TOM THE SUIT FORST RECORD RELEASE PACKS HOUSE AT BLACK EYED SALLY'S IN HARTFORD, SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING SLAM ALLEN

     Releasing his debut album "On Fire" on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, and on all major retail and streaming sites around the world this past Saturday, January 14, 2017, Tom The Suit Forst celebrated his release the way any serious musician would-on stage jamming with special guests for an eager, packed audience of friends, family and die-hard fans. 

Tom The Suit Forst

     "On Fire" is the first solo release from the blues-rock artist who has been compared to Joe Walsh for his incendiary rock guitar and singing style. On the blues side of his music, the guitarist has also been compared to BB King and Eric Clapton for his slow-hand, melodic approach. That mix of styles was captured faithfully by producer-guitarist Paul Nelson, who is no stranger to the blues-rock music world, having toured with and managed Johnny Winter for many years. For the recording of "On Fire" Nelson tapped musicians with hundreds of years of playing time between them, musicians from bands like Allman Brothers, Johnny Winter Band, Paul Nelson Band, Popa Chubby Band, Saturday Night Live Band, and Steven Colbert Band. After tracking at Nelson's home studio, the record was mixed and mastered at Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk, CT, with the exception of "Women of the World," which was mastered by famed mastering engineer Emily Lazar. 

Tom The Suit Forst with Slam Allen

     The standing-room only release party was held at Black Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen and Bar in Hartford, CT close to where the guitarist has spent the better part of 20 years living with his wife and family in Wethersfield, CT.  "I wanted to be close to the people who have been supporting me over the last eight years, the ones who made this all possible for me," Forst said, referencing the shift between his last job outside of music (Corporate Executive, VP at Cox Communications Group) and his present status as a full-time recording artist.  

Tom The Suit Forst with Doug Wahlberg

     The show featured several beloved and prominent CT blues musicians who turned up to support the man they call "The Suit," including Slam Allen, who wowed the audience with a powerhouse vocal sans microphone strolling through the crowd while the band played on stage, guitarist Paul Gabriel, and guitarist Doug Wahlberg. Forst's band included Pedro "Big Thurrsty" Broughton on drums, David Allen Rivera on percussion, and David Stoltz on drums. 

Tom The Suit Forst with

     Next for Tom The Suit Forst will be releasing a promotional video for his song "Women of the World, which he explains was a song where he wrote the music around a lyric from his friend Gary Youell, another CT songwriter who passed away this year. "The lyric was very personal to him- it asked the question of how much better of the world would be if women had a chance to full run things for a change. I love the song that came out of it, and its place on the album is a tribute to my dear friend. I'm very proud of it," said Forst. 

     The video for the song produced by Marc Alan at Factory Underground with editing by Nick Swenson features photos and video clips of multi-cultural women of various ages and walks of life from around the world, as well photos and videos clips of famous female pioneers. The release of the video has been set for January 21, 2017 to commemorate the Women's March on Washington DC. "For me it's a bipartisan issue, not a political event; I have always been a supporter of women's rights and it was very important to Gary Youell as well. I think he would be proud of the song and the video being released on this important day, " he said.

     "I have always been a supporter of women's rights and it was very important to Gary Youell as well"

www.TomTheSuitForst.com

All Photos by Brad Formaker

Tom The Suit Forst New Blues Rock Album "On Fire" Now On Apple Music and iTunes

Now available on Apple Music, iTunes, and from all major retail and streaming sites around the world is the new blues rock album "On Fire," from guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom The Suit Forst. The digital album, previously released on CD in Q4 2016 through the artist's web site www.TomTheSuitForst.com, was produced by Grammy Award-winning guitarist Paul Nelson. The album features the song "Going Home" for which a video was produced and released on Vevo and You Tube in December.

The album also features the song "Women of the World" with a new video going to You Tube on January 21, 2017, in commemoration of the Million Women March on Washington DC. The song asks the question of how much better off the world would be if women had a chance to run things. The lyrics were written by the late Gary Youell, a long time friend of The Suit. The video is to be dedicated to Gary, who like Tom Forst, a long time ardent and passionate supporter of women's rights.  

"On Fire" on Apple Music iTunes

"On Fire" on Spotify

Tom The Suit Forst in the Norwalk Hour: Retired Sales Executive Trades in C-Suite for Center Stage

NORWALK — After two decades in the corporate world, Tom Forst had had enough.

So when his wife told him they’d finally paid off the last of their children’s college tuition, his response, naturally, was, “I’m quitting.”

That was eight years ago. Back when he had a tight haircut and wore a full suit to work every day. Back when the idea of playing music full time was nothing more than a daydream supplied by a memory.

With the blessing of his wife, Forst gave his six months notice — as it turns out, you don’t just “quit” when you’re the regional vice president of sales at Cox Communications — and returned to a life he always knew he’d find again someday.

"I think if I have a message it’s that you should never give up on your dreams,” Forst said. “The dream was always to start again. It never occurred to me that being older would be a problem, and it hasn’t been.”

Forst, now 65, will release his first solo album, “On Fire,” Jan. 14. Produced by Grammy-winning guitarist, producer and songwriter Paul Nelson and recorded at Norwalk’s Factory Underground, the album features musicians from the Johnny Winter Band, Popa Chubby Band, Allman Brothers Band, Saturday Night Live Band and Steven Colbert Band.

Known as “The Suit,” Forst hasn’t given up his corporate identity entirely. Though a little more eccentric, his face framed by shoulder-length gray hair and classic Chuck Taylor’s on his feet, he still dons a suit jacket everywhere he goes. Some are more flamboyant, decorated with elaborate embroidery, and others are classic, well-fitting and subtle.

His 11 track blues-rock album also features the songwriting of Forst’s longtime friend, the late Gary Youell of Norwalk, whose suggestion that Forst cut a song about a world where women have taken over was the inspiration for a single Forst plans to release in January called “Women of the World.”

“He came to me and said, ‘The world is such a mess. What if women took over the world instead of the good old boys?’ And that’s how we came up with this song,” Forst said.

The father of two daughters, he said the song was also informed by their experiences as women of the world, as well as the glass ceilings he saw in the corporate world.

Read More: Tom The Suit Forst in the Norwalk Hour 

FACTORY UNDERGROUND RECORDS PRESENTS NEW TOM THE SUIT FORST VIDEO FOR GOING HOME ON VEVO AND YOU TUBE

     From director Aidan Gerety of Factory Underground and Stateside Visuals comes a new video for Factory Underground recording artist Tom The Suit Forst's song "Going Home." The video, which launched last week is now available on You Tube and Vevo.

    "Going Home" has been described as mix of country and blues, also contains classic elements of Americana. Performed by The Suit on acoustic/electric dobro, with marching drums provided by Big Thursty of the Jason Gisser Band, the song is a relatively somber song compared to the upbeat blues-rock sounds of his new album "On Fire." The video, which contains the lyrics of the song set against images of the American Civil War, is stylized to resemble to vintage footage of the period. It's dark imagery culminates with the image of a Civil War firing squad, which does not spare the viewer from the sad ending.

      Gerety stated that he wanted to capture the feeling of the song, which was for him "a reflection of fate in the face of a dangerous and uncertain future," a fitting narrative for this time in American history, with people so deeply divided over political lines. There is no political message to the idea - we are all in this together which ever side of line you're on. As the song says, "You're Going Home when he says Come."
     With the exception of "Going Home" which was released this past month on iTunes, Spotify, and streaming/retails sites around the world, the full album of "On Fire" has only been available on physical CD. A CD and poster bundle have been selling through the artist's website www.TomTheSuitForst.com and by emailing TheSuitOnFire@gmail.com The decision to offer the physical album first was as much a nod to a more classic time in the record industry as The Suit wanting his work into the hands of his loyal fan base as early as possible. For those desiring to have the album in digital form, fans can look for the rest of the album on iTunes in January.

     What's next for Tom The Suit Forst? "We are looking at an idea for a video of "Women of the World," a song from my album that is about the idea of letting women have a chance to rule the world for a change. I thought about putting that out on Election Day - in hindsight that wouldn't have quite made sense.... but from what I understand January 21 is the day of a Million Women March on Washington DC, so you might see a video for the song then!"
   

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FACTORY UNDERGROUND PRESENTS NEW ALBUM "MOON CABIN" FROM INDIE FUNK-FOLK JAM-BAND GOOSE

FACTORY UNDERGROUND PRESENTS NEW ALBUM  "MOON CABIN" FROM INDIE FUNK-FOLK JAM-BAND GOOSE 

"MOON CABIN" NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES, TIDAL, SPOTIFY AND RETAIL/STREAMERS WORLDWIDE

Factory Press (Norwalk, Ct): That Goose guitarist/singer/songwriter Rick Mitarotonda is soon to be a Berklee College of Music graduate is not surprising given the level of talent on stage at any Goose show, nor surprising that three of his four band members are themselves graduates of the school. It does highlight how young he is. But what is surprising is how low-key, humble, and unassuming they are--and willing to let their music do the talking--this could be the real key to their success. 

Tracked in a snowbound lakeside cabin where the band held up in March 2015, engineered and co-produced by Kenny Cash, with final vocals, solos, overdubs, mixing and mastering at the Factory Underground, the resulting album Moon Cabin contains eleven "one amazing after the other" tracks. The music is a mix of funk and folk, with touches of reggae, jazz, blues and rock. As a band that has it's roots as a jam band, sure--there are plenty of solos and passages of musical improvisation. Drummer Ben Atkind, Bassist Trevor Weeks, and keyboardists/pianists Pat Carr and Chris "Doc" Enright all have their time to shine in the sun, as does Rick himself. But it doesn't take more than a few seconds to realize you're not listening to a jam band record-- this is a record with deeply rich songwriting, huge melodic hooks, thoughtful lyrics, and even passages of three-part harmony vocals. "Moon Cabin" are a record of well written and well recorded songs. 

I was instantly smitten with the song "Lead the Way," and thought it could easily be single on Triple A or College radio-- the hook is so big you could hang your hat on it. The vocal quality is reminiscent of Dave Matthews (on of Rick's early influences) and the fun chorus has a instantly sing-along quality. After two and a half minutes when most bands would end on a double chorus- Goose does the unexpected. There is what I have learned is called a "cesura," a timely pause, which fades in with a musical interlude that has a wonderful swirling quality to it, and takes your mind to a brand new place, culminating with a repeated and well harmonized vocal melody over a brilliantly played piano solo that is quite epic in the moment-- but then musically, somehow-- this transforms back into the final chorus of the original melody and lyric in brilliant fashion. The lyric itself refers to the name Sadie, and you might even think this a love song with the brilliant line: "I've packed every inch of the getaway car... I'm saving shotgun for you." I asked Rick about Sadie--she had been a sweet dog he loved. Perfect.

Moon Cabin is now available on iTunes, Spotify, Beatport, Tidal, and a slew of retail and streaming sites around the world, with marketing and distribution and administration by Factory Underground Records. An eight week radio promotional campaign will send the album to College CMJ and Triple A stations nationally with a March 15 Add-date, under the direction of Brandon Day at Tinderbox Music. 

Moon Cabin

1.   Turned Clouds

2.   Into the Myst

3.   Arcadia

4.   Lead the Way

5.   Interlude I

6.   Indian River

7.   Interlude II

8.   Jive I

9.   Rosewood Heart

10. Interlude III

11. Jive II

For Booking: GooseBandUS@gmail.com

For Media/Press: Marc.FactoryUnderground@gmail.com

www.GooseBand.US

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www.FactoryUndergroundStudio.com