Molly Thomas & The Rare Birds Bio
Molly Thomas has always been a child of the water and metaphors of flow, movement,
tidal change and bodily connection frequently surface in her lyrics. Born in Ocean
Springs, Mississippi, Thomas has made made her home in and cultivated the majority of
her musical influences from the southern regions of Alabama, Mississippi, and
Tennessee. A hive for songwriters and artists whose emotive storytelling and beautifully
gritty swampy swagger personify the region, The south has been the perfect location for
Thomas to grow her self-described Indie Swamp Pop.
As a side-person Thomas has recorded and toured internationally, including late night
performances on David Letterman and Jay Leno’s Tonight Show with folk icon Todd
Snider. Her violin, string arrangements and vocals have been featured on recordings
and live performances with Guster, Matthew Ryan and Will Hoge amongst others, and her
reputation as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and collaborator speaks for itself.
Throughout her career, Thomas has released three critically acclaimed records as a
solo artist and her music has appeared in films.
Thomas’ current album “Honey’s Fury” is her first with her touring band The Rare Birds and it is a collaborative effort that first took flight with her creative partner and co-
producer Rick Hirsch. Guitarist Hirsch, who's roots are firmly embedded in the Georgia and Alabama music communities, is also is a child of the Gulf. Hirsch’s career took off
as a founding member of the chart topping southern rock band Wet Willie in the early
70s. In the mid-70s Hirsch recorded and toured with Gregg Allman and Cher on the
“Allman And Woman” album, at which time Hirsch relocated to Los Angeles, where he
wrote, recorded and performed with many legendary artists and music industry pioneers
including Randy Newman, Glynn Johns, Russ Titleman, Tom Dowd, Billy Vera, Fatboy
Slim and Joan Armatrading. In addition to many film and television credits Hirsch has had his songs recorded by Alabama, Tina Turner, Cher, and co-wrote Papa Come Quick
(Jody and Chico) for Bonnie Raitt’s Grammy nominated “Luck Of The Draw” album.
Like waterways that meander through the land eventually meeting in the Gulf, Rick
Hirsch and Molly Thomas were meant to meet, and on many occasions, Hirsch’s name
was brought to Thomas’ attention as a potential collaborator. He had recently returned
home from Los Angeles, and right across the bay from Thomas, to Mobile, Alabama to
build a recording studio and to develop young artists. Although they had been traveling
in the same circles for 10 years they had yet to meet when their paths serendipitously
crossed as Hirsch ended up stepping in as a last minute replacement for Thomas’ guitar
player at a show in Mississippi. Immediately attracted to Thomas’s voice, songwriting
and “all-around artistic soul”, the two artists began a creative partnership in 2015. Their
allegiance and attraction to the Gulf cemented a creative bond and the two started to
develop a sound that echoed the south. “It’s big, swampy and round, with each
musician playing an integral role in bringing the songs to life”.
One recurring theme in Thomas’ songs is connection, whether it be personal or one’s
relationship to the ever changing physical and emotional environment. The Rare Birds
are also intertwined musically and personally. Drummer John Milham first met Thomas
when she relocated to Mobile to join his current band Slow Moses.
In the 20 years since the move the two have revolved through each other’s lives, for a
short time in Slow Moses, as brother and sister-in-law during Thomas’ marriage and
eventual divorce from Milham’s brother, and finally with the first incarnation of The Rare
Birds in 2014. Besides being part of the rhythmic tide behind The Rare Birds, John is
the band’s “peacekeeper” and glue, keeping the band’s groove and spirit on course. It
was also Milham who introduced bassist John Keuler to Thomas and later brought him
into the band. Another local musician, bassist Keuler holds down the bottom end of The
Rare Birds and contributes beautiful vocal harmonies behind Thomas. Keuler’s melodic
bass lines and harmonic contributions are an integral part of the band’s lush sound
which they have been sharpening on the road for the last four years.
Enter Grammy award winning engineer Trina Shoemaker, best known for her work with
Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Sheryl Crow, The Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler and The
Dixie Chicks. Schumacher was working at Dauphin Studios in Mobile, where Honey’s
Fury was recorded. She had heard the recordings and, after a chance encounter and
discussion with Thomas at the supermarket, was enlisted to mix the record. Thomas
wanted a lush, rolling, swampy sound, which was similar to Schumacher’s signature
sound. In yet another serendipitous moment, Schumacher was added to Thomas’s
team, mixing 11 of the 12 tracks on Honey’s Fury.
Molly Thomas is an accomplished career artist with a strong point of view fronting a
dynamic and experienced band of musical collaborators. Molly Thomas And The Rare
Birds have a dedicated work ethic confirming their honesty and authenticity in every
song, and have been hailed by both critics and their contemporaries as an integral and
“unfiltered voice” representing the sound of the southern United States.
Press Quotes
I am happy to announce that our album, Honey's Fury, made several top charts for end of the year ratings for 2019... listed in the order in which they came in.
1.) Americana Highway Magazine's top 100, where we were #16
2.) Viola Krouse's Top 37 Releases of 2019 for Making a Scene Magazine
3.) Warren Kurtz's Fabulous Albums & Songs for Goldmine Magazine's top 20.
4.) The Song, "Laura" was a top 20 song for Goldmine Magazine
5.) Van's 10 Most Essential Records of 2019
6.) Favorite Album of the Year! 2019 READERS' CHOICE AWARDS for The Southland Music Line
Thank you ALL for your support and to these journalists who took the time to listen to our music. It makes me happy that you were touched by the songs.
10 new songs to know by Alabama musicians
"With talented Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard releasing her first solo material, this summer is off to a hot start for fans of Alabama music.
In addition to proven stars from the state like Howard and songsmith Jason Isbell - who’s been touring with Father John Misty and recording with Sheryl Crow - making national news, promising local music continues to bubble up here.
Below are 10 recently released songs to know, by bands and solo acts based in or from Alabama.
'The Ocean' Molly Thomas & The Rare Birds
Fairhope combo summons mystical-Americana vibes reminiscent of that Grammy-winning “Raising Sand” album Robert Plant and Alison Krauss did back in 2008."
- AL.com
"The Alabama foursome hits hard, too. Backed by Rick Hirsch (guitar), John Milham (drums), and John Keuler (bass), Thomas shines throughout the twelve tracks that appear on Honey’s Fury. The Rare Birds showcase their gritty chemistry, and Thomas effortlessly welcomes you into her turbulent yet gleefully inspiring world. The band truly is a rare combination of talent that works like a steady, well-oiled machine that won’t take no for an answer."
- Music & Mojitos
"Perfectly timed is the fattened notes & interplay of instruments on “Calling My Name.” Ms. Thomas asserts herself & the band supports her well. If today’s rock & roll burns the coal slow this effort is doused with starter fluid. Fiery like The Avett Brothers & The Mumfords. All good."
- Americana Highways
"Molly Thomas and The Rare Birds are purposeful. Every note and instrument choice serves the song in the best possible light.
I adore this album.
Molly's vocals are damn powerful and goosebumps worthy." - Viola Krouse
- Making a Scene
Alabama Kick Ass: Molly Thomas and the Rare Birds – “Calling My Name”
"WOW!!!!!! That’s all I can say. Take Melissa Ethridge and throw her in southern Alabama, and give her kick-ass tunes, and you get Molly Thomas and the Rare Birds. This is how Americana should sound; glistening guitars, pounding rhythm, bass riffs galore, and a beautiful voice that reaches out to the stratosphere. There is something Emmy-Lou Harrisish about Thomas and her band, comprised of Thomas on acoustic guitar and violin, Rick Hirsh on guitar, John Milham on drums, and John Keuler on bass. The four of them are all well acquainted with each other, and that makes an album about connections make so much sense. This is beautiful music. I’ve been listening non-stop." - Phil King
- Audio Fuzz