Today's Folk-Americana artists, a genre which is notoriously unpopular with the mainstream audience today, have an ability to take soulful lyrics, powerful musicianship, and intricately weave those elements into beautifully crafted albums. This is the case for veteran musician, Tom Freund, who has worked with many artists including Ben Harper, Jackson Browne, and The Silos.

His new album, Collapsible Plans, released in July of this year, is an indescribably brilliant piece. So when Freund had his album release party a few weeks ago, I was really psyched to see him perform live.

The show took place at Hotel Cafe, a notoriously indie-artist friendly venue in Hollywood. Accompanying Freund on stage for the night were drummer, Michael Jerome, and keyboardist extraordinaire, Jason Yates - both musicians who rock in their own right. The venue was jam packed with the usual group of earthy bohemians and eccentric urban hipsters as Freund took to the stage. Freund has a Tom Waits-like quality which made his first few songs even more dynamic than they already were. The audience, myself included, simply stared at the stage in awe as Freund began his set with a few songs from the new disc.

When he began to perform the song "Wyoming?", a particularly emotional ballad laced with melancholy guitar and lyrics about his former Silos band mate who was tragically lost in an accident while the band was touring in 1993, you could feel the emotions in the room change with every word - as if you were hung up on them and the power with which he delivered every note.

Another song, "Without Her I'd Be Lost," showcased Freund's instinctively astute style of performing as he told the audience a tale of love which can only be found once in a lifetime. Like the journeyman he is, Freund's ability to produce an amazing live show is one of his most admirable and commercial musical qualities.

The biggest shock of the night was a surprise musical guest, none other than Freund's friend Ben Harper. The audience cheered as Harper came on stage and accompanied Freund on a few songs with the lap steel guitar. Watching the two old friends jam together made the show exceedingly more intimate than it already had been.

Freund's performance was nothing short of amazing, which is what the audience was muttering as they finished their beers and began to leave the bar when Freund was done. Freund has an awe-inspiring presence on stage and it comes through in his consistently strong ability to deliver raw emotional lyrics with dynamic musicianship which is so rare with artists in today's current state of musical purgatory. There are not many musicians like Freund so take my advice and check out his new album, Collapsible Plans: it will only leave you wanting more.

THE DETAILS: Tom Freund
Collapsible Plans
Surf Road Records
www.tomfreund.com
Myspace

Story by Corey Crossfield. 

ANOTHER ARTIST TO KNOW: JULIETTE COMMAGERE