• Thunderstorm Hollow

    Tucked into a cove in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Thunderstorm Hollow is the favoriteof all the musicians who’ve managed to find us.  We’re not sure why,  unless it’s the quality of sound for the low price.  We call that bang for the buck,  and we’re 12 gauge.  It may not look like much,  but you gotta hear it to believe the great sounds that we manage to coax out of our musicians and machines.

    Or,  it could be our relaxed atmosphere and ability to work with both studio virgins and seasoned studio pros. And as long as you’re not allergic to cats,  you’ll probably get a kick out of our studio cats,  Elvis, Wanda and Sammi.  If you’re stressed,  they’ll calm you right down.  And probably get cat hair all over your jeans in the process.  Hey,  they’re cats!

    Thunderstorm Hollow is an all-digital recording studio.  You might have reservations about going digital, but digital recording isn’t like it used to be.  No more thin-sounding recordings,  no more brittle highs or lightweight lows.  You can get a great sounding recordings by going digital,  as long as you have an engineer who knows how to use the equipment to get the best results.  AND you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on 2” tape reels,  only to have them shed in a few years.

    Thunderstorm Hollow specializes in the singer-songwriter who comes to us without a band.  Whether they’re studio virgins or studio pros, everyone seems to enjoy the experience. 

    We’re laid back,  but not slackers.  We won’t waste your time,  and hope you won’t waste ours.  We understand the concept that time is money,  even if money isn’t an issue.

    Here’s the catch:  We don’t take just anyone.  We have to know you or you have to be recommended to us by someone we know.  The exception is if we hear your stuff and think it’s something we want to get involved with. 

    Why do we do business this way?  Because we can, and because we feel like it. We’re in it for the music,  and for the fun of creating something out of nothing.

    Recent CDs

     

    ArmageddonCD100

    ARMAGEDDON DRIVE-IN

    Too Tall Tom’s 2009 original solo album featuring his smooth, tasty guitar and keyboard  licks, with background vocals by D’anne Clontz (Chick Corea, The Family Band) and others. 

    PatSkyCDcover100

    DOWN TO US

    Patrick Sky,  a well-known and much-covered singer-songwriter known for his 60’s era anti-war, anti-establishment songs,  has recorded a CD of traditional Irish folk music with his wife Cathy.  Pat, who now plays and builds Uillean Bagpipes, and Cathy,  who plays fiddle, now live in Western North Carolina.

    LastChantsCDcover100

    LAST CHANTS

    Jim Meyer, long time devotee of guru Meher Baba, has put together another great cd of spiritual songs,  from reggae to blues to rock ‘n roll,  armed with acoustic guitar and trusty dulcimer.

    tripolar100

    TRIPOLAR EXPRESS

    Too Tall Tom’s brilliant guitar work and the nicely layered production by Suzi Dimock set this local artist (Sonia Kelley) CD apart from others of the grunge rock genre.  Suzi even contributes a song to the mix,  the popular “Rattlesnake”.

    Thunderstorm Hollow

    dusk-hills-sss

    About Us
  • Equipment Overview

    Recent CDs

     

    cowboysCD100

    STEEL COWBOYS

    Too Tall Tom and his wife Suzi wrote, recorded and produced this well-received 2005 CD that is hook-heavy and big.  It has the layered fullness of a “Suzi” production, coupled with fabulous slide and lead guitar playing of TTT.  Jim Meyer contributed vocals and lyrics to the song “FOOLS (Beer Garden Revisited)”,  which began life as “The Beer Garden”, an instrumental off the “Conversations” CD. 

    LoveChains100

    LOVE CHAINS

    Meyer’s 2008 release featuring both original songs and lyrics and lyrics adapted from poems by Persian poet Hafiz and the teachings of guru Meher Baba.  Jim and Too Tall Tom do all the instrumental work.  Jim’s CDs sell out in the Meher Baba community,  but should not be overlooked by others.

    BlessedBe100

    BLESSED BE

    A fun, funky take on mysteriousness and witchcraft,  this CD Single was a group effort.  Written by P.F. Chancey, Suzi Dimock and Jim Meyer,  sung by Suzi, Jim and the other people who make up the Voices of Midnight.  Features the guitar work of Too Tall Tom,  spoken word and even a rap,  it was an instant hit with pagans everywhere.  Blessed Be....

    ConversationsCD100

    CONVERSATIONS

    Another instrumental masterpiece (except for the song “Peaking and Freaking”) by Too Tall Tom,  inspired by an eNovel written by his wife Suzi,  this CD rocks and rolls and slides smoothly into home collections as well as being a staple of many car audio systems.  Although this CD has been used as a meditative tool by some New Age affectionados,  don’t think it doesn’t kick ass.  It sure as hell does!

    Thunderstorm Hollow is PC based, all-digital.  We use Cubase 3.4, Nuendo, and Sonar.  Many other files are importable.

    We use a Korg Karma as the main workstation,  but can access several software synths and sounds via the computers.  If you would like to know the specifics of our hardware and software,  email Tom with specific questions.

    We are not set up for drums, but arrangements can be made.

    If you would like to hear recordings produced at Thunderstorm Hollow,  we can provide you with sample clips, or you can listen to Tom’s recordings online at http://www.myspace.com/tootalltomsongs.

    Equipment
  • Personnel

    Thunderstorm Hollow is owned and operated by husband and wife team Too Tall Tom Dimock and Suzi Dimock.  Tom has extensive experience in the fields of electronic music and recording engineering.  A former Adjunct Professor of Electronic Music in New Jersey,  he has learned how to use the digital recording medium to achieve quality results that rival and often surpass analog recording.

    As a musician he has had much studio experience of his own,  both analog and digital.  He is thought by many to be one of the best rock and blues slide guitarists in the country.  He has played guitar in many highly respected bands from the Asbury Park, NJ area,  and has built a reputation for himself as being a top guitarist in the Asheville, NC area after moving to the mountains in 2001. 

    Suzi Dimock has been around musicians most of her life.  As the manager of Butterfield’s Recording Studio in Red Bank, NJ,  she has worked with many well-known people, including Emmy nominated musicians, engineers and producers.  Having sat in on many sessions as an observer, she learned the ins and outs of the business,  and found that she enjoys producing and consulting.  At Thunderstorm Hollow, she is often called upon to assist in the production of client’s recordings, or to give informed advice if they reach a stumbling block in their recordings. 

    As a studio manager in New Jersey she was often invited to visit other studios by studio owners, managers, and producers as well as by musicians,  and she can offer insights and advice about the business of recording and music in general.  She is also a writer,  and has been known to write music on occasion,  so if something isn’t working,  she can tell you why.

    Elvis, Wanda and Sammi are the studio cats.  Elvis and Wanda are native Maine Coon Cats from Maine,  and Sammi is a North Carolina barn cat who came to live with them several years ago.  They have been known to curl up in the laps of nervous clients to calm them down,  but their real skill is in mousing,  which they do with great gusto when an uninformed rodent makes the mistake of coming into the house.

    Personnel
  • Rates and Contact Information

    Rates are flexible, depending upon your needs.  Contact us for information.

    Email Tom at tom@tootalltom.net to inquire about studio availability and to discuss your needs.

     

    Rates and Contact Information