The Pledge was recorded from February 2014 thru May 2019. At Shoestring Studios, Rusty's Place! we started the sessions that you will here on this record. With Klondike on bass, Sturgis Cunningham and Doug Plavin on drums respectfully different days. Feb 2017 new sessions at Red Tail Studio 'Norman's place with Juan Vazquez bass, and Danny Teichert on drums. I decided to include music from May of 2011 when we went to Jim Weeks studio and recorded, 'Innocent', 'Lying Next to You'. Jimmy played and sang everything after we did the initial trip recordings!! That is him singing and playing every other instrument. It was me on guitar and vocal, Dave Lincoln on bass and Sturgis on drums. Lastly 'Venus DeMilo' is from 2004 with the Lucky Johnson band. David Lincoln drums, Juan Vazquez Bass and Jami-D keys and vocals. I included these last 3 songs with 8 from the Rusty and Norman sessions. Over 60 hours of sessions into 50 minutes of music.
To make the record swing more I asked a lot of heroes of mine to join us.
Donna Lee Deprille - vocals on Pledge, Funky Shoes, I Got No Worries and Baritone Sax on Don't Make No Exit.
Jim Kaminski - slide guitar on Princess and Almost Over the Hill.
Guy Devito - Bass on I Got No Worries.
Jim Henry - Lead Guitar on Funky Shoes and mandolin on I Got No Worries.
Mark Feller - keyboards and singing on Funky Shoes.
Betsy Scoville - Singing on Funky Shoes.
Norman Blain - Vocals on Almost Over the Hill and Princess.
Joe Sabol - trombone on Funky Shoes and Don't Make No Exit.
Pete Grimaldi - trumpet on Funky Shoes and Don't Make No Exit.
All SONGS WRITTEN BY TOMMY FILIAULT except- Almost Over the Hill and The Pledge written with Norman Blain.
Killing Floor was written by every blues players hero, Chester Burnett. (aka "Howlin Wolf")
Thanks to Roger Salloom who shows me writing music is as important as playing. Wailin Dave Robinson for taking me to Deja Brew and meeting Klondike. And Klondike who really let me go and create the sounds for this record all the time taking the live stuff out to places that things really are not supposed to go. And finally, to Rusty and Norman. Rusty got me going with all this writing stuff. Norman who for the last year widdled and tweeked the board like a NASA specialist. I can honestly say, Eagle has Landed! LASTLY! I hope you like the record. Playing music for people can be like hosting a dinner party. There is no menu and you are welcome to more if you want. Tommy 6/26/19

A special shout-out to my first dog Blackie.
A story of a dog, and the boy who loved him.