Butterflies & Snakes are eleven memorable tunes penned by Ventura, Calif.’s Crooked Eye Tommy front-person and band namesake Tommy Marsh and Tommy’s brother, guitarist-vocalist, Paddy Marsh (who also plays in the band). Other C.E.T. members: Glade Rasmussen, bass; Tony Cicero, drums; Jimmy Calire, saxophone/piano/Hammond B3.
“The album’s title track, ‘Crooked Eye Tommy,’ is sort of an autobiography,” states Tommy. “I wrote it when we decided to name the band Crooked Eye Tommy. I was born with two lazy eyes, so the imagined discussion between a nurse and onlookers in the classic baby window at the hospital was a cool way to illustrate the way people can be cruel without even thinking about it. “Rocking blues number, ‘Time Will Tell’ is “the source of the album’s name,” he continues. “The second verse talks about the duality of women: Women are made of butterflies, butterflies and snakes. Trying to please a woman can give a good man the shakes. ‘Time Will Tell’ also talks about the duality of men as well in the first verse… and the dreams we all have (as musicians) to rise to the pinnacle of our profession – and how in each case, time is the equalizer and the test by which these are all proven out. The tune shows the direction the band is taking with a more Southern hard blues feel.”
“Somebody’s Got To Pay” is a sexy blues shuffle where Marsh laments in song, “the way the world is today, somebody’s got to pay.” He explains: “I wrote this song while dealing with a tax issue…I was very frustrated with the whole government and how no matter who is in office, it’s always about who has the money.” Dancing blues dittie, ‘Love Divine’ is about the relationships we have made along the way before we leave this world, they are the only real wealth that goes with us.”
Crooked Eye Tommy’s Butterflies & Snakes Album Concert Debut is August 7 at Plaza Playhouse Theater in Carpinteria, California. The band, who proudly represented the Santa Barbara Blues Society at the 2014 International Blues Challenge when they erupted onto the Southern California Blues Scene after reaching the IBC Semifinals, will also play the 1st Annual Ojai Blues Festival Ojai, CA) at Ojai Art Center on August 15.
