Tom Guerra The Pure Vintage Media Podcast Interview 10/27/25

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Tom Guerra is an American musician, songwriter, and rock journalist known for his work in the New England club circuit and his solo career. Beyond his musical endeavors, he is also a respected writer for publications like Vintage Guitar magazine, an expert on vintage guitars, and a session musician for numerous artists.

Career Highlights

Mambo Sons
Formation and success: Guerra's career gained significant momentum when he co-founded the band Mambo Sons with singer/songwriter Scott Lawson in the late 1990s.

Discography: The band released its debut album in 1999, which featured guest appearances by renowned musicians, including guitarist Rick Derringer. They went on to release four albums between 1999 and 2009.

Solo Career
Beginnings: After Mambo Sons, Guerra embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album, All of the Above, in 2014.

Discography:
He has released five solo albums of original music, with his fourth, Sudden Signs of Grace, praised for its songwriting reminiscent of the "Laurel Canyon school".

Singles:
Starting in 2023, he shifted his focus to releasing singles, with six released to date.

Collaborations:
His solo work has featured collaborations with notable musicians, such as Morgan Fisher (Mott the Hoople, Queen), Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Joan Jett), and Mike Kosasek.

Other Musical Projects

Early Bands:
Guerra was a part of several bands early in his career, including Pyramid, The Dirty Bones Band, and The Easton Brothers.

Session and Guest Work:
He has recorded with and played for various other artists, including Max Weinberg and Rick Derringer.

The Yardbirds:
In 2017, he was commissioned to write original music for the iconic British rock band The Yardbirds.

Writing and Journalism

Music Journalist:
A prolific writer, Guerra has contributed to numerous music publications.

He has written for Vintage Guitar magazine since 1998.

His work has also appeared in Premier Guitar and ToneQuest Report.

Author:
He has written liner notes for various groups, including the 13-album Live Bootleg series for his friend, blues legend Johnny Winter.

Preservationist:
In addition to writing about music, Guerra is a noted vintage guitar preservationist and collector.

Musical Style
Tom Guerra is known for his skill as a guitarist and his ability to write well-crafted rock 'n' roll songs with meaningful lyrics. He is often praised for his "pop sensibilities" and ability to craft a melody. His solo albums are a mix of blues, garage rock, and roots rock

Discography

Solo Albums

All of the Above (2014)
Trampling Out the Vintage (2016)
American Garden (2018)
Sudden Signs of Grace (2020)
Sentimental Junk (2022)

Singles
(2023-Current)

Mambo Sons
Mambo Sons (1999)
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Notable Collaborations
• Kenny Aaronson: (Bassist, Bob Dylan, Billy Idol)
• Morgan Fisher: (Keyboardist, Mott the Hoople, Queen)
• Rick Derringer: (Guitarist)
• Johnny Winter: (Blues Guitarist)
• The Yardbirds: (British Rock Band)

While Tom Guerra primarily focuses on his solo work and collaborations as a session musician, his former band Mambo Sons is known to play occasional shows around New England. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2012, but they still perform on occasion.

The current lineup for Mambo Sons is:
• Tom Guerra: guitar and vocals
• Scott Lawson Pomeroy: lead vocals and bass
• Joe Lemieux: drums
• Russ Waesche: guitar and vocals

Most recently, in July 2025, Guerra also performed with a group called The Manchesters for a live show in Manchester, CT. The group is an ad-hoc assembly of Connecticut musicians.

Tom Guerra's association with the legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter was primarily through his work as a music journalist for Vintage Guitar magazine. Guerra developed a professional relationship with Winter and his management, which led to him writing extensive liner notes for Winter's Live Bootleg Series.

Learn More About Tom Guerra:

Website: TomGuerra.com
Facebook:   / tom.guerra  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guerra.tom/...
YouTube:    / mambosons  
Apple Music:   / tom-guerra