TM - Hi, this is Amelia and Elizabeth from Twinmusix, and we are here with Richie from a Tom Waits Tribute band. Thank you for having this interview with us today. We appreciate it.
RW - Thank you.
TM - What can fans expect from your Tom Waits Tribute band?
RW - Fans can expect an amazing night of varied performances with Hugo Race (The Wreckery), Dave Graney and Peter Fenton (Crow). We will be living, celebrating and reimagining the amazing work of the talented and unique Tom Waits. There are so many different genres and styles, and his artistic journey has been pretty incredible. People who come to see it will like it because they have a special connection to his music. We hope to give a moment of pure joy.
TM - What can fans expect from your setlist?
RW - Fans can expect a variety of music from his very first album to his most recent stuff. I think you will get something a bit different from each of us. You will get the industrial swamp stuff of the 90s, like "Bone Machine", and I think you will get the old Americana stuff like "Closing Time" and "Old 55". You might get some deep cuts as well, but mostly everybody's favourites.
TM - What's your favourite song to play live?
RW - At the moment, it is "Hold On" off the Album "Mule Variations", it is an incredible song.
TM - How did you join a Tom Waits Tribute band?
RW - I am the new member of this band. It formed just after COVID, and they did a tour in 2020. Last year, I did a tour with a bunch of the musicians, and we did a Neil Young Tribute celebration, and it was really amazing. We had some real camaraderie, and stepping onto the stage was like stepping into the lion's den every night. We formed a connection over that, and they've said next year we are doing Tom Waits. What do you think about joining us for it. I had been a Tom Waits fan for a long time, so when they told me that Hugo Race (The Wreckery), Dave Graney and Peter Fenton (Crow) were playing, I thought I would dig their style and their artistic output, so I thought it would be good to work alongside some like-minded individuals. It wasn't hard to convince me.
TM - If you could go back in a time machine and see any band live, who would you see?
RW - It would have been cool to go and see the Beatles In The Cavern in Liverpool, in the UK, before they broke out. I think that is what I would do. If I had one opportunity, there are plenty of bands that I would have liked to see.
TM - If you could have any band play one of your songs from your band "Tumbleweed", what song would it be, and would it be in your style or their style?
RW - I would pick Queens of the Stone Age, and I would get them to do one of our awesome songs. I think I would choose our song "Mountain" in their style.
TM - Who was the first band or Artist you saw live, and can you tell us a story?
RW - The first band that I went to see was Culture Club with Boy George back in the 80's. I went with my sisters, and it was just an excuse for me to go out at night without my parents. I went with my sister's and you used to be able to buy tickets from the bus driver, they took you to the entertainment centre. It was the first concert I saw.
TM - Is there anything else you want to say to your fans?
RW - I would like to tell them that they should come down to the Factory Theatre on the 19th and check out the Tom Waits show. I need some of them in my corner. I think the other guys are pretty prolific and well known artist. If there are any of my fans out there, I would like them to come and support me and watch me do this Tom Waits thing because I hope you will have a great night.
TM - Thank you for having this interview with us today. We appreciate it.
RW - Thank you.