BANDS
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I'm super lucky to be involved in various groups. Some full-time, some floating, some now and then, some quite often. Variety is the spice of life. Or maybe I'm just musically promiscuous and unable to settle down. Anyway. Here's some of them!
Tom Monks & The Fiestas
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I'm currently in pre-production with a band of my own, to tour the album and make many more with. I've been super lucky to strike a dream lineup of some of the finest musicians that I know.
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We launched with a low-key do in Sidcup, and will be taking it further on the road before you know it. So watch this space!
Nine Below Zero
It's an absolute honour to be involved with the 5+ piece lineups of Nine Below Zero, the UK's premier rhythm and blues band since 1977, on keyboards and second guitar.
Searching for a purpose at 19, I found myself at a jam night, at the Pelton Arms in Greenwich - which turned out to be a Nine Below Zero warm-up gig. I was instantly blown away by the musicianship and emotional expression, and started attending the jams on the regular purely to learn; absorbing licks, techniques and tunes from some of the most seasoned and accomplished players I've ever seen.
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One thing lead to another, Dennis signed the metaphorical adoption papers, and I coated Nine Below Zero's 2019 album 'Avalanche' with ivory, rotary, analog and plucked sonic vibrations in the creative paradise of Glenn Tilbrook's 45RPM Studio. We went on to tour the album, playing rammed venues all over the UK and Europe, from the intimate to the prestigious.
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Following the world's forced intermission in 2021, we hit the road again as soon as we can, and to be back in my element was absolutely emotional. Seemingly against the odds, we completed a 32-date UK tour, culminating in sold out show at the legendary 100 Club with Paul Weller in attendance - then hopping on an aeroplane to Sweden, Germany and Austria.
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One particular highlight of mine was celebrating my birthday with them in 2024, with a trip to Ireland to play the thriving Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon. And also the time we got barricaded into the BBC Broadcasting House by Extinction Rebellion, who tried to run into the newsroom with my stage piano. Jools Holland saved us with pizza.
Nexus Leap
I first met Ryan Barquilla around 2016, and he instantly struck me and my local as an enormous force of nature - a guitar virtuoso, a soaring and sultry voice, as happy to regularly play down our Sidcup watering hole as he is to play Wembley Stadium.
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We instantly got on like a house on fire, sharing stages and songs with each other from near the very start. The plunge was inevitable that we start a group. So we did!
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The line-up is completed with Cameron Spence on drums - one of the finest and flariest I know, who just completed an Asian stadium tour with Two Door Cinema Club - and Daniele Borgato on bass, who is a busking legend captivating the streets of Central London creating sonic pandemonium.
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This is the only cover band I'm in, and the reason I'm in it is because I love not just the people but the songs - mainly the ones everyone knows, but not many other bands do.​ Genesis, Queen, Hall & Oates, Prince, the good stuff. And to be surrounded by such top people and outstanding musicians is an honour.
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A highlight from a show of theirs is when I found some contraception in my suitcase I was unaware of, stretched it over my hand during a song, it snapped, and I donated the remains to an audience member who seemed slightly too delighted to inherit it. He probably framed it.
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Nova Halo
Nova Halo is a band lead by the wonderful Nancy, who puts art-pop, symphonic rock, shoegaze, punk, poetic lyrics and a heavenly voice into a metaphorical blender, adds a sprinkle of glitter, and the results are truly mesmerising.
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I was always a fan of her work and the band, which at the time was a revolving lineup of a collective of musicians, and to be invited to be a part of her go-to's was a true honour, and even more so for it to evolve into a companionship.​
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Over the weird year of 2020 we used our house hibernation to immortalise some of her original songs - starting with AVATAR and XX Dream, combining our loves of Queen, Jeff Buckley, Cocteau Twins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and degrees of reverb most producers are irrationally terrified of, to make some outlandish sounds we were super proud of.
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To bring these new songs and arrangements to the stage when the world reopened was a true thrill, with shows near and far to captivated audiences, who adore her and the songs as much as I do.
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My highlight with Nova Halo was a particularly special show in Finsbury Park where we supported Scant Regard, the solo project of Adam Ant's guitarist Will Crewdson. Not only did the sound engineer get it so perfect it hypnotised us, but there was Taco Bell next door to boot.
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The Nathan Persad Trio
Nathan Persad is a multi-instrumental genius. He has released TEN albums which are not only sophisticated and catchy as hell, but are also written, performed, produced and arranged entirely by him (par the occasional obscurity or guest). And a YouTube series. And an infinite repertoire of hits - in all the years I've seen him play on his own, I've never heard him play the same song twice.
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Alongside with the glorious fellow Fiesta, Reece Bailey on bass, I am honoured to play drums and sometimes keys in the core lineup of the Nathan Persad Trio - with songs of his own, plus stuff we all like such as The Hollies and The Who.
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One of many highlights of playing with Nathan was from a duo gig we did years back. We braved Bohemian Rhapsody, and like the band did originally, we had the opera section on playback. During this section we ran out of the pub.
The Aim
With one of my first originals bands, the lead guitarist entered us into a 'battle of the bands', with the winning opportunity to play a local festival. I rode along with it. We played alright. After us, there was this mod group called The Aim - lovely people, catchy songs, and seriously tight musicianship. We were blown away. Despite his mum's pleas, The Aim won with flying colours.
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I've never been keen on battle of the bands - I'm a firm believer in unity rather than competition and division, so to become close friends and allies with Grant Judges and Jamie Tongue that night was a huge testament.
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I never actually consciously joined the band - becoming a part of their family just kinda happened. I played keys on some of their tracks on their 'Feel Like Getting High' - one song with the glorious Steve White on drums - and supported them as a solo act at some of their local gigs. When the world started to reopen, they invited me to produce their next album. It was an immediate yes.
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The "Thursday Night Sessions" became a weekly highlight, a fix for not just my lack of dosh but also the fun and positivity I truly needed. At least until the basic tracks were done, when Jamie suddenly and devastatingly passed away.
We were destroyed, and once we had processed what had happened, it became clear that this album, 'The Master Reset', was now a tribute to him. ​​Somehow we managed to finish it, and it was mastered by Jon Astley - a lifelong blesser of my ears with his work with The Who, Level 42, ABBA, Clapton and George Harrison. And it was in Pete Townshend's old gaff where he made Quadrophenia! Now it's out, and Jamie will live forever.
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In live shows, I'm the designated keyboard player, but with the nature of the band I've found myself on 'whatever's left' - I think the only position I've not taken is lead vocals!
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A highlight of the band was the comeback gig - a month after Jamie passed, and weeks after the world opened again. With both of those at the forefront of our minds, it was just such a special show. There were tears, people were moved. Then Grant jumped and hit his head on the ceiling.