Nicholas ThomasmaGRAND RAPIDS — The good stuff can't always be found on mainstream radio. That's what Nicholas James Thomasma, lead singer of the band Nicholas James and the Bandwagon, wants people to know about today's music scene.
“I think it was Hank Williams that said something like, country music is three chords and the truth. There’s a lot of music that you hear on the radio today that doesn’t have a lot of truth to it, it just has a lot of gloss and shine to it,” Thomasma said.
To see past the shine, he said music connoisseurs have to look beyond the mainstream instead of being spoon fed the often generic music meant to impact the largest amount of people in an effort to bring in the largest amount of money.
“The music is out there — there’s more music available than ever before in any other period of history,” Thomasma said.
He describes his band's music as a potpourri of Americana, country, blues and rock 'n' roll. He and his band will offer a sampling of his style during tomorrow night's performance at the One Trick Pony.
Thomasma got his musical start while working as an intern at radio station WGRD. He then maneuvered his way into a full-time DJ gig in Fayetteville, Ark., where he started a show spotlighting local music.
That’s when he picked up a guitar and decided to try making music. Eight years and four albums later, he hasn’t looked back.
Thomasma’s latest album, “Saturday Night” is the first he recorded with a band. The others have been solo recordings or collaborations with another singer/songwriter.
The Bandwagon is: Greg Baxter on electric guitar, Pete Weatherhead on pedal steel and fiddle, Paul Geoghan on upright and electric bass, John Van Acker on bass, Dan Robinson on drums and Dan Rickabus on drums.
Thomasma said the album, released July 23, is a true team venture.
“I wrote these songs solo acoustic and didn’t feel real proud of ’em,’” he said. “They (the band) really, really made the songs. I can’t take credit for writing all these songs ’cause they really came in and brought what the songs really needed.”
IF YOU GO
Nicholas James and the Bandwagon
When:8 p.m.. Thursday
Where: One Trick Pony, 136 E. Fulton
Admission: Free
His love for his home state is a theme in Thomasma’s music.
“Michigan for me is a huge inspiration. I love it. I just love it here so much.”
Another creative muse: his desire to find the right person.
“I really want to be in love,” he said. “I really want to love somebody and have a family and a relationship and, so, the struggle — the times I’ve come close on that and it didn’t work out — that certainly has made its way into my music.”
Thomasma’s greatest validation is meeting fans who journeyed beyond the mainstream to find his version of “three chords and the truth.”
“Every time I play, somebody comes up to me and says something that is just amazing,” he said. “It’s validating and it makes you just want to reach out and hug ’em.”
Email: lmichels@grpress.com