the Tuftees

Well, we played Kelly's Olympian last night. I think it went really well. I certainly had a lot of fun. I am calling it the Tuftees Migraine Show, as I had one of the worst migraines in a year, all fucking day. But it didn't stop me from throwing down.

The evening started out with Sir Dr. Cloister Maximus III Esq. doing a solo Mouse That Roared set. It was really quite beautiful. His vocals and guitar sounded really tops through the PA. He played some songs I had never heard and am so happy he did. The talent oozes from the man.

The Minor Thirds followed and they were really great too. I mean that. I think it was one of my favourite shows of theirs. Chris broke a string in the second song, so he did the next tune on keyboards and then broke a string before his last song so did that on keyboards. I think both songs worked exceptionally well in this manner. He was on his toes and pulled it off with amazing charm. Chris' songs are just wonderful and I love seeing him reinterpret them live. Jake's stand up bass is just the bomb too. He is getting really good on it and is obviously more comfortable with it than the first time I saw him play it. They work so well together, Jake and Chris, then you throw Charlotte in as back up/lead vocals and some keyboards and it's a show-stopper. They really are on to something. One of the most original acts in Portland.

We went on last and we were really happy-excited to play. The sound guy was a stand in and tried to set up a monitor for Jason, but he never actually turned the speakers on! So Jason couldn't hear my guitar hardly at all, but he could hear my vocals and Casey's bass. I couldn't hear Casey's bass at all, or much of my guitar the way I would have liked to, tho I could hear Jason wonderfully. Casey said she could only hear the drums and my vocals, some guitar. I trusted Steve, who adjusted a couple things for us in sound check and gave a thumbs up. If he likes it, I know we sound good in the audience, and that's really all that I care about. That and having a lot of fun, which I did. It was, for me, my favourite show to date. One reason being that we are really feeling more and more like a band and a sense of unity with each other. I love it, and them.

Here's the setlist:

No End

Rise & Shine

Curse of January

R A Montgomery

714

Tony Breeds

40 Minutes

The Wizard

Chains

A few quick notes on the songs.

No End is a minmae song, which Sean said is now ours as I dont really play it the way he does, tho to be honest, he is the supreme songwriter, and I am in his shadow learning.

Rise & Shine is an ode or homage to my other favourite songwriter, Kyle Feild of Little Wings.

Curse of January is a painful break-up song.

R A Montgomery is a Celesteville song (Jake Anderson, all hail) and is about the "choose your own adventure" books. I reinvented his lyrics because I couldn't figure them out. He said he really loved my interpretation and wanted my lyrics for himself. I was overwhelmed that he appreciated our version. If he didn't like it I would have had to hide myself in shame. Jake is supreme.

714 is about my home and love.

Tony Breeds is about my friend who just had a baby boy, Maxwell Liese, 10 fucking pounds! God bless his wife Tiphany for the bundle of joy.

40 Minutes is about having that much time on a parking meter and finding lust in that time frame.

The Wizard is Casey's baby. All her doing. Black Sabbeth cover to the max and it only works because she sings it. I had never heard this song before and I have been transformed into a huge fan. I love playing this song.

Chains is about being alive!

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No shows set up at this time, but I am working on a mini-tour of Washington with Ross Beach & the Hellpets.

Pictures of the evening will be on as soon we develop them.

Hope to see you soon,

Jack

Tuftees - fucking love you