Biography
Jenny Toomey left her mark on Geek, Slack, Grenadine, Liquorice, and, most notably, Tsunami, establishing herself as a pivotal force in the do-it-yourself ethos from the late 1980s onward. She performed in every one of those groups while co-founding and operating the Arlington, Virginia imprint Simple Machines alongside Tsunami bandmate Kristin Thompson from 1990 through 1998. Together they issued multiple printings of The Mechanic's Guide, distributing more than 10,000 copies of the detailed instructional manual that guided countless musicians through independent record production.
Once both Tsunami and Simple Machines folded in the late 1990s, Toomey stepped into the role of executive director at the Future of Music Coalition, advocating for recording artists' rights in the face of rapid technological change. Returning to music after a period away, she released the double album Antidote in 2001, recorded across sessions in Chicago and Nashville. The set showcased intricate, understated pop textures enriched by strings, horns, and pedal steel supplied by numerous collaborators, among them several Lambchop members, confirming her standing as one of the most distinctive and enduring voices to emerge from 1990s indie rock. October 2002 brought the ambitious joint project Tempting, created with Franklin Bruno.
Once both Tsunami and Simple Machines folded in the late 1990s, Toomey stepped into the role of executive director at the Future of Music Coalition, advocating for recording artists' rights in the face of rapid technological change. Returning to music after a period away, she released the double album Antidote in 2001, recorded across sessions in Chicago and Nashville. The set showcased intricate, understated pop textures enriched by strings, horns, and pedal steel supplied by numerous collaborators, among them several Lambchop members, confirming her standing as one of the most distinctive and enduring voices to emerge from 1990s indie rock. October 2002 brought the ambitious joint project Tempting, created with Franklin Bruno.
Albums
