PRISM 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash in 1986

Video of a live television simulcast on PRISM and WMMR from Veterans Stadium on Labor Day, 1986.

It's PRISM's 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash!

Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers -- because it's the 3-piece band -- perform Workout. From the Philadelphia Inquirer paper:

Phils, Fireworks and Rumblers

The Phillies are in town this weekend, playing San Francisco today through Sunday and San Diego Monday. The Labor Day encounter will be a real bash, and we aren't talking the long ball here. After the game, as part of Prism TV's 10th anniversary celebration, there'll be fireworks and a concert by the oh-so-up-and-coming rock band Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers. The game starts at 7:35 p.m., and tickets cost $3 to $7.50.

"Celebrate Season's Last Hurrah In The City" by Alexis Moore Love, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: August 29, 1986

Tommy Conwell's "Christmas Is Here" got a Philebrity post mention yesterday. Hey Philebrity -- thanks for the props!

Christmas is Here - Tommy Conwell

One of DJ Caterina's favorite Christmas songs is Christmas Is Here by Tommy Conwell. Audio is interspersed with concert footage clips of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers in 1986 at Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia. 


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tommy Conwell at Walsh's Tavern - 1995

Tommy Conwell. On guitar. With a band. At Walsh's Tavern. In the town that rocked the nation, Philadelphia, PA. Vids courtesy of DocKunkle on YouTube. 

When I invent a Hot Tub Time Machine, you'll find me here at Walsh's...

A cover of The Fabulous Thunderbirds' Wait on Time.

Scotland the Brave

Walkin' To My Baby [another Fab T-Birds cover]

"TC Jazz Tip"

Setlist - Blockley Pourhouse, Nov. 6, 2010

Setlist from Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers performance at The Blockley Pourhouse, Nov. 6, 2010. 

• Tonight's the Night
• Everything They Say is True
• Here I Come
• Love's On Fire
• I'm Home
• Guitar Trouble
• Million Pretty Girls
• Workout
• I'm 17
• Do You Still Believe In Me
• Gonna Breakdown
• I Wanna Be Loved
• If We Never Meet Again
• Rock With You
• Goin' On Down Here
• Walkin' on the Water
• I'm Not Your Man
• Rumble
• Hand of Fate
• Time Has Come Today
• Walkin' By Myself
• Space Cowboy
• Back in the USA

Interview with Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian of The Hooters

A post-concert interview with Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian of The Hooters in 1986.

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers go onstage at Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia for the PRISM 10th Anniversary Bash. Simulcast live on PRISM and WMMR.

Tommy Conwell's WYSP Acoustic Performance

 

So you can't get into tonight's sold out Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers show in Philly? Well, here's your consolation prize...

Tommy Conwell promotes his appearance on WYSP's Loud and Local performing "Love's On Fire."

Less than a week away before Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers perform at The Blockley on Saturday, November 6. Are you ready, Philly?!

- New concert footage of Tommy Conwell's Young Rumblers [3-piece band] at Veteran's Stadium - the 80's!

- Check out Cyndy Drue's blog about this Saturday's TCYR reunion show.
- Thanks again to Spike at Philadelphia's WYSP for another great acoustic radio jam session with Tommy Conwell this evening.

Baltimore guitarist sharpening his riffs with Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Baltimore guitarist sharpening his riffs with Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers
November 15, 1990 | by Nestor Aparicio | Evening Sun Staff 

Blues guitar lovers might call it the best of Baltimore and the best of Philadelphia united in a blues-rock bar band second to none. Left to right: Billy Kemp, Rob Miller, Paul Slivka, Tommy Conwell and Jim Hannum.

Saturday night at Hammerjacks will be the first opportunity locally to see the new incarnation of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, featuring Baltimore's Billy Kemp on guitar. 

It all happened quickly and quietly during the summer. Conwell's former guitarist Chris Day left the band to pursue other interests right before the Rumblers' new album, "I'm Seventeen," was released. 

Kemp, who opened for the Rumblers with his Paradise Rockers during their last appearance at Hammerjacks in the spring, said he jumped at the opportunity to work with Conwell when his phone rang. "I knew it would be a great chance to work with an up-and-coming, nationally known band," Kemp said. "But, to be honest, I didn't even know Tommy." 

Since August, Kemp, who still lives in Catonsville, has been commuting to Philadelphia for rehearsals. The band has played a dozen shows there and in Atlantic City. "But this is the big tour, and I finally get to come home for a show," Kemp said. The tour began Tuesday in New Haven, Conn., and ends in three weeks from in Ohio. The album, which Kemp doesn't perform on, although he's in the video for "I'm Seventeen," hasn't been as well-received as Conwell's first CBS release, "Rumble." 

But, Kemp says, it's just a matter of promotion. "That's why we're going on the road; to let everyone know that Tommy has some good things happening," Kemp said. "The album has only been out for eight weeks so I think it's a little early to say it's dead." Meanwhile, Kemp continues to sharpen his riffs on Conwell's older songs and has even added a few twists. 

"It's been a lot of work learning everything," Kemp said. "But it's a very democratic situation within the band. Even though I'm the new guy, they all have listened to my input and taken my suggestions seriously. 

"At this point, that's about all I can ask for."

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers Return to Philadelphia!

You wanted them in Philly - and now you got 'em in Philly!

An announcement from Tommy Conwell via e-mail from tommyconwellstore.com.

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers Return to Philadelphia!

When: November 6, 2010
Where: The Blockley Pourhouse
(site of the old Chestnut Cabaret)
38th and Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.222.1234

Hey, you guys! This is a big one for us. First time headlining in the Philly city limits since the early 90's, and at the old Chestnut Cabaret, where we had so many special shows back in the 80's. Tommy, Chris, Rob, Jim, and Paul. Ned and the guys at the Blockley are real into it, and the venue is real cool and nice. Tickets are only 18 bucks in advance. Come rock with the Rumblers on November 6!

See you then,
Tommy

BUY TICKETS HERE

Three mini-clip concert performances from Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers on YouTube. Thanks reyjoe1986 for your hard work -- it is much appreciated. Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Cruisin' Slow - Penn State 1989

It's Your Life - Veteran's Stadium

Tonight's the Night - Spectrum

Live at Dewey Beach - Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Finally! Concert footage from the Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers concert live at the Bay Center in Dewey Beach, Delaware. Thanks racedad881 and stoneballoonwh for the videos!


- I’m Not Your Man
- Gonna Breakdown
- Rumble
- Do You Still Believe In Me

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers Reunion

Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers are bringing an 80's reunion of the original 'Rumble' line-up: Tommy, Rob, Chris, Paul, and Jim. The last time that the DJ Caterina caught a Young Rumblers reunion show was an epic night! The crowd was so awesome that Tommy said we kicked his ass! Yeah, we did!

When: Sat., Aug. 21, 2010
Where: The Bay Center at Ruddertowne, Dewey Beach, DE
Price: $20

Tommy Conwell Sings the National Anthem 2010

Tommy Conwell will sing the National Anthem when the Philadelphia Phillies play the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday, July 29, 2010.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m. -- it's 80's retro night!

Update: Check out TC's performance below!

"No Depression" Buzz Zeemer Article - 1999

The following is an overheard exchange between DJ Caterina and a co-worker this past week.

Co-worker: So, what kind of music do you listen to again?

DJ Caterina: Well, when it comes to music, I just love me some Philly. Y'know, that late '80's stuff from Tommy Conwell, the Hooters, Flight of Mavis. It's all Daryl Hall's fault. Even these days, I just can't get enough of his show, 'Live from Daryl's House" -- it's sweet

Co-worker: Uh...yeah. Hooters? I thought you didn't like that restaurant? Hey, some friends and I were going to go see the Celtic Thunder concert in the fall. Up for it?
 
DJ Caterina: Geez, Celtic Thunder. That music and performance has about as much to do with Ireland as McDonald's does to fine dining. Nah, I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to see Frank Brown perform at The Grape Street Pub -- oh, I mean, The Grape Room -- in Philly on a Tuesday night without losing at least three working days.
 
Co-worker: Hmmm...OK. Right. (steps away slowly)
 
DJ Caterina: No, seriously! My time on the weekend is so spent. I still have at least two PRISM concert performances to post from Buzz Zeemer on YouTube. But since I won't have that much time this weekend, I'll post a July-August No Depression 1999 Buzz Zeemer article written by Phil Sheridan...hey, where did everybody go?

Tommy Conwell Set List, Summer Solstice

Set list from last night's Tommy Conwell concert at the Summer Solstice Celebration at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall in Philadelphia. (Thanks, Joe!)

Here I Come
Everything They Say Is True
Tonight's The Night

I'm Home
Goin' Back to Philly
Love's on Fire
Guitar Trouble
Goin' On Down Here
Do You Still Believe In Me
I'm Seventeen
Million Pretty Girls
Workout
Walkin' on The Water
I'm Not Your Man
Alabama Jubilee  (Jerry Reed cover)
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman Turner Overdrive cover)
I Want To Walk You Home (Fats Domino cover)

Tommy Conwell Interview on WMMR - 1996

Tommy Conwell and the Little Kings were rockin’ in that late 90’s-era of swing music that also featured Bryan Setzer and his 17-piece big swingin’ band and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy featured in the movie,  “Swingers.” Vegas, baby!

This interview with Tommy Conwell is the 2nd to the last episode of Cyndy Drue’s Street Beat, a Philly radio standard from 1986-1996 on WMMR.



And what does Tommy discuss? Buzz Zeemer, the end of the Young Rumblers, thoughts on his talent for songwriting (he says he's not a songwriter - whatever, Tommy!) and Frank Brown's greatness, the MCA record that was never released. Except that it was - eventually. (See Thanks But No Thanks at the Tommy Conwell store.)

Songs featured during this interview (but not included in this clip are):

• Smarty Pants – Hi Ho Silver! – Tommy Conwell and the Little Kings
• Break My Heart – PlayThing – Buzz Zeemer
• Love’s On Fire – Walkin’ on the Water EP – Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Tommy Conwell and Conan O'Brien

Conwell and Coco!

Audio Rumble unveils a way-too-cool image of Tommy playing a Fender Strat (notice that it's a Conan O'Brien cartoon head on the body) with Brian Setzer and Conan O'Brien himself listenin' in. Not a recent image, but still great to see! Courtesy of the Fender Community Forum on Fender's website.