Tom Mansi
Tom Mansi
Similar artists via Last.fm
Tom Hatred
About Tom Mansi
About Tom Mansi and The Icebreakers We're here to rock n' roll, slice n' dice, shake rattle and get down with our bad selves. Born in North London in 1979 on the same day that Charles Mingus died, Tom Mansi is a working musician who studied his art at the Guildhall and in Cuba with jazz masters. Alain Man has played keys since he was six and started singing whilst in the womb. James Johnston has always loved hitting things so drumming was a natural progression, he is the engine room. Paul White, the Iceman, lets his many guitars do the talking. The fifth member of the band is the most mysterious, his name is Stevan Krakovic and he is a master of the audio arts, his kung fu is strong. The whole band cut their teeth at the School of Hard Knocks, lost their virginity in the bordellos of Frankfurt and are currently in rehabilitation at the Betty Ford Clinic. Influenced by a bubbling melting pot of rocknroll, country, jazz, blues and funk masters, the music is rooted in old school acoustic porchblues whilst exploring heavy, angular funk and experimenting with brushes of late night jazz. The blues forms the core of Toms lyrics, inspired by dark corners of the bars, clubs, hotels and theatres he plays in as a professional bassist. Tom Mansi and the Icebreakers released their first 7" single "CAN'T TAKE IT WHEN YOU GO" on Kartel in August 2006. Their forthcoming release is a mini album entitled "HOLLY" and is a taste of what’s to come on the bands full length debut album later in the new year. Recorded and mixed in their own studio in High Barnet ‘HOLLY’ showcases a new alternative London talent working in steadfast independent fashion. "HOLLY" will be relased 5th March 2007 on Kartel or can be heard exclusively here on Myspace. The video for "When you're dead, you're done" has been recorded and edited by Messrs Krakovic, Man, Mansi, Johnson and White. It is currently residing to the left of this box and on youtube. LIVE REVIEW: Tom Mansi & The Icebreakers at St. Moritz on 21 March "I stumbled across Tom Mansi last year when reviewing the wonderful single ‘Can’t Take It Where You Go’. Since then things have been fairly quiet from the Kartel-signed quartet, until last week, which produced two items of Mansi-related goodness. Monday the 19th saw the release of the mini-album ‘Holly’, and Wednesday night saw Mansi and his cohorts The Icebreakers playing in the extremely snug confines of the St. Moritz. The first thing to make an impression is Mansi’s low, rumbling growl of a voice. Admittedly, you don’t really need lungs like Shirley Bassey to make yourself heard in the St.Moritz, a venue the size of a hobbit’s downstairs toilet, but Mansi’s has more than enough character, and oomph when needs be, to fill the largest venues around. At its quietest, it conjures up images of whispered confessionals, over tumblers of whisky in smoky jazz clubs. If that’s all too flowery for you, then I’ll just say it’s simply one of the most distinctive voices you’ll hear in a while. What’s more, Mansi had bundles of charisma and charm onstage, coming across like he was born in one of those smoky jazz clubs and has been performing there ever since. The music was a real mix of blues, jazz and country, with some funk and even rock thrown in. It’s a testament to the musicians that this never sounded forced or out of place. They’re all well grounded in each of these musical traditions, so when the music went from the country/skiffle rhythms of ‘Love On The Rails’, to the funky drumming-led ‘Big Bad Wolf’ to the jazzy ‘Heartbreak Hooligan’, it never jolted you out of the set. If it all sounds like it could be too much for you, then nothing could be further from the reality. This was one of the most involving gigs I’ve seen in a while and Mansi, along with his incredibly accomplished band, is a definite talent. Now please, not so long till the next release please fellas." SINGLE REVIEW 'Can't Take It Where You Go' An interesting blend of blues, jazz and folk, and a remarkably simple melody, the debut from Tom Mansi & The Icebreakers is largely unassuming. The classical guitars are painstakingly delicate, and while Mansi's deep and raspy voice seems quite out of place in a song so straightforward, 'Can't Take It Where You Go' puts over a great sense of sincerity and heart-felt emotion. Cat Stevens too was unassuming; it's an underestimated characteristic. Noting the vocals, "Nothing went wrong - I'm just gone, I'm just gone yeah, I'm just gone", there isn't much going on, but there needn't be. The flip-side 'Fire in My Eyes' is a complete contrast. If the White Stripes thought they knew the meaning of the word 'stripped down' they may need to think again. The vocal chants of 'ooo's and 'ahh's thump at the primitive rhythm with impulsive power, the unreformed guitars and wooden percussion suggesting this track was not merely written, but just erupted out of a jungle volcano somewhere. The edginess is truly impressive. Someone could be killed to the sound of this. Be wary… The single is out on 10th July 2006 on limited edition 7" vinyl 8/10 Jamie Curtis
Taken from Last.fm
1,296 listeners · 4,346 plays via Last.fm