Guitarist Tom Kirsch was raised in Santiago, Chile, and has been influenced by many cultures and styles of music that reflect his multicultural background. Indeed, music and creativity run in his blood. Tom is a distant relative of Eusebio Lillo, 19^th century Chilean poet and author of the lyrics to his homeland’s national anthem. Tom believes that “across cultures, music speaks to the core of who we are. Music transports us, allowing us to have a transcendental experience, to raise our awareness, and tell our stories”. 

Tom is known for his lyrical yet dazzling guitar solos, funky rhythmic grooves, and dreamy harmonic chordal textures. As a versatile lead and rhythm guitarist, Tom has played with rock, jazz, funk, R&B, blues, reggae, and jam-based bands in Gainesville, San Diego and Phoenix. He considers himself an eternal student of the jazz guitar, and was largely influenced by the mentoring and instruction of renowned pianist Ernie Chavarria (Stan Getz, Tito Puente, James Brown, etc.). 

While his musical influences are “too many to list”, Tom is deeply touched by “honest music that comes from the heart and speaks to the soul”, including the sounds of Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaugh, Pat Metheny, Paco de Lucia, John Scofield, Eric Johnson, Mike Stern, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, James Brown, JJ Cale, Leo Nocentelli/The Meters, The Neville Brothers, Steely Dan, Little Feat, and The Radiators. 

As a creative and improvisational guitarist, Tom draws from his backgrounds in counseling/psychology, Gestalt Therapy, and hypnosis. Tom has earned degrees in Psychology from the University of Florida and Counseling from Arizona State University. When he’s not following his bliss playing with the Catfish Groove Farm, he stays busy making a difference as an educator, counselor, and consultant, while working on a doctorate degree in psychology. Tom lives in Tempe with his fiancé Robyn and their 3 cats Leo, Phoebe, and Max.

Gear

Guitars

·          2007 Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 Top 10

·          1983 Fender Stratocaster w/ Seymour Duncan Hot Rails (bridge), Cool Rails (neck) and DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Blues (middle) pickups

·          Takamine TAN-116COV Steel String Acoustic/electric

·          Takamine NP-65C Nylon Acoustic/Electric

·          Epiphone Dot ES-335 w/ Gibson PAF and Paul Reed Smith pick-ups

·          Line 6 Variax 300

 

Amps and Effects

Live rig: Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp; Mesa Boogie Fifty/Fifty Stereo Tube Power Amp; Line 6 Pod XT Live Effects Processor; Ibanez Tube Screamer; Dunlop Cry Baby Wah; SKB Pedal Board; two 1-12" Boogie Cabinets

 

Other gear: Mesa Boogie Quad Preamp; Fender Super 60 Amp; Gallien Krueger 250 ML Amp; ProCo Rat Distortion; various effects including Boss (Chorus, Delay, Octave, Compressor, Super Overdrive and Dual Overdrive) and Danelectro DanEcho