Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, 1986

The ultimate fall aesthetic. 🍂 
Photography 📸: Cleo Sullivan. (Walkin’ on the Water era photos, 1986.)

TCYR Gig Countdown 2022 - "Walkin' On The Water"

A week after TCYR’s "Showboats and Grandstanders" record release party at Philly’s The Fillmore in 2019, Jacky BamBam shared with me his amazement of the “real-deal rock n’ roll sound” of the Young Rumblers that night and the awesome inclusion of the horns: “No one does rock n’ roll horns anymore!!!” 🤘🏻🎶🎸

But now it seems like everyone is doing it these days.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Here’s TCYR at Ardmore back in 2019 with "Walkin' On The Water!" 

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers Are Back!

Pop culture in movies, Netflix and generic radio stations tell us what we’re supposed to miss about the 80s. (Y’know, the same three classic rock songs on a loop.) 

Well, I’ve missed Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers—and I’m so glad this band is back with new music! 

And no record collection is complete until you’ve acquired this core five: 

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers 

• Walkin’ On the Water - 1986 
• Rumble - 1988 
• Guitar Trouble - 1990 
• Thanks But No Thanks - 1992/2009 
• Showboats and Grandstanders - 2019

David Uosikkinnen's In the Pocket - Walkin' On the Water

Song 13 - Walkin' On the Water 

In the Pocket's 13th song is “Walkin’ On The Water," originally recorded by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers in 1986. Available on iTunes and Amazon.com! Dedicated to the memory of Tom Owston.

http://songsinthepocket.org/songs/walkin-on-the-water


"I could have chosen any number of Tommy Conwell’s great songs. But, I chose ‘Walkin' On The Water' because it seemed autobiographical and all about how Tommy was truly feeling at that time. Cocky, confident, on top of the world, and it rocks like crazy!"
- David Uosikkinen

Rumble Talk: Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Live 1987

RUMBLE TALK
by DJ Caterina and Rotten Kid Joe

“Is everybody sweating? That’s because it’s damn good music!”

Hey, even if you’re not sweating... are you ready to rock? Because we’re kicking off a new feature called Rumble Talk – a place where we review the best sounds in these parts...around this little plot of internet we call Audio Rumble. 
     To keep things on the up-and-up, DJ Caterina is also getting by with a little help from her friends for balance – and we don’t always agree!
     My guest this week is Joe from Facebook’s Rotten Kid's Music Den.   Joe has a great knowledge and interest in the song history of The Hooters, loves his rock 'n' roll, but also has a true appreciation for music across all genres. Join the Den if you want honest music opinions – those guys don’t bite, and it’s a great page!
    
This week’s Rumble Talk entry is a review of a live performance by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, September 2, 1987, at Shenanigan's in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.

Band:
Tommy Conwell – vocals, lead guitar
Chris Day – backing vocals, guitar
Rob Miller – backing vocals, keyboards
Paul Slivka – bass
Jim Hannum – drums

DJ Caterina:  My blog, Audio Rumble, usually only releases one ‘archived’ song at a time, but I had a special request last year for some full concerts by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers from the 1986-1987 era. Request granted!
     My favorite songs from this performance include "Night and Day" and "How Long You Wanna Live Anyway"…however, listening to this again today, I am very blown away by “Crazy Mixed Up World.” I mean, really! Will you listen to Jim Hannum working a groove on those drums during the break?

Rotten Kid:  “How Long You Wanna Live” is a classic Stray Cats tune! Forgot that Tommy used to do this song! But I wonder if this concert is edited from its entire length? No way in 1987 the band didn't do “I’m Not Your Man,” “Loves on Fire,” “Everything They Say is True,” “Tonight's the Night,” etc. This was the height of the Walkin’ on the Water album… and it’s an odd set list. Wonder if this is the second set of the night? All the usual songs maybe played during the first set?

DJ Caterina:  By June 1987, the band already knew they were signing with Columbia and this concert puts the five-man band together on the road for about 9 or 10 months, if not quite a year. This might have been a time where the band was trying out and/or rehearsing different songs for Rumble. For example, I notice “Smarty Pants” is played at the intro. That song is written by Tommy Conwell and doesn't show up again (as far as I know) until LList’s release of Tommy Conwell and the Little Kings' Hi-Ho-Silver.
     Also, "Maybe She's Just Not There" was played a lot around this time but did not make it to the final record - this leads me to my theory of them trying out new songs, revisiting past songs, etc. Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers went into the studio for Rumble in the fall of 1987.

Rotten Kid:  Hmmm. Very good observation, but still can't imagine them doing a show without the essential songs. Maybe they did two sets? I would guess this is only a partial show. It's almost a compilation of all the songs TCYR did live, but never recorded. Interesting.
     Back to the opening song, “Smarty Pants” – I don’t recall ever hearing this song. But I was too young for the bar shows. I did see the Young Rumblers a lot during this time period playing high schools and colleges where the shows would only be one straight show with no breaks. It could just be my poor memory that I don’t remember this song. I always remembered them opening with "Rumble."

DJ Caterina: Is it possible that they were holding the core Rumble songs for the studio recording? I mean, these would become the staple songs – "I’m Not Your Man," "Workout," plus the others you mentioned –  that the Young Rumblers would be known for. So, maybe it was just a matter of trying out newer material…at least for this concert?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It is an odd set list with some songs that were usually reserved for the three-piece band. Also, I forget that sometimes there were early and late shows….

Rotten Kid: Come to think of it -- this is a Sea Isle (Jersey shore) performance – chances are they played two long sets – I will almost bet this is the second set – first set had all the standards and then this second set would be the after midnight “fun” song set. This was a week before Labor Day in 1987 so the summer was still going strong…even when you see the Young Rumblers perform today, Tommy’s formula for song order seems to be doing all the popular songs early, and then he does covers and fun tunes for encores. His last show at Ardmore Music Hall was pretty much all covers during the encore if I am not mistaken….

DJ Caterina: You are correct, sir! By the way, Ardmore Music Hall was so packed. I can’t believe we were in the same music hall and didn’t get a chance to finally meet…next time, Joe!

Rotten Kid: So back to the tracks..."Crazy Mixed Up World" – is this an original? This is another song I don’t remember too well – the title is familiar enough but the song itself doesn’t sound familiar at all – it’s OK – not the best of his unreleased material. Guitar solo and breakdown are the best moments of the song.
     "Demolition Derby" is another song the Young Rumblers should record for a new album. This song is the heart and soul of his sound. Should be done properly in the studio. Give it a little punch and let it run wild!

DJ Caterina: This is a good version of Demolition Derby, but my favorite was probably played in Italy!

Rotten Kid: I think you are on to something, DJ Caterina – I do think these are songs considered for the album and maybe the band was holding off some of the Rumble songs – I know that I saw Tommy in concert a lot before the national album was released in 1988.
     I remember thinking “where did these songs come from” when I first heard Rumble because TYCR didn’t do them live before... Mainly I'm talking about "Tell Me What You Want Me To Be," "I Wanna Make You Happy," "Half a Heart" and "If We Never Meet Again."

DJ Caterina:  Right.

Rotten Kid: More thoughts as I listen to the rest of this concert...
“I Believe I’m In Love With You” – another song performed many times during this period. I would also add this to any potential TCYR new album. It's a great song that is pure Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers. Tommy doesn't have to re-invent the wheel if he records again...just stick to what makes the band great – simple guitar-oriented songs with great hooks and melodies.
     "How Long You Wanna Live Anyway?” is a great Stray Cats cover here:  blistering guitar work – takes a different direction with this cover – makes it more rockabilly – the Stray Cats version sounds more like the Ventures mixed with punk.

DJ Caterina:  That’s an interesting opinion you have on “How Long You Wanna Live” -- my take on this version is the exact opposite. I feel that the Young Rumblers really rock this song and take it as far away from rockabilly as humanly possibly compared to the Stray Cats version. TCYR sounds way more punk and edgy to me here than the original. Are we listening to two different tracks, Joe?
     Also, this is one of my favorite tracks that I’ve come across as of late from the Young Rumblers. Such great musicianship -- and the band is so confident!  You can tell that everyone from Tommy to Paul to Jim to Chris and Rob – each man knows their strength and role. In my honest opinion, they sound like “The Best Band in America - 1987” right here…

Rotten Kid:  Whoa! That's quite a statement! Here are some more of my reviews on these songs. “Truck Drivin' Son Of A Gun” by Dave Dudley – don’t remember hearing this one much either in concert – nice and rowdy.
     And "Sweet Home Chicago" is a good one. I always felt the Young Rumblers should have put this on a record – I love Tommy’s version of this song; it’s the best I’ve ever heard. On “I Knew the Bride – Tommy always made this Nick Lowe-penned song his own; it’s a great cover and I love it.

DJ Caterina: Yeah, there is a cover of “Sweet Home Chicago” by the Young Rumblers from the Bottom Line in the fall of 1988 that is beyond amazing. That particular one has always been my favorite – it really captures the wild spirit and enthusiasm of a TCYR concert.

Rotten Kid: “Walkin’ By Myself” with lead vocals by Chris Day – another great blues-based song. They played this song countless times during this period. It's a fun song. “Reelin’ and Rockin’” – I have visions of being drenched in sweat during this one - they ended their long night many times with this song.
      The more I look at this set list I am convinced that this has to be the second set of the night – they would come on around 10:30-ish play until 11:30-ish then take a break come back on after midnight play until a bit before 2 am. 

DJ Caterina: Well, at least we can agree that the band is rockin' this performance, right?

Rotten Kid: Right. “It’s Your Life” is another song that I always thought should have been recorded for one of the albums – I like this song a lot. Let’s hope the Young Rumblers record this for a new album. A lot of artists seem to be delving into their old demos from 20 years ago and just revamping them a bit. I really like this formula – Van Halen went down this path and it helped capture their sound from the early days. I think Tommy has plenty of good material that he has never released.

DJ Caterina: I agree that the Young Rumblers have some great unused material. And it seems that Tommy himself has been re-visiting some of the older, unreleased songs in the last few years. 
     For example, in March 2013, TC updated an unreleased demo called “May We All Be Here” -- played at Coffee Works in Voorhees, NJ. The lyrics were updated...it was so great to hear!

     And even earlier in 2013, he also performed “Time’s Gonna Make It Right” – a song co-written with Jules Shear (Rumble-era) at an acoustic show at The Blockley.
     So, it seems that Tommy is slowly re-visiting these old songs. It might take awhile for anything new to arrive, but for those of us keeping track, we are very excited about it. Only time will tell!

Walkin' on the Water Cover Artwork [inner sleeve] - 1986

A copy of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Walkin' on the Water inner sleeve artwork, released in 1986.

 

Walkin' on the Water (Live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, Live in Italy

 

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers live in Milan, Italy, performing "Walkin' on the Water" in 1989.

Following the 'Rumble'

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 8 - August 8] 

Dave Maybaum and Tommy Conwell - the 80's!

TCYR fan Dave Maybaum from Philadelaphia recalls his memories of the release of Rumble:

"The first time I ever saw Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers was at Drexel University in Philadelphia. My buddy went to Drexel and told me that I had to check this band out! They were only a 3-piece band at the time and when I heard them I was BLOWN away! 

To me, I thought Tommy was like a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughn and George Thorogood. I started seeing the band every chance I got. 

Of course, I was still a fan when the Young Rumblers became a 5-piece band and released “Walkin’ On the Water.” I heard they would be the opening act for David Bowie and Squeeze at Veterans Stadium in 1987 – and there was no way I was going to miss this show! The band was phenomenal and Tommy was, of course, fantastic as usual! 

While watching Squeeze play the next set, I saw Tommy walking around! I called him over and introduced him to my girlfriend, who would later become my wife. She put her hand on her heart and she told him that he was amazing! She was star struck! By this time I must have seen him 20 to 25 times. 

On the day that Rumble was released, I bought it as soon as my favorite record store opened. Then I drove to my girlfriend's house in New Jersey so we could listen to it together. We cranked it up and started dancing to "Workout" – one of my favorite tracks. 

Loved seeing the Young Rumblers on the American Music Awards, being introduced by Rod Stewart and playing guitar in the audience aisle…as LL COOL J was cheering him on! 

Tommy eventually disappeared from my musical landscape, but then he turned up in one of my favorite bands of all-time, Buzz Zeemer – but that's another story for another day! Thanks for allowing me to share my memories of Tommy Conwell. I miss those days. They were a blast!"

Rumblers to Release Columbia Debut

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers' Rumble. [July 8 - August 8]

Rumblers to Release Columbia Debut

Friday, July 29, 1988  
By Lauren R. Feola
Collegian Arts Writer

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, a group that has been around the block and up and down the East Coast. are on the brink of national exposure. 

"Look out, baby, here I come," sings Conwell, frontman and namesake for the group. To Philadelphia-vicinity fans, the lyric and name are familiar. But on August 9th, the Young Rumblers' new release Rumble on Columbia Records, will put their name into the national scope. 

Of course, the world of music television will be a factor. "The video, a performance video, was filmed last week, downstairs (in the 23 East Cabaret, a few miles outside of Philadelphia in Ardmore.) It will coincide with the release and be on MTV," said Patty Rose, an agent at Cornerstone Management. 

The bluesy hard-pop band's slow-brewing popularity has developed from a recipe of an independent album, a few friendly AOR radio stations and three years of constant roadwork.

A sparse Young Rumblers grouped early in 1984. Six months later, the three member band of Conwell on guitars, Paul Slivka on bass and Jim Hannum on drums signed with Cornerstone Management, the same company that the Hooters are with. 

After an intense touring schedule and the addition of Chris Day on guitar and Rob Miller on keyboards, the Young Rumblers' sound had solidified. They took to the studio in December 1986 and released the independent Walkin' on the Water. The album, which has sold approximately 50,000 copies, and more touring, which included a stop at the 1987 Interfraternity Council Dance Marathon, has gained the Young Rumblers some recognition and airplay. 

Some of the band's singles are occasionally exposed locally on WWZU. "They've gotten a lot better," disc jockey Shawn Carey said. "We've been playing the new version of 'I'm Not Your Man'". From the sound of the single, revamped from the independent album, the Young Rumblers have become musically stronger and more personalized. Especially, Miller's keyboard work has developed into a more important facet of the sound. 

The new album has samples of the group's past, present and future, according to Patty Rose at Cornerstone. "The album has things people heard in shows, stuff from the Walkin' on the Water and some brand new surprises that you've never heard before," she said.

The first single and video will be the newer, edgier "I'm Not Your Man," a coy farewell tune. Other titles mentioned by Rose were "I Wanna Make You Happy," with rollicking twangy guitars and "Gonna Breakdown," a gospel-influenced rocker.

"Tommy has a lot of influences, as you can tell on the new album," Rose said. "Mainly Bo Diddley as one, but the album is musically more complicated."

The Young Rumblers have promises of tour support from Columbia, which will eventually pull them from bar-band status. Besides Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New Jersey shore and Georgetown clubs, the band has had some positive larger-crowd experience. Last summer, they opened headliners David Bowie and Squeeze, Bryan Adams, and the Hooters. Most recently, the Young Rumblers performed in Hershey, opening Robert Plant's show last weekend. "They were fantastic," said Carey at WWZU.

WWZU is attempting to negotiate a sponsored performance for later this year. "We're not sure, though," said Carey. "They're talking about maybe going to Europe."

Locally, the shows are going on; the Young Rumblers will be in Wilkes-Barre for a show at Market Street on August 4th. Next weekend, performances will be at the 23 East Cabaret, soon to be immortalized by MTV. A performance on August 12th in Atlantic City will be broadcast live on Philadelphia's WMMR.

Fine Times Magazine Ad - January 1987

An advertisement from Fine Times Magazine, January 1987. 

Feature cover story is Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers promoting their new album, Walkin' On the Water.

"I wanna smoke cigarettes..."

The following is an excerpt from an article originally found on www.mpprojects.com/tc.

"If you have ever seen Tommy live, you will recognize the 'cigarette' routine during "Walkin' on the Water." I must say that I miss hearing some of the old Rumblers tunes at shows, but his newer stuff is great, too. I have seen Tommy Conwell over 20 times in the last 12 years, most of these times traveling nearly 3 hours to get to the club. The first time I ever saw him, I had to go with my parents as they were the only way my 16 year-old self could get in! My dad still says to this day... I tell ya, that man had a nasty mouth!

When I was in college, a friend and I drove 4 hours just to listen to him play from the back door parking lot of Scandals in Ocean City, Maryland. We were too young to get in, but was it fun listening. We got our highlight when he came around back during "Workout" and actually was playing near our car. It was awesome!!!

The funny part was when nobody would let Tommy back in the door to get on stage. He was kicking at the door for a good couple of minutes!"

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers | Stone Balloon

The following is an excerpt from an article originally found on www.mpprojects.com/tc.

          This picture was taken at the Stone Balloon in Newark, Delaware. The Rumblers had just released "Walkin' on the Water" and there was the smell of beer and babes throughout. The club was so packed I had to hold the camera above my head with my arms fully extended to take this shot. Like any great show at the Balloon, it ended with a group of frat guys in a nasty brawl.

Marc, West Chester

If We Never Meet Again - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers (1988)

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers - Live on MTV's Mouth to Mouth, 1988. Performing If We Never Meet Again. And then the band closes out to commercial [too briefly] with Walkin' on the Water!

Tommy Conwell Documentary "Philebrity" Mention

Today's article from Philadelphia arts culture blog, Philebrity, on Audio Rumble's Tommy Conwell Rockumentary:

Upcoming Tommy Conwell Documentary Reveals… Lots Of Awesomely Hilarious Tommy Conwell Footage

As we speak, UT-Dallas Emerging Media and Communication grad student DJ Caterina is probably hunkered down in front of a Final Cut Pro rig somewhere, splicing together footage for Audio Rumble: Tommy Conwell, a rockumentary about one of Philly’s most beloved ’80s rock heroes. There’s lots of stuff to look at on that main link, but we found this and smiled pretty wide:

Wildwood Girls couldn’t have been too far from the action on this day.

Update: Philebrity re-branded their content sometime in the 2010s. Link to article no longer exists. ☹

Walkin' on the Water (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers perform "Walkin' on the Water" in 1989--on the beach! 

Originally broadcast on local Philadelphia TV, "Making It In Philadelphia" - a WMMR production.

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers: Walkin' On the Water [1987]

News article from The Gloucester County Times Advertiser, Wednesday, January 14, 1987.

[By Gerard Shields, Staff Writer]
 

PHILADELPHIA - The rock music scene in Philadelphia has achieved national acclaim thanks to the Hooters, who have become a favorite on MTV and radio stations throughout the country.

Other Philly acts have also received radio attention over the past six years; bands like Robert Hazard and the Heroes and the now-defunct A’s.

But the excitement in Philadelphia is now at it peak with the debut album by one of its youngest bands, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers.

Conwell and the Rumblers have been a premiere Delaware Valley club band over the last two years, largely thanks to their kick-it-out live performances that leave audiences yearning for more.

Fans who want to take Conwell’s streetwise blues home with them need wait no more. “Walkin’ on the Water,” the band’s first album, is a combination of their trademark, high-powered blues and a new, more mature and controlled Conwell – a side some avid fans may have a hard time getting used to.

Conwell built his reputation with fast-and-wild blues guitar and raw vocals that prompted some critics to compare the band to George Thorogood and the Destroyers. But the Rumblers have gone one step further on “Walkin’ on the Water,” incorporating another guitar and supporting keyboards – an instrument that had been foreign to the group.

The line-up in now Conwell on guitar, Paul Slivka on bass, and Jim Hannum on drums, fleshed out be Chris Day on guitar and Rob Miller (a former member of both the Hooters and Hazard’s Heroes) on keyboards.

In a recent interview, Conwell acknowledged that creating a bigger band was his idea.

“That was really me,” said the Bala Cynwyd, Pa. native. “I did it because I want to be a band. I want to have the big sound.”

Conwell built a following from the ground up. He started in Newark, Del., where he was a member of various punk bands while attending the University of Delaware as an English major.

But his main love was jazz. Conwell spent many Saturday nights in jazz clubs watching bands like the Danny Mento Orchestra at the Cherry Hill Holiday Inn.

“To me, blues was a link between jazz and rock and roll,” he said. “I like rock, but I couldn’t see myself doing it.”

Conwell borrowed $1,000 to get the Young Rumblers started in 1984. The band originally consisted of drummer Brad Fish and bassist Chaz Molins. After buying a truck for $500 and a mixer for $200, the band paved its way to local popularity with Conwell’s simple formula for success.

“It’s so basic,” Conwell said. “When you go to a club, you have to be good enough so that those people want to come back and see you again and the club wants to hire you back again, so that the next time you play the club, there will be more people.” “It’s as simple as that, and that’s the one thing we could always do,” he said.

Conwell’s independent attitude was also the fuel for the new album, which was released on Antenna Records, the label that carried the Hooters to a national contract. The Rumblers also share the Hooters’ management company, Cornerstone.

Conwell said that the album was made with the money the band had saved over the last two years.

“No one gave us a cent and I’m really proud of that,” he said.

Although Conwell is confident that the new album can land him a contract with a major label, he is not concentrating on being successful, just making music.

“I consider the album a reward in that if it sold two copies it would still be a reward,” he said.

“Success is not a goal; success is a reward,” he added. “I want to make good music. I want to be the best that I can be.”

The album was co-produced by Andy King of the Hooters and contains a few songs co-written by Robert Hazard. The influence of the two is evident in a synthesized pop sound.

“Walkin’ on the Water” can be dissected into three parts – the new sound, the traditional rock and roll Conwell, and a fusion of the two.

Songs like “Love’s On Fire” and “I’m Home” are fresh Conwell, with straight-ahead rhythms, smooth guitar hooks and keyboard support that seems aimed at attracting radio play.

Conwell calls the songs his biggest departure. “They actually are pop songs, but I want to do that,” he said. “I want to do both. I want to do it all.”

Although some fans may frown upon the departure, the new songs add variety to Conwell’s powerful live appearances and showcase his lyrics, which – although not prolific – show promise.

“You’ve got to realize you’re dealing with different formats,” Conwell said. “Live, you can feel it…On the radio, if you make something too wild, too hectic, or too loose, it’s going to sound trashy.”

The album’s backbone, however, is the blues that made Conwell famous. “I’m Not Your Man,” the first single, has all the elements – a relentless rhythm, straight three-chord base and searing guitar riffs, with great background vocal support.

Likewise, “Tonight’s the Night” and “Million Pretty Girls” are all blues, with the keyboards taking a break. It’s guitar, guitar and more guitar, with rowdy lyrics that serve as the height of a Rumblers concert.

“I’m really glad we put that stuff on the record,” Conwell said. “I’m proud to be a blues man.”

Two of the best tracks on the LP combine the new and the old. “Do You Still Believe in Me” is an excellent ballad with a haunting guitar intro. The song allows Conwell’s lyrics to shine, with lines like “If my grave’s got to be dug/I’ll dig it myself.”

Although Conwell’s voice is raw, he sings with a sincere snarl that makes you stand up and listen. The album is a gift for Rumblers rooters, but Conwell adds that the songs are a little more controlled that the band’s live show.

Fine Times Magazine - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers Feature [1987]

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers on the cover of Fine Times Magazine

Tommy Conwell

I’ll Rumble 4 Ya!
Two new band members and a debut LP bring the Young Rumblers to the brink of local stardom

By Kate Cericola
Fine Times Magazine, January 1987

Walking on the Water

     

Looking down on the crowd at Scandal’s, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers can barely see anything beyond the waving mass of hands. Perhaps there’s a babe or two licking her lips in wanton earnest, eyes glued to the huge Guild that protrudes from the rather scrawny guy in the larger-than-life leather jacket, but Tommy Conwell is kind of busy right now.

     

The amplifiers in the tiny club, off the main strip in Ocean City, are cranked to 11 (that’s one louder than 10), forcing each driving beat of Jim Hannum’s bass drum to gently fan the hair on every head within three feet of the speakers. Paul Slivka’s ubiquitous bass line guides the ruckus at a full-throttle velocity that keeps everyone on the floor jumping like a pack of rowdy Young Rumblers.

     

Conwell dips the neck of his guitar into the crowd, chains dangling from his wrist, sweat dripping onto the hands that reach up, attempting to capture some of the magic that seems to flow from the body onstage. With Conwell’s arms slung around this old comrade,  and the name “Steve Jones” etched in the wood above the E-string are barely discernible.

     

Conwell returns to his mike, his whole body moving in synch with the right hand that drives his rhythm, as his raunchy rock ‘n’ roll voice kicks the words, “I want to smoke cigarettes and drink too much” into the mob. “But I believe in miracles, but do you believe in me? Let’s go walkin’, walkin’ on the water…”

    

His only fault is easily forgiven. He suffers from the incurable Musicians’ Curse: the ugly jamming face. With the combination of the hair, sprayed upward into stiletto-esque points, and the facial contortions, Conwell could almost pass for Billy Idol.

     

The tough-guy boots leave the stage, Conwell lands on the floor of the bar, and he goes walkin’. On a platform amidst the dancers, he plays the hulking instrument behind his head, as his hair falls limp with the weight of his perspiration. Wrenching noises spew from his amp. Sure it’s loud, but that’s rock ‘n’ roll. And while crowd-walking is the oldest trick in the book, the fans like it well enough.

     

The guitarist seems relaxed – somewhere deep inside him a voice is saying he never really has to return to the stage, but he does. He likes getting down ‘n’ dirty with the audience. He wants to be involved, where the action is – with the babes. But it’s got to end sometime.

     

Tonight they will take no prisoners. Arming themselves with grinding raw energy and a handful of rock ‘n’ roll tones, they will beat their audience into submission. But when the Rumblers leave the stage, the patrons will hunger for more.

     

It’s not a bad gig for this little bunch of ruffians. After all, they’ve only been together for two-and-a-half years. In that time, they’ve risen to the top of the local band heap – even opening for established recording artists and playing stages (the Mann, the Tower, and JFK Stadium) many local bands will only experience from a seat in the audience. With their first album, Walkin’ on the Water, in area stores, they seem destined to follow in the footsteps of their older siblings, the Hooters. 

Everything They Say Is True

Like his music, Tommy Conwell lets his rough edges show. When he’s not onstage, you’ll still find him in that leather jacket – worn, old comfortable. His blond hair still juts toward the sky, but rather than stiff it seems soft, as if it’s kept up there by the residue of shows gone by. The boots are missing – he sports a pair of old sneakers.

His concerns are simple: his music, his responsibilities to Cornerstone, and a worry that his longer hair in the latest batch of publicity pictures makes him look like Daryl Hall. He’s a bit aloof, perhaps even cocky, but occasionally his comments warrant shy laughter from the rising star.

Although he’s 24, Conwell was still an infant as recently as two years ago, according to manager Steve Mountain. “That was the great part,” Mountain says, “because he’s always been tuned in. He never learned any of those bad habits that you’ll find with bands who have been together longer.”

Almost from the start, Cornerstone has been there to hold the hands of the Young Rumblers, who were willing to learn everything their management could teach them. And while two-and-a-half years more seem like a short time to some, the first Rumblers album has been anticipated for more than a year.

The first thing Conwell learned was how to be a musician rather than a manager. “I’ve always considered myself a leader,” Conwell says. “I guess when everyone else was standing around looking stupid, I would just make a decision.” Before Cornerstone, Conwell booked gigs, drove the truck, set up and collected the money at the end of the night. Since Cornerstone now handles all this and more, Conwell has only his writing and performing to be concerned with.

“I feel I can have faith in them,” Conwell says. “I don’t have to be looking over their shoulder all the time thinking “OK, when are you guys going to screw up?”, which I’ve heard a lot of people do. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about managers, and I have yet to see any of that.”

Next, Conwell began taking voice lessons in New York and more recently a class in performance, whose graduates include Cyndi Lauper and the Hooters.

His biggest challenge, he says, is writing. “That’s about having faith in yourself. It’s the biggest test of self-confidence because you’re being vulnerable and you’re setting yourself up to be knocked down.”

His lyrics are straightforward, rebellious: “I’m not your man, ‘cause you’re looking for a hero/Baby, it ain’t me.” He claims they don’t have to be meaningful, universal, or world-conscious. They can be, but for now they’re just things that are important to him.

“I’m like music for the less discriminating palate,” he says. “My music is not always so clever or calculating. You don’t have to be in tune to what’s happening to dig the Rumblers. If you like that raw energy, that spark…”

     

Although they were originally dubbed a “rockabilly band,” perhaps because they were a three-piece with a hollow-body guitar, Conwell finds the notion ridiculous. “I consider us more of a blues band than rockabilly,” he says. Those blues influences give the Rumblers their flair, allowing Conwell to play off his audiences and improvise.

     

“I like rock ‘n’ roll,” Conwell says. “Some places you go, they call heavy metal ‘rock ‘n’ roll.’ Like ‘We like rock ‘n’ roll…like Iron Maiden.’” He laughs. “Rock ‘n’ roll to me is screaming – like Gene Vincent or ‘Come Go With Me’ by the Del Vikings. That’s fun.

     

“I like the spontaneity and the rough edges. It’s vital to have some mistakes. That just proves that there are human beings playing. I never liked music that didn’t sound like a band – Tears for Fears or Eurythmics. It sounds like a Pepsi commercial! Pop is fine – Hall and Oates or A-Ha. But I can’t do it.”

Million Pretty Girls
     

It was Halloween [1986], and the Stone Balloon was hopping when Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers took the stage. They bounced around with the same enthusiasm, but there was something different. Gone were the rugged looks of street punks. Well, they still had the same sharp-looking hair, but their leather jackets and boots were missing. Instead, the boys were wearing house dresses shang-haied from Good Will.
     

“We aren’t girls,” Conwell insists, “we were just wearing dresses.”
     

Beneath the giant guitar, Conwell’s little white knees stuck out as he rocked the bar. Even the crew were wearing dresses, and Conwell and the Rumblers repeatedly tried to force them onstage by knocking things over.
     

The crowd was loving it, as usual. A few girls may even have caught a peak up a Rumbler dress if they were lucky.
     

“Girls are funny,” Conwell says. “Sometimes someone wants to punch you out because their girlfriend likes you, which is hysterical, because you couldn’t give a shit about their girlfriend and she’s all googly-eyed over you.” How he handles the situation: “Bouncer! Management You’re pretty protected. Plus you’ve got all those friends in the audience. I’ve always had more people for me than against me…maybe I’m wrong.” He laughs.
     

“I’m not trying to make fools out of these girls,” he says, “but it’s interesting for us because we’re just your average guys.”

Do You Still Believe in Me?
     

To the ear of a true Rumbler fan, Walkin' on the Water, co-produced by Conwell and Hooters bassist Andy King, may seem like a slap in the face. For the price of the nine-track, 12-inch vinyl disc, one will find added keyboard patterns wandering behind the customary rock of the Rumblers. The rockabilly stigma has become obsolete, with the recent additions of guitarist Chris Day (formerly of the John Alexander Band) and keyboardist (and ex-Hooter) Rob Miller.
     

Conwell is confident that any shock will subside. “I got a lot of resistance from the other guys in the band,” Conwell says of the keyboards. “There was a fear that ‘Wow, we’re not the Rumblers anymore.’ And we’re not – we’re the new Rumblers, so screw the old Rumblers. Rest in peace, it’s been nice knowing you. If the old Rumblers hung around for another two-and-a-half years, I don’t think I’d like them that much. I think I’ve had about enough of that crap. It was really great, but it’s like anything. It gets old after a while.
     

“We were always three guys trying to sound like six guys, and sometimes it showed in our energy. There’s something novel about that. Now we’ve got the new guys, so we don’t have to sound like six guys. We can just relax.
     

At some point you have to think about consistency in your sound and your music,” he continues. “Not that you have to think about it, but somehow, when you’re straying too far off the mark, you know it. Like when you bring in a tune that you wrote, and it starts sounding like ELP [Emerson, Lake and Palmer] or some crap, then you know you’ve gone a little too far.”
     

This was not a problem when turning the Rumblers into a five-piece band. “I knew I was doing the right thing,” Conwell says. “I didn’t care what the other guys thought because I’m the one who’s going to have to live and die with it.”
     

Bringing the new Rumblers together was no easy task.  Conwell, who for fun takes busman’s holidays to see live bands, searched for a year before he found the right players. He admits to watching other bands, all the while pondering who he might be able to steal. Just prior to recording Walkin' on the Water, Day and Miller were inducted into the Rumblers.
    

Miller was originally auditioned for guitar, but Conwell laughs “he was probably too good for that, so we stuck him on keyboards so he wouldn’t make me look silly.”
     

For the new songs on the album, Conwell was lucky enough to collaborate with local hitmakers Eric Bazilian, Rob Hyman, and Robert Hazard (Bazilian and Hyman receive no songwriting credits, although they helped write a bridge for “Walkin' on the Water”).
     

Next, Conwell spent a week in hiding with Andy King at a house in West Virginia. They wrote “Here I Come” and arranged a few new versions of old songs. Conwell says he feels he and King are “old battlemates” after living with him for a week and working together in the studio.
     

“He understands what I’m trying to do musically,” Conwell says. “He didn’t try to force anything down my throat. I’ve been told producers can change your sound, and that would scare the shit out of me. But Andy didn’t want to change our sound, he just wanted to capture it.”
     

The Rumblers spent October and November working 12-hour days at Studio 4 in Philadelphia. While the studio environment has a tendency to make less-seasoned musicians choke, Conwell says for the Rumblers it was simply a matter of control.
     

“You have to remember what you’re doing,” he says. “Most people feel pressurized because they’re putting out money and it’s a one-shot deal. Live performance is a one-shot deal, too – it’s just easier to forget.
     

“A lot of times when I was recording, I would just imagine all the people in front of me…especially the girls,” he laughs.

I’m Home

     

Robert Palmer was waiting for the opening act to finish their set at the Mann Music Center. Onstage, three little guys were trying to make themselves sound like six. Not that the audience could tell – they all sat in their designated seats watching the Rumblers strut their finery. It can all be very intimidating, but not for the Rumblers. They’re comfortable – they’re home.
     

“You get onstage because it puts you in a position to give to people, not to receive.” Conwell says.  Playing the bigger stages is easier for the band because they don’t have to work as hard to gain the audience’s attention. At clubs, it’s different – people are drinking, guys and girls are trying to pick up or be picked up, everybody is walking around.  At the Mann there are no distractions; the Rumblers won’t have to jump off their amps to say hello. Occasionally there’s some crowd-walking; but not too often. Conwell laughs, “You don’t want to blow away the headliner, you know?”
     

The best moments are still in the clubs, though: a great night with an eager crowd, playing their favorite tunes with magic flowing from Conwell’s fingertips to the strings of his Guild.
     

“That’s what it’s all about,” he affirms.” And if there’s a mistake, tough shit. It’s flowing through you. That’s what qualifies me to be so lucky. My job is to let magic flow through me, to express energy, and feel it.
     

“Sometimes I walk around like Mr. Humble, thinking we’re just a lucky bunch of guys. But when a door is opened for you, you have to walk through. And we’re a band who walks through doors. If I seem confident, it’s because we waited two-and-a-half years to make this album, and I’m glad because I like it. And I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true…”

He laughs again. “Well, maybe I would.”

I Remember a Special Moment by Cyndy Drue

The following is an excerpt from an article originally found on www.mpprojects.com/tc.

          One of my most memorable events was the record release party for Walkin' on the Water, held at the Chestnut Cabaret on Monday, December 29, 1986. Everybody was there for a reason! Aside from a few possible groupie-types, everyone there had something to do with the cause. The Chestnut Cabaret filled up quickly on that special night. I went with Buzz Barkley and it was on the way there that we talked about him being a part of Street Beat as the music news informant. He was about to start writing for the South Street Star so it made sense. Street Beat, the original local music show I hosted and produced for WMMR for ten years had just begun in February.

L to R kneeling: Promotion Director Jack Quigley, Pierre Robert, Larry Richman,Tommy, Program Director Ted Utz (holding album), Research Director Donna Bailey, Cyndy Drue. L to R standing: Music Director Erin Riley, YR's Guitarist Chris Day, Drummer Jim Hannum, Promotion Assistant Ray Koob, not sure of her position - just say staff member Dalin Pavey, Street Beat Correspondent and Beru Revue Keyboardist Buzz Barkley, YR's bassist Paul Slivka, YR's Keyboardist Rob Miller. [Photo credit - Scott Weiner]

          There was a true sense of family in the room. When Joe Conwell, “the famous one” as Tommy called his brother, walked into the room pushing the disabled Mr. Conwell in a wheelchair, I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I didn’t know whether I’d be able to talk to this man whom I had read about in the Daily News, whom Joe referred to as the real strength in the family. I wanted to talk to him – I just didn’t know if I’d be able to get past the emotion. But later I did. He and his wife were sitting alone and I approached them, introduced myself, hoping they’d heard of me, which they said they had. Mr. Conwell was a little hard to follow but he was excited. I told them this must be a proud moment. Mrs. Conwell said she’s just happy for Tommy.

           Walkin' on the Water was playing on a great sound system all night and I couldn’t stop moving to it. I think it was hearing it there and being there that made me realize I loved it. During dinner I sat with Lou, Tommy’s cousin who worked for him as a roadie, Buzz, Greg Davis and Paul Slivka of the Rumblers.

           About 9 o’clock Tommy made his speech. He stood on the Chestnut Cabaret’s stage in a red light with an orange print suit. One hand in a pocket, completely at ease, he began. He told a story about how his voice teacher told him about a caterpillar. It was walking on a rug, crossing different colors, wandering all along what this rug was about. It seemed to have no order or design. Soon, the caterpillar became a butterfly, and it flew above the rug. It saw the colors and how they went together to form a pattern and he saw that there was order to the rug. He sees the Young Rumblers as entering the butterfly stage. And they are being rewarded. Everyone who works hard eventually is rewarded. The room was perfectly quiet throughout his speech. I was impressed. Tommy was serious and slow, thinking his words out carefully sometimes looking up into the air for his thoughts. He then thanked all the people, and pictures on the stage followed.

           All of the Hooters were there, most of Beru Revue, Tommy’s roommate from Dynagroove, Don Van Winkle, Eddie Bader and Ian Cross from Bricklin, and John Kuzma, among others. I left about midnight with Jack Quigley, WMMR’s Promotion Director.

          Tommy’s manager Steve Mountain’s closing words to us were “wait – in ten years – the book – you’ll be in it!”

I'm Home (live) - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers at the Spectrum

A live performance of I'm Home by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, live at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, February 20, 1987.

Love's On Fire - Philadelphia television, 1986

A performance of Love's On Fire by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers on local Philadelphia television, 1986.