Gary Thomas is a Music graduate of the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. His unique mastery of his instrument and voice makes him one of the leaders of the acoustic music scene in South Africa today.
“Thomas is no run-of-the-mill acoustic folksinger. His performance ranges from virtuosic displays of traditional guitar work to a manic and emotive display of the full range of sounds that can be gently coaxed or violently thumped out of the instrument. Add to that a voice that effortlessly moves from hushed whisper, to mellow crooning, to anguished wailing, and you have a performance that, depending on your taste, is difficult, inspiring, or both. Despite the impressive displays of skill. Thomas’s on stage persona is endearing and self deprecating, and shyly muttered anecdotes provide rest stops between the fireworksâ€. – Lisa Van Wyk, Mail & Guardian
“The genius lies in the details, his acoustic guitar s skills are as close to as good as it gets, he plays stomp box with one foot, gets percussion out of the guitar body and shifts tempo and mood making all his songs little journeys†– Nathan Zeno, Levi’s Music Mag
“Gary Thomas is not your regular acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter. There’s nothing sing-along about his jams. A lot of the time, even he doesn’t know what he’s going on about – he just channels the words and harnesses the music, like an acoustic stowaway on a moody and introspective trip into outer space. His songs often feel like dreams – sometimes overbearing and intense, other times, playful and relaxed (but never straightforward and self-explanatory)â€. – Wayne Arnold – Blunt Magazine
“Rupturing the conventional one-man vocals/guitar mould, Thomas is by no means another Jack Johnson clone with gently strummed balladry and sentimental sing-song. Instead, he attacks his guitar with ferocity and elicits from it some startling sounds which form a tense, tensile relationship with his jagged vocalsâ€. – Alex Sudheim – Mail & Guardian
BIO:
Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, where he studied music at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gary moved to Cape Town in 2006 and started psychedelic Nu-Folk duo Cabins in the Forest with Andy Jamieson. Two years on and Cabins had become a solid leading force in the South African acoustic scene. Based in Cape Town, Gary and Andy quickly created a renowned reputation locally and nationally for their explosive, intricate live performances. They played in most of the best venues in the country, every major festival and opening support slots for UK Ninja Tues Artist, Fink. The duo split indefinitely in late 2008 to focus on solo work.
Constantly writing songs that challenge both himself, his instrument and audiences, Gary balances meticulously crafted songwriting with dynamic vocals and contained improvisation. In 2007 Gary released his debut solo album, “Wooden Boxes and Thought Huntingâ€, selling mostly at a few solo shows. Now headed in a focused solo direction, this album has been unveiled to the public, selling at gigs, online and in stores.
Gary recently completed his first solo nationwide tour in April 2009, playing at venues in Jeffrey’s Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London, Hogsback, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
Live Review (Durban):
It’s common enough nowadays that you find all nature of technical trickery, Singers unplugged with pedals providing harmonies and drums. Gary Thomas is not that kind of one-man band, he is one man who comes on with the force of a band, he is an analogue trickster, and if all the tricks were to be taken away, as proven this gig, he is still a power unto himself.
In this resurgence of folk worldwide, these many men with guitars, it takes unique skills and talents to set a performer apart. Thomas wrings his song’s feelings out. Sure, at some points, if you’re not paying attention you could think the vocal constrictions are an affectation, but from whispering to squeezing sounds out between his teeth, from technical wizardry to banging and clicking on the guitar with his ring, he is doing everything to get us to feel all the myriad little emotions that rise and swell through the big motion of each song. Most people want their folk twee. Or at very least to be sorta gypsy kings-ish big flamenco many string type showing off. Thomas will do none of this. He just unpretentiously plays. He has an embarrassed swagger, an “I’m just here to play some songs and really am just one of you guys†feeling that comes off genuine. He has no pose. But really, have you heard this man play? How can he not at least have an inkling of his genius?
The genius lies in the details, his acoustic guitar skills are as close to as good as it gets, yet he doesn’t leave it there. He plays stomp box with one foot, gets percussion out of the guitar body and shifts tempo and mood making all his songs little journeys. Sorry, Big journeys. But it could all be gimmick; he could be using these tricks to hide the blandness that every open mike session regular impresario showers us with. But it’s Sunday in Durban at Yossi’s and this is meant to be an unplugged session. The support act snuck through quietly, but by the time Gary Thomas is into his forth song, the raw power of it has the neighbours complaining. The gig organisers are totally un-rock and roll about it and ask Gary to turn off his stomp box and mellow it out a bit.
So he is stripped down to just his guitar and voice. He makes a little joke, him, but it’s all copacetic as all the little things that seemingly make him unique are taken away. And he still, rocking and wailing quietly is a devastating hush, a straining bit of beauty. For Gary Thomas, however you dress him, is beyond a mere technical talent. He is a musician with a voice who does whatever it takes to bring you to a point of feeling his songs, beyond mere hearing. And even if we’re not quite sure what they mean, you can’t leave without having felt something akin to being between an imploding building and a blinding sunrise.
- Nathan Zeno – 17 Feb 2009 Levis Music Mag
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