Bruce Thomas Smith Texas blues & rock star set to perform at Trails End
By Ginger Caviness
Photo by Mark Warye
Take two words, infuse them with guitar-slinging, riff-popping, innate passion and rattle, not roll, you will come up with Transplant Rock, a heaping helpin' of Texas blues and rock like no other. This is the sound, the trademark of his music; meet Bruce Thomas Smith!
In a remarkable set of events over 30 years, the Texas native has performed all across this USA, doing his own thing and winning accolades and praise. Smith and early childhood friend, John Cleghorn of the now famous specialty Celtic rock band, Need Fire from Austin, Tex. ( www.needfire.com ), both cut their teeth on tour, playing every honky-tonk and most nightclubs in the lone star state. They always challenged their talents and compared the latest licks.
Fast forward...from Texas to the North Coast of Oregon, now residing in Gearhart the past 20 years, Smith has not only performed for over 50 numerous fairs and festivals (this year alone), but is the muscle behind North Coast Records ( www.northcoastrecords.com ). Smith's premiere production and sound company is for any event that requires the best in audio delivery services. Chances are if you attended an event on the North Coast this summer, Smith provided the sound!
The talented Smith plays his Martin acoustic guitar as natural as breathing. When he kicks it up with his Washburn HB35, slammed through a Marshall amp, you better sit back and try to follow his fingers strut the strings.
Can Meat Puppets meet Carlos Santana on steroids? Nah, that is Bruce Smith performing, original and only Bruce Smith Transplant Rock.
Look at the reviews, industry remarks to consider:
"A Roots-Rocker of some considerable talent, good straight-ahead Rock-N-Roll,". Crow & Wolf Music - Woodstock, N.Y.
"Straight ahead ROCK in the vein of Bono & Springsteen..." Stephanie Scordia - (Seaside Signal) - Quoted in HIPFISH magazine.
"It's Rock-N-Roll. It's Folk. It's Texas Blues. It's EVERYTHING it needs to be to reach out and grab you by the soul!" Donna Johnson - BAZZIRK, Austin, Tex.
"Smith's music is an acoustic marvel that lures audiences and keeps them hooked." Hitt Music - Los Angeles, Calif.
"Your CD (The Secret Dances) is chock full of fun and interesting songs!" David Zychek, (Nightranger, Airborne) Owner: Hombre Records, Dallas, Tex.
"This band BRINGS the music! This is one HARD-ROCKIN', HARD WORKIN" band! Laura Sellers-Earl - Online Director, (astoriarocks.com) - Daily Astorian Newspaper.
"...Solid stage presence and talent, the ability to connect at various levels with the audience...". Rick S. (Owner) - SACO Entertainment, Toledo, Wash.
"Great Guitar solos! WOW! Excellent strummin' - Love ORIGINAL songs! Fantastic!" Lips Lewis Concerts - Astoria, Ore.
"Bruce Smith probably doesn't eat Kix for dinner." Oregon Coast Today Magazine.
"A Texture of Rock flavors" Coast Weekend Magazine.
"Bruce is our local band that just kicks A-- onstage...fireworks in music! " John Sowa, Seaside Signal newspaper.
"ORIGINAL American Rock-N-Blues" NW Performing Arts - Oregon.
"You guys are INTENSE! ORIGINAL! I just can't get enough! You really stuck out to me!" Keith H. - Online CD review.
"There is a vibe to Bruce's music that makes you want to play it again, and again, and again... " Eric Turner - ET Productions, Phoenix, Ariz.
There comes a day, a revelation if you will, when the performer knows his destiny and why he plays his own style of music. Don't ask, "Who does he sound like?" Like a fingerprint, this music is original, gutsy, honest and remarkable; a landmark to navigate by, Transplant Rock, by Bruce Thomas Smith.
Plan on attending the next original Texas blues and rock show at The Trails End in Oregon City, Saturday, Nov. 22 at 9:30 p.m, featuring the ever-cool Drawback Slim on drums!