Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta-based band TOM & I announce the release of their powerful new single, “The Night The Sky Cried In Atlanta,” an emotionally charged tribute honoring the life, legacy, and lasting influence of Brent Hinds.
Formed in 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia, TOM & I is a songwriting-driven collective built on emotional honesty, musical depth, and atmospheric storytelling. The band features Jason Schwartzwalder on guitar and vocals, Tom Cheshire on vocals and percussion, Dillon Zehner on bass, and Steve Seachrist on pedal steel. Drawing from backgrounds that include acclaimed projects such as WEST END MOTEL and TCB, the group blends experience and vulnerability into a sound that is sad and somber yet undeniably beautiful and memorable.
“The Night The Sky Cried In Atlanta” was written as a direct tribute to Brent Hinds following his tragic passing in a motorcycle accident. The song emerged immediately in the wake of loss, composed by Jason Schwartzwalder and Tom Cheshire, who shared a deep personal and musical bond with Hinds through WEST END MOTEL.
Built around delicately picked diminished chords, the track creates an uneasy yet comforting sonic landscape that mirrors grief itself. Each note is intentionally spaced, reflecting emotional disorientation while guiding the listener through themes of mourning, remembrance, and healing.
For Schwartzwalder, the passing of one of Atlanta’s most influential guitar voices deeply impacted both artist and fan alike. For Cheshire, the loss was intensely personal, representing the passing of a close friend and bandmate. Together, their collaboration transforms grief into music, creating what can best be described as a sonic eulogy.
This single captures loss from two perspectives. One perspective reflects the fan mourning a musical hero. The other reflects a best friend and collaborator channeling personal heartbreak directly into song. Cheshire’s soulful and haunting vocal performance echoes memories of friendship, life, and mortality, channeling the emotional weight felt across Atlanta’s music community and far beyond. Recorded by musicians long connected to the city’s creative scene, including years spent working within MASTODON’s studio environment, the single stands as both personal remembrance and communal tribute.
Influenced by artists such as Tom Waits, Thin Lizzy, Tori Amos, and WEST END MOTEL, TOM & I pursue a creative direction centered on finding beauty within sadness and meaning within struggle. The result is music rooted in authenticity, emotional depth, and timeless songwriting.
About TOM & I:
TOM & I is an Atlanta, Georgia-based band formed in 2025. Known for crafting emotionally rich compositions that balance sorrow with beauty, the band combines haunting vocals, expressive guitar work, and cinematic pedal steel textures. Featuring members connected to influential Atlanta projects including WEST END MOTEL, TOM & I channel themes of loss, resilience, and human connection into deeply personal songwriting shaped by the spirit of their musical community.
