The Tom Sless Band

The Tom Sless Band Bio:

Tom Sless is a Baltimore, Maryland based singer songwriter whose infectious musical style has helped make him a popular favorite on the Charm City music scene since 2009. Since acquiring his first electric guitar on a family vacation to San Francisco’s legendary Haight Ashbury District, Tom has worked tirelessly honing his instrumental skills and lyrical visions. Performing live and sharing his music with others has become a passion for the 18 year-old talent.

Tom’s first band, Red Light District, was formed in 2007, when a couple of high school friends just having a good time making music together decided to throw their hat into the eclectic music scene of Baltimore. Red Light District made their Baltimore debut in May, 2009 with a show at Ottobar, which was quickly followed by a string of appearances at many of Baltimore’s most venerable live music venues. The group became a staple in the area, performing in such Baltimore music hotspots as the Recher Theatre (Towson, MD), Ram’s Head Live, the Sidebar, the Brass Monkey Saloon, and the Quarter/Bourbon Street. In addition to their original music performances, Red Light District has also performed at the New Jersey State Triathlon (Princeton, NJ), the North East Maryland Triathlon (North East, MD), the Rutgers UNITE Half-Marathon (New Brunswick. NJ), and Maynard’s Cafe (Margate, NJ).

In March 2011, Tom put Red Light District on hiatus, made some personnel changes, and re-emerged as the Tom Sless Band with a debut performance at the Sinix in Essex, MD. The band’s sound is a combination of classic rock influences and modern alternative elements. “Although I am hard-pressed to ‘categorize’ my music, it’s safe to say that some of my strongest influences are from the classic rock era, such as The Beatles, The Doors, The Who, and, even punk rockers, the Violent Femmes,” says Tom. Listeners can distinctly hear the influence of Pete Townshend’s guitar, the haunting vocal timbre of Jim Morrison and Roy Orbison, as well as a songwriting foundation based in the Lennon/McCartney style.

In addition to the aforementioned “classic” influences, many of Tom’s songs boast homage to an eclectic range of modern artists, including The Killers and Dave Matthews Band. One example of these influences is evident in “How Many Ways Are There to Say I Love You,” where a traditional Beatles-esque verse transforms into a commanding, Killers-type chorus. Another of Tom’s compositions, “End of It All,” is a powerful rock ballad, featuring a prominent piano hook and captivating lyrics.

“When I am writing songs, I like my lyrics to tell a story, whether they are about happiness or sadness, love or loss. Getting the audience to connect with my lyrics is one of my main goals,” explains Tom, adding, “lyrics aside, entertaining a crowd is priority number one. I like to think that when people leave one of my shows that they feel they heard something new and exciting.”

Today, The Tom Sless Band is comprised of Tom (guitarist/vocalist/ keyboards), who is backed by bassist (and 15 year-old younger brother) Aaron Sless, Ben Kolakowski on rhythm guitar and backing vocals and 17 year-old Cristian King on drums. The long list of influences of each member of The Tom Sless Band helps to create a unique sound that has not been heard before on the Baltimore area music scene.

Recently, Tom has been incorporating piano, organ, mandolin and ukulele into his music, which has widened the possibilities for his compositions. “I’ve been working a lot in my home studio writing and recording new mixes that I hope to put out later this year.

Contact Information:

Tom Sless

410-370-8510

tomsless@gmail.com

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