It's been 38 years since Bill Janovitz (vocals, guitar), Chris Colbourn (bass, vocals) and Tom Maginnis (drums) formed Buffalo Tom in the fall of 1986 in Northampton, MA, while attending the University of Massachusetts. The band's blend of catchy melodies, introspective lyrics and powerful performances helped them gain a loyal fan base and secured them a place in the annals of alternative rock history.
Bill Janovitz and Chris Colbourn began jamming together in various campus apartments. Drawing inspiration from their love of classic bands like The Replacements, The Gun Club, Bob Dylan, Echo & the Bunnymen, Van Morrison and the Rolling Stones, they honed their songwriting skills and quickly developed a distinctive sound. They soon teamed up with drummer Tom Maginnis to form Buffalo Tom, whose name was a nod to the shy Maginnis and Buffalo Springfield.
In 1988, they released their debut album Buffalo Tom, co-produced by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. on SST Records. The record received critical acclaim and songs like Sunflower Suit and The Bus became college radio hits, helping them build a dedicated fan base and attract interest from European booking agents. Grant Hart of _Hüsker Duü_named the album one of his "Best of 1988" in Melody Maker.
In 2024, after 38 years of band history, the band released their 12th album Jump Rope, from which the single Helmet is already available.
This is what the band says about the tour: "We think the project has developed wonderfully and are thrilled with the results. We're looking forward to playing these songs alongside BT classics when we tour as we still can."
This content has been machine translated.