L.A. Beat

Kingston based songwriter Tom Savage shows his slightly softer side on his  CD “History of a Common Man.”
 The CD is mostly powered by Savage strumming   an acoustic guitar  singing world wearied  stories and sounding very similar to Bruce Springsteen mixed with cats like Todd Snider and  Hayes Carll.
 There are some tasteful countrified guitar solos like on “ Baby You’re Wrong ( That’s All Right With Me.”
 There is a lot of  traditional country   influences here and maybe a touch of gospel on “ A Brief  Moment of Eternity” which features a shout along chorus and harmony vocals plus a wicked catchy  organ solo performed by Chris Brown to go along with the  foot stomping rhythm
He has a knack for a turn of phrase like in “Don’t Plan on Starting Now” on which he sings “ Where have all the good men gone, well you’re looking right at one. I’ve never let you down before and I don’t plan on starting now,”’ which is punctuated by a twangy and tasteful guitar solo.
He also shows some nimble guitar picking on tracks like “Hold On to the Sound” which also has a really pretty, mandolin solo in the background. He also shows off some tender picking on “Nothing  but A  Bad Dream,” which sounds like  something Paul Simon might have written.
 He picks up the pace a little on “ Mercy Killing” and on the highlight “Take the Wheel and I’ll Steer.”
 It all comes together beautifully on “Skinny Kid” with pretty guitar playing and world wearied lyrics.
 He ends the CD on a sombre note with “ The Slow Decline.”
CD: History of  a Common Man
 Artist: Tom Savage
 Genre: folk/ country