Downward Facing Dude is Tom Melancon.  Tom’s musical journey began in Reno Nevada, where he attended college.  He started writing songs and performing at the age of 18, becoming a regular performer at the Blue Mailbox Coffee Shop, an acoustic music venue adjacent to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

The mid 80′s brought Tom to Las Vegas, where he picked up the electric bass for the first time, joining brothers Stephan, Martin and John in the pop-punk band called “S.W.I.N.E”  After completing graduate school, Tom joined Reno rockers Derek and Dean Smith to form “The Pods,” a psycho-surfabilly three piece band that dominated the Reno club scene and received regular airplay on Adult Alternative Station 100.1 (The X) for 5 years.

In the mid 90′s Tom formed “Ghost Ranch” with Brother Stephan, guitar player David HIghsmith and drummer Jon Caggiula.  Ghost Ranch recently reunited (see Side Projects on the Music page for more about GR).  In 2005, Tom completed the Certificate program in Songwriting at the Experience Music Project and the University of Washington’s Extension College.

Tom Released “Gun”, a five song EP in 2011.  Chris Quinn added stellar guitar licks on two songs.  Gun was recorded at 1Shot Studios and Glenn Sound.  It was engineered by Dylan Fant at 1Shot and mastered at RFI by Rick Fisher.  Gun received airplay on Reno’s KTHX, “the X” in the summer of 2011.  The station featured a song a night from the EP on its Locals Show.