Biography
Photograph by Peter Gannushkin
Thomas was a member of Moe Staiano's post-punk band Surplus 1980 from 2011-2015. The trio Dirty Patina was a music project between 2007-2009. It featured Morgan Guberman (bass), Gene V. Baker (trumpet). The Dirty Patina CD "Live at the Skronkathon BBQ" which captured the group's compositions and sonic ideas was released in 2011. Thomas' main music project from 2000-2007 was the absurdist italian rock band Spezza Rotto with John Shiurba (guitar), Eli Crews (bass), Morgan Guberman (vocals). The fantastico Spezza Rotto CD "Tredici Canzoni" was self-released in 2006.
From 1999-2002 Thomas performed locally with the rock band GrndNtl Brnds, which featured Dren McDonald of Giant Ant Farm (vocals and guitars), Kris Langan from Fibulator (vocals, guitar, bass), and Rick Weldon of Little My (vocals, guitar, bass & keyboard). GrndNtl Brnds finished their second CD "The Great Dumbening" on Vaccination Records in 2002.
Other Bay Area bands Thomas has performed in include Vacuum Tree Head, Moe!Kestra!, Rev.99, Pornorchestra, Kneel, Saint of Killers, John Shiurba's 5x5, Stritch, and Witches & Devils. Over the past 30 years he has participated in a wide range of group improvisations and a few structured pieces focused around postmodern opera, political theater, and dance. He has been engaged in reoccurring community events such as the Big Sur Experimental Music Festival, Sperry Fest, and Skronkahon BBQ. Thomas has also performed local live improvisations with Bruce Ackley, Liz Albee, Myles Boisen, Steve Buchanan, Ralph Carney, George Cremaschi, Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Thomas Dimuzio, Tom Djll, Fred Frith, Phillip Greenlief, Mason Jones, Carla Kihlstedt, Elliot Levin, Fred Longberg-Holm, 99 Hooker, Matt Ingalls, Tokyo Nammy, Tom Nunn, Albert Ortega, Dan Plonsey, Gino Robair, Scott Rosenberg, Elliot Sharp, Tamio Shiraishi, John Shiurba, Dave Slusser, Moe Staiano, Bill Wolter and Jack Wright among others. While traveling he has performed with Jac Berrocal, Shelly Hirsh, Marc Ribot, Tatsuya Yoshida, and Otomo Yoshihide.
Thomas Scandura is a drummer and percussionist based in El Cerrito, California. He has toured internationally and performed on over 50 recordings. His most well-known musical project is Ron Anderson's band The Molecules with Ron Anderson (guitar) and Chris Millner (bass). Ron formed the band in Oakland, California in 1990. The Molecules made several tours of Europe, trips through the US, and traveled to Japan. The band released 5 CDs on various labels and went through two additional bass players, Ryo Fujiwara and John Shiurba. In 2007 The Molecules finished the lauded CD "Friends" which featured the last version of the band with John. The release also included the bonus DVD "Turn Up Your Hair" that documents live footage of the band from 1990-1997.
Thomas' current projects are Phillip Greenlief's trio PG13 with Phillip Greenlief (sax), John Shiurba (guitar), Moeser with Ethan Port (guitar) and Dan Plonsey (sax/clarinet), and Kapha and it's Kind with Dan Plonsey (wind instruments) and Maw Shein Win (poetry/voice). He occasionally performs with Dave Slusser's band The Lost Planet and the improv group The Scope with Thomas Dimuzio (moog guitar) and Matt Ingalls (clarinet).