The Tom Rhodes Band at Valhalla Tahoe

The Tom Rhodes Band at Valhalla Tahoe: The show starts at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28 on the Grand Lawn at Valhalla Tahoe at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe.

Before you hear Tom Rhodes’ voice, you feel it – like a left jab to the jaw. Raspy and soulful, like Ray LaMontagne or a young Van Morrison, but with a soaring intensity that recalls Jackson Browne. The Oakland, California-based songwriter has spent more than a decade honing his honest, heartfelt brand of Americana, and learning to craft songs whose truth matches his passion as a performer. In that time, he has performed all over the US and Europe, released five albums, 2 EPs, numerous singles, and even appeared on Season 9 of “The Voice.” Tom’s songs and voice have been featured on dozens of TV shows and Movies, including Spenser Confidential, Hawaii 5-0, 9-1-1, Criminal Minds, and many more. “I realized that you can do more with music than talk about yourself. You can do more with music than express a feeling. You can express a piece of information with feeling and get the same emotional response, but you’re actually doing something to spread good ideas and help people out there.” As Rhodes puts it, “To me, singing songs is about passionately connecting with the thing I’m talking about, and if you’re singing about something that you actually believe in it’s really easy to get there.” One listen and you’ll understand.