The Origin of Storms:

Sitting on his computer chair in front of a desk adorn with random studio equipment, nests of wires and monster movie action figures, Tom Doyle (founder of the heavy rock band, Dark Donovan) runs his hands through his hair and laughs saying, “After doing this in one way or another for about twenty years, I better have learned a little something by now otherwise I’m in real trouble.”

Tom has been around the musical block, sort to speak, for awhile now having been a part of multiple rock and metal bands in the Long Island area and hosted his own open mic night (Hitchhiker’s Open Mic) for a spell.

He continues, “I had always worked with great people and tried to learn everything I could from anyone I met. But it got to the point that I just had so many songs that I had to do something about them. I had to get them out and going into studios to record albums for thousands of dollars each just wasn’t an option.” For that reason, Powderkeg Studio located in Mineola, New York was created.

After the band he cofounded, Econoline, went on indefinite hiatus the songs had indeed begun to pile up. Doyle estimates that he had written over 30 of them from 2016 – 2019. Even though they were primarily written on acoustic guitar and 8 track demos were made, the intention was always to record and release them with full arrangements. In his mind, it would all eventually culminate into a full band, ready for promoting the material live. The plan was to rehearse and try to release the first album, Brainstorm, by the end of 2020. It was to be a double album with the first disc being the full band recording and the second being the aforementioned demos. Of course, as we know, the world had other plans.

“Once Covid hit, the band idea was put on the back burner. We were in lockdown and even afterwards it became difficult getting people comfortable enough to come into a studio.”

So the decision was made to turn the demo bonus disc into its own album and Brainstorm [Acoustic] (2020) was born. “The good thing about that was it became a good exercise to really learn the equipment and how to record by myself cuz as time went on, I realized the window I had to get people to collaborate was closing and the parts I had planned for different musicians were dwindling.”

One person though that Doyle had come to deem indispensable was Dennis Mirovsky, drummer and long time collaborator with Econoline. Tom quickly realized that the project could not proceed without him. “Some of the songs were a little out there and I just knew that he would get everything I was going for. We just have that kind of rapport. And honestly, if he wasn’t able to do it I probably would’ve folded up shop and just stuck to acoustic recordings and shows.”

Finally, in June of 2021 the recording began for Brainstorm in proper fashion and luckily for the project some of the most crucial musicians were able to make it down to contribute. For Doyle this became a way to pay respect to his past while working towards the future. He tried to assemble as many of the incredible players from all of the varied musical incarnations of the last twenty years. His oldest friend, guitarist for Econoline, Anthony Zammit contributed four solos to the album. Tom Muller and Jared Falquecee, whom had both been jamming with Dark Donovan before the pandemic both made stellar appearances. Ali Abolghasemi, whom Doyle had not worked with since the early 2000s added keyboards to some of the more introspective, almost proggy, tracks on the album. Newcomer into Dark Donovan scene, though a wily musical veteran, TomCat Bob contributed not just banjo to the proceedings but also unbridled enthusiasm which proved to be magnetic whenever he was participating. And last but definitely not least was his band mate, the founder of Urban Teakettle, Alana Hollander who sang beautifully and hauntingly on two tracks. She is also not only responsible for coming up with name of the album but the band name also.

“One really great byproduct of this whole thing was being able to work with Dennis so closely; not only with the drumming but with the actual production of the album. Having another set of ears and someone to bounce ideas off of became crucial and it became clear that this had become a two man band. You know, eventually we want to start playing live and adding permanent players to the mix but during this recording process we had really cemented this nucleus.”

Now with the release of Brainstorm (2022), it is palpable that an apex has been reached but there is still more to climb. “We’re really happy with the album but it’s like everything is still just beginning. We want to get out there and promote it and we still have a whole other album in the works. So it’s nice to take a breath and enjoy what’s been accomplished by everyone with Brainstom but there’s still so much more to go.”

Yes, Dark Donovan is planning to release their self titled second album by the end of year. The mixes are just about ready to be sent out for mastering. So in a real sense, they may have only reached the eye of the storm.