Local Musician Spotlight – Tommy Rickard
Tommy Rickard is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter that has played with and produced a number of big name acts. Born in Northern California, Rickard knew at an early age he wanted to be a musician. His late teen years and beyond have been spent playing in punk and hard rock acts between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with acts like the Sea Hags, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Vain, Ronnie Montrose and more. As a drummer, Rickard recorded “Beautiful” for Linda Perry which became a number one hit for Christina Aguilera.
Recently getting back together with his band-mates from the ‘80s metal days in Vain, he has toured the world almost consistently, playing festivals in Europe and beyond. Back home his steady act in the Wonderbread 5, along with a number of side projects
Rickard and Wonderbread 5 will be headlining the Red and White Ball in the Plaza on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m. with the band kicking off at 8 p.m. Lets get to know him a little better.
1) Many musicians in our generation cite the Beatles on Ed Sullivan as that moment when they knew music was what they wanted to do. When and what was it that made you realize you wanted to be a musician?
TR > Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was the one that made me decide I wanted to be a drummer, but it wasn’t until I saw KISS on a Paul Lynde Halloween special and I say Peter Criss that made me say, yea, that’s what I want to do.
2) That first instrument you owned. What was it and do you still have it?
TR> It was a drumset, a CB-700, that I got in my parents divorce. My dad was forced to sell his prized car and to get back at my mom, he bought me a drum set. No, I no longer have it.
3) Who are you’re primary influences in your music?
TR > Peter Criss for sure, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Keith Moon of the Who, Neal Peart from Rush, I like solid drummers, those guys you recognize the minute you hear them
4) What CD or playlist is in your car or your iPod?
TR> The new Metallica single. Really into that now, which ends up taking you back down the whole Metallica rabbit hole. Lemmy and Motorhead. I was the musical director at a tribute show we did with Lemmy and it was epic. Ghost, a metal band out of Sweden that is like a metal version of Genesis or something, and old school ‘90s hip hop.
5) Tell us about your current acts.
TR > Mainly Wonderbread 5 and the Vain gigs. We’re doing the “Metal Mania” cruise out of Los Angeles with Vain then heading to Europe to do all the big festivals. Metal is still big over there. I’m also working on a movie pilot called the ‘Hard Road” which chronicles the struggle or artists, not just musicians, but painters and all sorts of artists, and not the famous ones. They have some really good life stories that I feel need to be told.
6) If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?
TR> “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys. The beginning of that song just says it all. The first two lines, wow.
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Rundown – The Set List
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, Aug. 26: Mark Larson Band. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Dale Henry Geist. 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters, 18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 939-1905
Saturday, Aug. 27: David Bingham 3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Michael L. Castle. 3 p.m.
B. R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy. Glen Ellen, 800-330-4064
Sunday, Aug. 28: Falcon Christopher. 2 p.m.
Cornerstone, 23570 Arnold Dr, Carneros, 933-3010
Saturday, Aug. 27: Adam Traum. 1 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Three on a Match. 1 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Aug. 26: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, Aug. 26: Solid Air. 5 p.m. Sean Carscadden. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Daisy O’Connor. 1 p.m. Jeff Campbell. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Rob Larkin. 1 p.m.
Hood Mansion Lawn, N. Pythian Rd off Hwy 12, Santa Rosa, 833-6288
Tonight, Aug. 26: “Funky Fridays” with Jami Jamison Band. 7 p.m.
Kenwood Restaurant and Bar, 9900 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, 833-6326
Sunday, Aug. 28: The Jami Jamison Band. 12 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, Aug. 26: David Thom Band. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Michael Mullin. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Kristen Pearce. 2 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Saturday, Aug. 27: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Tonight, Aug. 26: Odd Job Ensemble. 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Black and Blue Ball with the Shakedown Choir, the Rinds, the Quitters and Tri-Polar. 9 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Brandon and the Bees Knees. 5 p.m.
Schellville Grill, 22900 Broadway, Sonoma, 996-5151
Saturday, Aug. 27: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: Butch Engle and Styx. 12:30 p.m.
Schug Carneros Winery, 602 Bonneau Road, Carneros, 939-9363
Saturday, Aug. 27: Jaydub and Dino. 1 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards, 389 Fourth St. E. Sonoma, 933-3230
Tonight, Aug. 26: Stax City. 6 p.m.
Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 938-4626
Sunday, Aug. 28: Kitchen Concert Series with Micaelia Randolph. 6:30 p.m.
Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 938-4626
Monday, Aug. 29: “Back and the Cult, A Musical” with Garen Patterson, Sheila Whitney, Taras Lumiere and Keith Ridenhour. 7 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, Aug. 26: Ryan Tatarian. 6 p.m. Three on a Match. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27: Full Circle. 5 p.m. Tri-Tip Trio. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28: “Open Mic and Mimosas.” 1 to 7 p.m. Acrosonics. 5 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com