Hello Folks! It’s been just over a month since I last checked in, and what an adventure it has been. Greetings to all the new subscribers who I met while out on the road! Happy to have you on the internet’s coziest newsletter.
When I last tapped in with you all I had just released my second LP as Butch Bastard, “Las Vegas Salvation”. Since then I have been on the road opening for Father John Misty, followed by a couple of shows in New York City, followed by an appearance with Nick Thune at his weekly show in Silverlake, and capped by a record release party back home in Seattle.
This has been a very gratifying and transformative month. I was changed for the better by the generosity of spirit and the support I received while out on the road.
I always find it a little tacky when an artist in the wake of some good fortune endlessly humblebrags about the how “grateful” they are and how “crazy” it all is that they caught a little bit of shine, but I can’t overemphasize the gratitude I feel toward Josh Tillman, his whole traveling circus, and his wonderful fans. I’m willing to take the shade from my fellow cynics to make sure that I get that point across.
When the run with FJM ended I immediately flew from Birmingham to New York City where I was thrust back into the grind. I played a couple of gritty shows on the Lower East Side with my friends Vug Arakas and Skye Skjelset. The crowds were modest in comparison to the FJM shows but appreciative. Not a bad turnout considering I’ve never played out there and just about everyone I know that lives there was on stage. (Once upon a time I could go to New York and see nothing but Seattle people for a week. I have to be in LA to do that now.)
As Skye reminded me after our midnight show, gigging is where it’s at. Getting out there in the shit to play and make yourself vulnerable to who knows what is at the foundation of this art form. You aren’t entitled to anything, you just get up there and slay. If you can handle playing to 20 yawning people at 12:30 am in a basement bar on the lower east side then a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden will be a walk in the park.
My favorite comedian and good friend Nick Thune is doing a semi-regular show at the Lyric Hyperion Theater in Silverlake called Me, Nick. It’s a magical event. He was kind enough to invite me to join him for a song and play one of my own at the last one. It was once again a privilege to play for a full house of gracious people who had never before heard of me. I was proud to be a part of it and if you are in LA on June 22nd, I implore you to go see the next one.
Before any of this happened I knew that I wanted to officially celebrate the release of “Las Vegas Salvation” amongst my people back home in Seattle. After playing solo for most of the month I tapped the best musicians I know up there to back me up for a full band show at The Sunset. As I had hoped, Seattle showed up for me and we had a wonderful night celebrating this record. I have lived in LA for almost ten years now but whatever I make, for better or worse, is the product of Seattle, Washington.
Thanks to the largesse of Father John Misty fans, I sold out of all my shirts while on the road. I got a rush order from Ambient Inks and we are fully restocked on the black Las Vegas Salvation Tee (now with XXL!). I also have a CD available for all the youngsters out there! And I still have some vinyl left, but not many! Snag one while you still can! Everything available in the Butch Bastard Store. (Another new shirt will drop there soon. Subscribers will have first crack at it.)
For those new subscribers who haven’t found me on Instagram, click on this sentence.
One day I may write out a tour diary and share it here, but much like my beloved Las Vegas, what happens on tour stays on tour. I’ll leave you with a few choice snaps from the road. Love and appreciation to all subscribers, old and new.
Gigging is definitely where it's at. Now if I could just make an effort to get myself some gigs, I'd be well on my way.
I wholeheartedly love "Elegy For The Baby Boomer in D" from beginning to end. While we were on vacation last week I had it playing while we were getting dressed one morning and my girlfriend said to me "that's a weird song" and I said "you're welcome." I didn't know if she was talking about the lyrics or what, but just the fact that she made a comment about it should be a stamp of approval for Butch Bastard.