One Saturday afternoon last August Chris Thoman was at his part-time job at Lawrence Tool Rental when he received a call from an aunt asking him for a favor. A BIG favor.
“My aunt Cathy called and asked me if I could come to her school’s alumni block party that evening and perform,” Thoman recalled. “It seems that members of one of the bands scheduled to play had come down with the flu and they had to cancel.
“I said ‘sure.’ My aunt Cathy, and the rest of my family have always been there for me, so I didn’t hesitate when she asked me to do her this favor.”
Chris’ aunt, Cathy Thoman, was the chairperson of the Howe/Irvington Community Block Party committee, and her choice of a “fill-in” act for last year’s event was a big hit with those who heard the 25-year-old singer/musician perform his set of country and southern rock songs. The younger Thoman’s set was such a success that he has been asked to perform at the 7th Annual Howe/Irvington Community Block Party this Saturday evening, August 24.
“I have songs that are my favorites to play,” Thoman admitted, “so I decided to stick to country and southern rock songs that night. I figured that a lot of the people at the block party liked those types of music.”
Thoman, a 2006 graduate of Lawrence North High School, started playing a guitar his freshman year of college (“because chicks dig it,” he admitted with a laugh). Chris had asked for and received a $150 Yamaha acoustic guitar for his birthday. With the help of an instructional DVD that came with the guitar, Chris started to teach himself to play the instrument, and proceeded to “drive my parents crazy by playing the same three chords for what seemed like forever! (laughs)”
As his confidence in playing the guitar grew, Thoman started performing at “open mic” nights at bars and clubs while a student at Purdue. Chris quickly pointed out that his favorite place to play his guitar and sing was at family gatherings at their cabin on the Ohio River.
“Our family has always been into music and we get together at the cabin it gives us the chance to sing and play music together,” Thoman said. “I’ve always had a lot of fun playing music for and with my family.”
Having grown up on country music, Chris has an appreciation for the genre’s artists who “started at the bottom and worked their way up the ranks. Guys like Elvis, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and Darius Rucker, going back to his days in Hootie and the Blowfish.”
When he graduated from Purdue in 2010 (with a double major in Organizational Leadership and Entrepreneurships) Chris had to make a decision regarding his future. And he received support and advice from his family regarding the situation.
“It came down to where I asked myself, ‘Am I going to take a shot and go to Nashville to pursue a music career or stay here, get a 9-to-5 job and play music from time to time?’
”My parents suggested that I do the music on the side and if someone discovers me then see where it takes me. I took their advice and appreciate their support in my decision.”
The 7th Annual Howe/Irvington Community Block Party, hosted by the Howe High School Class of 1977, the Irving Theatre, and the Antique Mall by Jack and Jill will be held on Johnson Street (one block east of the intersection of Washington Street and Ritter Avenue) and Ritter Avenue (just south of Washington Street).
The event gives the “kids” of earlier generations the opportunity to get together for an evening of food, drink, music and the chance to recall school days past.
This year’s block party will feature live music from: Chris Thoman, Audio Diner & Deeper Roots with professional sound, staging & lighting from Warren Sargent & Kings Light Productions. Food and drinks will be available from two local food trucks. Admission to the 7th Annual Howe/Irvington Block Party is free.
For more information regarding the 7th Annual Howe High School All-Alumni Block Party, go to the Thomas Carr Howe/Irvington Community Block Party 2013 page on Facebook.
