A mini- essay from Audio Rumble:
It's been 25 years since Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers made their appearance on ABC's American Music Awards. (Sometime back in the 00's, the AMAs moved their televised event from late January every year to late November.)
A young DJ Caterina was watching television in Texas, unaware that her favorite band would be playing that night, Monday, January 30, 1989.
And when the announcer said “Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers” at the beginning of the show as one of the list of performers, I literally jumped out of my skin! My favorite band was performing!
To hear the cheering of the crowd when Tommy went down into the audience at the guitar solo of "Love's On Fire" was so amazing! At the time, I didn't know why he did it...I mean, it was a cool move, but I guess at the time, I just didn’t get it.
But I never forgot it!
TCYR's performance on the American Music Awards would be the first (and last) time that I would ever see the band perform live until the early 2000s. DJ Caterina has been catching up ever since...
1989. Done right.
Originally posted on Audio Rumble's Facebook page.
Audio of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performing "Didn't Want to Sing the Blues" live in Osaka, Japan. 1988 or 1989?
Per Wikipedia:
"Hide Away" or "Hideaway" is a blues guitar instrumental that has become "a standard for countless blues and rock musicians performing today".[1] First recorded in 1960 by Freddie King, the song became an R + B and pop chart hit. Since then, it has been interpreted and recorded by numerous blues and other musicians."
Here's one of Audio Rumble's favorite versions: Tommy Conwell plays "Hideaway"
Live From Walsh's Tavern
43rd and Walnut
Philadelphia, PA
Closing Night Extravaganza!
March 13, 1997
A December 1988 article from the KC Pitch, a free alternative weekly magazine distributed in Missouri's Kansas City metropolitan area. The article promotes Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performing at The Lone Star in Kansas City on Dec. 13, 1988.
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Rock with the Rumblers
Check your samplers and sequencers at the door. Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers play straightforward, on-the-edge rock and roll, with no special effects or gimmicks to get in the way. This band relies on raw playing, clear singing and crisp songwriting to put their point across.
From their early days in the trenches of Philadelphia’s rock scene, the group has had a reputation for musical honesty. And their new album for Columbia, the aptly-titled “Rumble,” proves it.
Unlike most recordings, “Rumble” is true to the sound of the band. Through the sensitive production of Rick Chertoff (Cyndi Lauper, Patty Smyth, The Hooters), the energy of Conwell and the Rumblers is brought alive. “Some people think producers force the artist to do what they want or think will sell,” says Conwell. “But Rick is just the opposite of that. He tried to get me to be my very best, which is a very important goal, and the amazing thing is that he succeeded.”
Other collaborators, including Jules Shear and fellow Philly rocker Robert Hazard, added to the band’s raw, distinctive sound. “Most importantly,” says Conwell, “’Rumble’ sounds like us.”
But as powerful as the new album is, Conwell and the Rumblers pack their most potent punch live. See for yourself, Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Lone Star.
See Philly's own The A's and Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers at The Trocadero on New Year's Eve!
VIP tickets are available for purchase and include a meet and greet + a custom poster.
Grab your tickets online at Ticketfly.
UPDATE: Sorry to report that The Trocadero show has been cancelled!
