Tom Merrigan's Hot Racoons

Tom Merrigan's Hot Raccoons have gained loyal followings by taking traditional American musical forms, twisting them to the breaking point and cranking up the energy until audiences are whipped into a dancing frenzy. Virtuoso boogie-woogie piano phenomenon Tom Merrigan is known for playing so fast and hard that he sometimes leaves blood on the keys! To assist him with the blood-letting, several years ago he assembled a crack team of some of the area’s top musicians. Together, they belt out a collection of highly original tunes which manages to be both thoroughly quirky and new yet firmly rooted in the great, American boogie-woogie tradition. The group boasts powerhouse singer Dana Marks, omnipresent local horn players Danny Grewen on trombone and Steve Cowles on sax, and Kevin Magill on a most unusual drum set that he built with his own bare hands. They belt out a collection of highly original tunes which manages to be both thoroughly quirky and new yet firmly rooted in the great, American boogie-woogie tradition.