F A I L S A F E  L I V E  S O U N D

Tom Pambrun

Tom Pambrun is our resident sound master. With significant experience mixing monitors, Tom gives artists exactly what they expect. Over the last few years, he's mixed everyone from the local cover bands to multi-platinum, Grammy-winning touring bands. His technical knowhow, keen ear, and pleasant easy-going nature make him a solid addition to any sound team.


Tom Pambrun at the controls

Tom Pambrun Current Schedule
Tom Pambrun Official Website
Tom Pambrun on Myspace

(Auto)Biography

"I hung around a club until they hired me. Now I like touring. Where's my P.D.?

I think it was meant as a joke. You know, one of those off the cuff remarks that no one takes too seriously? I was loading out at a Barstool Prophets show, one of their last, and I was working as a guitar tech. Our front of house tech, Ken Stone, came up to me and said: "Guitar techs are pussies. Real men do sound." Being young and stupid, I thought I'd better get my shit together, cause I don't want to be a pussy. Whether he was serious or not, I still don't know. Didn't really matter. The next week I starting helping out at Ken's house gig, Barrymore's Music Hall in Ottawa, to start learning all his little tricks. Soon enough, I was helping to mix the locals and reading all the magazines and manuals. I had the bug. After a few months of that, Ken decided it was time for him to move on. Not sure what to do with myself, I asked the new house tech, Andy Zeitz, if he wanted any help. He figured: "If you're gonna hang around, you may as well hang out in monitor world." He didn't really like running back and forth all night, so it seemed to make sense. After a couple weeks of that, Barrymore's decided to hire me on as the house monitor tech. I essentially created a job for myself.

I thought that was pretty wild. I figured I must know a hell of a lot, 'cause I just got hired by one of the countries top clubs. Did I mention young and stupid? Before I knew it, artists like Finger Eleven, Nickelback, Eve 6, Treble Charger, etc. were starting to show up in the listings. That's some serious pressure on a pretty new, pretty green monitor guy. The positive side is that is forces you to get your shit together real fast. Having received my wakeup call, I put in all the effort I could muster. My logic was what I lack in skill, I'll make up in effort, and thanfully, it worked. All the bands I worked with left happy and my confidence and skill grew as a result. Over 4 and ½ years at Barrymore's, I mixed all styles of music and every band that came through the doors, from the regular locals to John Mayer, Andrew W.K., Sam Roberts, Train and more. I learned a lot not only about sound, but also about the aspects of putting on professional shows. These are things you can only learn by being in a top notch venue, and I'm grateful for all my experiences there.

Despite all the positive aspects, being at any job can get tiring after a long period of time and I started to feel the need to explore different areas. I started working with all the local companies and worked the festival circuit, from blues to folk to bagpipes, I saw it all and had the chance to mix amazing artists, like Emmylou Harris. I also started to work on the road. My first tour took me around Ontario and out to the East Coast as a PA tech with I Mother Earth, Theory Of A Deadman and Big Sugar. I got home just in time for opening day at my new house monitor gig, the Capital Music Hall in Ottawa.

The Capital is a big venue, and as such bigger bands come along and there's a bigger responsibility to ensure a quality show. I always do my best to make sure all the bands are happy, and my efforts have started to pay off. After a few months, I've started to get more touring offers and I've since started working with Sam Roberts and Thornley.

I'm always looking for offers to keep me on the road. Though there are a lot of hard and unusual experiences that come with this lifestyle, I can't complain; I've had a lot of opportunities that are hard to come by for most. I never take it for granted and try to make the most of it. It's not bad for something that started out as a joke..."