Austin-based soul band Tomar and the FCs are thrilled to announce the details of their “Rise Above” official album release show, taking place Saturday, Feb. 1 at Antone’s Nightclub, located at 305 E. Fifth St, Austin, Texas 78701. The release show, presented by KUTX, will open with a tribute to Stax Records featuring performances by Kevin Russell (Shinyribs), The Watters, Sheree Smith, Soul Man Sam and Courtney Santana. Doors are at 9 p.m. The Stax Records Tribute will take place 10 - 11:15 p.m. and Tomar and the FCs will play from 11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance here.

The band recently premiered the title track from the album with Impose Magazine. They also premiered a video for the track “Innocence” with The Austin Chronicle, which can be seen here.

Speaking about the title track, Tomar and the FCs say, “Rise Above is a call to transcend the current divisiveness in our country around politics, race and so much more. Hopefully it can provide a few minutes of unity during these turbulent times.”

Hailing from the Live Music Capital of the World, Tomar and the FCs is a soul band comprised of Tomar Williams on lead vocals, Andy Tenberg on guitar, Eric Baker on keys, Mitch Fischels on bass and Paul Kresowik on drums. “Rise Above” is a quintessential soul album that explores the concept of time and the evolution of relationships over time. For more information on Tomar and the FCs, please see here.

“We have been working on this album for a little over two years and are beyond excited to share it with the world,” said Tomar and the FCs.

Tomar and the FCs first exploded onto the Austin music scene in 2015 with the release of their EP, “Day by Day,” and by the time they released their debut album “Heart Attack” in late 2016, they had already received critical acclaim and had become a local powerhouse. In 2018, Tomar and the FCs signed to Houston-based, independent record label Splice Records. Now with the upcoming release of their new record, “Rise Above,” the band is delving further into their roots, creating a soul album with elements of blues, rock and funk all influenced by the diverse musical landscape of Austin.

The instrumental tracking for “Rise Above” was done by David Earl at the Dywer House, with addtional tracking, overdubs, and mixing done by Sam Patlove at Bud's Recording Services and with two vocal tracks recorded at Carnival Beats Soul Studios with Salih and Ishaq Williams.

“From the first time I saw the band live to the last time I have seen them live they just keep getting better and better,” said Splice Records CEO Shaun Brennan. “Their shows are more of a spiritual uplifting than a concert, and with ‘Rise Above’ we were lucky enough to capture and record that raw emotion on the album. ‘Innocence’ is the first released single and it will be the first step toward letting fans feel their new music.”

THE “RISE ABOVE” TRACKLIST IS AS FOLLOWS:

Can't You See

Enough is Enough

Fine Time

Rise Above

Innocence

This Woman

Take Your Time

Always You

Gypsy Woman

Up

UPCOMING TOUR DATES INCLUDE:

Feb. 1 – Antone’s Nightclub - Austin, Texas

Feb. 8 – Double Wide - Dallas, Texas

Feb. 21 – Continental Club - Houston, Texas

Feb. 22 – LUNA – San Antonio, Texas

March 8 – Antone’s Record Shop - Austin, Texas

About Tomar and the FCs:

Tomar and the FCs is a soul band from Austin, Texas. Tomar Williams got his start singing lead on the Chitlin Circuit with his family band. The band self-recorded and released their first EP, “Day by Day” in 2015. The Austin American-Statesman selected it as a top release and wrote that, “Williams shows his own soul chops with searing vocals that drip with blood, sweat and tears.”

In 2016, NPR Music picked Tomar and the FCs out of hundreds of Austin entries to represent the city for their Tiny Desk Concert Series. “Heart Attack,” the band’s debut album, was released in late 2016. It was recorded and mixed at Level One studio with Grammy winning artist/engineer Adrian Quesada. KUTX wrote that the album is, “Pure soul, pure energy…Heart Attack, the single from the band’s latest album of the same name, is an electric three-minute ride of some of the purest blues/ soul we’ve heard lately.”

Tomar and the FCs are mainstays on the Austin music scene and have been voted in the top five of the Austin Chronicle’s Music Poll for best Blues, Funk, and Soul artist in 2017 and 2018. In addition to numerous club dates throughout Texas and the US, they’ve performed at Austin City Limits (ACL), South by Southwest, Old Settlers, River Revival and many other festivals. In 2018, they signed with Splice Records and were awarded a Black Fret grant. Their second full length album, “Rise Above,” is set to be released on Feb. 1, 2020.