Lorenzo’s Music has always been a leading musical act in Madison. The band, fronted by Tom Ray, combines any genre they stumble across into a myriad of unique soundscapes and rhythms. In addition to their prolific style, they have also been one of the first Madison acts to truly grasp the possibilities offered by the internet and new multimedia technology. There is a Lorenzo’s Music blog, a photo blog, a MySpace page, Tom’s Last FM music chart, and a podcast. Tom is also the creator of the webtoons over on Homemade Cartoons.

Tom showed Dane101 just how in tune he is with new technologies when he responded to our interview questions not by writing back, but by creating an MP3 on Odeo.com (that’s right, if you don’t want to read, you can listen to his answers by clicking here). Reflecting on all of that, it makes complete sense for Lorenzo’s Music to be the first of our weekly music profiles as the band seems to share our spirit of taking advantage of the technology at your fingertips and doing it yourself. Read the profile below the fold…

Listen to this track from Solamente Tres Palabras:
Lorenzo's Music :: I'm Doing Fine

Who is in the band and what instruments do they play?
Tom Ray (vocals)
Mark Whitcomb (guitar)
Scott Beardsley (drums)
Bryan Elliott (saxophone)
Chris Boeger (bass).

How long have you been performing?
I started the band back in ’95 after leaving some metal band I was singing with. I’ve worked with a lot of different musicians over the years and the first time we ever played out was in May of ’97 and by then Scott and Mark were actually members of the group. Mark was bass, Scott was on drums at that time.

How many releases have you put out and what is the easiest way for someone to find them?
We’ve released three albums. First one was a self-titled EP we did in ’98. The second one was called Schematic…it was released on Crustacean Records in 2000. And our newest one is Solamente Tres Palabras which was released in May of 2005. I was going to say in May of this year, but it’s not 2005 anymore. You can get those at our website, you can buy them from us.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?
I think the best description anyone has ever given us was from the Chicago paper when we played down there once. I think it said something to the effect of rhythm and blues meets Tom Waits and Morphine. And I’ve always really liked that description, I think it really holds up.

What was the most exciting thing to happen to Lorenzo's Music in 2005?
I would say the album and the fact that we’re still together.

What are your plans for 2006?
In 2006 we are planning a spring tour with our friends The Selfish Gene and we have a new album that we are trying to get finished, so hopefully that will be finished in 2006 as well.

Lorenzo’s Music plays Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at the King Club. They will be performing with Fire Fall and Minneapolis darlings Tapes ‘n Tapes. Doors at 9 p.m.