Busy Tommy: Besides hosting the weekly Wednesday night Ventura County Blues Society-sponsored Blues Jam at The Tavern, Tommy Marsh & Bad Dog also compete at the VCBS IBC Band Challenge September 29. Tommy is the Spotlight Artist on American Veterans Radio Sept. 16-23.
Holds Forth With Popular Weekly Wednesday VC Blues Society-Sponsored Blues Jam At The Tavern - This Wednesday, September 12's Guest: Guitarist Guy Martin
Wedneday Night Blues Jam!: Ventura's most talked-about Blues Jam continues to be the one hosted by local guitar maestro Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog at The Tavern. This Wednesday, September 12 Tommy's special guest is guitar ace Guy Martin, followed on September 19 by fiery vocalist Francesca Capasso of Scorch Sisters renown; talented South Bay-based blues diva Shari Puorto on September 26; and Ventura County's own 50 Sticks of Dynamiteon October 3. The Jam lasts from 8-11 p.m. 211 Santa Clara Ave. Info: (805) 643-3264 or https://www.facebook.com/thetavernventura. This Ventura County Blues Society-sponsored weekly event has continuously featured top-notch weekly guest artists including stellar guitarists Alastair Greene, Theresa Russell, John Marx and Mikey Mo plus harpist Tex Nakamura, to name but a few.
IBC Band Challenge: Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog compete in the upcoming Ventura County Blues Society IBC Band Challenge at the High Street Theater, 45 High St. in Moorpark, on Saturday, September 29. Door open at 3 p.m., music starts 4 p.m. Tickets $10. online in advance via the VCBS website; $15. at the door. Winning band receives $3,000.00 in expense money to travel to the International Blues Challenge Finals in Memphis this coming January, representing the Ventura County Blues Society. Read an interview with Tommy in the Ventura County Star from his July VCBS Sunday Matinee performance here: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/05/tommy-marsh-to-help-kick-off-new-blues-series-in/?preventMobileRedirect=1
Artist Spotlight: Last but hardly least, Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog are the Artist Spotlight on American Veterans Radio the week of September 16-23. The group receives worldwide airplay the entire week. Listen in at www.avradio.org.
Watch A Live Recording of Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog performing their original "Love Devine" here:
Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog have been together as a band for a little over a year and are already heavy hitters in the Ventura Music Scene. Blending and bending the Blues, Southern Rock and Jam band genres to a unique hybrid, the band has become extremely popular with fans of all three.
Presently they are preparing to record their first compilation of songs primarily written by their namesake. Tommy Marsh is lead singer, and one of two lead guitarists in the band. Before coming to Ventura 2 years ago, Marsh was the front man for the The Tule Devils in Central California. The Tule Devils were a very popular original Southern Jam band and performed a weekly show at The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino for over a year and a half. Opening up for War before a crowd of over five-thousand cheering fans, The Tule Devils brought them to their feet with Tommy's originals "Father Time" and "After The Burn."
Marsh moved to Ventura for love, having met his soul mate (and Ventura County resident) Tammy at a show in Three Rivers, Ca. "It was a defining moment for me" says Tommy. "For me, love is the only road worth taking." His original song "Love Divine" clearly echoes this sentiment.
After arriving in Ventura Marsh started going to local Jam sessions to play and meet local musicians. He became a regular at The All-Star Blues Jam at The Bombay Club every Wednesday. Last year Tommy was asked to begin hosting this show every week and under his leadership it has become a goto destination in the Southern California Blues scene, attracting amazing players every week. Alastair Greene, John Marx, Guy Martin, Teresa Russell and many others are regular guests at this tremendous show.
When Marsh began to look for players to fill out his band he drew from great players he had met at the local jam sessions. Michael Katnik is an astonishing keyboardist and vocalist who was playing with the Great Ashford Gordon when they met. There was an immediate connection because Marshy loves Hammond Organ and was specifically looking for an organ player. Ashford had just recently moved to Arizona and Michael was looking for a new opportunity. Michael's scorching organ solos, lead and harmony vocals coupled with his amazing energy are a key part of Bad Dog's vibe.
Tommy met Stan Taylor at The All-Star Blues Jam when he was playing with the house band. Stan is a Gibraltar-esque bassist. Taylor toured extensively with Led Zepagain, a premier Led Zeppelin tribute band, for several years. His abilities are astounding and his attitude is awesome - and he makes it easy to play with his solid as a rock groove and his great soloing.
John Lacques auditioned for Teri and The Tornados, a band Marsh plays with in Ventura. The Tornadoes chose a different player for their opening but Marsh saw something electric in John's playing, hiring him almost immediately. John is endorsed by Paiste Cymbals and is a crazy good player. He not only has an amazing sense of humor, but brings flair to both his conversation and to his performance.
Smokey Steve Hinojosa was the last member to join Bad Dog. Smokey is a regular at The All-Star Blues Jam and Marsh had played with him many times as host of the show. "There was always a magic when Steve and I jammed and each time we played together the bond between us grew." Not only is Hinojosa a great guitar player and singer; he is a marvelous human being and is someone I just needed to be around...So I asked him to join the band," asserts Marsh.
Tommy Marsh and Bad Dog are regulars in and around Ventura County and they are a band you can't see without saying something like DAMN or Holy Crap... Tommy's strong vocals and guitar playing along with Bad Dog's tight-as-a-drum skills make for a musical experience that is both rare and fills the senses.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tommy-Marsh-and-Bad-Dog/187328757996121
VENTURACOUNTY STAR (Interview)
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