Tommy Strazza: Vocals, Guitars...
The Model Citizens are:
Jeff Fernandes; Drums/ Backing vocals, Gerry Rosenthal;Guitar/ Keys/ Backing Vocals, Justin Bornemann; Bass.
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Influences
Anyone who is genuine, that questions and challenges everything, takes chances, puts the MUSIC FIRST, and plays from the heart. And... The Beatles.
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Sounds Like
A Rock & Roll Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist who meshes arena, indie, and punk rock, with great songs, memorable recordings, and an exhilarating live show.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN FOR WELCOME TO THE REST OF YOUR LIFE--
JERSEY BEAT
Tommy Strazza delivers spikey, painstakingly detailed songs (the title cut, "Detour," "Good to See You," "Goin' Solo") that deliver indie-pop payloads in less than four minutes. He uses minor frills to embellish the songs, but his voice is full of passion and imagination. Tommy's vocal range goes from soulful sandpaper-rough, to loud and expressive. Songs like "Far Away From Home" and "My Love" contain jagged little hooks, and there's also the killer cut "Love Don't Bring Me Down," with sweet funk running through the chorus. This album probably won't change your life, but when the songs are this good, you'll be glad they exist! The only minor problem I can hear is that at times Tommy's vocals sound a little tinny. Otherwise, this is one heck of a good album!
- Phil Rainone www.jerseybeat.com jerseybeat.blogspot.com
THE BAGEL AND THE RAT
When you've had enough quiet intensity and you're ready to rock, try Tommy Strazza; he writes hooky power-pop songs and puts them across with a voice and a classic, old-fashioned rock style that calls to mind Perry Farrell or Mott the Hoople - hoarse, passionate, triumphant. He's not just a screamer, though. "Don't mind walkin' with some holes in my socks / If I can do my own thing hangin' outside the box," he liltingly sings in the folky "Goin' Solo," and his love song "My Love" is spacey and gentle. Still, his abilities shine brightest in his uptempo rockers like "Detour," "Liberated," and "Good To See You," and the power ballad "Love, Don't Bring Me Down." Listen to some tracks at his Myspace page.
-Jon Sobel www.blogcritics.org
ROCK OF AGES
When does adulthood begin? New Brunswick musician Tommy Strazza asks the question on the excellent rocking new album "Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life." The LP — musically arena, punk and indie rock — is at once both sweeping and personal. It's a little dark, a little angry, but not bitter. It's certainly not a downer when lifted by its sweeping power chords and sing-along anthems. Strazza follows his own muse — and she's holding a Les Paul. Let's nominate the album's final track, "Goin' Solo," as the '07 Hurt Single Guy Anthem of the Year.
-Chris Jordan The Home News Tribune
Here is a quote from one of Tommy Strazza's biggest fans, and is by no means biased by their friendship to him or by the fact that they are in actuality writing the very same bio you are about to read:
When Tommy straps on his guitar, whether its in a dusty, drunken New Brunswick apartment, or on stage at the world famous Stone Pony, he becomes a completely different person altogether. Its the kind of person we dont get to hear from too often these days the kind of person looking to take us somewhere special and its somewhere each and every one of us will never want to leave.
Tommy Strazza was born to play rock and roll music. And thats not a quote; its a fact. One of the east coasts best kept secrets, Tommy grew up in the quiet suburban town of East Brunswick, New Jersey and has been flapping his musical wings across the country since the early 90s, spreading his rock n roll gospels for all to hear, performing both solo, and currently with his band Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens.
The live show is church to me, explains Tommy. Some bands and artists take you to school I want to take you to church baptize you in all that is good, pure, and sacred about rock and roll music and everyone is welcome.
If the live show is church, then the albums and songs are the scriptures from which I, and the band refer to they have to tell a story, and serve a purpose not just be a collection of songs on a record. They have to be related to one another, and co-exist for the same cause.
Since many of the bands Tommy has played in have had rotating roster issues, and in order not to lose momentum, Tommy took the liberty to learn how to play several instruments. In addition to writing and producing all of his own songs, he performs some of them entirely on his own, as well.
He started his first solo project, Crawl, in 1999. His self-titled second release was kicked off with a highly acclaimed performance at Asbury Park's Stone Pony on September 22, 2002.
"That was one hell of a show I'm glad to have been a part of Tommy Strazza's world for an hour." - Tris McCall, Jersey Beat Magazine.
Currently on his third solo album, and playing all over the east coast, both solo, and with his band, Tommy continues to leave an impression on the growing New Jersey rock scene.
"I want to be an inspiration, a risk taker and an envelope pusher I want to excite people about music, the way that it grabbed me as a kid."
Time to get excited folks, because Tommy Strazza has arrived!!!
NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW!!!
Tommy's song "Detour" has been nominated for Song Of The Year at the 2007 Asbury Music Awards!!!
Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens's Friend Space (Top 16)
Tommy Strazza & The Model Citizens has 1582 friends.
Yeah man. Who could forget 86?? We were in Churchill then. 9th grade. And Bon Jovi's Slippery when Wet was like the best album out and Alf, Knight Rider and Miami Vice were awesome. Man, where the hell does 20+ years go? I'd give anything to go back to those days!
Looking forward to your participation in this year's Wave Gathering Be sure to check the schedule tab on www. WaveGathering. com for Day, Venue & Set-times C'ya there!
Wave Gathering '08 www. wavegathering. com The 3rd Annual Wave Gathering Music Festival will be held June 20th, 21st & 22nd! ~~~DAILY or THREE DAY PASSES AVAILABLE NOW THRU TICKETWEB~~~ For more info click on the link above ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
T-Straz, always good to hear from you! Your last comment almost sounded like a eulogy though. Hey buck up there camper, Captain K's superhuman partying superpowers are still intact...unless it's Friday night, and then I need a nap.
It's a '58 historic. I met a guy in like '01 that worked for the Gibson Custom Shop, I called him a year or two later when I was on the road in Nashville, he hooked me up good! :)
