Exciting news, as our song “So Hard To Make An Easy Getaway” gets a prominent placement in Lifetime Original Movie, Girl Fight which premiers Monday, October 3rd at 9pm/8c. The film stars Anne Heche and James Tupper. More information and further show times are available here: mylifetime.com/movies/girl-fight/
Those of you who downloaded our limited edition EP earlier this year will be familiar with the song “Easy Getaway”, but the version featured in the movie is a fresh mix and master by Nathan Thomas. This new version will be hitting iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and more this week. If you want to be the first to check it out, in the top right hand corner of our website you can stream it and download it!
Tomorrow I’m hopping on an airplane, escaping this Nashville heat, to the cooler, 70 degree (with no humidity) Seattle summer. I’ve been very lucky getting some great shows lined-up for this trip. Starting with KEXP’s Concert at the Mural: No Depression Night on Friday, August 26th. Then on Monday, August 29th I’m playing a two-hour solo set at Brave Horse Tavern, which is a new spot since I moved away but they’ve been putting on some great shows, and from the photos I’ve seen it looks right up my alley. I’m looking forward to getting back to Portland as well, with a show on Thursday, September 1st at Doug Fir Lounge. And finally on Thursday, September 8th I’m taking part in a all-star tribute to Patsy Cline featuring NW favorites such as Mark Pickerel, Star Anna, Kim Virant, Jeff Fielder and many more. I’ll mostly be filling the role of a support player, but I may also duet on a song or two. I’m also looking forward to the venue for this show, as it’s in the old Neptune Theatre, which has switched from a movie theater to a venue since I used to live there. Glad the building is still standing and being put to such great use. I would hate to see a beautiful old structures like that get torn down.
Here’s all the facebook event pages, so you can keep track:
When I was younger, before music engulfed my soul in my early teens, drawing and painting was my first passion. Over the years, I’ve contributed to album artwork and design concepts, but only rarely devoted time to painting a picture. Shortly after moving to Nashville last year, possibly because I had a new place with 4 empty walls staring at me, I decided to pick it up again. I started with painting some of my music heroes… then a few of my friends started requesting paintings, so I’ve built up quite a repertoire now.
But I am proud to share with you that for the first time I have my art hung, and with a price tag ($30 each). Starting now thru mid-September you can see my art at The Groove record store in East Nashville. If you are interested in commissioning a painting from me, email me at: shanetutmarc@gmail.com
Greeting friends near and far,
I may be coming closer to you soon! In August we have dates around Nashville as well as Bowling Green, KY – then I’m flying back to Seattle for a string of shows around the NW. I was beginning to feel a pang of homesickness when I got the surprise offer from KEXP to fly back to Seattle for the final night of their Concerts at the Mural, which is “No Depression Night.” I’m very honored to be involved – along with a full bill of Northwest talent including Pickwick, Drew Grow & The Pastors Wives, Ravenna Woods – especially since I don’t even live in Seattle anymore. I love you, KEXP and No Depression!
While I’m out in the NW, I’m gonna try to play as much as I can – so keep an eye on the calendar for more dates around the NW popping up.
Yesterday I got a Spotify account. I’ve had fun exploring the program and making play-lists. I was happy to see that they have both Mercies albums, and most of the Dolour albums on there! You can help spread our music around with your play-lists!
And speaking of Dolour, we’re in the process of getting the whole catalog up on YouTube. Currently we have the first two albums, in addition to a smattering of other live and studio footage from over the years. Check it out: youtube.com/dolourvideos.
As you can see from the new addition to our sidebar – t-shirts are back in stock! Dolour shirts featuring a design from “The Years in the Wilderness” as well as Shane Tutmarc & The Traveling Mercies “Hey Lazarus!” shirts. The Mercies shirts come in black or white, while the Dolour ones are in red or creme. Pick one up today!
In band news, this weekend we are doing a couple private benefit concerts. We are doing long sets with lots of vintage country, rock and roll and r&b sprinkled in between originals. I got a great band featuring my old friend Joey Sanchez on drums (he played on Dolour’s Suburbiac and New Old Friends), Josiah Holland on keys, accordian and additional guitar, and Jeremy Branon on bass. Hopefully we’ll get some good video footage to share with you. Meanwhile, look at the shows page to keep up-to-date with our concert calendar. Adios.
We are looking forward to returning to Bowling Green, KY’s venue Tidball’s tomorrow night. We had such a great time when we were last a couple months ago. Even when the PA died on us halfway thru our set, we kept on rocking (see: video).
With my usual drummer, Aaron Tosti, on the road (guitar tech-ing) with Switchfoot, I have frequent collaborator Ethan Luck on drums. Ethan holds the unique honor of playing the most instruments with me. Over the course of this last year and half I’ve lived in Nashville, Ethan has contributed electric guitar, baritone guitar (the solo on “What is This Love?”), lap steel, bass guitar, and drums to both live shows and recordings. If he’s available and I’m needing an extra element to the show, Ethan can more than likely cover it. Plus he brings an energy and excitement that is contagious and always makes the shows fun.
On bass I have my right-hand guy, Nathan Thomas. He produced the new EP, and we’ve already begun tracking some newer stuff. Not sure where that is headed, but I will keep you posted. If you live near the Bowling Green area, we hope to see you tomorrow, or if you got friends out that way – let them know!
Shane Tutmarc has worn many hats. As a songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer he has covered every genre
from American roots music to electronic dance jams, from baroque pop
to loud rock. Tutmarc initially garnered the attention of his hometown
Seattle, WA with his restlessly ambitious indie-pop outfit Dolour.
During this time he also branched out into producing and writing for
other artists. He played bass with electro-dance sensations, United
State of Electronica, before switching gears dramatically towards
something a bit more organic. He formed a family band, dubbed 'The
Traveling Mercies', made up of Shane, his brother and cousin. In the
Summer of 2009, after a couple albums and a Southern U.S. tour with
the Mercies, Tutmarc released his first solo album, Shouting at a
Silent Sky. 2010 began with a move across the country which finds
Tutmarc now living and working out of Nashville, TN.
"Tutmarc combines elements of garage-rock, folk, blues, country, gospel and pop into emotionally searing songs of spiritual disquiet and personal heartache." - Don Yates, KEXP Music Director
"In the beginning, rock 'n' roll fused country, boogie-woogie and the blues. This up-tempo alloy of country, rhythm and blues is where Tutmarc reigns. It could be called modern roots because, yeah, it's a little bit rockabilly, a little bit '50s rock, maybe some cool cat swing in there, too. On top of everything, though, is Tutmarc's spirited voice, which is at home snarling or crooning, wherever the spirit takes him." - Shawn Telford, Seattle PI
"From the opening notes of his latest album, Shouting at a Silent Sky, it's obvious the land of Elvis and Faulkner has had a profound impact on the Seattle-born singer-songwriter. With his pencil-thin mustache and bowler hat, Tutmarc looks like he could be the star of a 1930s European film. But when he opens his mouth to sing, out comes a brass twang halfway between Dwight Yoakam and a young Steve Earle." - Brian Barr, Seattle Weekly
