Spring Break
Local artists at First Fridays
Amy Wright
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Culture
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Each month, the Crossroads district comes alive with local art, showcasing Kansas City's finest to the welcoming community, and UMKC students are clamoring to get involved.
This weekend, UMKC Conservatory's own Jerad Tomasino performed at Mildred's Coffee Shop to a lively crowd. A true performer, Tomasino approached the scene like a pro, with all the confidence of a veteran rocker. The crowd fully responded to his honest energy, drawn into his engaging presence and effortless talent.
In a true testament to his flair, Tomasino let the audience enjoy what they hear. Shining in a tough environment, where people are constantly shifting in and out of the open coffeehouse, he easily manages to capture their attention.
Inviting the crowd into his sound and his show, Tomasino truly engages them, cracking jokes about interruptions, never letting the audience feel uncertain.
Tomasino describes his music as "lyrically-driven, alternative, American-soul-rock," citing influences varied from Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) to Korn. Despite wide-ranging musical interests, Tomasino maintains as a true local artist that "honestly, the biggest influences have come from my friends. Playing live for years and years with amazingly talented people rubs off."
Tomasino certainly is an insightful and grounded musician. He began writing his own music at the young age of thirteen while living in Germany. "I loved Blink 182 and I wanted to rock out," he said of his early days.
With his band nifty250, Tomasino has released a full-length album entitled "The Jolly Time Machine." For a taste of Tomasino's music, check out www.myspace.com/nifty250, or listen to more recent work at www.myspace.com/jeradandfriends.
As for his time at UMKC, Tomasino loves learning about music at the Conservatory. When asked how his degree is preparing him for a career in the music industry, Tomasino replied, "It's kind of double-edged. Songwriting is a very personal, free-flowing thing, and sometimes I find myself over-analyzing. But I think over time, as information is internalized, it becomes a great help."
To fully round out his musical education, Tomasino also attends a continuing education course for Audio Engineering through Johnson County Communtiy College at BRC Audio Productions.
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