Around a year ago now I opened Instagram to see a post from Fagans pub in Sheffield announcing that Tom Rowley (guitarist for the band Milburn as well as touring member of the Arctic Monkeys) would be playing an intimate solo set at the pub that coming night. I had seen Milburn before and obviously am a massive fan of the Arctic Monkeys, so I was pretty gutted that I couldn’t make it back to Sheffield for the gig due to being in Salford for university. The post from Fagans stated that Tom would be playing some material from his forthcoming debut solo album that was recorded the previous year, which I believe was a first official announcement that Tom would be embarking on a solo venture. Tomorrow, two years after the album was recorded at Valentine Studios in Los Angeles, Moses and the Drones is released to the world.
Tom’s musical beginnings can be traced back to the beloved Sheffield band Milburn. Milburn were formed in 2001 and consisted of lead vocalist Joe Carnall, rhythm guitarist Louis Carnall (brother of Joe), lead guitarist Tom and drummer Joe Green. Milburn have released three studio albums to date – Well Well Well (2006), These Are The Facts (2007) and Time (2017). After the release of These Are The Facts in 2007, Milburn announced in March of 2008 that they would be disbanding for the foreseeable future. This disbandment lasted until April of 2016, when Milburn performed four shows at the O2 Academy in Sheffield to celebrate ten years of their debut album. Following the success of these reunion shows, the band announced an Autum tour of the the UK alongside the announcement of double a-sided single of ‘Midnight Control’ / ‘Forming of a Fate’ that was to be released in September of the same year. Their third studio album Time was announced in early 2017 and was released the following September.
Since, the release of Time in 2017, Milburn have continued to perform live as a band but have yet to release any new music. In all honesty, I haven’t listened to Milburn as much as I probably should have done being a Sheffield native and all, but I am aware of all their biggest hits. I was also lucky enough to see the band perform at Rock N Roll Circus in Sheffield a couple of years back, with the band also due to perform at Rock N Roll Circus later this year to commemorate twenty years of their debut Well Well Well. Between the disbandment of Milburn from 2008 and 2016, Tom shortly served as a guitarist for Sheffield royalty Reverend and the Makers in addition to serving as vocalist and guitarist for the band Dead Sons, for which former Milburn drummer Joe Green also was a member. Dead Sons released their debut album The Hollers and the Hymns in February of 2013 as well as releasing a couple of singles in 2018 – ‘Burn Baby Burn’ and ‘Ape Heavy’.
Sometime in 2013, the Arctic Monkeys realised that they were shy of a keyboardist for their upcoming world tour of the album AM. The band, who were all close friends with Tom, sort him out to join them as keyboardist for their upcoming world tour. Since then, Tom has remained as a touring member of the Arctic Monkeys for their world tours of Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino (2018) and The Car (2022). Much like George Martin is considered to be the fifth Beatle, Tom is considered to be the fifth Arctic Monkey. As well as touring with the band, Tom contributed to the recording of the albums Tranquillity Base and The Car, with him actually co-writing the tracks ‘Jet Skis On The Moat’ and ‘Mr Schwartz’ that were featured on The Car.
Over the course of the last year, I have seen Tom five times live and have enjoyed each time thoroughly. The first time I saw Tom was at Crookes Social Club last June and it was mint. I already recognised a couple of his tracks from clips of his live performance at Fagans last April, but it was brilliant to hear the rest of his new material for the first time. Five singles have been released in the run up to Moses and the Drones, so lets discuss each of them.
‘Tell Me What You Want’ was the first single released from Moses and the Drones and released on the 6th June last year, a couple weeks before Tom’s gig at Crookes Social Club. An obvious lead single in my opinion – catchy, layered and a great hook. Was my eighth most played song on Spotify last year.
‘Rite Time’ came next, releasing on the 10th September. I’m sure this wasn’t intentional, but it made a brilliant birthday present for my mother, meant I didn’t have to buy her anything. Again, a great hook and dare I describe it as a bit poppy? Video was shot in Cleethorpes too so bonus marks just for that.
Vegas in the Snow was released on the 11th December last year, a week prior to Tom’s gig at the Sidney & Matilda in Sheffield. Tied as being my favourite track of this (thus far). The song is the opening track on Moses and the Drones and has been the track that Tom has opened with each time I have seen him. Dark, atmospheric, haunting – just a few words to describe Vegas in the Snow. Certified hood classic.
El Chapo followed on the 23rd January this year, though I had this song downloaded to my iCloud for months as I believe Tom’s PR team sent a download link to this track when he was first starting up. Think that is how I obtained it anyway. Always reminded me of a Western movie this tune, not that I’ve ever watched any.
MOR is the final single taken from Moses and the Drones prior to the release of the album. Came out on the 27th of last month. Seeing this song live, I always thought the opening lyrics were “this West Coast eagle eye, never felt so right”. When the single released on Spotify, it turned out the opening lyrics are actually “this West Coast easy life, never felt so right”. Admittedly, this does make a lot more sense. MOR is tied with Vegas in the Snow as being my favourite track from Tom (thus far). Also includes a reference to David Ginola which is sublime.
I’m sure I will recognise all of the tracks on Moses and the Drones when it is released tomorrow, given the fact that I have heard each of the songs live five times prior. Doesn’t make me any less excited. To celebrate the release of Moses and the Drones, Tom is playing an album launch gig at Crookes Social Club on Saturday night, circling back to where it all began last June. Set to be a top night. Give a listen to Moses and the Drones when it comes out tomorrow, it will be worth your time.
Honeymoon Suite Music 
Leave a comment