Tom Gee Band

Tom Gee Band

Tom Gee Band is a group from West Yorkshire that has been active since 2009. The band plays a contemporary mix of soul, blues, funk and rock, and is associated with blues rock, rhythm and blues, blues and rock.

Line-up

The group currently consists of Tom Gee on guitar and vocals, David Sudall on drums, Matthew Newby on tenor saxophone, Joe Roughton on trumpet, Jamie JimJamm Moore on bass guitar, Tolu Ajayi on keyboards and backing vocals, Bridie May Miller on backing vocals, and Louie McDonald on backing vocals.

Early development

Tom Gee starts playing guitar at 14 and is influenced by artists including Eric Clapton, John Mayer and Jamiroquai. By 2008, the first phase of the band is in place with Jamie Moore on bass and David Sudall on drums. The group gigs across the north of England and records demos with guitarist Chris Dawkins, whose credits include work linked to Oceans Eleven OST, Nightmares on Wax and Jack Johnson.

Recordings and recognition

The band releases several EPs and builds a larger sound and fanbase over time. Its third EP, Better Things to Do, reaches No. 2 in the iTunes Blues Charts in 2013 and leads to the completion of the band’s first album, Swapping Stories, which comes out in 2014 and reaches No. 4 in the iTunes Blues Charts. The song “Better Things to Do” appears in Dave Watkins’ top five singles of 2013 on Blues Train Radio.

Radio play and awards

Tom Gee Band receives airplay and recognition from several radio outlets, including BBC Radio Leeds, where it features in Alan Raw’s BBC Introducing showcase. The band is also named Jason Elliot’s Young Band of the Year by The Jason Elliot Show on Phoenix FM, and is included among Tony Corner’s picks of 2013 on The Blues Corner at Firebrand Rock Radio.

Live performance

The group is known for a tight live show and performs in different configurations to suit venues, including a Tom solo format, an electric or acoustic trio with bass and drums, a four-piece with keyboards, a six-piece with brass section, and an eight-piece with backing vocalists.