(1888PressRelease)
May 20, 2008 - LOS ANGELES, CA – Eccentric musical shaman and Grammy winner TOM WAITS has chosen Seattle native, LA-based OMAR TORREZ to accompany him on guitar for his “Glitter and Doom” US and European tour.
Torrez: “[I’m] a bit overwhelmed. I must learn about 70 songs … not just the chord changes and arrangements, but more the embodiment of his philosophical and sonic ideal. To play with Mr. Waits means to help make his ‘junkyard orchestra’ come to life. This is the part I am most excited about.”
Torrez will be taking time out of his own tour schedule in support of his 2008 independently released, “The Beat Outside”, which has generated excellent press and radio support since it’s national release in April. “’The Beat Outside ’expresses the Omar Torrez Band's passion for both the vintage sounds of artists like Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix and their love of song writers like Leonard Cohen and John Prine. This record combines juicy grooves and formidable musicianship with songs that actually reflect our brutal and absurd time.” ~ Amazon.com
“Glitter and Doom” tour opens in Phoenix at the Orpheum Theatre on June 17 and finishes in Atlanta on July 5 at the Fox Theatre. Tickets for Waits’ previous “Orphans” tour in 2006 sold out in minutes. European dates will be announced soon.
When questioned about the summer city choices, Waits responded, “We’re going to the deep south where they still love a man who wears red pants and they make him feel welcome.”
Other players include Waits’ longtime musical ally Larry Taylor (bass), Patrick Warren (keyboard), Casey Waits (drums and percussion) and Vincent Henry on reeds, harmonica and guitar.
Waits’ press conference announcing the tour was the #1 featured video on YouTube.com with over 240,000 views in the first 72 hours upon its release.
Tickets for all markets go on sale Friday, May 16th.
CONTACT:
Michelle Crispin / m e d i a Ho publicity
310/427-5010 / mediaHo ( @ ) mac dot com
www.OmarTorrez.com
www.myspace.com/OmarTorrez
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