October tour dates

HACIENDA
DAN AUERBACH w/ The Fast 5
Oct 3 @ ACL Aftershow – Austin, TX
Oct 4 @ ACL Aftershow – Austin, TX
Oct 5 @ The Mohawk – Austin, TX
with ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO
and Los Lonely Boys
Oct 5 @ The Birchmire - Alexandria, Virginia
Oct 6 @ The Birchmere - Alexandria, Virginia
Oct 7 @ Keswick Theater - Glenside, PA
Oct 9 @ Pollack Theatre Monmouth UW- Long Branch, NJ
Oct 10 @ Shea’s Performing Arts Center - Wayne, NJ
Oct 11 @ Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
Oct 14 @ Palace Theater - Manchester, New Hampshire
Oct 16 @ Merrill Audotorium City Hall - Portland, Maine
Oct 17 @ Zeiterion Theater - New Bedford, MA
Oct 19 @ McCarter Theater - Princeton, NJ
Oct 20 @ The Historic Avalon Theater - Easton, Maryland
Oct 22 @ The Buskirk-Chumley Theater - Bloomington, IN
Oct 23 @ Old Town School of Folk Music - Chicago, IL
Oct 24 @ Northern Lights Theater - Milwaukee, WI
Oct 25 @ Alltel Center - Mankato, Minnesota
Oct 27 @ Oneida Casino - Green Bay, Wisconsin

BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES
Oct 10 @ Bohemian Cafe – Greenville, SC
w/Left Lane Cruiser
Oct 14 @ Lee’s Palace – Toronto, Ontario
Oct 15 @ Petit Campus – Montreal, Quebec
Oct 16 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
Oct 17 @ V Club – Huntington, West Virginia
European dates
Nov 13 @ Nove Fonte Velha - Rio Maior, Portugal
Nov 14 @ Porto Rio - Oporto, Portugal
Nov 17 @ Oficina Munic de Teatro - Coimbra, Portugal
Nov 26 @ Libanim - Nimes, France
Nov 27 @ Barakason - Nantes, France
Nov 28 @ Blues S/ Seine Fest. - Mantes La Jolie, France
Nov 29 @ Le Galion - Lorient, France

T-MODEL FORD w/Gravelroad
Oct 1 @ Chabada - Angers, France
Oct 2 @ Astrolabe - Orleans, France
Oct 3 @ AB (with Tinariwen) Belgium
Oct 5 @ El Lokal - Zurich, Switzerland
Oct 6 @ Bad Bonn - Dundingen, Switzerland
Oct 7 @ The Trabendo – Paris, France
Oct 8 @ 106 - Rouen, France

BRIMSTONE HOWL
Oct 17 @Vice Scion Garage Festival - Portland, OR
OCT 23 @ Barley St. Tavern – Omaha, NE

BUFFALO KILLERS
Oct 2 @ Ravari Room – Columbus, OH
Oct 3 @ Dayton Music Festival – Dayton, OH
Oct 16 @ Peach’s – Yellow Springs, OH
Nov 6 @ The Southgate House – Newport, KY
Nov 7 @ Gerstle’s – Louisville, KY
Nov 13 @ 180 Main – Dubuque, IA

BRIAN OLIVE
Oct 23 @ Beachland - Cleveland, Ohio
Oct 30 @ The Comet - Cincinnnati, Ohio

OUTRAGEOUS CHERRY
Oct 19 @ Bateau Ivre – Tours, France
Oct 20 @ BT59 – Bordeaux, France
Oct 22 @ El Camino – Caen, France
Oct 23 @ La Peniche/Ground Zero Fest – Lille, France
Oct 24 @ Le Kaluma – Cherbourg, , France
Oct 25 TBC – Rouen, France
Oct 26 @ Les Lucioles – Le Havre, France
Oct 27 @ La Nef – Angouleme, France
Oct 28 @ Trabendo – Paris, France

LEFT LANE CRUISER
Oct 5 @ The Northside Tavern – Cincinnati, OH
Oct 6 @ The Green Lantern – Lexington, KY
Oct 7 @ Hal and Al’s – Columbus, OH
Oct 8 @ The V Club – Huntington, WV
Oct 9 @ The Garage – Winston Salem, NC
Oct 10 @ The Bohemian – Greenville, S
w/ Black Diamond Heavies
Oct 12 @ The End – Nashville, TN
Oct 13 @ JJ’s Bohemia – Chattanooga, TN
Oct 14 @ The Hideaway – Johnson City, TN
Oct 15 @ Visulite Theater – Charlotte, NC
Oct 16 @ The Star Bar – Atlanta, GA
Oct 17 @ Knoxville, TN
European dates
Oct 30 @ La Boule Noire – Paris, France
Oct 31 @ La Peniche – Chalon s/Saone, France
Nov 1 @ Le Galion – Lorient, France
Nov 4 @ Peniche Sonic – Lyon, France
Nov 5 @ Queen Kong Club – Neuhatel, Switzerland
Nov 6 @ Caves Du Manoir – Martigny, Switzerland
Nov 7 @ Le Transformateur – Fribourg, Switzerland
Nov 8 @ El Lokal – Zurich, Switzerland
Nov 9 @ My Way – Freibourg, Germany
Nov 11 @ Cortinan Bob – Berlin, Germany
Nov 12 @ The Paradison – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Nov 13 TBA – Stockholm, Sweden
Nov 15 @ Popdium – Sneek, The Netherlands
Nov 16 @ Little Devil – Tilburg, The Netherlands
Nov 18 @ Club Keller – Frankfurt, Germany
Nov 19 @ DB’s – Utrecht, The Netherlands
Nov 20 @ Grand Wazoo – Amiens, France
Nov 21 @ L’Appel D’air – St Brieuc, France
Nov 22 @ Le Chalan – Binik, France
Nov 24 @ St Eupery – Bordeaux, France
Nov 25 @ Sant Des Seins – Toulouse, France
Nov 26 @ Cafe De Paris – Perpignan, France
Nov 27 @ Barakason – Nants, France
w/ Black Diamond Heavies
Nov 28 @ Festival Blues Hauts De Seine – Mantes La Jolie, France
w/ Black Diamond Heavies

THOMAS FUNCTION
Oct 1 @ Webster Hall – New york, New York
Oct 2 @ Bruar Falls – Brooklyn, New York
Oct 3 @ Garfield Artworks – Pittsburgh, PA
Oct 4 @ The Summit – Columbus, OH
Oct 5 @ Lager House – Detroit, MI
Oct 6 @ Brass Rail – Fort Wayne, IN
Oct 7 @ Ronny’s – Chicago, IL
Oct 8 @ Club Garibaldi’s – Milwaukee, WI
Oct 9 @ Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
Oct 10 @ Replay Lounge – Lawrence, Kansas
Oct 11 @ Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
Oct 12 @ House Concert – Provo, UT
Oct 14 @ Funhouse – Seattle, WA
Oct 15 @ The Den – Tacoma, WA
Oct 17 @ Vice Scion Garage Festival – Portland, OR
Oct 19 @ Stork Club – Oakland, CA
Oct 20 @ Hemlock Tavern – San francisco, CA
Oct 21 @ Blue Lamp – Sacramento, CA
Oct 23 @ 5 Star Bar – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 25 @ Pink Elephant – San Diego, CA
Oct 26 @ Modified – Phoenix, AZ
Oct 27 @ Train Yard – Las Cruces, NM
Oct 30 @ Lounge On Elm Street – Dallas, TX
Oct 31 @ Beerland – Austin, TX
Nov 3 @ Saturn Bar - New Orleans, LA
Nov 4 @ Alabama Music Box - Mobile, AL

THOMAS FUNCTION - Paste

Brandishing the usual rock 'n' roll setup (guitar, bass, drums) plus an exuberant organ, this Huntsville, Ala. fourpiece yanked me out of my travel-induced stupor late Wednesday evening, giving me the energy I needed to take in more shows. There were only about 30 people watching them at Headhunters that night, but look for that number to grow steadily this year. No wonder they called their debut album Celebration . - Austin L. Ray / Paste

SXSW 2009 - Alive showcase

ALIVE SHOWCASE @ SXSW
Wednesday, March 18th @ Headhunters, 720 Red River St (8th St Entrance)
with HACIENDA, THOMAS FUNCTION, TRAINWRECK RIDERS,
OUTRAGEOUS CHERRY, LEFT LANE CRUISER, BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES
+ special guests

THOMAS FUNCTION - Rock Sound

THOMAS FUNCTION - RCRD LBL

All this political stuff has got me down. Watching all those people get jazzed up when people say "thanks but no thanks," and mean, "heck yeah, we'll take it," makes me realize I don't really understand the way other people think in this crazy country. Until I hear a band like Thomas Function. They're from Alabama, and I 100% get them. Not only do I get them, I goddamn love em. With a first record out on Fat Possum and a spankin new record, Celebration, out on Alive, these guys are as American as it gets. Taking punk rock, country, blues, new wave and garage rock and throwing them in a melting pot turned up to 11 and draped with the stars and stripes, "Filthy Flowers" and "Conspiracy" make me want to put my hand over my heart and raise up my Budweiser and say America, this one's for you. Which I will be able to do when they're on tour this fall. - Christen Thomas / RCRD LBL

THOMAS FUNCTION - Heave Media

Instantly infectious melodies, buttery fat organ sounds, tambourine infused beats and from Alabama of all places? Thomas Function should have the world at their feet very soon with debut album Celebration!. Beaming with the confidence of a junkie troubadour with nothing to lose, lead singer Joshua Macero channels the spirits of Jonathan Richmond and Richard Hell. The band backs him with the energetic minimalism of kiwi rockers The Clean, but with an intensity seldom seen since the “hey days” of Violent Femmes and The Pixies.

Celebration! does not let up. From honkey-tonkers to speed freaked-out rockers, Thomas Function blend all the aspects of what a new band can get themselves into while in the garage. When listening, you really can visualize the group hacking it out in the Alabama heat giving each other unabashed looks of approval and high fives. There's nothing throwback here at all. The song writing is far too strong to make a jaded comparison.

"Can't Say No" plays like a kid bouncing in one those inflatable back yard party contraptions. The Hammond organs are as sweet as sunshine playing against this powerful yet simple little masterpiece. - Joel Roth / Heave Media

THOMAS FUNCTION - Music Connection

THOMAS FUNCTION - Get Up Offa That Thing

Artist: Thomas Function
Album: Celebration!
Label: Alive Records

This album won’t work in winter. It is too warm, too hot and sticky and fun. It is a summer record, and I have been playing the hell out of it lately. The songs are busy—it’s true—but once your ears warm up to their sound, the whole mix is very enjoyable. Nothing is too overpowering: there are equal moments for the guitars, the bass, the drums, organ/piano, and vocals. The melodies are quite good, too, so it is also satisfying on a cursory listen.

Thomas Function – “Can’t Say No”

Rough and upbeat, this is my favorite track on the album. The chorus is addictive: “When you’re screaming my name, I can’t say no!” And of course, I’m always a sucker for a dynamic bass line.

Thomas Function – “Snake in the Grass”

This is one of the more driven songs on the album (other tracks I would consider more jangly or bobbing, if that makes sense). Again, most of the sounds are well balanced, though Joshua Macero’s soft yelping dominates at times.

The full album is worth a listen, so check out their label site and buy the album. There are also a couple pretty good reviews of the band (here, here) worth checking out if you want more info.
Get Up Offa That Thing

THOMAS FUNCTION Video

Thomas Function live @ Bamalama, Huntsville AL
June 7, 2008 - Filthy Flowers edit

THOMAS FUNCTION - NONzine

In no way whatsoever do I claim to be an aficionado of punk rock music. (The bulk of my knowledge of the genre comes from the No Thanks! box set that came out a few years ago.) But I'd like to think that I know good music when I hear it. And this, the debut album from a group of young punks from Alabama (yes, Alabama) called Thomas Function is, indeed, good music. Bringing together the best qualities of '70s punk and new wave, these guys produce a sound similar to that of other current acts like Modest Mouse, but with a more stripped-down, lighthearted taste to it. Really, they remind me more of some of the originals of the genre, such as Nick Lowe, the Buzzcocks, and even Television -- artists who didn't just play typical thrash-and-burn punk, but added subtle touches and put their own unique stamp on the music. You could see touches of country, or soul, or funk, as well, depending on the band; but at their core, they were just playing solid rock n' roll. Another point: You must admit that it takes some stones to play acoustic guitar on a punk album, but that's exactly what Thomas Function's lead singer and guitarist Joshua Macero does throughout on Celebration! And you definitely need guts to play any music that's this good at such a young age. The lads of Thomas Function are already receiving a wealth of great reviews from indie press throughout the country, but it will be interesting to see how (and if) more mainstream media latches on to this fantastic band. If not, at least you'll be able to say you heard about them early on, and had the opportunity to let their sound take you in. And you'll be able to say you enjoyed every minute of this incredible record. Immensely. - Dave Bond / NONzine

THOMAS FUNCTION - live at Bamalama

THOMAS FUNCTION - Obscure Sound

Critics can attempt to analyze it and fans can reluctantly convince themselves of the most agreeable scenario, but the chemistry within a band is usually a topic in which the correct circumstances are confined to the knowledge of the respective group’s members. Apart from perhaps a few collaborators and best friends, the knowledge is practically impossible to intentionally acquire. For many groups, the high and varying levels of sensitivity can make it a form of journalistic suicide if even attempted in an interview. With that in mind, I never generalize as to how well a band actually works together, even if the result is magnificent in all aspects. We all can see how energetic and communicative a band may be if we attend their shows, but one must also keep in mind that bands often tend to exaggerate in order to provide a more fulfilling and engaging atmosphere for the fans who bought the tickets. Even if it causes a lack of authenticity, it is hard to blame them for doing so because both the performers and showgoers usually end up going home happy. After all, whether or not the members actually like each other personally can hold little importance as to whether a show or release is of an expected form of quality.

Considering that I agree wholeheartedly with such chemistry-related sentiments, I suppose it would be extremely contradictory for me to judge the chemistry in Thomas Function based on their music and online photos alone. It could all just be a classic attempt to sell records, right? Well, considering that all pictures I have found of the members together depicts them having insane amounts of fun while at parties, playing shows, and in the studio, superficial corporate achievement seems to be the last things on their mind. In fact, It leads you to believe that these guys might even be having fun while making music together. And apart from the putting the “fun” in “function”, their music plays off just as naturally. Providing heavy doses of southern-rock and folk within a consistent showing of punk, the fact that Thomas Function are able to simultaneously provide odes to energized punk greats in the vein of Television and The Buzzcocks while delivering an array of styles related to folk and contemporary rock contributes prevalently to a style that is wholesomely unique and energetically engaging. Comprised simply of 4 similarly ambitious friends based out of Huntsville, Alabama, who stemmed from two local groups (Panic Buttons/Alabama Jihad), Thomas Function appear to have a reached a point in which massive exposure is imminent.

There are many newly reputable indie-rock groups who have built up hype by releasing a slew of successive singles before a debut album; Thomas Function prove no stranger to the method. The track that brought the four-piece arguably their biggest buzz in 2007 was “Relentless Machine”, a 7″ single that now once again has appeared on their excellent debut album, Celebration. While all of their earlier singles bought them a dedicated following, it is not until now that Thomas Function are finally getting the attention they deserve. It would make sense too, as Celebration was just released in early March. Despite offering 13 tracks that are contained within a similar delivery, the boastful amount of hooks and instrumental variations provide for a form of excitement that most debuts only dream of. “2012 Blues” was a standout immediately for me from the first listen, as its acoustical folk origins are in stark contrast to vigorous punk-oriented gems like “Snake in the Grass” and “Conspiracy of Praise”, a style that reigns over most of the album. As the title may suggest, “2012 Blues” is steered toward the apocalyptic musings of the Mayans, nearly knocking on those who let such indecisive matters weigh heavily on their present lifestyle. The structure and progression is simplistic enough, but the transition from verse to chorus crafts an unexpectedly ingenious hook that introduces percussion over a newly incorporated acoustical progression. “That’s why we’re runnin’ with our eyes closed, waitin’ for the end of the world,” Josh Macero sings during the chorus with a distinctive snarl, a component of his vocal delivery that is considerably reminiscent of Tom Verlaine.

Since the release of Celebration has already brought hundreds of comparisons to artists such Television, The Violent Femmes, and The Buzzcocks, it makes sense that the album is comprised of material that sounds somewhat familiar despite being backed by exceptionally original songwriting. In a track like “Can’t Say No”, where a Pixies-like bass line is adjusted accordingly over an organ-led guitar progression that brings visions of classic Television and Velvet Underground to the forefront, it almost makes for a colossal fusion of great indie-rock and punk bands who have made a significant mark in the past 30 years. The infectious “Can’t Say No” may be too hectic to make such past comparisons entirely spot-on, but the melodically charged energy that Macero’s vocals convey makes the mixture of modernistic enthusiasm with past forms of punk and garage-rock a very satisfying blend. As for fans of The Buzzcocks or even Wire, one listen of “Snake in the Grass” should be convincing enough. Alongside “Conspiracy of Praise” and “A Long Walk”, it employs a concisely familiar form of catchy punk without being overly aggressive or manipulative in the process. With the rhythm section constantly impressing me with its tight coordination, the excellent guitar work making the comparisons to Television even possible, and Macero’s vocals being a constant source of hooks and youthful vibrancy, Celebration packs a very powerful punch that should have fans and critics alike seriously considering it for the title of this year’s most satisfying debut. - Obscure Sound

THOMAS FUNCTION - Covert Curiosity

Celebration is the perfect name for this debut full-length from Thomas Function. Basically, it is forty minutes of nothing but pure rock & roll fun. The Huntsville, Alabama group write fast-paced songs that feature catchy vocal hooks and shouted choruses that will have your head bopping in no time. There's a good reason that just about every review you'll find will contain the word 'infectious', the melodies seem to have no end, the production is crisp and clean, and many tracks build into a stomping climax that is hard to resist.

There are plenty of good press quotes on Thomas Function at the label site, but I think this is one of the best:

"Many of the songs here fit rather neatly into genres, like the C&W "2012 Blues," the bluegrass hoedown of "Relentless Machines," the psych styling of "Filthy Flowers" and "Can't Say No," the driving R&B of "A Long Walk" or the "Earthworms"'s blues. However, even these numbers aren't quite as straight-forward as they initially seem, for each is tinged with a touch of other sounds and styles. "Snake in the Grass," for example, is a musical homage to The Buzzcocks, but swishes psychedelic organ into the mix.

"Conspiracy of Praise" is reminiscent of the Violent Femmes or even The White Stripes, but also boasts a psychedelic organ break, a western flavor, and a guitar solo beholden to the Rolling Stones. By the time listeners get to "Swimming through a Sea of Broken Glass," most will have given up even trying to identify all the elements within -- in "Sea"'s case, punky C&W, mixed with bluegrass, as alternately played by Simple Minds and the Velvet Underground. And its here that TF reach their greatest heights, punching through a pile of musical envelopes and into a dizzying sound all their own."

Check out a couple of tracks below, and head to Alive Records to make it your own.

• Thomas Function - "Can't Say No"
• Thomas Function - "Conspiracy Of Praise"
• myspace.com/thomasfunction

Covert Curiosity

THOMAS FUNCTION - Rock Around The Blog

Celebration é o “debut” dos Thomas Function, banda de Alabama (US), que depois de excitantes singles e Ep´s contendo um contagiante rock'n'roll, levaram-me a pensar o que poderiam fazer num longa duração, imaginando que podia este conter um profundo e até dramático nível de qualidade, não me enganei, "Celebration" é irresistível, cheios de ritmos galopantes, fantásticas elevações vocais, que atropelam um oscilante e bem colocado órgão, destacando-se esse hino que é "Relentless Machines", que nos corta a respiração. Obrigatório, sem dúvida.

----------++++----------
Celebration is the “debut” of Thomas Function, band of Alabama (US), that after exciting Singles and Ep´s, containing an contagious rock'n'roll, had taken me to think it what they could make in a long duration record, imagining that this one could contain a deep one and up to dramatic level of quality, I was not wrong, "Celebration" is irresistible, full of galloping rhythms, fantastic vocal elevations, which run over an oscillating one and well put organ, when is standing out this hymn that is "Relentless Machines", which cuts us the breathing. Compulsory, undoubtedly.
Thomas Function Myspace

Alive Records


Rock Around The Blog

THOMAS FUNCTION - PopMatters

Thomas Function
Celebration
(Alive)
by Jason MacNeil


Let the celebrations begin! Thomas Function is an Alabama band that wants you to know that it’s okay to love blues, country, hillybilly, punk and garage rock—and combine all of them at once. The group, led by Joshua Macero, offer up a wide-reaching array of styles that rarely sound like the band is reaching for something they can’t fully grasp. Whether it’s the lean rockabilly-leaning rocker “Filthy Flower”, The group also sound ready to cut a rug with “Can’t Say No”, a retro-rock tune that has plenty of boogie in it. Even when they go down a far quirkier path as is the case with “Conspiracy of Praise”, one gets the sense the only thing separating them from the Soundtrack of Our Lives is a beard, tambourine and tunic. Thomas Function also functions perfectly on the urgent, passionate “Snake in the Grass” which comes up and bites one in the ass. It’s hard not to enjoy this album as there’s a surprise around every corner, especially on the slow, country-tinged “2012 Blues” and the rambling and rollicking “Relentless Machines”. Too much good music here to praise! And if you need more proof, take a listen or nine to “Swimming Through a Sea of Broken Glass”. This is a record that would put more woogie in your boogie, without question.
RATING: 8
— 6 May 2008 / PopMatters

THOMAS FUNCTION - Pulse

Alabama has a new claim to fame

by Alex Gabriel | Pulse Reporter

The state of Alabama has always been known for its smoked dry-rub ribs, Graceland, and its rich history of deep soul music. Oh, no wait, that's Memphis, Tenn. Well it's world renowned for being the birth place of jazz and the Cajun style of cooking. Dammit, that's New Orleans. What about Disney World and the Everglades? No? So what the hell is Alabama known for anyway? Southeastern Conference football and… uh… rampant poverty? Now you can add "garage rock powerhouse" to that list because Huntsville, Ala.'s own Thomas Function has risen from the mire of Deep South obscurity to unleash hit after hit of pure rock and roll on its first full-length album, "Celebration."

"Celebration" sounds as though it was doused in bleach, rinsed in hot water, buffed and shined - it's clean as can be. The guitars are pure and fat, heating up the songs with the warmth and precision of sizzling humbuckers running through cool vintage tube amps. The cymbal-crashes and snare-hits are as sharp and clear as diamonds and that old Hammond organ lays the foundation for its glowing wall of sound. Lead vocalist Josh's voice is, at times, bizarrely androgynous, yet his vocal affectations and melodies are subtly endearing and often provide the hook, line and sinker that makes "Celebration" so infinitely re-listenable. Think Pete Shelley, or maybe Jello Biafra without his head shoved up his ass.

Thomas Function doesn't necessarily contribute anything entirely unique with its music; it doesn't feature any gimmickry and all of its rock and roll reference points are fairly obvious, yet it sounds fresh and wholly original. This is a testament to near-flawless songwriting and the strong and distinct character of Josh's voice. It is no small feat to make the familiar sound unique, nor is it easy to cut a 13-track LP made up of songs that could easily be 13 A-sides on 13 singles.

The first track, "Filthy Flowers," fits the opener role perfectly with its straight-ahead three-chord rock-and-roll and country-fried twang. Laden with catchy hooks, jangly guitars, bouncing bass and an ever-present tambourine, the song is played at mid-tempo, but its vigorous liveliness and strong instrumentation make it race through the verses and fly into the chorus. The album's energy doesn't let up until it reaches the reverently bluesy ballad "2012 Blues." The swinging country beat and walking bass accompany, in near juxtaposition, the wailing vocals envisioning the doom of an impending apocalypse that the world seems only to be racing toward.

The album's highlight, and probably the brightest spot in the entire Thomas Function catalogue, is the wildly catchy "Relentless Machines." The drums chug and bomb with snares on every quarter, the alternately picked guitars shoot rapid-fire riffs, and the organ rises above the racket to deliver a holy brightness like that of a church choir. The song gives residence to a collection of the album's most clever lyrics and wordplays including the dirty one-line gem, "I hear the sirens while I try to make her come with my hand".

At only a quarter of the way into 2008, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better guitar-driven record this year. And if you blink now, you'll probably miss Thomas Function signing a high-profile record deal with Matador or Vice followed by a Black Lips-style blowup into fame that inevitably leads to a hipster backlash that will send the group back to the obscurity of the backwater racist wasteland from which it came. Keep your eyes peeled. - Pulse

THOMAS FUNCTION - Flagpole

Thomas Function
Celebration
Alive-Natural Sound
originally published April 23, 2008

Without a second thought, nothing from the sleepy burg of Huntsville, AL has put me into zero gravity since my adolescent NASA Space Camp experiences quite like Celebration, the debut album from the city's garage-pop overlords Thomas Function. Mellifluously mixing genres like country, R&B, psychedelia and blues underneath a sheen of jangly pop, Thomas Function has crafted a stunning collection of epic, memorable pop that builds up to a stunning release.

Thomas Function doesn't hide its influences. Effortlessly working in the guitar interplay of Television, the multi-instrumentation of the golden age of The Kinks, the sluggish guitar solos of The Stones and throwing in splashes of modern psychedelia, its 13 songs are not entirely original, but unquestionably well-crafted and thrilling. The vocals are even a snotty, southern take on the Verlaine yelp. Thomas Function might have a lot in common with the new wave of dance-worthy pop bands like Black Kids and The Go! Team, but its allegiances belong to the garage before the nightclub.

Many of Celebration's songs have been released on the band's prior vinyl singles, but it's great to see them reintroduced on this album. The songwriting is strong - fears of the future (“Relentless Machines,” “2012 Blues”), crappy romance (“Lights Down Low,” “Can't Say No”), and old-fashioned drug yarns (“Peanut Butter and Paranoia Jam”).

Classically minded rock fans will celebrate the unforgettable arrival of Thomas Function. The guitars keep jangling, the organ and/or electric piano rollicks throughout and the epic buildups climax in explosive rock release. A recent "Liner Notes" bemoaned the death of rock. The members of Thomas Function can't comment at the moment; they're too busy grave robbing. If this is a celebration in Huntsville, I'm ready to party. Bring on the summer.

Scott Reid / Flagpole

THOMAS FUNCTION - Sailor Jerry

04/22/2008

Thomas Function - 'Celebration' LP/CD

In the past week I've gotten about 20 new LPs, half as many 7"s and a handful of CDs and haven't listen to any of them because I can't stop playing this CD. I play it on every car trip and listen to it when I'm messing around on the computer. When my stereo isn't playing one of it's many great songs, my head is. It's easily one of the most infectious records released in quite some time.

Thomas Function are based in Alabama and while their singles hinted at brilliance I really had no idea what I was getting into when I first spun this disc, their debut full-length. The album's songs meander through different textures and genres like you're flipping through an amazing record collection: TF channels the best bits from the best records of the past 40 years and seamlessly integrates each throughout the course of 'Celebration's 42 minutes

At this point I've spent hours with 'Celebration' and it's quite simply a perfect pop record. And I'll be damned if we don't feature a track on our upcoming CD compilation.

Although just released, Alive Records already went through the first press of vinyl and are on to the second. Get your ass over there now and make sure you get a copy. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't.
The Sailor Jerry

THOMAS FUNCTION - The Walrus, Unblinking Ear

What’s your function, Thomas Function? Is it to write amazing songs like "Peanut Butter and Paranoia Jam"? If so, Thomas Function from Alabama, then I am your newest and biggest fan. I do have more questions for you though. How is it that your glam-stomping, garage-rock anthem is not being drooled over on every major music blog known to man? Seriously, the sound of the song's hook and it's lyrics, "We don't just laugh last, we hope you die," make the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. Do you cast spells and sacrifice virgins on the rock and roll altar? Ah, you'll never reveal your secrets will you? Nevertheless, I'll keep on listening...and loving! - The Walrus

--------------------

Lately I've been verbalizing to anyone who will listen that I think bands should only do 20 minute sets. This probably started shortly after seeing Jay Reatard, who blasted through a set of about a dozen song in about that time. I get bored easily I suppose and usually about halfway though many bands' sets I become restless and wonder if I couldn't be spending my time better elsewhere. But damn me if Thomas Function didn't keep my attention for the duration. So much so, that without hesitation I plunked down $20 for their LP and both 45s they had for sale (All on colored vinyl! Take that, digital age!) despite the fact that I have about $25 in my bank account until my next payday. Hell, if that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is. I've seen the band compared to Television and the Modern Lovers but that's really only telling half the story. They're nowhere near as punctilious as the the former or as coy as the latter. Thomas Function play their off-kilter pop songs with an unabashed enthusiasm that's won that them a following with the usually suspicious of anything cleaner than scuzz garage crowd. I know it's only April but the band's debut album Celebration is going to be hard to beat for record of the year. - The Unblinking Ear

THOMAS FUNCTION - Other Music

For the past couple of years, Huntsville, Alabama's Thomas Function have been kicking around the U.S. garage punk scene and have put out a handful of fantastic singles. Much like their kindred spirits from the north, the Goodnight Loving, their ties to that scene are more about attitude and presentation than the actual nuts and bolts of their music, and like the Goodnight Loving, Thomas Function have delivered an amazing debut album that deserves to be heard by as many ears as possible. Vocally, Joshua Macero may recall a young Tom Verlaine, but it would take a lot more than that to start breaking out any Television-isms as most songs are built around clean guitar lines (with occasional fuzz used to great effect) and full-bodied organ and a very sensible rhythm section. The record's pacing is fantastic with not a dud to be found. But I'll tell you that the high point of the album is in the middle with "Relentless Machines," a track that is so good it's scary. It really is the sort of song that most bands will never come close to matching, a total classic. This is not to poo-poo the rest of the record though because it still has many gems. Four months into 2008 and this one's going to be very hard to beat. - DMa / Other Music