Sad Tom and The Noodles’ catchy tunes dive into life’s real experiences, overlaying relatable lyrics with energetic melodies. The band’s upbeat blend of indie, modern, and alt rock promises a groovin’ sound that is welcoming, immersive, and expressive. The trio is made up of Tom Knoll on vocals and guitar, Caleb Howes on guitar, and Rob Larkin on drums. By staying curious about big feelings and small moments, they have created a signature story-driven identity.

 

Sad Tom and The Noodles cultivated their distinctive storytelling over four years of songwriting and jamming, starting in parents’ basements, as all the best beginnings do. Since their origin in 2018, the school friends turned roommates turned band noodled around until their songs’ mix of serious and lighthearted led the direction of their sound. When Tom won individual recording time in a songwriter competition, his decision to use the recording space for the band to get them out of the basement was a turning point, allowing them to fully plunge into their music. After spending a year creating their debut EP, Aquaphobia, their tracks have set sail, both in their local scene and on a wide scale. 

 

Their music emphasizes the connection between the deep and the fun, blending genuine feelings with lively melodies, vulnerable lyrics with carefree personalities, and questioning key ideas while not sweating the small stuff. Even their name plays into this theme, with its premise of sadness but surprisingly uptempo rock music. 

 

Irony and not taking things too seriously are core aspects of the band’s vibe, which is how the name originated: in teasing the once-dubbed “Sad Tom” for his introspective lyrics, the band tacked on the most comical title they could think of to embrace the balance between honest songs and happy-go-lucky lifestyle. The core meaning behind the name is giving people space to show up as themselves and share their feelings without caring what others think. If titling themselves after pool noodles is what it takes for fans to feel permission to not take themselves too seriously, the name has done its job. 

 

At their live performances, where the band’s enthusiasm inspires the crowd to let loose, Sad Tom and The Noodles demonstrate that it’s truly all about the show for them. Their infectious energy on stage washes over the crowd and creates a friendly, chill atmosphere. 

 

Their songwriting process continues to be inspiration-based, letting their ear direct the tunes while always having a good time. They’re influenced by some of the indie and modern rock names that have come before them, like Peach Pit, The Backseat Lovers, and Half Moon Run, having been compared to The Black Keys, The Killers, and Arkells.

Currently, Sad Tom and The Noodles are finding new ways to #freethenoodle while splashing around a wave of new rhythms and ideas. Locals of the West Coast of British Columbia, Sad Tom and The Noodles create their flood of music in Kelowna.