the year... Oblique spiritual imagery crashes against bawdy earthy realism, sparks, blood and honey flying with each concussion.... A near-perfect depiction of that ethereal place where 'pop' and 'smart' aren't antonyms, and where the mind, soul and body can groove together without stepping on each others' toes, happy in the glow of fine, fine artistry and deep, deep passion - both of which Bryan Thomas displays like nobody's business."
Greg Haymes, Times Union
In naming Thomas Male Singer-Songwriter of the Year, The Times Union says: "[Radio Plastic Jennifer] is a dazzling whirlwind of folk-funk, as Thomas tackles love and betrayal, sin and salvation, lollipops and lingerie. The songs are smart, erotically charged and full of heart -- an all-too rare combination. Six for example, is a dizzying stream-of-consciouness slab of rock-rap with Thomas riffing on everything from 'The Wizard of Oz' to 'The 12 Days of Christmas,' from mood rings to junk bonds, from Loretta Lynn to Guns 'N Roses to Danny Partridge. Cycle cuts even deeper, a tale of young African-Americans struggling against all odds to survive in a hostile world. An epic emotional rollercoaster of a song, Thomas descends from heartbreaking sorrow to bone-chilling terror before finally grabbing hold of a sliver of hope and redemption in the power of love. By the end of the song, he's chanting 'Everything's gonna be all right,' as though he can make it so solely through repetition and his sheer passion... Buy the CD... or get out of the house and see what he can do in person. You won't be disappointed."
Riffage.com (Featured Artist)
"Bryan Thomas is a maverick talent who consolidates acoustified rock with funk and R&B roots, all the while moving boldly into the pop realm. His superbly crafted songs are a mix of stylistic experiments with soulful vocals, representing musical diversity as they move fluidly through textures and genres. This one is for fans of Prince and Lenny Kravitz."
Contact
D.C. Damseph
Publicity/Management, WT3 Records
bryanthomas.com/contact
