Tommy on Blossoms, Steve Lacy, Fontaines D.C. & more
From Fontaines D.C. records to Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush, Tommy’s picks reflect his love of collecting records and the unforgettable experiences he’s had seeing his favourite bands live.
Tommy’s first concert was seeing his favourite band, Arctic Monkeys, in 2018. His sister managed to get them tickets, but they ended up with some of the worst seats imaginable, behind the stage and practically on the roof of Manchester Arena, but it didn’t matter. Seeing his heroes live became one of the best moments of his life.
His story with DMA’s is completely different. In fact, he wasn’t even into their music when he tagged along with friends to see them support Courteeners at Heaton Park in 2019. But hearing them live changed everything, and he’s been hooked ever since, having seen them over 10 times. For Tommy, concerts are about more than the music itself. He describes the energy of a crowd coming together as almost spiritual, with memories ranging from jumping barriers with friends to leaving a show covered head to toe in mud.
Tommy joins us for the October 6–12 prompts to take us through the songs, albums, and artists that have shaped his relationship with music.
What's a song that made you pay attention to an artist you'd previously ignored?
A song that made me pay attention to an artist I previously ignored is definitely “Sha Sha Sha” by Fontaines D.C. I originally struggled to get into the band after hearing great things about them, but the second this came on something altered in my brain and I can’t stop listening to them every other minute!
It’s so fun, the drums are perfect, the lyrics have this flow that always has you screaming along with Grian Chatten, and that punchy guitar is just addictive and won’t keep you still for long.
The music video is also brilliant, I’d really recommend checking out this track from their debut album, if you haven’t already. For me, I know when I’m going to love a band even before I have that ‘click’ moment. I just takes a few real listens and getting used to. This band hasn’t put a foot wrong in all their music… I’ve been obsessed ever since I heard this song.
Which album cover is the definition of stylish?
One of my favourite album covers is definitely The Slow Rush by Tame Impala. It’s one of those covers I could just look at for ages.
After researching a little into it, I believe the room filled with sand symbolises ‘relentless passage of time and nature reclaiming human spaces’ which I think is really cool as passage of time is definitely a big theme within the album. It’s really gripping but simple, the red and blue really pop, it’s a stunner.
I’m a big believer that album covers are one of the most important parts of an album, at least for me personally. Art really helps create a visual for the music I’m listening to, and I even sometimes struggle to connect to an album if I hate the cover… maybe I’m just strange in that sense but hey, everyone’s different.
What's a song you'd play if you were the DJ at your own funeral?
I think about this a lot and I can never seem to think of a song I’m one hundred percent certain on! I love so many songs and my favourites change every other day. At this moment in time I would probably chose “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” by Arctic Monkeys.
The song is one of my favourites and Arctic Monkeys have been a huge part of my life. The song is really elegant and has this lovely feeling of accepting that something is coming to an end. I love the opening lyric “Don’t get emotional that ain't like you,” I see it as my way of telling my loved ones it’s going to be okay without me.
And another thing, when I do eventually pass away one day, I will one hundred percent be expecting a mirrorball waiting for me!
Which artist makes you want to start a collection of their work?
I currently have a bit of an obsession with collecting Fontaines D.C. records at the moment… my bank account is not happy! I really got into them a few years ago around the time they released their second album, A Hero’s Death, and ever since my collection has slowly grown and grown.
There’s a lot of really cool variants I already have my hands on, for example the Romance zoetrope from Blood Records and the Darklands Versions released in 2019. But there’s still a few more I need to add to my collection… the main one I’m trying to get my hands on is the Skinty Fia zoetrope! They also released a Live At Kilmainham Gaol vinyl in 2021 I’m sure I’ll have them under my belt soon, but with the release of their new album Dopamine Chamber out this year, all my money has gone to loads of variants of that!
Which album makes you want to learn an instrument you don't play?
Blossoms’s new album Songs From The Wedding Cake is really making me want to pick up a bass guitar! I’ve played guitar since I was in high school and dabbled with a bass here and there but never really learned how to play properly.
The funky bass lines on this album are the highlight for me, they’re fantastic and I can’t keep in my seat when I hear them. Bass has really grown on me over the last few years and I would love love love to be able to play as well as Charlie Salt… I’d never stop playing! I’m a big fan of dark moody baselines as well as Peter Hook’s work with Joy Division.
As with all instruments, it just takes time and a lot of practice but I think I will try and give it a shot in the future... who knows!
Which song do you turn to when you can't sleep?
If I’m honest when I can’t sleep I usually tend to play whale or rain sounds mainly because if my brain hears a melody it just can’t switch off! But if I did have to listen to a song I would probably chose “My Kind of Woman” by Mac Demarco.
The song has such a chill feel to it the lyrics send me into a bit of day dream whenever I listen to it and I find the instrumental really relaxing. The guitar is pretty hypnotising the way it repeats and I could imagine it would send me to sleep after a couple of listens. It is similar to a lullaby instrumental in my opinion, it has that dreamy/hazy sound to it.
I was very torn between this and another brilliant track from Mac Demarco “Chamber of Reflection.” If you haven’t heard it already, just listen and you would instantly understand why!
Which album would you love to own on vinyl?
Recently, Steve Lacy dropped his new album Oh yeah? and I still need to get my hands on this as I’m a really big fan! I’ve loved Steve Lacy for a few years now and I never get tired of his music. There’s a track on this album called “the feeling,” and it’s got to be one of my top tracks of the year, it’s brilliant!
Such a beautiful song, honestly if you haven’t checked it out yet, I’d really recommend it. Great lyrics, emotional, and really chill but the whole album has great selection of tracks… I also love “doom.” Steve really brings out his humorous and vulnerable sides throughout all the songs. There’s a lot of different energies in this album and whatever mood you’re in, one will definitely match how you feel. I don’t know what’s taking me so long to buy this record, maybe I’ll treat myself soon!
Beyond the songs he picked for this week’s prompts, Tommy also shared a little more about his love for concerts.
What do you love about concerts?
I love live music so much. The moment I enter the venue, all that’s on my mind is gone. I let myself go, and the energy in the room feels almost spiritual. The way a small venue or even a whole stadium connects during those few hours is just indescribable.
What was the first concert you remember going to?
The first concert I went to was by my favorite band, Arctic Monkeys, in 2018. I was in high school, and my sister managed to bag us the worst seats ever. Basically, behind the stage and on the roof of Manchester Arena. But it didn’t matter. It was one of the best moments of my life to see my heroes in front of me!
What has been your most memorable concert experience?
One of my most memorable moments was watching one of my favorite bands, DMA’s, support Courteeners in Heaton Park in 2019. The whole day was incredible. I’ve never seen so many flares in one day! I was with all my friends, and I remember when DMA’s came on, the crowd surged towards this barrier blocking the front pit, and we had no choice but to join everyone else and jump over it! It was crazy… the whole day was wild and brilliant. It was all super muddy, and I ended up covered from head to toe.
Have you ever seen an artist live who completely changed the way you thought about their music?
Speaking of DMA’s, the first time I saw them in 2019, I wasn’t really into their music. I just tagged along with my friends. But hearing Tommy’s voice live in Liverpool, with the crowd roaring around me, made something click. I’ve been completely obsessed ever since, seeing them over 10 times now.
Do you have any habits or routines around going to concerts?
Most of my gig habits are pretty basic, to be fair: usually getting a drink nearby, catching up with friends, and legging it for the last train home most of the time!
Tommy and his girlfriend are seeing Fontaines D.C. in Amsterdam, it’ll be his first gig abroad.
Tommy is a passionate music fan and record collector from the UK, with a particular love for Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C., and DMA’s. From hunting down vinyl variants to experiencing his favourite bands live, he connects with music through collecting, album artwork, and the energy of a great concert.
