A Dirty Dozen with THOMAS NICHOLS from THOMAS NICHOLS BAND – December 2023

According to a recent press release: “Thomas Nicholas Band are currently writing original songs for their 7th studio album being produced by Taylor Carroll (LIT, Kemikalfire) in collaboration with artists such as, Jaret Reddick (Bowling for Soup), Ace Enders (the Early November), Tom Higgenson (Plain White T’s) Matthew Kennedy (The Dangerous Summer) Adrian Estrella (Zebrahead), Ajay Popoff (LIT), Andrew Goldstein and more. The new single “Same Kids” is out now! Over the last 15 years TNB has played over 1000 concerts in 12 countries from huge festivals to solo acoustic shows in intimate clubs and private charity fundraisers. “MY GENERATION” was included on the American Reunion soundtrack album, has received global radio play and been included on countless playlists. Last year, TNB recorded “1999” a parody of Bowling For Soup’s “1985.” We get band namesake Thomas to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My latest release is “Same Kids” and it’s been more than 10 years since I’ve released a ballad. It’s getting a really positive response from people that have been listening to my music for years. There is one little hidden nugget in the song that I haven’t had anyone point out to me yet. As we were finishing up the lyrics for the bridge, I was also gearing up to play some sideshows for the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas. So the last line of the bridge is purposely, “No matter how many years since we were young, we’re the same.”

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

There are a lot of influential moments that led me to pursuing an actual career in music. Each one is a part of the equation over the course of the first 12 years of playing music in a variety of different ways with different bands. The deciding moment was writing the songs for what would become my 2008 album Without Warning. I call that my first album, even though it was technically my 3rd. They were the songs that I believed in enough to start going down the road of touring and taking it seriously.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I saw Switchfoot in 1996, and unbeknownst to them, I modeled my first 3 piece Garage Band off of the sound they created for their album New Way to be Human.  I also grew up listening my mom’s collection of 70’s rock and when I started playing guitar, the grunge scene was very prevalent. Learning to play Nirvana, Green Day and Weezer songs were a big part of shaping my sound. My first concert I ever went to was the Offspring at the Whisky. And of course… the FooFighters are a major influence as well.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Dave Grohl. I got to record my 6th album at Studio 606 and still have yet to meet Dave. I think writing a song with him would be the coolest way to finally meet him.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

There are so many things that I could answer here, but the one thing that really lets my brain stop thinking about work is when I’m playing video games with my kids. I’ve introduced them to my favorite which is any and all of the Legend of Zelda games. We’re beyond stoked that they are gonna finally make a movie about this franchise.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I always say, if you dig the FooFighters music then you’ll like my band. Back when I started touring in 2008 I would get the negative response of people telling me that, “…my band sounded so 90’s…” like they were disappointed. At some point, that flipped and people would exclaim after a concert, “Wow! You guys sound so 90’s!” Like it was the coolest thing ever.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

At this current point in time, I have many different band members in a lot of cities. I do my best to bring the same guys out with me in each of those respective cities. But there are too many to breakdown who does what. I can tell you that when I first started playing guitar when I was 14. I was the person that went everywhere with my guitar. So … at least when I was a teenager I was the dude with the acoustic guitar sparking the singalongs and probably annoying my friends to listen whatever new song I had just written.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I still remember being at a party and my friend told me that Robert De Niro was standing right behind me. I was so nervous about it, that I didn’t have the courage to turn around and look.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I have a great time performing on stage. That’s definitely my favorite part. I am fortunate because I already get to do two things that I love for a living. So my other dream job is being an actor and my favorite part of that is when I’m filming on a movie or TV show.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

You just did. I’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask me what question I would want an interviewer to ask me… I get asked a lot if I would choose acting or music. The answer is and always will be that I choose both.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

There are many moments that I made errors or would do differently. However, my career is the sum of all parts. In order to succeed, you have to be willing to fail. I learned way more from failing than I did from the successful moments. I certainly have failed way more that I have succeeded, so I wouldn’t change anything, despite the fact that I would make different designs if I did it again.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon. That’s one of my favorite albums to listen to from start to finish with my mom. In fact, when I saw Roger Waters perform it at Coachella back in 2008, I called my mom and held the phone up for the whole concert.

THOMAS NICHOLS BAND LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews