Cape Breton's The Tom Fun Orchestra are excited about their first new CD in four years as well as the new, solid line up that recorded on it.
“ Response to it has been good so far. We’re just relieved to have a new album out after four years,” said Tom Fun Orchestra vocalist and guitarist Ian MacDougall.
The rest of the band includes Breagh Potter - Guitar, Vocals; Dave Mahalik - Accordion; Victor Tomiczek - Banjo; Albert Lionais - Trumpet; Shane O'Handley - Bass and Steve Wilton - Drums.
They play the Slice, Nov. 19 with the Strumbellas.
“Earthworm Heart” is the band’s second CD. It has been a long time coming.
“ We had a revolving line up for sure. So while most bands were working on new projects, we’d be teaching new people old songs and preparing for a new tour,” he continued.
The new Cd combines a touch of Celtic music with a lot of indie rock and surprisingly a lot of horns.
“You’re the second interviewer who noticed that, but we’ve always had horn players. We don’t have a touring violin player now, so the horns fill in some of that” said MacDougall, who said it wasn’t intentional, it’s just the way the music developed.
“I’m more comfortable with arranging music now, but we wanted to do more of a rock and roll record than the last one,” he said.
“It’s all over the place,” he continued adding some of the people who were fans of the band before might not like the new music as much, though he hopes their new sound will draw new people into the Tom Fun Band’s fold.
“It’s definitely more representative of of the music we want to make,” he said. He emphasized the Cd and the band’s live show are two different things.
“We definitely look at them as two different things. We definitely play the live show at full throttle. We just want to put on a great show,” he continued.
“The live show is six hairy guys and a girl who want to have a good time. We just want to keep people dancing and keep things upbeat,” he said.
The show begins at 9:30 p.m. at the Slice, Nov. 19. There is a $10 cover for the show. The Stumbellas will also be performing.
