Joann, the manager/bartender/CEO of the Mermaid, sent me Tom Gala's new CD for review. I usually don't crit singer/songwriters. (Not being a fan of the genre, I'm more comfortable farming out the assignment to those with more tolerance and more questionable taste). But Gala's work often trancends the common, predictable tripe that is the general output of our local bards. He did not disappoint.Tom Gala, at his best, is to Philadelphia singer/songwriters what Isaac Stern is to a Suzuki class. When Gala gets on his riffing rags (as he does in four selections on the new CD), he is exciting, infectious, creative, and cooler than cool. Check out "Shorty and Dave's", a ripping report of an automobile parts junkyard. Where most of us would see wrecks and rust, Tom Gala sees honkytonk heaven.
Such is the brilliance of the artist.
Perhaps these songs would sound as good performed by another, but I doubt it. Gala's voice is a mellow haze, more at home aping Torme than Dylan, which probably disqualifies him from full membership in the singer/songwriter community. I hope that no one labels this collection as Folksongs, or calls Tom Gala a Folksinger. (That is a designation employed by lesser talents to mask their inability to compete with professionals).
MM for PFS