Tommy Weeks: from rocking venues to opening for Guy Fieri #GroceryGames
Not only is he a talented Saxophonist with The Funky Dawgz Brass Band, Ridgefield native Tommy Weeks is also part of the band Sophistafunk and recently wrote some songs and performed on Guy Fieri's Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
I had the great pleasure of interviewing Tommy about his Food Network debut, his upcoming musical events, and his passion for sharing his time and talent with others.
1. Describe the feeling of being part the Food Network.
It's a really cool feeling, Guy asked us to write 5 separate songs about the show that would be used throughout the episodes we were featured on, and one of them was that theme song they showed in the commercial and he posted it on his Facebook page. That was really cool.
2. How did this gig come about?
The relationship between Sophistafunk and Guy Fieri actually began before I joined the band. Adam Gold, or keyboardist owns a restaurant/live music venue in Syracuse NY called "Funk N Waffles". Guy visited the restaurant and featured it on his show "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives". Adam gave him a Sophistafunk CD before he left and he loved it so much he called him from the car and told him he was flying the band out to play at his birthday party. He did that for the next four years. This year he called Adam and asked him to be a contestant on his show "Guys Grocery Games". We all thought that was amazing in itself. Then a week later he called back with this idea of featuring the whole band on the show and having us write music for it. THAT was really cool. So that's how we landed that gig.
2. What's the coolest thing about hanging out with Guy Fieri?
Guy Fieri is really a down to earth funny dude. He likes to joke around, and he doesn't have a big ego at all. Super friendly and fun to be around. Since I was the new guy, it was really cool to see how much he cared about the rest of the guys in the band who he had gotten to know over the past five years. He was asking them all how the gigs were going, how Adam's girlfriend (now fiancee) was. And joking around saying how he wanted to be our manager...I kind of wish he was serious haha!
3. You're part of not one but two ROCKING Jazz groups (Sophistafunk and Funky Dawgz) that are continuing to climb the music food chain! How do you manage to juggle between both bands recordings and gigs?
It's definitely a blessing to be a part of both the Funky Dawgz and Sophistafunk. For the most part our shows and studio dates don't overlap too much. However, yes they have in the past and most likely will more in the future as we grow. I just sometimes have to find someone to fill in for me at a show or whichever group it is will just play the show without me, they are all more than capable but it doesn't happen too frequently. Actually my favorite thing is when both my bands play shows together. That's happened a few times and its the most fun I can have being able to play with the Funky Dawgz AND Sophistafunk in the same night.
4. Not only are you a performer, but you've also become a teacher! Talk to me about some of the experiences you've had with your students so far and how teaching has grown you as a musician.
Yea! So I teach a couple students privately in town just by visiting them once a week at their homes for an hour or so. I also teach once a week at an afterschool brass band program the Funky Dawgz started up in Hartford at the Charter Oak Cultural Center for young musicians who live in the inner city. I do this as much as my touring schedule allows, sometimes it can be tricky to balance it all but its completely worth it. Teaching is probably one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I love seeing the kids faces when they accomplish something they weren't able to before, or after a performance. Seeing them grow musically is an amazing feeling and I remember when I was that age how I felt and how I looked up to my teachers. So I try and be that role model to them and grow their enthusiasm.
5. You've got a new album with Sophistafunk about to come out soon. Can you tell me about what the listeners will expect from the cd's rocking tracks?
So the new album is coming out on February 14. A great Valentines Day present for that special someone