Somewhere in the Right Lane There is a road that runs between the humid woodlands of the Texas Gulf Coast and and the moody but mild winters of the Missoula Valley in Western Montana. On one end, there is a seventeen year old child of the suburbs being presented with his first taste of acoustic performance in the form of a live Nanci Griffith album entitled One Fair Summer Evening. A few miles up the way, this same teenager wears the hot asphalt thin seeking out performances by a local performer named Shake Russell, all the while ripping through a crash course in Texas songwriters by acquiring and consuming a steady musical diet of Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Townes Van Zandt and Joe Ely,...just to name a few. Jumping a few years and several hundred miles ahead, (somewhere in his mid-twenties) he plays a few open mic’s in the small Rocky Mountain college town until some bar owner decides to offer our hero a 20% cut of whatever liquor business he can muster on a Sunday night during a four hour performance. A “professional musician” is born(1995) and somewhat amazed by his luck! “Seventeen dollars AND FREE BEER?” The next ten years are spent writing, singing, and learning the craft of presenting original music to curious strangers, old friends and innocent bystanders. All along this merry road, he is blessed with several opportunities to share the stage with personal heros that include Greg Brown, Kelly Joe Phelps, Robbie Fulks and Asleep at the Wheel. He releases a couple of acoustic solo albums in the mid to late nineties( East of Opportunity and The Sound of a Car) and gains a bit of notoriety in the local area as well as growing loyal crowd of listeners. In 2006, Tom Catmull has earned a comfortable reputation as one of Montana’s premier songwriters and most compelling performers. His shows are split these days between intimate solo acoustic venues and blowing the roof off of honky-tonks across the state with his 5 piece Americana band(Tom Catmull and the Clerics). All in all, he performs about 135 times a year. His personal time is spent mostly with his wife Becky and two sons, Jack and Mason(ages 2 and 4). Due for a another release in May, 2006 of all original compositions, this Texan-transplant finds himself writing some of his best work, working with some of the most talented musicians in the state and performing some of the most enjoyable shows he has ever experienced. For that, he is very grateful. Check upcoming showdates at www.tomcatmull.com and come see for yourself.