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Bio
Brad's musical roots started at an early age. At home both of his parents were avid music fans and musicians themselves. Brad's earliest memories are of his dad picking out Luther Perkin's guitar parts off of Johnny Cash's albums. He'd sit on the arm of the couch and play his Fender Mustang through a Fender Twin Reverb Amp. Brad's mom, an accomplished vocalist and pianist had picked up the classical guitar when Brad was about 12 years old. When the guitar didn't work out for her she gave it to Brad and he started taking private lessons. Having three years of piano lessons under his belt already he soon excelled at the guitar and the bond had begun. By the age of 18 Brad had enrolled in the University of North Texas' music program to study classical guitar and voice. He had developed a close relationship with singer/lyricist Eddie Allen and within two years of entering college they had both dropped out in order to pursue music full time. The two continued to write and perform together for five years. They were well recieved at clubs such as The Hop in Fort Worth, Poor David's Pub in Dallas, Kerrville Folk Festival and other venues that were havens for budding young songwriters. In '92 the partnership ended and Brad began a solo career.
Brad
Thompson & The Undulating Band was formed later that year as a vehicle for Brad’s original music that he had been writing since his split with Eddie. His songwriting and performing soon began showing the influences of solo guitarists such as Michael Hedges and rock bands such as Toad the Wet Sprocket and Counting Crows. He patterned
the formation of the band after artists such as Lyle Lovett and Jeff Buckley
who put their music in the capable hands of the finest musicians and the end
result - great music regardless of what style or category with which you try
to define it. When
asked about the bizarre/lengthy name for his band, Brad recalls a radio interview
he heard long ago with original Van Halen lead singer, David
Lee Roth, just before taking the stage in front of thousands of
fans at the famous US Festival in California in 1983. In Roth’s typical pre-show
banter he says something about "Giving the crowd their fifty bucks-worth tonight
on a silver platter man..." then he pauses and says "...and it'll
be undulating." You could hear the interviewer and everyone backstage
just fall about the place laughing it was so hilarious. Brad says, "As
campy and ridiculous as Roth was, he was very serious about entertaining people.
I had to use that word undulating, plus it adds balance to an otherwise ordinary sounding name."
Testimony
"I am pleased
at your CDs in which were enclosed the three CDs and an extra two song's CD.
I feel that the song under the title "Natalie" is expressive of keen affection.
Regarding the "Amazing", it has cool lick at solo part of your guitar. I like
it very much as same as "Mr. Madison". I saw your band at Dallas music festival
in '95, and feel excellent cooperativeness at each members of your band. If
I have a chance to go to Texas again, I will check your band's schedule. Furthermore,
I wrote my request into bulletin board system on the FUJI Rock Festival. Because.
I want to let it be known that nice play of your band to Japanese audience.
I hope to see your play in the very near future."
Josei Kondo
Ryugasaki, Japan
Where have we played?
Aardvark
Fort Worth, TX Alligator Lounge Breckenridge, CO Anderson Fair Houston, TX Bar
Next Door Springfield, MO Bluebird Cafe Nashville, TN Brothers Norman,
OK Cane’s San Diego, CA Caravan of Dreams Fort Worth, TX Club
Fred Fresno, CA Club Dada Dallas, TX Coffee House on The Corner Charlottesville,
VA Common Ground New Orleans, LA The Dock Jackson, MS Depot
Beer Garden, Lubbock, TX Double Diamond Aspen, CO Dan’s Bar Denton,
TX Duke University Durham, NC Eddie’s Attic Atlanta, GA Fly
Me to the Moon Telluride, CO Flo & Eddie's Starkville, MS Flying
Saucer Nashville, TN Grey Eagle Black Mountain, NC Gypsy Tea Room
Dallas, TX Herman’s Hideaway Denver, CO Hometown Festival Mansfield,
TX Jack’s Sugar Shack Los Angeles, CA LaSalles Chico, CA Last
Day Saloon San Francisco, CA Little Bear Evergreen, CO Main St.
Arts Festival Fort Worth, TX Molly Malone’s Los Angeles, CA
MoMo's Austin, TX Navy Pier Chicago, IL Newby’s Memphis, TN Nick's
Boulder, CO 'Ol Waterin' Hole Kerrville, TX Pi Lambda Phi University
of Texas, Austin, TX Poor David's Pub Dallas, TX Principia College
St. Louis, MO Presbyterian College Clinton, SC Proud Larry’s Oxford,
MS Rabb's Ruston, LA Railroad Blues Bar Alpine, TX Rhodes College
Memphis, TN Satellite Lounge Houston, TX Scruffy Murphy's Waco,
TX Steamboat Austin, TX Steel Penny Pub San Angelo, TX Taste
of Dallas Dallas, TX Tulane University New Orleans, LA Tugboat Steamboat
Springs, CO University of Texas Arlington, TX University of North
Texas Denton, TX FIBARK Festival Victoria Tavern Salida, CO Wildflower!
Art & Music Fest City of Richardson, TX Woody's Stillwater, OK
