In May of 2008, Tomato Jones debuted at the then up and coming Liberty Tavern in Rockland. Tim Ruel had teamed up with old school rockers Ron Caggiano and Sir Richmond Holbrook and then proceeded to blow the roof of the ancient pizzeria.

Several months later when I heard that Sir Richmond had left Tomato Jonez and returned to his former country band, I felt like I had watched a dog returning to eat his own vomit. How could such an accomplished, rocking bass player, singer and showman go back to a cowboy band? But that's just me. Anyway, I expected that would be the end of the Jonez's as we knew them.

 

Fast forward to last Saturday night at a Halifax eatery called All Seasons Cafe for an eye opening, foot stomping night of some of the most pure, polished rock and roll covers I've ever taken in. Taking the place of Holbrook was RHS class of 1980, career bass player, Mark Shom. I had heard for years that Shom was one of the best bass players in the business to ever come out of Rockvegas, but I never had the pleasure of watching him play live until now.

 

 Shom stands out in stark contrast to the laid back style of Holbrook. The years have been kind to this high energy, life long bass player who carries the charisma and energy of Verdine White, the skills of Entwhistle and style of Larry Graham with the look of a man half his age.  Shom is a true blue rocker who looks the part, walks the walk and lets his music do the talking.

 

Drummer, singer, song writer and band mistro Ron Caggiano along with Tim "Rules" Ruel have masterfully modified their sound to accommodate the precision and pump of Mark Shom. The result is an exhilarating, fast moving, polished and professional sound that is crisp, clean and dead on to the original artists. Tomato Jones also now boasts a professional rock show stage, complete with a drum kit riser, logo embroidered black back drop and a state of the art laser show.

Tomato Jonez is now performing at a whole new level  replacing Johnny Cash and Stray Cats with The Spin Doctors, Smashing Pumpkins and dozens of the best rock songs ever written. 

 

 

In the audience this night were many Rockvegas Rockers including one of the best blues guitar players on the planet, Billy "Blues Nazi" Parsons along with old schooler, David Gramazio who stood in for a fantastic rendition of Bon Jovi's Dead or Alive. Donna Cambio of Reverse Curve did a fantastic job on Rock and Roll by led Zeppelin that was pure Crucial Taunt.

 You'll always find a long list of beautiful women on hand at these shows including Ginny Turner and Alex Jonez who lead the droves of fans on the dance floor all night long.

   

 

 David Gramazio up from Georgia stands in for Bon Jovi's Dead or Alive.

 

"Just when you think the Rockvegas music scene can't get any better" Tomato Jonez steps up and over the top with a fantastic new bass player and a sound that gets better and better with each passing gig.

 

Check out Tomato Jones on the web and be sure to quench your Tomato Jonez at the next show.

 

 

All you class of 1980 members are in for a real treat as Tomato Jonez has been selected to play the  30th Class Reunion on Columbus Day week end 2010.