Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Jordan.
Hi Tom, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The band started in 2011 as a joke and developed into something much more serious around 2014. A booking agent contacted us about touring and in 2015, we did our first tour.
Over the years we made a career out of touring as much as possible, doing an average of 150 shows a year and at one point exceeding 200 shows in 2018.
Now we have finished our third studio album and plan to release it this summer. More touring plans for Sept and November and some offers to come back to Europe again so we are excited to be ramping up again after the Covid lockdowns and get back out there.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hahaha, no. It most definitely has not.
Touring for a living since 2015 has made our personal lives a lot tougher, as well as the financial inconveniences of being in a touring band.
We have been fortunate enough to build a solid fan base of people who have supported us though and with their help, we have managed to create a solid merchandise strategy that’s complimented the money we make playing shows. Without that, we wouldn’t have survived this long.
Lately, things are much easier, we have a booking agency that handles us now and a great agent that we love working with named Ian Watts. With his help, we have been able to work smarter, not harder and focus on making music like we used to.
It’s been a long road of broken down vans, shitty motels, fights, trouble with the law and drama but we are still kicking and plan on doing this til we can’t.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I guess my title (if I have one) would be Singer and Guitarist in 20 Watt tombstone. That’s where most of my time is spent. I do have a solo project called Reverend Meantooth that is more laid-back delta blues. Little different thing to change up the loud rock n roll I play most of the time.
I’m proud of how hard we worked on the road. When other hard-touring bands give us props that means alot. It’s not easy and we have played thousands of shows night after night, Pounding it out on the road. We will always be a band that puts the road first in our list of band priorities. Just who we are.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Take time for family. Stop and smell the roses, I guess! I spent far too much time on the road working my ass off in the beginning. In 2018, we were coming home for a week and then leaving for a month or so. I was rarely home and my relationship with my now wife was suffering. Life is short, and when it’s all over and you’re sick and dying…the things you obsess about now likely won’t be of help. Family and loved ones will likely be there though. Do your thing however you need to but make time for life and the people that matter. You can always make more money, you only get one life.
Contact Info:
- Website: 20watttombstone.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/20watttombstone?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/20watttombstone?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@20watttombstone3
Image Credits
Chris Rugowski Loud Hailer magazine
