Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand

Tom McDermott was born in St Louis in 1957. After receiving a master’s degree in music, he moved to New Orleans in 1984. With his background in ragtime and traditional jazz, he was soon one of the busiest players in town.

He’s appeared with the Dukes of Dixieland at Carnegie Hall and played with Pete Fountain, Irma Thomas, and Gatemouth Brown. His 17 CDs have been reviewed in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He looks forward to playing in California for the first time in a while!

Aurora Nealand embarked on a cross country bicycle trip, during which she interviewed rural Americans and compiled their stories into a musical piece titled “American Dreams.” The trip concluded in New Orleans, where she began playing traditional jazz, much of which she had grown up listening to in California. Nealand formed The Royal Roses in 2011 for a tribute concert to Sidney Bechet at Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Along with the Royal Roses, Nealand also performs as a member of the rockabilly band Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers and solo under the name Monocle.

In 2019, Nealand, under the name Monocle, brought her project “KindHumanKind” to the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, receiving a positive review from OffBeat magazine. She frequently performs in a duo with New Orleans pianist and singer Tom McDermott. As of 2023,
her latest project is Aurora Nealand and the Reed Minders.
Nealand was voted “Best Female Performer” by the 2016
Gambit
awards, and her band was named “Best Traditional Jazz Band” in the 2015 and 2017 Big Easy Awards. She was named one of
Downbeat Magazine's “Rising Stars” on both soprano saxophone and clarinet in 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Tom and Aurora can be found performing with many unique New Orleans collaborations in hallowed historic venues such as The Spotted Cat, Three Muses, Snug Harbor, and Buffa’s Back Room.

From Buffa’s Back Room in New Orleans to The Back Room in Berkeley, Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand offer a rare performance outside The Big Easy.

Tickets are $30 general admission. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open 30 minutes before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Thank you for your support!

Please refrain from using your phone during performances, and if you use your camera or video, please disable the flash.

Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.