Tomato (musician)
Encyclopedia
Tomato is an American
musician who is known for being the lead singer/drummer, for the alternative rock
band Sound of Urchin
. Tomato was born in New York City, grew up in Rockland County, NY, and presently resides in Brooklyn
, NY. Tomato is the principal songwriter and leader of Sound of Urchin. SOU has released an album and 2 EPs on RCA Records
, a second album on Hybrid Recordings
(which produced a minor cult hit "There Are People In The Clouds", and are set to release a third full length, double album "Rejoice/Black Castle", in 2009 on Chocodog Records
. Tomato also plays drums in "The Moistboyz
"), which is Mickey Melchiondo (aka Mickey Moist, pka Dean Ween
) and Guy Heller's (aka Dickie Moist) metal rock band; as well as Dave Dreiwitz from Ween
's "Crescent Moon". Tomato has been drumming since birth, and was taught by drum great Gary Chester
, author of Modern Drummer
Publication's best-selling drum book "The New Breed". Tomato has also played drums for Ween
and recorded drums with Tenacious D
for the Comedy Central
Crank Yankers
version of "The Friendship Song".
On April 30, 2010, the formation of DiamondSnake was announced. The heavy metal band's members include Tomato as well as Moby
, Dave Hill
(Valley Lodge
) and Phil Costello (Satanicide
, Valley Lodge
).
In 2009 Tomato started his own after school music program entitled "Tomato's House Of Rock" [THOR]. Previously Tomato was the Music Director for the NYC Branch of the Paul Green School of Rock.
Tomato also has appeared on an episode of the Nickelodeon kids show The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)
, as a celebrity guest drummer.
Tomato is also married to internet celebrity Lori Harfenist, host of The Resident
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who is known for being the lead singer/drummer, for the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Sound of Urchin
Sound of Urchin
Sound of Urchin is a diverse "outsider arena-rock" band from Brooklyn NY and New Hope PA. SOU is known for their eclectic songs and for their energetic, spontaneous live shows and heavy touring schedules...
. Tomato was born in New York City, grew up in Rockland County, NY, and presently resides in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, NY. Tomato is the principal songwriter and leader of Sound of Urchin. SOU has released an album and 2 EPs on RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, a second album on Hybrid Recordings
Hybrid Recordings
Hybrid Recordings LLC is a record label that is a division of Metropolitan Talent, Inc., which is led by John Scher and Al Cafaro.Hybrid Recordings recently announced a new worldwide distribution agreement with SonyBMG's RED Distribution. Hybrid Recordings kicked off 2007 with Recollection, the...
(which produced a minor cult hit "There Are People In The Clouds", and are set to release a third full length, double album "Rejoice/Black Castle", in 2009 on Chocodog Records
Chocodog Records
Chocodog Records was started in 2001. It was founded by Gene Ween and Dean Ween of the band Ween and run by their management company, Greg Frey Management. This company was created after their contract with their record company, Elektra Records, expired. Chocodog started with the release of Ween's...
. Tomato also plays drums in "The Moistboyz
Moistboyz
Moistboyz is a band founded by Mickey Melchiondo Jr. and Guy Heller . In the spirit of Melchiondo's other group, Ween, the two have donned aliases. Melchiondo is known as the character Mickey Moist and Heller as Dickie Moist. The first two Moistboyz LP's, now sold together on one CD, are very...
"), which is Mickey Melchiondo (aka Mickey Moist, pka Dean Ween
Dean Ween
Dean Ween is the stage name of Michael "Mickey" Melchiondo, Jr., American guitarist and half of the alternative rock group Ween.-Biography:...
) and Guy Heller's (aka Dickie Moist) metal rock band; as well as Dave Dreiwitz from Ween
Ween
Ween is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
's "Crescent Moon". Tomato has been drumming since birth, and was taught by drum great Gary Chester
Gary Chester
Gary Chester was one of the 20th century's busiest studio drummers. Gary is counted as one of the greats when it comes to studio session musicians. His work appears on thousands of tracks, including hundreds of hit records from the '50s, '60s and '70s...
, author of Modern Drummer
Modern Drummer
Modern Drummer is a monthly publication targeting the interests of on drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, and columns offering advice on technique, as well as information for the general public...
Publication's best-selling drum book "The New Breed". Tomato has also played drums for Ween
Ween
Ween is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
and recorded drums with Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
for the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
Crank Yankers
Crank Yankers
Crank Yankers is an American TV show produced by Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison that featured actual prank calls made by show regulars and celebrity guests, and re-enacted onscreen by puppets for a visual aid to show the viewer what is happening in the call...
version of "The Friendship Song".
On April 30, 2010, the formation of DiamondSnake was announced. The heavy metal band's members include Tomato as well as Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, Dave Hill
Dave Hill (comedian)
Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, musician and actor. He hosts the stage show The Dave Hill Explosion at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York and Hollywood and recently starred in the television show The King of Miami on the MOJO HD network. The show is now airing on Film24 in the UK....
(Valley Lodge
Valley Lodge
-Band history:Valley Lodge came together when John Kimbrough, former singer-guitarist for Minnesota power pop band Walt Mink, met up with comedian/musician Dave Hill to compare the home demos they were working on.Joined by bass player/singer Phil Costello , and drummer Rob Pfeiffer and inspired by...
) and Phil Costello (Satanicide
Satanicide
Satanicide is a New York-based mock metal/glam metal band formed in 1999 that styles itself and its music to represent, tongue-in-cheek, the heavy metal music scene of the 1980s in New Jersey. Self-described as portraying a lifestyle "where the mullet and kick-ass rock 'n' roll still live," the...
, Valley Lodge
Valley Lodge
-Band history:Valley Lodge came together when John Kimbrough, former singer-guitarist for Minnesota power pop band Walt Mink, met up with comedian/musician Dave Hill to compare the home demos they were working on.Joined by bass player/singer Phil Costello , and drummer Rob Pfeiffer and inspired by...
).
In 2009 Tomato started his own after school music program entitled "Tomato's House Of Rock" [THOR]. Previously Tomato was the Music Director for the NYC Branch of the Paul Green School of Rock.
Tomato also has appeared on an episode of the Nickelodeon kids show The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)
The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)
The Naked Brothers Band is an American television musical comedy created by Polly Draper. The show depicts the daily lives of Draper's sons, who lead a faux rock band from New York City. As a mockumentary, the storyline is a hyperbole of their real lives, and the fictional presence of a camera is...
, as a celebrity guest drummer.
Tomato is also married to internet celebrity Lori Harfenist, host of The Resident
The Resident
The Resident is an online video talk show hosted by American video producer Lori Harfenist. The show was one of the first original 75 YouTube Content Partner channels.- About Lori Harfenist :...
.
Discography
Sound of Urchin- 1994 Four Fours From A Calendar Fan
- 1995 Springtime Makes Me Feel
- 1996 Earth Blanket
- 1997 Willow For Gasoline Alley
- 1998 Approval - Cob 9
- 1998 All That And A Brandy Alexander
- 2000 The Orange E.P.
- 2001 The Jack And Dianne E.P.
- 2002 Blame Canada E.P. - Live In Toronto
- 2002 You Are The Best
- 2005 The Diamond
- 2009 Rejoice/Black Castle