Beginning 2024 strong with JWLMD!
In addition to all my BlairOutLoud line-ups, I’m a full-time member of grunge tribute called Jeremy Would Let Me Drown. I’ve recently uploaded some video to promote the band, and captured two other songs at a recent show. Check out the video and let me know what you think!
Jeremy Would Let Me Drown - Dixie Tavern - 2-10-24
Most of you know, in addition to all my BlairOutLoud line-ups that are in full swing for 2024, when I’m not onstage playing SOLO acoustic, or with Amanda in the DUO, or the guys in the TRIO or BAND.. I spend my time working to promote for my other band called Jeremy Would Let Me Drown.
I’ve been a full-time member of this grunge tribute act for about 6 months now, and we are starting to gel as a band. We perform the music specifically of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains. We have a blast and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of this project.
Below are three recent videos that I have uploaded to the BlairOutLoud YouTube Channel, and I’ve also shared them to the JWLMD and BlairOutLoud Facebook Pages. Shout out to friend Nick Jijon for helping me with the camera and capturing some footage.
In order at the bottom, here’s whats attached:
A quick 2024 promo vid that I threw together and edited to show off a sample of a bunch of songs that the band performs. Captured at Wing & Tap House 1-26-24
A cover of “Even Flow” originally by Pearl Jam, that we covered at a recent show at Dixie Tavern 2-10-24
A cover of “Spoonman” originally by Soundgarden, that we covered at that same show, Dixie Tavern 2-10-24
Enjoy these! Leave a comment here if you like.. or click “YouTube” at the bottom and go to the BlairOutLoud YouTube Page and get subscribed! THANK YOU!
HUGE THANKS: Rocco's Pub in Jasper, GA!
Our recent Rocco’s show 9-18-21 was on fire! The audience was supportive and fun, and we would like to take a moment to express gratitude to Rocco’s for being so supportive of our efforts, allowing us to grow into the BAND that BlairOutLoud wants to become. Included here is video from the event and my commentary.. Enjoy!
Hello friends!
BlairOutLoud BAND recently had a killer show at a location called Rocco’s Pub in Jasper, GA. The band was connecting well on stage and the audience was so supportive and fun!
I would like to take a quick moment to THANK Dan Rocco and the staff at Rocco’s Pub for being so gracious and supportive!
We began the year performing there as a TRIO, still under the name LK3. Leonard Koggins Trio had a fantastic run for many years, but it was beginning to be obvious that as we were taking on bigger events, and as we also had plans to add Amanda Blair into the line-up for those bigger events, the group voted to change the whole title of the project to BlairOutLoud BAND.
Rocco’s Pub staff were the first to notice the change, and started asking questions about our transition. We could only paint them a picture of our true plans, but when the time was right, we were able to deliver what we promised, our full BAND and full song selection to reach every person in the audience, to prove what we are made of. That formula worked, and Rocco’s was the first place to really understand those goals, and it provided a platform allowing us to grow into the band that we are trying to be.
So yesterday I posted some video on my FB Page. The clips below are from our recent performance at Rocco’s, on September 18th, 2021. The second set especially was on fire. We were able to run our own light show (Rocco’s is still a restaurant, so we mainly used the house lighting for the first set as people were eating as getting settled in, and we were allowed to kick it up a notch for the second set). Some of you aren’t on my FB pages so I didn’t want you to miss some of these energetic performances. I’ve decided to re-share these here on the blog. Enjoy!
BTW, if you’d like to Follow the FB Page CLICK HERE!
Also BTW.. In the coming months, my media pages are all going to be changed around, the YouTube channel will be re-purposed and the FB platforms will be cleaned up and refreshed. Thanks all!
First up: “The Middle”
Amanda Blair brings this song full circle with the synth part that you hear on the record (during 2nd and 3rd verses). The song is genuinely really fun to play live.. It has a great guitar solo and lots of positive energy. We’ve often thought that it goes by too fast, so that’s why we extend it here, and eventually we sing another 2 choruses at the end.
Next up: “You Oughta Know”
When we first started our discussions about bringing Amanda Blair into the “LK3” line-up, my long-term vision was eventually to add some of the female 90’s alternative material into the mix. Amanda and I had been in another project that was focused on 90’s alternative female lead singer material. The project was actually called “You Oughta Know” and we played the “title” track in that band. See my HISTORY page for a little more detail about that time period. We are slowly reaching that vision now… in addition to everything the TRIO can perform, the BAND is adding great songs like this one and Amanda Blair is killing it!
Next: A Joan Jett cover of “Crimson and Clover”
The original Crimson and Clover was dreamy and classic but not necessarily anything I would consider doing in BlairOutLoud, however, Amanda Blair brought this idea to the table of doing the “Joan Jett” cover of the song. So.. it’s a “BlairOutLoud cover of a cover” if you will… Once again, Amanda rockin’ those vocals!
Last but not least: “Everybody Wants You”
So this is a song that I have played in many other cover bands.. and I admit, within the last minute when the band stops and tries to get the audience to chant “Every-body-wants-you!”, I took that from the last project I was in, where my lead singer at the time would have a little fun with the crowd.
What shocked me at this show, is that our crowd here actually gets it right the first time… AND THIS NEVER HAPPENS! So the band stopped the song anyway.. because we always stop! But this was a very rare occurrence where we probably could have continued on “in time” with the music because this crowd was so great. Kudos Rocco’s patrons!
One more thing.. the kicks… Yeah.. I don’t know.. HAHAHA This band is starting to do kicks and jumps in this song to make each other laugh. It started long ago with a kick here or there, and now it’s grown into this ridiculous thing that we do just for fun. LOL
One last thought.. The camera on these videos is tucked back behind the PA, so occasionally the vocals are low in the mix and my guitar is louder. I apologize for this. This is about the only place I can set my camera so that it doesn’t get trampled on the dance floor with the party people.
Also.. the tambourine that Amanda is jamming’ on.. it sometimes clips the audio on the crappy camera microphone so that overall sound is compromised on the video. As much as I do care about the sound of my videos, in these instances, I don’t have a way to monitor this so I let it go. Most importantly here, I’m working to capture the fun and energy of the performance so I hope that translates the best. Thanks all
- Tom Blair
Instagram: @feltphotographyatl THANK YOU!
BlairOutLoud BAND had a great event in Peachtree City, GA last Friday! A photographer approached and offered his services. His shots were fantastic!
BlairOutLoud BAND Live from Grazing Here in Peachtree City, GA on 8-6-21.
HELLO FRIENDS AND FANS!
So I’m just chilling on this fine Monday afternoon reflecting on some special moments from our events over the weekend. Thanks to all that came out to support our efforts! BlairOutLoud BAND performed at Grazing Here in Peachtree City, GA last Friday, and we met someone extremely talented. I wanted to highlight his work in today’s entry.
We met a photographer named Andrew McDowell, and his business name on Instagram is @feltphotographyatl. Click the link under the name to go check out his work! His tagline on that page states: “Capture moments meant to be felt.” Well after seeing these shots, I have to admit, he’s accomplishing his goals! 100%
Andrew approached me while we were loading in and setting up for the show. He claimed that he had another gig that had fallen through, and he was offering to take some shots of our show. I appreciated his approach and I agreed that this would be great.
Long story short, these shots were off the cuff, in the moment, captured magic.. and honestly, this is some serious talent. Our lighting wasn’t the best (wasn’t bad), but make sure you pay attention to how he used the available light to frame the action.
Also..we are a little short on pics of the full BAND together (when Amanda Blair performs with us). I’m so grateful that Andrew was there to get some great shots, but also to capture the essence of Amanda on stage with the guys and the energy that we strive to deliver.
Great work FeltPhotography!
Here’s a gallery of the best of the batch that he sent us. Click through and Enjoy!!
COVID COVERS! New Collaboration Vid!
Kurtis Campbell organized and orchestrated an effort to bring 5 Atlanta musicians together over the quarantine timeframe to record a killer cover tune.
The result is this video! Covid Covers 1st release: Black Sabbath: Into The Void!
Kurtis Campbell: Bass
Derrick Gaddis: Guitar
Tom Blair: Guitar
Joe Herman: Drums
Lorde Heathen: Vocals