Thank you very much for checking out thomasondrums.net! The last blog post was at the start of May, and since then I have been drumming all around Southern California, with different bands, and very different styles of music! The highlight of May 2019 had to be “May Madness” and playing 2nd drums with Johnny Vatos and Oingo Boingo Former Members! Those shows were a blast, and I had a great time behind the massive set up of drums that Vatos and I put together for me to attack those shows!
Pic above: In the drum studio rehearsing the “May Madness” Oingo Boingo Former Members‘ set with the man, Johnny Vatos! This set up was massive, and a lot of fun to play. Just like in the past, when I play with Oingo Boingo Dance Party, now known as ‘Oingo Boingo Former Members’ – 90% of the drums I use on stage are ‘Vintage Vatos’ and are the property of Johnny ‘Vatos’ Hernandez, the ONE and ONLY Oingo Boingo drummer! I am humbled and honored to play these instruments on stage!
We were ready to drum!
Oingo Boingo Former Members – “May Madness” 2019
Show One:
Photo above: All set up and ready for soundcheck at the first show, in Santa Clarita, California. ‘May Madness’ was about to take off!
Santa Clarita, California
Photo above: The Boingo drum dudes! I am always honored to play drums with the man, Johnny Vatos! Thank you, John!
Show Two:
Show Two was at ‘The Rose’ in Pasadena, California. This was a very cool show for me, as this is the same venue that I played my very first show with ‘Oingo Boingo Dance Party’ back when I was just 13 years old. This was my first time back playing in Pasadena since then, and it was a blast!
Photo above: all set up at ‘The Rose’ in Pasadena!
Pasadena, California
Photos above: Performing with the great musicians in this band is just awesome! The show in Pasadena was a blast! Check out Vatos’ T shirt! Reppin’ thomasondrums!
Show Three:
The next night, we played at the brand new venue, ‘The Canyon’ in Montclair, California
Photos: Backstage, just before showtime in Montclair. Mike ‘ The Spike’ Glendinning gathered us in for a photo…
Montclair, California
Show Four:
Photo above: The fourth show of the “May Madness” Tour was at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California. This show was a lot of fun, and it was great to see my sister, Kylie at the show too! Here is a photo-op before soundcheck with Kylie and the great, Freddy Hernandez! Always a lot of laughs with these guys!
Photo above: My sister, Kylie, is so supportive of me, and my journey with music! Thank you, Ky!
Photo above: backstage, just before showtime at ‘The Canyon Club’ with these cool cats! It is an honor to play with these amazing musicians! Freddy Hernandez, Mike ‘The Spike’, John Avila, Steve Bartek and Carl Graves!
Agoura Hills, California
***This is where it got tricky. I had to play 4 shows, in two days. I loaded-in gear with Oingo Boingo Former Members, set-up, sound checked – then took off for Orange County School of the Arts – got dressed in the car on the way. Arrived at the Webb Theater in Santa Ana, California – Played in the opening band for the OCSA show, “The Songwriter Circle” – as soon as my set was done, I ran to the exit – jumped in the car and drove to play the gigs with Oingo Boingo Former Members. The first night at The Coach House, and the second night at the Whisky A Go Go.
Photo above: The Show Bill for the OCSA show
Show Five:
The fifth show of ‘May Madness’ was back home for me, in Orange County, at The Coach House, in San Juan Capistrano! After playing in the show with Orange County School of the Arts at 7pm, this show with Oingo Boingo Former Members was my first double-header gig! We went on with Boingo at 9:30pm…
San Juan Capistrano, California
The Coach House show was a really fun gig! I think the crowd was the best we ever had there. They were so into the music, and it made it so much fun to perform! I saw so many friends and family at the show! Thank you all for coming out! It was also so special to have my drum teacher of the last 10- years, Rob Ferrell, at this show! Rob is just the nicest guy in the world, and such a great drum teacher! Thanks Rob!
Photos above: Backstage before the show at The Coach House with Johnny Vatos and Rob Ferrell! These guys have meant so much to me in my journey with the drums! Mentors and friends. I can’t thank them enough! I always love playing at the Coach House – Orange County is home!
Show Six:
The last show of the ‘May Madness’ Tour was at the world famous, Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood! I was very excited to play there for the first time, because I really love the history of music – and The Whisky has such an amazing history! Man, so many musicians that I respect so much have played there before… And, it was an honor to play on that stage for the first time with the members of Oingo Boingo Former Members!
Photos: At the Whisky
After playing the second night in a row with Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana – as soon as my set was done, we jumped in the car and hauled ass up to Hollywood for the second night’s double header gig!
Photo above: Backstage at the Whisky before the show with lead singer, Brendan McKian
Hollywood, California
Yes! Oingo Boingo’s ‘May Madness’ shows rocked! Thank you to all of my band mates for keeping me in time: Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez, Steve Bartek, Brendan McKian, Carl Graves, Sam “Slugo” Phipps, John Avila, Felice Hernandez, Mike ‘The Spike’ Glendinning, Freddy Hernandez, Brian Swartz. You guys ROCK!!
Photo above: Backstage at the Whisky A Go Go with my mom & dad
I could not end this blog post without saying that I want to thank my parents, Dan and Jana Lowrey for all they do for me each and everyday! They have been so supportive of my journey with the drums and music, and I can’t thank them enough! I love you mom and dad! – Thomas
