Thom Chrastka, born in Berwyn, south of the tracks, schooled catholic, gets guitar in second grade for Christmas, takes a few lessons, never figures out how to tune it, becomes prop and toy, not long after, stashed in attic.
Plays french horn 4th grade through 8th grade, somehow uses it as bass instrument, never really learns, knows two fingers down is A, hears a real french horn player, didn't realize just what it was intended for.
Enters high school, all boys school, theater kid, mop headed misfit, still needs to kiss a girl, maybe should have rethought the all boys school, and the french horn as far as chick appeal is concerned, likes oingo boingo, beatles, and ministry.
Sophomore year, as part payment for house/catsitting, gets an old Stella brand guitar, goes to church with folks every sunday, joins contemporary choir (i.e. guitar group), given tamborine, shifts between up beats and down beats, 1991, invents the diagonal beat, decides to bring guitar to church, after a couple of lessons with neighbor, is armed with C, D, E, A, and G chords, has yet to discover B and F, thinks he found H, finds out it's just A7dim9, forgets chord immediately.
Somewhere along the way, is given reel to reel tape machine, crappy mics and cable. Gradually finding more music through newly formed friends, finds job at Dunkin' Donuts, grows big sideburns, can afford to go to used record store and buy twenty tapes for twenty five bucks, still have some left over for coffee, does not understand what "tipping" means at this point in life, wonders why waitress at Denny's doesn't "warm it up" as often as she should.
Friend and future in law, Matt Durica, sees tape machine and asks to record friend's band, Jarhead. Agreeing, Tom Chrastka brings said heavy ass equipment to basement and has to wonder how people can play so fast and fun, wants to play too. Still going to church, is watching fingers and learning what b7, bminor, and C#min7 are. In brookfield basement, learns what a power chord is. Plays electrified instrument for first time in said basement. Future inlaw and friend, Matt Durica, tells people in backyard of basement that Tom Chrastka is playing in his band. Thom doesn't realize that yet, but reaction to news is something like, "oh... ok, sounds good to me." By this time in life, Tom becomes Thom (approx august 92).
Two bands: Bottled Ovaries, Pinwheel. One, Matt sings, the other, Thom sings, both are fun with standard odd drama and occasional drunkeness, self included. Tries hot and spicy food for the first time after a Pinwheel practice in the form of Hooters Three Mile Island Hot Wings. Learns about flavor versus Vinegar Heat later in life. Right now, it's the culinary equivalent of slap boxing. Still, it's good enough.
Time goes by, chicago seems to be either hardcore or that band doing the queers doing screeching weasel doing the ramones. current band fell into latter group, quits hoping to innovate etc. Gets other jobs, gets friends jobs as well, ends up playing with former Jarhead drummer, Dug Abram, here and there after work. Very sketchy seat of the pants stuff. Also plays with friend, Arunas (at that time, Rooney) in angular splash cymbal prog punk band Nightsoil Apocolypse (NSA). Is fun, and in words of guitar player, Chuck..."good times". Many good days are spent in Music talks with Dug, being exposed to many odd forms and notions. Growing up with the Beatles and Bob Dylan and not really listening to stuff like Slayer till after age 20 changes one's ideas around a touch.
oh yeah, high school, and this group of friends also turned me on to flipper. thank you all.
Skipping much. Years later, moves out of house finally, is schooling and working, discovering sound engineering, lingering thoughts of "music school.." Meets with Dug and steadily enjoys new forms brought to attention, gypsy and tango, bleeps and blorps, screeches and skronks. Meets Right Eye Rita and Dersu and makes up original Black Bear Combo. All instrumental music, no lyrics, no singers, no ego or drama, has ton of fun, is working too much, though, coffee shop and jobbing band lead to falling asleep at wheel in Feb 2003, not fun. For said reasons, knows there's work in Vegas, asks about it, and ends up with job offer in May, moves out in July.
Three and a half years later, not too much music, but is finally making more friends, we'll see soon as far as music is concerned. Finding Vegas to be a touch more "image conscious" to put it lightly, Thom is somewhat daunted and is tempted to write his name as lower case, thom, but decides against it. Still missing home, but finding 65 in February "not too shabby", Thom Chrastka is considering buying a home and making it his own somehow. Thom is currently learning the Cornet, and needs to start carrying something to write on for ideas. Ok, Thom can only write in third person for so long.
So long!
