Tommy & The High Pilots

Home is close yet so far away for the men of Tommy and the High Pilots. They’ve been touring the country for the past two months--rocking crowds and gaining fans with their upbeat rhythms and clever lyrics.

“We’ve been on the road for about two months,” lead singer Tom Cantillon says. “We’re in the last week and a half before we head back out to Cali.”

Although touring and selling out shows seem to be time-consuming, this talented foursome still somehow finds time to sit down and produce more awe-inducing melodies. The band is planning on releasing a new album in the near future.

“We’re working on a bunch of new songs,” Cantillon says. “The hope is that when we’re home for a little bit in September we flush out as many songs as we can. The hope is that by the end of the year we have enough songs recorded that we can start really talking about how we’re going to make the next record.”

Finding time to write those songs is a bit difficult when you’re on a schedule like theirs, but not impossible.

“I’ve been writing as much as I can,” Cantillon says. “But creativity suffers a little bit on the road because you’re so busy. When I get good song ideas and I don’t have another outlet I just call my phone and I’ll just be singing the melody into my phone, which is pretty funny when you’re walking around a mall.”

Many fans may consider “Where to Start” from their EP, American Riviera, their best song yet, but a young up-and-comer may give it a run for its money.

“I think ‘Where to Start’ is one of our best songs,” Cantillon says. “But we have this new song, ‘Young and Hungry’ that blows it out of the water. For me, personally, if every song I write isn’t better than the last one, then I scrap it.”

Not only are they working on new songs, but also a new music video. A video for their song, “The Limit,” from American Riviera is currently in production.

“We’ve already filmed the bulk of the video,” Cantillon says. “We have the whole storyline, and actually Matt Palermo wrote out the storyline. We just need a little bit more footage with the actors.”

All the hard work and effort the guys have put forth has paid off.

“We just found out that Sawhorse Sessions charted on Billboard,” Cantillon says of their latest EP. “We’re in the Heatseekers chart and we’re in the top 200 records this week. It took me a second to digest that – it was pretty cool.”

Through hectic days and crazy nights, the boys still take time to enjoy the little things in life.

“I have a fresh plate of hash browns waiting for me inside,” Cantillon says. “It’s my favorite thing in the world, I could eat hash browns all day.”
- Move Magazine

ST. LOUIS — A double bill brings Ludo and Tommy and The High Pilots, both regional favorites, to The Pageant this weekend.

Three of the four Ludo members grew up in St. Louis, and Ludo’s drummer, Matt Palermo, from Houston, also plays drums for Tommy and The High Pilots, which has an entirely different sound than Ludo, yet still their own and distinctive, as is Ludo’s sound. Fans will have a chance to experience the contrast of the two bands, who share mutual admiration for each other. They play an all-ages show starting at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Pageant in St. Louis.

Tommy and The High Pilots lead singer Tom Cantillon, a native of Santa Barbara, Calif., played bass and toured with Ludo three years ago, and Tommy and The High Pilots opened for Ludo in October 2010 at The Pageant.

The two bands also share a record label and a connection to St. Louis, where Cantillon’s mother was born. Cantillon has several aunts who live in St. Louis, and all attend Tommy and The High Pilots’ shows when they play St. Louis.

When Cantillon’s old band, Holden, which broke up in 2007, ended up playing in Phoenix with Ludo, they found out they had the same booking agent, about whom they swapped horror stories.

"We literally hit it off right away," Cantillon said. "We made a point to stay in contact over the years. Matt is the youngest in Ludo, and we have some more common ground, same musical tastes. I was in awe of his drumming from Day One. He’s a unique drummer, which is hard to achieve."

Cantillon attests to Palermo’s drumming because of Palermo’s timing and execution of drum fills.

"You know it’s him when you hear him," Cantillon said.

Finally, Tommy and The High Pilots also share a producer, Marc McClusky, with Ludo. McClusky also produced a Weezer album a year ago.

Ludo co-founding member and vocalist/songwriter Andrew Volpe dubs Ludo’s music as "’70s butt-rock," delivered with a deadpan, tongue-in-cheek irony even Weezer would appreciate.

And while humor is a vital part of the group’s approach, their musical chops place them closer to art-prog artists such as Frank Zappa, They Might Be Giants and Queen than a novelty act.

"It’s kind of a blessing and a curse," Ludo keyboardist Tim Convy said about the band’s sense of humor. "But it’s a large part of what we do. We’re just trying to be genuine and true to the cornucopia of human experience. We have songs that are dark and creepy, as well as songs that are stupid and fun."

And while Cantillon tries to avoid pigeon-holing Tommy and The High Pilots, they are influenced by rock, blues, folk and country, which describes their blended sound.

In February, Tommy and The High Pilots went into the studio. The result is "Sawhorse Sessions," five stripped-down, soulful acoustic songs that feel as live and intimate as a performance in their living room. Recorded in just two days in St. Louis, the band worked with producers Convy and Jason McEntire on "Sessions," their third release for Redbird Records and Touring.

"We wanted to show a different side of what we do. We wanted the instrumentation to be unadorned, so the listener can hear every little thing, but without sacrificing the energy or the character of the songs," Cantillon said.

Tommy and The High Pilots also consist of Cantillon’s little brother, Michael Cantillon, who plays keyboards, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, harmonies and almost anything needed, and Steve Libby on bass.

Ludo members are Palermo on drums; Convy on keyboards, Moog and vocals; Volpe on guitar and lead vocals; and Tim Ferrell on guitar and vocals.

Tickets cost $14 and are available at The Pageant Box Office, Suite 100 at The Pageant, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000. Visit www.ludorock.com for more information. Visit www.facebook.com/thehighpilots for more information.



Read more: http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/ludo-57457-pilots-tommy.html#ixzz1USArQA72 - thetelegraph.com

The High Pilots Land at The Middle East

July 12, 2011No Comments
Life has been busy for Tommy & The High Pilots. The four- piece from Santa Barbara released an EP, American Riviera, in September of last year and have been on the road ever since. They supported major-label rockers Ludo nationwide in the fall and finished the year with more West Coast dates, including a sold out stop for their annual Christmas show in Santa Barbara. The Pilots wasted no time hitting the road again in 2011, heading as far east as Chicago playing clubs, colleges, and anywhere with a stage.
When the band did take a break for a few days in February, it wasn’t to relax or go home. Tommy & The High Pilots went into the studio. The result is Sawhorse Sessions; five stripped-down, soulful acoustic songs that feel as live and intimate as a performance in your living room. Recorded in just two days in St. Louis, the band worked with producers Tim Convy and Jason McEntire on Sessions, their third release for Redbird Records & Touring.
“We wanted to show a different side of what we do. We wanted the instrumentation to be unadorned so the listener can hear every little thing, but without sacrificing the energy or the character of the songs,” says singer / guitarist Tom Cantillon.
Though all are acoustic, the five songs cover a wide spectrum. The opener, “On The Line,” is musically as upbeat as a Springsteen anthem while the lyrics tell a darker story of despair and loneliness. “Nothin’s Free” is a quiet, cautionary tale spun by a world-weary hero while “Lorraine” is a lively campfire-romp reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkle’s “Cecilia.” “The Limit,” a song that first appeared as the second single off American Riviera, takes a much different form on Sessions, performed by just Tommy and his guitar. The finale is “Lonely Place” where Tommy channels Jeff Buckley over The High Pilots’ 12-string guitars, Wurlitzer, and chimes on a desperately hopeful love song. The sounds and approach are different on Sessions, but the band’s strengths are the same: classic rock n’ roll songwriting, two brothers that have been singing together all their lives, and gifted musicians who love to play together.
Tommy & The High Pilots and Ludo will play The Middle East on Wednesday, July 20. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets $13. - bostoneventguide.com

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a real rock and roll show”. This what I told Tom Cantillon, front man of Tommy & The High Pilots after a smoking set at the Firebird in St. Louis. After seeing this band made me wonder what it was like to see great a band...before they were household names. Names like Petty, U2, and Simon & Garfunkel; all of which have been covered by Tommy & THP. This band has the whole package, from musicianship to charisma and Tommy is a perfect conductor for this four-piece band hailing from California.

The band took off with “American Riviera”, a hard-driving rocker and the title song of one of their latest albums. Three songs from the band's debut album, Every Night, were next including “Bluesy Floozie”, “Sun Burns Out”, and “Use Your Head”. And as a lyric from “Use Your Head" declared, “oh, what a beautiful sound" and guess what, it was. “Round and Round” kept the flow of the evening on track with its acoustic guitar driven, Irish-pub styled sing-a-long which included a great display of the band's youthful energy. “On the Line” brought the tempo of the evening down just a notch and “Lorraine” quickly dispelled any notion that the band was slowing down. Tommy then led the band into “I’ve Been Thinking” and “Riding on You”. Up next were two songs that complimented each other very well. “Where to Start”, a song that defines that lost feeling we have all experienced from time to time paired perfectly with the band's rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia”. I have to say whoever decides what songs the band will cover made a great call here. Unfortunately, the night was winding down or so I thought from looking at the bands set list as there were only three songs remaining. “Motorbike” and “The Limit” finished off the main set list and the band left the stage to towel off and listen for the calls of an encore as one might expect.


Tommy and the band triumphantly returned to the stage to cover U2’s “Desire” where Tommy let all his attributes as a frontman shine as he fell to his knees, walked into the audience, and swung from the light rigging. Every piece of the band's performance made a collective rock puzzle of a must-see band. I also have to give Tommy high marks also for his marketing skills. As soon as the band finished their set, Tommy spent little time making his way to the merchandise table as he sold, t-shirts, albums, posed for pictures, and signed autographs. Make sure to check out Tommy & the High Pilots library which can be found on iTunes. You can also find tour dates and other information at the band's website.

I also wanted to mention and give a big thank you to Canadian band Wildlife. The band drove in from Kentucky to fill a last minute cancelation spot and as I talked to band's drummer, Dwayne Christie, he mentioned this was only their fourth show in the US. The band played an excellent set with little to no time to prepare. Standouts from the set were “Stand in the Water” and “Sea Dreamer”. You can learn more about Wildlife at their website and their debut album Strike Hard, Young Diamond can found on iTunes.


I'd like to thank the the Firebird for their hospitality, as always and would also like to thank Tommy and his management team for being so accommodating on short notice. Pictures of the show are below: - Music Taster's Choice

Unplug your guitar and as a band you're instantly stepping into a new dimension of music. Many of the greats have attempted the "acoustic album", but many have failed. This is not the case with the gents of Tommy & The High Pilots. Their recent endeavor, Sawhorse Sessions, is an example of an acoustic album done right.

A mere 5 songs long is all that this journey lasts, but the places it takes you are vast. With "Nothin's Free", it's the beauty of three-part harmonies - two voices and a guitar. The pain of love and life comes flowing out through Tommy Cantillon's emotional lyrics. And there's a strong James Taylor vibe coming through the melody and out of the speakers on this number.

When you try a new method with your music, naturally the curiosity peaks as you wonder how a previously recorded song might change. With this EP the band took a song from American Riviera and went the "unplugged" route. "The Limit" is a great song in its original form, but on Sawhorse it's morphed into a raw, beautiful, masterpiece. The intimate nature of the song comes out in the first few moments when you feel as though you're next to Tom, listening to his strings rattle away. With the popularity of the former album, most are going to have the lyrics of this song already embedded in their minds. This works to the benefit of the song however, as the mind is free to concentrate on the guitar and all the sounds it creates. The power of the vocals is not lost; rather it complements the elegance of the fingers as they run across each string. Lullaby chords, paired with vocals from deep within the gut, make this a contender for the title "ballad".

Even with the electric guitar gone, a band still has to figure out some way to get the audience moving. With "Lorraine" this is exactly what the High Pilots did. A strong folk beat is present from the beginning in the percussion section. And with the slight shake of a tambourine, you've got the stage set for a foot-stomping good time. If you weren't convinced yet, then you weren't listening to the lyrics. Yelling out to the mystical "Lorraine", the question "where's my money gone??" comes off full of attitude, and with each repetition beckons some crowd participation with the other harmonizing members on stage.

The final step on the journey is with "Lonely Place" and once again we're taken to a place of solitude and beauty. This time the drums have a jazz tempo and sentiment about them. The vocals are a little mellower, but only by a touch. Eventually the song flows seamlessly into a faster tempo, with more gusto behind each member. Then with the bellowing vocals, the heavy attention-laden cymbals and the accompanying folky piano, it's the latter half of the song that will definitely pump up your energy.

If a band can't do acoustic the right way, they should never do it at all. Well, luckily for Tommy & The High Pilots (and for fans alike), they've got the right way down pat.

-Rachel Fredrickson - Hybrid Magazine

With an ever-growing fan base, Tommy & The High Pilots are touring the country promoting their EP, American Riviera. Lead singer Tom Cantillon formed Tommy & The High Pilots after the crumble of his previous band, Holden.

“We’ve gone through a lot of different trials and tribulations,” Cantillon said. “The thing that I learned from Holden was what didn’t work and what did work. I think that whole morale of this gang is a lot more positive.”

The members of Tommy & The High Pilots have a close past. Three out of four of them grew up together in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“My little brother’s in the band,” Cantillon said. “It was pretty easy to get him involved —- I’ve known him for a while. Steve, our bass player, I’ve known him since I was like in sixth grade and we played in different bands together.

Another member of the band is Matt Polermo, formerly of the St. Louis band Ludo.

“I was in a band way back and we used to tour around with Ludo,” Cantillon said. “I stayed in contact with him and we wound up kidnapping him for a little bit.”

Together, the High Pilots take on a new, collective form when performing.

“We take on the Tommy & The High Pilots form when we’re on stage,” Cantillon said. “We’re not just Tommy, Mike, Steve and Matt. There’s a whole different energy and something else going on and we just ride with it.”

The stage is the ultimate playground for the High Pilots to express themselves.

“I always tell the other guys to take caution because I don’t know if I’m going to swing around,” Cantillon said. “If you come up on stage while I’m in the middle of a song I might accidentally kill you with my guitar because once I get up there I’m possessed.”

For the band, the interaction with an anticipating crowd is the most pleasing aspect to performing.

“(Performing) is the best representation of our band,” Cantillon said. “There is so much energy and we love trading energy with the crowd. You always want to leave them at the edge of their seat, but you can’t plan what’s going to happen.”

And no matter where the High Pilots are, the songs continue to flow from the pen, whether on the East Coast or the West. But Santa Barbara has the band’s heart -— and its lyrics.

“'Where to Start' was written in New York and was based on what I experienced there,” Cantillon said. “Going from one place to the next brings inspiration. But most of our songs are based in Santa Barbara. We grew up there and it’s a huge part of who we are. It’s a very special place to us.”

Fans of Tommy & The High Pilots can expect much more from this up-and-coming band.

“We’re on the road through Christmas,” Cantillon said. “We’re always writing, all the time. As soon as it makes sense, we’ll be in the studio again. Then, right after the New Year, we’re going to try to get right back out on the road.” - the maneater

Begin 2008 werd er in Santa Barbara, Californië een nieuw bandje gevormd rond singer-songwriter Tom Cantillon die net een einde had gemaakt aan het bestaan van zijn vorige groep ‘Holden’. Samen met Tom’s jongere broer Michael Cantillon op gitaar, bassist Steve Libby en drummer Matt Palermo werd de formatie ‘Tommy & The High Pilots’ boven de doopvont gehouden.

Voor de bepaling van hun muzikale richting gingen ze wat rondvissen in de vijvers van blues, country en vooral klassieke rockmuziek. Hun eerste plaat “Everynight” uit 2009 met uitsluitende songs geschreven door zanger Tom Cantillon lichtte al uitgebreid een tikje van de sluier over de vraag in wel genre deze jongens hun muziektoekomst zagen.

Nu wordt er een ep-tje gereleased onder de titel “American Riviera” als voorbode voor een volgende full-cd die wellicht volgende jaar op de markt zal komen. Op dit schijfje vinden we zes stevige rocksongs terug, waaronder de titeltrack en de gitaarrocker “Motorbike”. We horen een hele reeks van muzikale invloeden in de sound van ‘Tommy & The High Pilots’ zoals de epische pianorock van ‘Coldplay’, de dreigende gitaarklanken van ‘Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ en de catchy en melodieuze gitaarrock van een band als ‘Manic Street Preachers’ in de songs “Taxi” en “The Limit”.

Ook het theatrale zangwerk van iemand als Brandon Flowers (‘The Killers’) horen we terug in een song als “Where To Start” dat eerder rustig van start gaat maar langzaam naar een rockende climax uitgroeit. Ongeveer hetzelfde geldt voor “Carried By You”, de afsluiter van deze cd.

De ep is kort maar goed en met deze zes songs zijn ‘Tommy & The High Pilots’ er hier alvast in geslaagd om ons nieuwsgierig reikhalzend naar hun volgende studioplaat te doen uitkijken. Wij houden u dan ook graag op de hoogte over eventuele toekomstige activiteiten van dit Californische rockkwartet.


(valsam)
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Beginning 2008 became in Santa Barbara, California a new band formed singer-songwriter TOMs Cantillon which to the existence of its previous group `Holden'. an end had exactly made with TOMs younger brother Michael Cantillon on jet ear, bass player Steve Libby and drummer Matt Palermo became the formatie `Tommy & The high Pilots' kept above the doopvont. For the provision of their musical direction they went what rondvissen in the ponds of blues, country music and especially traditional rockmuziek. Their first plate Everynight from 2009 with excluding songs warbler written TOMs Cantillon radiographed already extended a pat of the sluier concerning the question in, however, genre these boys their music future saw. Now become ep-tje gereleased under the title American Riviera as a voorbode for following full-cd a that possibly next year on the market will come there. On this disc we six retrieve firm rocksongs, among which the titeltrack and the gitaarrocker Motorbike. We hear a complete range of musical influences in the sound of `Tommy & The high Pilots' such as the epic rock19_0_ rock of `Coldplay', the imminent jet ear consonances of `Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' and the catchy and melodious jet ear rock of a link as `Manic Street Preachers' in the songs taxi and The Limit. Also the theatrical song work of someone as Brandon Flowers (`The Killers') hear we in a song as Where To start that rather quiet of start returns but slowly to a rockende climax develops. Approximately the same applies to Carried By You, the clincher of this cd. The ep are short but good and with this six songs `Tommy & are; The high Pilots' there here in advance in successful to do look out our curious reikhalzend to their next studio plate. We keep you thus gladly informed concerning possible future activities of this Californische rock quartet.
- Rootstime.be

Style : Various

Tom Cantillion is what you call the leader of this band. Or maybe we should stick to spokesman instead of leader. Tom however claims that his music owes as much to Tom Petty as it does to The Talking Heads. To be honest none of those bands seems to be influential if you listen to the music that is on this record. Instead one can hear dozens of other influences. As a west coast native Tom grew up with all kinds of surf and beach fun, but for this album he traded the west coast for the east coast and moved to New York for a year. The result is a rare mixture of two totally different cultural influences.

Musically they produce a sound that is far away from the common roots rock you’ll find on Billybop! Their music is best described as pop-rock with an edge. And that edge is indeed all the influences I briefly mentioned before! From country, over surf to singer-songwriter material, American Riviera brings it all together in a six track EP that is marked as the release for this band! Not the usual kind of music for Billybop Aficionados but through it’s nature and influences truly worth your attention.

Mr. Blue Boogie

- Billybop.com

Style : Various

Tom Cantillion is what you call the leader of this band. Or maybe we should stick to spokesman instead of leader. Tom however claims that his music owes as much to Tom Petty as it does to The Talking Heads. To be honest none of those bands seems to be influential if you listen to the music that is on this record. Instead one can hear dozens of other influences. As a west coast native Tom grew up with all kinds of surf and beach fun, but for this album he traded the west coast for the east coast and moved to New York for a year. The result is a rare mixture of two totally different cultural influences.

Musically they produce a sound that is far away from the common roots rock you’ll find on Billybop! Their music is best described as pop-rock with an edge. And that edge is indeed all the influences I briefly mentioned before! From country, over surf to singer-songwriter material, American Riviera brings it all together in a six track EP that is marked as the release for this band! Not the usual kind of music for Billybop Aficionados but through it’s nature and influences truly worth your attention.

Mr. Blue Boogie

- Billybop.com

“I continue to find things to write about in my life,” says Tom Cantillon. “Something always pops up and I need to sit down and flesh it out, even if it starts with one lyric, one chord, one riff.” Following the unexpected breakup of his former band, Holden, he formed his new band, Tommy & The High Pilots, in early 2008 in Santa Barbara, California, infusing the new endeavor with a wide variety of classic rock, blues and country influences.

Track Listing
1. American Riviera
2. Motorbike
3. Taxi
4. Where to Start
5. The Limit
6. Carried By You


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Tom Cantillon - Vocals/ Guitar / Piano
Michael Cantillon - Vocals / Keys / Guitar
Steve Libby - Bass Guitar
Matt Palermo - Drums

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Veteran producer Marc McClusky winnowed much material down to six quality tracks. The band has kicked off their first national tour alongside St. Louis rockers Ludo. Enter our contest below for your chance to win American Riviera by Tommy & The High Pilots!


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- The-Trades.com

Wreck The Halls:

'Tis the season to pack up the tour bus and head on home for some good old-fashioned family time. So just as the visiting acts start to fizzle out for the month, so too do the kids of S.B. start rolling back through...

As of this Thursday, Dec. 18, the boys of Tommy & The High Pilots will also be back in town, and gearing up for a night of music that will surely put Velvet Jones (423 State St.) in the holiday spirit. Since releasing their debut album, Everynight, via an amazing showcase at Center Stage Theater back in May, the foursome has been traveling all over the country, playing over 150 shows and selling more than 2,000 copies of their disk.

To the uninitiated, THP rose out of the ashes of Tommy Gunn's first success, the one-time S.B. heavyweights, Holden. A couple of failed projects and a few lineup changes later, Tommy & the High Pilots were born. Seeing as how this will be the boys' first gig time show this year, I suspect they'll bring a couple friends along for the ride. Add to that the promise of seeing Velvet Jones lit up like a Christmas tree, and I suspect that this might be the one must-attend holiday party of the season. The show starts at 8pm and is open to those 18 and over.

-Aly Commingore - The Santa Barbara Independent

A California dude inspired by a year in New York City, Tom Cantillon has come up with a winner of an EP. With a lot of help from his excellent band and producer Marc McClusky, he's put out six songs full of unexpected hooks, rhythmic surprises, and interesting arrangements, while his rich, quavery vocals keep the emotion cranked. McClusky's creative hand shapes the material into a tightly-wound ball of unconventional power-pop.

The band's lyrical side shows in the melodic "Where to Start," with its alt-rock soft/loud contrast, but there's no grunge; many of these songs are sweeping little suites with multiple parts that hold together, never losing their grip. At moments they bring to mind various other artists—Richard X. Heyman, the Animators—but Tommy & the High Pilots make their own statement here, and make it superbly. "I killed myself to get to you / So come and get it," Cantillon sings in "The Limit." Good advice. Metaphorically speaking, anyway.



Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-indie-round-up-tommy/#ixzz14IDUVY5n - Blog Critics

A California dude inspired by a year in New York City, Tom Cantillon has come up with a winner of an EP. With a lot of help from his excellent band and producer Marc McClusky, he's put out six songs full of unexpected hooks, rhythmic surprises, and interesting arrangements, while his rich, quavery vocals keep the emotion cranked. McClusky's creative hand shapes the material into a tightly-wound ball of unconventional power-pop.

The band's lyrical side shows in the melodic "Where to Start," with its alt-rock soft/loud contrast, but there's no grunge; many of these songs are sweeping little suites with multiple parts that hold together, never losing their grip. At moments they bring to mind various other artists—Richard X. Heyman, the Animators—but Tommy & the High Pilots make their own statement here, and make it superbly. "I killed myself to get to you / So come and get it," Cantillon sings in "The Limit." Good advice. Metaphorically speaking, anyway.



Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-indie-round-up-tommy/#ixzz14IDUVY5n - Blog Critics

Tommy and the High Pilots find themselves comfortable in throwback music, whether it be 90s alt rock, old R&B or indie. They’ve decided to cut the shackles of a 9-5 desk and live the glorious lifestyle of trying to make it in the music world; endless touring, no sleep and $3 dinners. By their own accord, they’re influenced by the last 5 decades of music. That’s a rather large plate to hold yourself accountable for. But after listening to their music, I can actually hear some tidbits from the years before. I mean, you won’t hear some klezmer or techno, but it is enjoyable, in that “I-don’t-regret-paying-8-bucks-for-this-show” type feeling. Opening the show will be Edenview, The Trees, How High the Moon, Alrt, One New Message and Rapid Fire. - Beau Dowling sanjose.com - SanJose.com

Tommy and the High Pilots find themselves comfortable in throwback music, whether it be 90s alt rock, old R&B or indie. They’ve decided to cut the shackles of a 9-5 desk and live the glorious lifestyle of trying to make it in the music world; endless touring, no sleep and $3 dinners. By their own accord, they’re influenced by the last 5 decades of music. That’s a rather large plate to hold yourself accountable for. But after listening to their music, I can actually hear some tidbits from the years before. I mean, you won’t hear some klezmer or techno, but it is enjoyable, in that “I-don’t-regret-paying-8-bucks-for-this-show” type feeling. Opening the show will be Edenview, The Trees, How High the Moon, Alrt, One New Message and Rapid Fire. - Beau Dowling sanjose.com - SanJose.com

Tommy and The High Pilots are one of my favorite bands. Their songs have an infectious, folk pop sound layered with solid classic rock undertones that will have you tapping your feet and singing along to songs like Round n’ Round in no time. Tommy writes, sings lead, and plays guitar while his brother Mike adds strong guitar riffs, keyboard, and beautiful harmony. Matt plays kick ass drums (and always with a smile) while Steve rounds out the band playing steady, streamlined bass. I always make a point to check these guys out when they play in LA and they are amazing live. Listen to their album, trust me you won’t be disappointed! - Keeping it Sassy

If Neil Finn (Crowded House) were an American instead of a Kiwi, he might sound a bit like Tommy & the High Pilots. On the opener and title cut of T&THP’s EP American Riviera, they rock out with a catchy riff, and apply a yearning vocal atop it all. An unadorned production style has more in common with, say, John Mellencamp than Crowded House, but the song does have that certain something that Finn can be counted on for. It’s over too soon.

“Motorbike” features Tom Cantillon’s clear and expressive voice, overdubbed on the chorus, in a medium tempo. But behind him, the band pummels along at high velocity, for a pleasing juxtaposition. Subtle pounding piano (if you can imagine such a thing) adds a nice bit of texture. And a slightly unhinged guitar solo notches the excitement up even further.

“Taxi” has a heart-rending vibe even if one ignores the lyrics. It has a wide-screen, epic feel without being pretentious or overwrought. In fact it sounds like soundtrack for a climactic scene in some movie.

“Where to Start” strips things down to their most elemental. Cantillon presents the song’s opening with only voice and guitar. But then the song explodes with a headed-out-on-that-open road feel. Like all the songs on American Riviera, it has a familiar feel; it sounds like you’ve heard it before, but it’s not a rewrite of somebody else’s song.

“The Limit” rocks out in an anthemic, full-on fashion. But “Carried by You” takes a radically different approach. Foot stomps and banjos are on the menu here. In light of the sound of the previous five songs — varied yet rocking — it’s a perhaps unexpected departure. But it works, though it’s over quite suddenly.

Anyone who enjoys the straight-ahead rock sounds that skirt on the edge of Americana — artists like Mellencamp, Gin Blossoms, Old 97s — will find plenty to like on American Riviera. Well, okay: not plenty, since it’s only six songs. But hopefully it’s a teaser for more to come. According to the band’s site, Cantillon brought sixty(!) songs in for consideration, and picked six. Stay tuned; I certainly will.

- Bill Kopp's Music Blog