ABOUT
Farewell Friend has quickly become one of the Southeast’s most compelling contemporary folk acts. Anchored by the creative vision of singer-songwriter and producer Tom Troyer, the project delivers a sound that is vulnerable, powerful, and richly textured. Merging elements of folk, rock, and Americana, their music carves out a voice uniquely their own. At the heart of Farewell Friend are Troyer’s original melodies and introspective lyrics, paired with rhythm sections that speak in jazz-like gestures, creating a dynamic interplay that draws listeners in.
The Silent Years, Troyer's fourth album, ups the ante on that early work and offers a sublime exploration of sickness, grief, and the relationship between a dying mother and her son. This finely wrought and heartbreaking concept album immerses the listener in a play divided into acts, as well as the story of a body and a culture breaking down.
Hailing from the cornfields of Indiana, Troyer is a midwestern transplant in Greensboro, North Carolina. With his multifaceted background, Tom Troyer has developed a unique perspective on music and storytelling. His introspective lyrics and soul-stirring melodies create a powerful connection with audiences, delving into themes of identity, resilience, and the human condition. Farewell Friend's discography showcases Troyer's musical journey, from his debut album "Lineage" – a conceptual exploration of generational stories – to the autobiographical introspection of "[Samson]" and the conflicts of gentrification in the EP "Glenwood and Gomorrah."
BOOKING
Laura Jane Vincent - ljvmusic@gmail.com
CONTACT
Tom Troyer - farewellfriendband@gmail.com
RELEASES
SPECS
Farewell Friend has completed three ambitious tours of the East Coast, playing rooms at The Purple Fiddle, Rockwood Music Hall, Pete's Candy Store, Haw River Ballroom, The Flat Iron, Boggs Social, The Howlin' Wolf, Preservation Pub, The Ramkat, and showcased for three consecutive years at Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City.
PRESS
"The Silent Years" Album Review
Although they are rather 'heavy' topics, the overall mood of the album is decidedly pleasant and is attributable to a balanced mix of rock, folk and blues. To these classic references I would also add that the sounds are similar to those of the alt-country at Wilco, or to a certain indie singer-songwriter (I am reminded of Devendra Banhart and Sufjan Stevens). Tom Troyer, in addition to being the sole author of this and previous works, has accumulated, over the years, a now substantial recording and production experience, so much so that he opened his own studio in 2018, called Black Rabbit Audio, in which he has already recorded and produced about twenty albums, including of course those of Farewell Friend. [READ MORE]
"Farewell Friend's The Silent Years is a melodic collage of vivid musicality that is taken in through the ears but felt right in the heart. The album expands on the group's introspective and contemplative lyricism encapsulating the depth of human emotion. Tom Troyer's voice is an instrument that soars to new heights on the wings of exemplary musicianship demonstrating that Farewell Friend is a group to keep on your radar."
- Mason P. Winfree, journalist and editorial writer for Americana Highways, NPR Blue Ridge, and The Alternate Root Magazine. DJ/Host of @PatchworkofAmerica
Album Premiere W/Interview: Farewell Friend “Samson”
This album is some unquestionably quality songwriting, sometimes with an easy country groove, and sometimes with darker folk and even punk style inflections. “Chasing the Glow” is a little bit eclectic folk and a little bit groovy and “Birds in Flight” is a country folk number. “Dying at the Hands of Love” is shines a light on the cruel banalities of being just a number in society. Taken all together, the album is at the heart of contemporary Americana music. [READ MORE]
