News Archives

Tom Kimmel October 2007 News

1. Greetings!
2. News: New booking agent, new trio, new podcast, audio book
3. Drawing Board: New album
4. Recommended: One of my all time favorites
5. Food for Thought: Thomas Paine on God and man
6. Perspective: Don't miss this one!

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1. Greetings!

Welcome aboard new friends and fans. Recent trips up the East Coast and around the Midwest have resulted in a string of appearances before lots of new faces.

I'm writing to you this evening through a light Tylenol 3 induced fog. Had a little foot surgery this a.m. for a long-nagging problem, and my right foot is presently encased in something resembling Darth Vader's bedroom slipper! (A fringe benefit of Tylenol 3 is that I don't care!)

2. News

a. Music News

i. New booking agent: I'm delighted to be working with fellow Alabamian Todd Heifner. Todd also represents Kate Campbell and Pierce Pettis, two of the best singer/writers ever, in my book. Please direct all booking inquiries Todd's way at the Pitch Agency website at www.pitchagency.com

ii. Speaking of Pierce and Kate, the New Agrarians (Pierce, Kate and yours truly) had our first rehearsal today! The three of us are excited about getting the trio cranked up, and our first show is coming up in just two weeks. (See Tour Sched below.) It'll be 2008 before we're running full tilt, so I'll have more news over the upcoming weeks and months re: our plans, website etc.

iii. New podcast: Check out iTunes for this month's free TK podcast - two more songs from the sweet Boulder, Colorado house concert I played with Michael Lille earlier this year.

iv. Congrats to Shauna! Please join me in sending very best wishes to my amazing assistant/publicist/creative director/chief supporter Shauna Nicholls for a very happy marriage... which is coming up later this month to her sweetheart Kirk Jamison (a gentleman in the the finest sense of the word).

b. Book News

i. Big book festival: The largest book festival in the South - the Southern Festival of Books - will be held in Nashville next week, Oct 12-14, and I'm pleased as can be about participating. I am especially proud to be sharing an hour of reading and discussion with Marshall Chapman, songwriter/diva extraordinaire, whose outstanding memoir "Goodbye, Little Rock and Roller" inspired me no end. For those attending, here's the essential info:

Fri Oct 12 Nashville, TN Southern Festival of Books 3:00-4:00pm Room 16 (Legislative Plaza, downtown): Lyrics and Lyricism, A conversation on poetry and songwriting with Marshall Chapman & Tom Kimmel; 4:00-4:30 book signing; 5:00 short music set at Cafe Stage

festival website: http://www.humanitiestennessee.org/festival/current.php

Marshal Chapman: www.tallgirl.com

ii. Audio book: The recorded version of "The Sweetest & the Meanest" (CD of my book of poems) is being tweaked in the studio even as I write... and I hope to send you an e-blast within a week or two with news of a near-future release date.

3. Drawing Board

i. As soon as the audio book is pressed and available, I'll be mastering my new movie-and-tv song album, which will be available in February or March of next year(!)

ii. Work's begun on the TK Songbook. (Thanks to Jim Moran.)

4. Recommended

When I was learning to write songs, one of my biggest influences (along with the late Mickey Newbury) was Memphis native Jesse Winchester. His early records had a profound effect on me, and I really don't know who I'd be if I'd hadn't been introduced to Jesse's work. I'm happy to say he's still making great music... and he's also written a terrific essay on road life that appears on the front page of his website. Check it out:

www.jessewinchester.com

5. Food for Thought

"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man."
-Thomas Paine

6. Perspective

We join the multitudes in saluting one of the truly great singers of our time, Luciano Pavarotti. My pal Danny Flowers (who knows a thing or two about good singing) recently directed me to this video clip of the Italian tenor in a spectacular (if improbable) duet with one of the finest American vocalists ever to grace the world stage. Hope you'll enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIyzNISw1Q&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esusiemadrak%2Ecom%2F

Peace,
Tom