Tom Heyman

by Erik HageWith his evocative baritone and twang-soaked, nocturnal yarns, Tom Heyman, onetime guitarist for acclaimed Philly roots rockers Go to Blazes, released his debut album, Boarding House Rules, in the fall of 2000. Helping out on the effort were such roots rock notables as Chuck Prophet (Green on Red), who plays bass and guitar on the album, and Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (the Del Lords, the Yayhoos), who mastered the effort. Heyman first arrived on the music scene with Go to Blazes, which was formed in the D.C. area in the late '80s by a quartet of college buddies. The group released its debut in 1988, and shortly after relocated to Philadelphia. Heyman's blistering guitar attack was a central component of the band's sound. Under the tutelage of producer Eric Ambel and with a deal from the record label ESD, the group released its strongest albums in the mid-'90s, receiving acclaim in alt-country and roots rock circles. In the late '90s, with their label dividing, Go to Blazes petered out. Besides moving on to do solo work, Heyman has been a member of Map of Wyoming, who released their debut, Round Trip, in 1998. (That group consists of former members of Flying Color and ex-Translator Larry Dekker.) Heyman was also brought on board -- along with former Flying Burrito Brother and late-period Byrd Gene Parsons -- for the Court & Spark's 2001 album Bless You.