Tom Tom Crew

Unfortunately if you didn't get to one of the 21 shows during Tom Tom Crew's season at Sydney Festival, you may be waiting a while before you experience it for yourself.
The hip hop circus is headed over seas this month to tour Holland, France, Belgium and Germany. This won't be the first time the Australian based crew have taken their dynamic beat, acrobatic, drum and beatbox fusion off the shores of Oz. Previous tours in New York and Edinburgh Fringe Festival having an awesome response, meant they are set to hit Europe again this year.

The talented collective is formed of acrobats from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus including Shane Witt, Jamie McDowell, Daniel Catlow, Dave Carberry and Ben Lewis.
Ben Walsh drummer extraordinaire, most commonly known from The Bird and Circle of Rhythm. Luke Dubs on keys and turntables from the Sydney electronic act Hermitude. And Tom Thum, internationally acclaimed beatboxer, winner of OzHipHop awards, team battle Beatboxing World Championship 2005 and second place in 2006 at Americas most prestigious beatboxing battles Scribble Jam.

I had the opportunity to see them perform at the Sydney Opera House the beginning of this year. I was kept constantly entertained for the brief hour, the stage having me in awe with all, I know, I would never be able to do myself. Including playing an omnicord (bet you've never heard of that instrument before). Its the kind of show that thrives on audience response but doesn't target or limit itself to one particular age group. However you may definitely appreciate it more if you are fond of the hip hop genre.

I sat down for a quick chat with performer Luke Dubs to talk about the Tom Tom Crew's international tour...

LS: So.. You're a new addition to the Tom Tom Crew?

LD: I am.

LS: Elaborate..? ( After a shy laugh he begins to talk...)

LD: I started with Tom Tom, in Nov 2009 for a one off show in Brisbane. I also did the last week of the Sydney season at the Opera House. So I'm the newest member of the Tom Tom Crew.

LS: How did you get involved?

LD: I was brought into share the gig load with Sampology, because Sam has other commitments in Brisbane and had to take a couple of months off. So I was approached by Ben Walsh to join and I said yes.

LS: Ben Walsh is an awesome musician. You have worked with him before?

LD: Yeah, I've toured with The Bird and also Hermitude has played with The Bird over the years. He's also a good old friend from Sydney.

LS: Have you performed for a circus before?

LD: No this is definitely my first time working for a circus and it's very different from playing in a normal band. Because acrobats work on their own time, they don't follow traditional counting methods, like bars or anything. So it keeps you on your toes, you have to be watching what is going on, on stages all the time, to insure that when they land a trick you right there with them so the show is kept fluid.

LS: Europe, are you looking forward to it? Do you know what to expect on the tour?

LD: Yes I'm looking forward to it and no I don't know what to expect. It will be a hectic schedule with 30 plus shows over two months.

LS: Do you know when Tom Tom Crew will be playing Sydney again?

LD: Umm no not really but I imagine next summer.


Want to know more about the Tom Tom Crew?
Hit up their website...

http://www.tomtomcrew.com/

Or check out Tom Tom Crew on YouTube and see why the show has many talking world wide...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpTpDIud3IA

Image from Tom Tom Crew website