THOMAS Truax is set to back to Southend with his trusty homemade instruments (which he also refers to as his bandmates). These include the much loved motorised drum machine made of bike wheels, spoons and suchlike, called Mother Superior, and a souped up Gramophone called The Hornicator. However, on this visit, he is bringing more.

At the time of going to press his public relations spokesperson says Thomas is still booked to appear at the Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, on April 4, despite coronavirus isolation precautions, although she added as things were “very much up in the air”.

It’s therefore advisable to check the venue for updates.

The American who these days resides in good ol’ Blighty, will merge his fevered imagination and fondness for weird gadgets with a panache for songwriting on this tour, titled New Music Machines.

After riding the album-then-tour, album-then-tour cycle perpetually over nearly two decades with these ‘bandmates’, Thomas decided it was due time to dedicate himself to expanding the menagerie with some new musical contraptions. 

Bolstered by his Bandcamp supporters and some Arts Council England funding, he devoted much of last year to dreaming up and building these special new musical inventions which, alongside his familiar friends, will be previewed on this tour.
Notable Truax supporters and collaborators include Jarvis Cocker and the late author Terry Pratchett.

Most recently drummer Budgie (of Siouxsie and the Banshees/Creatures/Slits) collaborated with Thomas in Berlin on some new tracks, with a single set to be released in conjunction with the tour.

Thomas starts on his tour on March 19 in Kent. 

Tickets for the Southend gig are £5.50 from wegottickets.com