There’s a Hank Williams fan combining her admiration with songwriting, and it looks like she’s cooking up something good.
Leslie Tom, Class of 1999, is bringing her traditional country sound to College Station. The Denver-based musician will play a free show on March 24 at 8 p.m. at Cavalry Court Court Hotel.
Tom’s latest album, “Ain’t It Something, Hank Williams,” is comprised of four original Hank Williams tunes, as well as six original songs inspired by his life. Tom says her father often played Hank’s music on long car rides, which likely set the first creative stepping stone in Tom’s artistry. “Hank Williams has been a huge influence in my life for as long as I can remember,” Tom said. “I’ve realized as my own career has grown that that influence is instrumental and the foundation of my sound.”
Originally, Tom said, her idea was to first make a Hank Williams-inspired EP and then create a full-length record in 2019. However, as Tom began constructing the album, the songs just kept coming and coming. “I didn’t want to do a record of all covers because it’s really hard to cover someone that is as iconic as Hank Williams,” Tom said. “It just sort of all came together. It wasn’t purposeful when we started out working on this new project, but after we started working we realized we had something pretty special.”
John Macy, Tom’s producer and steel guitar player, is a true fan of her work. As native Texans, Tom and Macy said they have a deep appreciation for true country music that is slowly finding its way back to Nashville.