Interview: Thomas Oliver – The Thomas Oliver Band

Interview by Life Music Media

Ahead of their debut Australian headline shows The Thomas Oliver Band lead man Thomas Oliver takes time out with Life Music Media…

:: What track changed your life ::
Pleasure & Pain by Ben Harper, because it made me buy a lap-slide guitar.
 
 
:: What is your favourite Album ::
I can never decide between Dave Matthews Band : The Central Park Concert, and NOFX : So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes.

:: Favourite Quote ::
“Perfection is a quest, not a destination.”

:: When on tour, you can’t live without ::
My skateboard. There’s always something to do in fast food and supermarket carparks.

:: When you think of Australia, you think ::
Blues and roots and bare feet.

:: Worst thing to happen to music is ::
The demise of its perceived value due to the digital music revolution.

:: Best thing about the current music industry ::
Every authority has been questioned.

:: Biggest influence ::
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals.

:: Childhood hero ::
Fat Mike from NOFX and Fat Wreck Chords

:: When you were younger you wanted to be ::
Nollie-flipping 10-stairs.

:: Last album bought ::
The Roots : Undun.

:: First album you ever bought ::
Less Than Jake : Boarders And Boundaries.

:: First concert you went to ::
Ray Charles at Mission Estate, Napier, NZ. I can’t remember much except for being blown away.

:: Last concert you went to ::
DubFX in Wellington. My sax player played ‘Flow’ with him too!

:: Favourite current band ::
Can’t get enough of Ash Grunwald!

:: Favourite drink ::
Monteith’s Golden on tap.

:: Favourite book ::
Whichever one I’m reading at the time. I’m currently reading Kahlil Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’.

:: Favourite actor ::
Bruce Willis would be the one I’d want to be. Reese Witherspoon would be the one I’d want to be with.

:: Favourite website ::
I love Facebook and I’m not ashamed of it.

:: The best boredom buster is ::
Oxy-Norm.

:: The best film you ever saw was ::
‘Unbreakable’ and ‘Water For Elephants’.

:: Best piece of advice you’ve received ::
Look for the good in everyone.

:: Your biggest aspirations ::
To make music that reaches people on a vast range of emotional levels, and inspires people to go further.

:: Best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received ::
When I was about 7, I drew my mother a picture of Doug Funny (the cartoon character) for her birthday. She didn’t even know who Doug Funny was. She didn’t let on her confusion at the time, but I can see now that it was kinda like when Homer gives Marge a bowling ball.

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