Two months after providing the entertainment for Wittenberg’s first-ever virtual holiday concert, Thomas and the Work-Men, a “five-piece alt rock funk group delivering grooves and good times from Columbus, Ohio,” debuts its latest single “Why Can’t I Ever Say No” today, Feb. 19, via Free Dive Records.
The song is available via various streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. The release will be followed by a virtual show that will stream live on YouTube on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and the video for the song, filmed primarily near Wittenberg’s campus in Springfield, will be released to the public on YouTube on Friday, March 5.
Four of the five band members in Thomas and the Work-Men are Wittenberg graduates: singer and guitarist Gino Frederico, class of 2016, saxophonist Luke Mullins, class of 2016, singer and guitarist Matt Miely, class of 2016, and drummer Thomas Workman, class of 2017. They are joined by Matthew Luebbers, who replaced the original bassist, Ryan Parmater, class of 2016, two years ago.
The band has spent the last few years touring the country and playing shows in cities such as Nashville, Charlestown, and Chicago. Alumni connections have been important to the band’s success, culminating with the unique holiday concert that was recorded in Commencement Hollow in November and presented to the Wittenberg community on Dec. 18, 2020.
Prior to the release of “Why Can’t I Ever Say No,” the band’s most recent musical project “Good Company” earned positive reviews and debuted at #4 in the Top Albums on Apple iTunes Top 200 behind superstar recording artist Taylor Swift and the soundtrack from the smash-hit musical Hamilton.
Like every other recording artist, the lack of opportunities to perform in front of live audiences over the last year has presented tremendous challenges. For now, Frederico says, “we’re continuing to write new music, and we’re working to establish a strong online presence through social media and live-stream shows.”
For more information and artist updates visit https://www.workmenmusic.com/.
