Lazlo's Picks: Tommy Strazza - the model citizen lp

www.tommystrazza.com

From the shadows of obscurity, and the swamps of Jersey… Tommy Strazza arrives with a passionate vigor and abandon not seen in these parts for quite some time. Armed with an artillery of songs, a voice full of truth, and soaring guitars that call on and channel the spirits of al that is righteous from Rock’s, past, while looking forward towards it’s future. He takes with him only the raw, bare essentials, and leaves all eccentricities at the door. Tommy’s credo is a simple one. By any means necessary… SHINE.

With his new album The Model Citizen L.P., Tommy does just that. Each song emanates an energy that connects from the get go.. From the early rock and roll influenced “You’re Not The Only Show” ‘s declaration of independence, to the very sad-but-true story of the murder of New Orleans musician Dinerral Shavers in “Dinerral’s Song”, to the Middle Eastern influenced “Ultimate Illusion” ‘s cautious warning of the pitfalls of everyday life, to the muffled cries of somebody desperate to be heard on “So Much More”, to name a few. There is an emotional tone to the lyrics that are not present on Tommy’s past recordings. He has found his voice… Or shall we say… voices(read on for further info).

With the simple aforementioned credo in mind, Tommy decided to let go of his apprehension to let loose and showcase his skills as an instrumentalist. “For years I felt like I’ve been keeping this a secret, on account of the fact that most Singer/Songwriters are not lead guitarists, as well as how they are perceived in the current state of Rock and Pop music. I wanted to fit in, so I kind of kept my guitar skills semi-quiet. Only occasionally showing off some signs of them.” “Now it’s quite the opposite. I feel like I have to use all o f the gifts that I’ve been given, and give it all that I’ve got. What’s the worst that could happen? I might actually stand out?!”

With fire in his eyes, a restless heart, and a desire to play every single day of his life, Tommy cannot wait to release his new album, showcase his new, amazing band, and hit the road as soon as possible. “In this day and age, there is the potential to reach and connect with many more people, in more places than ever before. That is an amazing opportunity for an artist or band to have, use and by any means necessary…SHINE!