Thomas Irwin

Name: Thomas Irwin

Age: 30 years old

Instrument: Drums and Vocals

Band/Former Bands: Current bands: Boombox Poets & The LouTones... Former Bands include: Old Soul Envy, Somatica, TheZoo. I dabbled in the reggae scene for a short time as well.

How long on instrument: 15 years

Equipment: I am currently using a 6 piece maple Ddrum Dios series drum kit, Iron Cobra double bass pedals and Tama hardware, a Roland SPD ONE WAV pad for heavy bass drops and various other samples. I also use Sabian AAX Cymbals including: 18 & 14 inch crash cymbals, 13 inch stage hats, 18 inch ride, 8 & 6 inch splashes.

Influences: When I was a young lad, I can remember my pops breaking out the old acoustic to jam Pink Floyd and The Who songs, definitely a big early influence. I wouldn't even play music if it weren't for Rage Against the Machine and Tom Morello. The guy just rocks the F*** out man! I channel his energy when I play live. I'm also really into Sublime, Incubus, Deftones, Tool... of course Danny Carey. Animal from Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem is my favorite fictitious drummer. Last but not least, I must say my band mates really keep me going more than anything!

My first gig: My first gig: My first gig was with The Zoo out at the ole Bulldog Cafe in Fairdale. Hell I guess it was like 14, 15 years ago. Charlie the Painter liked our jams and hooked us up, he may not remember me, but I remember him for that! TheZoo and Somatica (early days) both had some bangers out there at Bulldog, some of the best times of my life. We met and jammed with bands like Institution, 7 Day Sun, Evil Engine #9. One time TheZoo got on the Otep bill as the first act! That little bitty ass place had an audio system on stage that was made for a place like the Yum Center it seemed like. There must have been a thousand people in and around that place for that show. Think about it, ALL those people in the smallest place imaginable, there to see Otep, all gothic n' what not... Man, we started playing and good god!, Between the instant mosh pit, and the audio... I thought the walls of Bulldog Café were going to collapse. Needless to say, I believe the LMPD showed up and shut the whole thing down after our 25-minute set, which as a 15/16 year old haha, I'd like to think we shut the place down. what a great night that was.

Hobbies: I like to jam on some video games from time to time. I'm kind of into golfing, although I don't play as much as I use to with 2 bands going on. I'm a huge history buff and love trivia games.

Favorite movies: My top 5 movies of all time are: Forrest Gump, The Big Lebowski, Goodfellas, Tombstone, & Empire Strikes Back... I love James Bond films, Star Wars, and Steven Seagal is a badass and could literally whoop anyone!

Favorite food: My Favorite food has got to be Italian, Mexican, Italian, Mexican, Italian, Mexican, I'd order tacos in Rome, and Cappellini con Pesto in Tijuana, wait... I don't go there!

Favorite place: On stage of course! The thing about music is, anywhere could be a stage. Also Las Vegas is... well, Las Vegas. I love going to the beach or the lake and drinking beer, who the hell doesn't right?

Favorite sports or team: I am a die hard Louisville Cardinal fan, Basketball, Football, Baseball, one could call it an obsession, I do! Seventeen Sundays out of the year my life revolves around the Jacksonville Jaguars! No, Ive been with them since Mark Brunell, I am not a bandwagoner. Go Jags baby! Shout out to the Cincinnati Reds as well, Get it together y'all!

What I'm listening to nowadays: Right now I have The Fugees, The Score album in the CD player, but I'm every where. I've been jamming The Clash, Sublime, Volbeat, and The Who a lot lately. Old School Hip hop is always a good choice as well.

Coolest thing I've done: I went to New Orleans and saw my idols... Rage Against the Machine at VoodooFest. RATM show, then partied at the French Quarter. What a weekend that was.

Most embarrassing moment: My most embarrassing moment was at a gig, playing with Somatica, and at the end of the show, I knocked out Dan, Our bassist with a wild drum stick. Stick came flying out of my sweaty hand, pinged off a cymbal and struck Dan right in the temple (scary really). Dude was out before he hit the ground, but I managed to jump up just in time and actually caught his bass guitar as he was falling. Hey! I saved the guitar at least! Also one time I fell off a moped in the middle of Preston Highway, everyone saw me too, while I limped away crying.

Bad Habits: I get too busy to spend time with my family and friends between work and music. Plus a guy has to have his me time to do absolutely nothing. Just for sanity. you know?

What was your first concert ever: I saw Hootie and the Blowfish at Freedom Hall when I was really young, it was pretty cool. My first local show was a Metal show that my cousin took me to when I was like 13. it was Execrate, at the old BRYCC house on Bardstown Rd. I think it's a Bdubs now.

If you could meet a Rockstar ( past or present ), who would it be, and why: If I could meet anyone, I'd say it would of course be Zack De La Rocha or Tom Morello. Sure, I'd ask them about music but, I'd really like to pick there brains in a history discussion. I also wouldn't mind having a beer with Lars Ulrich. I heard he was a dick, but who isn't? Danish people are funny!

Who do you love: I love every single person who has supported my drive to play music! I never had the kind of parents that would say playing drums will not get you anywhere. I thank them for that. Alex, Bob, Jesse, Sean, Dan, Dennis, Ryan, Y'all are my brothers! Mike Birch, Thanks for having faith in me brother, Josh, Tone, Slack.. couldn't ask for better people to work with. Y'all push me and influence me. Thanks for that. Lastly, In the words of Muhammed Ali, Louisville is the greatest, and I will always love this place.