Last month I trekked 3750 miles across the northern midwestern and eastern USA. As always, I chronicled the adventures in a daily Facebook blog in an attempt to show anyone interested what life on the dive-bar circuit is like for a relatively unknown, independent musician. Here’s a recap of those blogs, and if you’re interested, you can read ALL the road blogs going back to 2013 here!
May 7, 2025 - Chicago, Illinois
I drove to Chicago on Tuesday afternoon to get settled in before an early show on Wednesday. The drive was uneventful, in a miserable downpour until I hit Kalamazoo and it cleared up just in time to hit the south Chicagoland traffic. I got to my motel south of the city, scarfed down some surprisingly good Baja shrimp tacos from Long John Silver's, watched some John Wayne/Kirk Douglas War Wagon movie and a documentary about KISS, changed the strings on my guitar, and crashed out.
Wednesday was spent getting caught up on work, a mid-day run where I attempted to befriend a shy blue heron but had to settle for a couple grumpy Canadian geese instead. The water was out in my wing of the motel so I had to shower in a different room, but don’t fret, I managed. Around 3PM CST I headed into the city. I love the city but driving into Chicago isn’t my favorite thing to do. Traffic was tolerable until I got downtown on Lakeshore and it took me 40 minutes to go the last 2 miles.
First stop was Reckless Records on Belmont, where I was promptly scolded for looking at a used record (like, examining the condition of the vinyl) at the bin rather than taking it up to the counter, and didn’t I see the signs? I apologized and they were cool, they just don’t want records hitting the floor. I finally picked up the new Jason Isbell and an original/early pressing Joni Mitchell that should make for some good Sunday morning jams. The folks at Reckless suggested a Detroit pizza joint across the street, and I always have to laugh. The first time I ever head the phrase “Detroit Pizza” was in Georgia. Anyhow, being on tour there’s so much pizza around you usually don’t eat it as a first choice when there are other options, so I ended up at a little Korean joint called Noori Chicken that was pretty great – spicy pork bowl with some kimchi dumplings and spring rolls. Quaint little restaurant with Korean pop-culture artwork and cool post-modern furniture. Turns out it’s a small but widely spread out chain so maybe there’s one near you.
I drove past Wrigley Field where the Cubs had just lost to the Giants and got a parking spot right next to Uncommon Ground Lakeview. I walked in and met Gary Camaro and Phil Yates, two old pals of mine who were also playing. Big hugs and how ya doin’ and where’s the sound guy? Isaac came in and we did a quick soundcheck and settled in for some hangs before the show started. Uncommon Ground is a restaurant/bar with a music room off to the side. They’ve been doing show for many years, and I’ve been trying forever get a foot in, and it finally happened. The room is nice raw wood and exposed brick, with tables that can be purchased with tickets or fist come/first served.
A bunch of people came in shortly before Camaro played and he really had a great set. Funny, smart, emotional, fun songs about the southwest, drinkin’, and lost love. I met Camaro back in April of 2008 when his band The Wabash Cannonballs played with my band The OffRamps. We kept in touch, sorta, and who knew 16 years later and here we are again. I played second and it took me a minute to find my fingers, but I ran through the set and only forgot a few lyrics. Not bad. Phil batted cleanup with his great powerpop-leaning songs that touched on some of the same themes Gary and I covered, but took a fun twist in some different directions too. Phil is a fantastic songwriter and his band The Affiliates is awesome. This was the first time I’d seen him solo and it was great.
We said our goodbyes, grabbed a photo, and loaded out. Getting out of the city wasn’t nearly as bad as getting in. I had TrooperGirl22 on the hands-free phone for a good part of it as I weaved in and out of Chicago traffic and she filled me in that my castle is still standing and things back home are copacetic. Back at the motel I had a nightcap, did some bookkeeping, and crashed out to Dateline around midnight. There was some drama around this show (not the dudes who played) and at times it looked like it wasn’t going to happen, but it did in the end and it was a good time and a fine tour kickoff. Thanks to Camaro and Phil for playing and promoting and being cool through all the bullshit.
Tonight it’s Kathy's Pub in Rochester, Minnesota. My latest and longest solo set to date – on at 10pm CST playing til 2am. Grab a latte with an extra shot and an extra one for me and I’ll see ya there! Xx
May 8, 2025 - Rochester, Minnesota
I left my motel in Matteson, Illinois at 10 am headed northwest through the western suburbs of Chicago towards Rockford. As I drove through Rockford, I got my first glance of the giant checkerboard Explorer guitar outside the new Hard Rock casino there, celebrating Cheap Trick. I’m playing there tomorrow (in Rockford, but at Marys Place, not the Hard Rock) and hope to check out the Cheap Trick exhibit inside. I crossed into Wisconsin and worked my way west to La Crosse where I crossed the Mississippi River into Minnesota.
I was dealing with a digestive event to I stopped at the welcome center/rest area where a nice lady behind the desk and I got to chatting. Well, she did most of the chatting. She seemed very concerned that my tour doesn’t have any nights off and what does my wife think of this? She refused to let me leave without a Minnesota state map, a Rochester tour book, a couple stickers, and some wild rice recipes for my wife. She was a bit torn up, however, staying “Oh gosh, I wish we had something more for your wife.” I assured her TrooperGirl22 will be elated with the wild rice recipes and resumed my drive. That part of Minnesota is really beautiful, driving along the Mississippi for a few miles through bluff country (as they apparently call it) before turning inland.
I’m staying at BnB in Chatfield, Minnesota, and it’s basically a giant, 1897 mansion that I pretty much have the run of. It’s full of antique furniture and decorations. My room is on the second floor and overlooks the street. It’s an awesome setting. I chatted with the host, Ruth Ann, for a few minutes, explored the house, and chilled out for a couple hours before heading into Rochester.
After an 18 mile drive, complete with a construction-major-road-closed turn-around, I pulled into Boxcar Hippie, a Cheech and Chong themed burrito joint. I didn’t know it was Cheech and Chong themed, but there I was. Service and food were amazing! The burrito was the size of a small loaf of bread and the spicy guacamole was aces. From there it was over to Kathy’s Pub for the show.
Kathy's Pub is a long bar with a stage at the back and a bar in the middle for about the first half of the building. The Tucos have played here a few times and it’s always a strange gig. Sort of the definition of a dive bar, in all the best ways – complete with some local tension and plenty of drinking. Watching the Hurricanes/Capitols game was my pal Burk, who I haven’t seen in nearly 5 years, so we spent some time getting caught up between load-in and pre-gig responsibilities. Greg the sound guy got me dialed in, and at 10pm I was on.
My first set went fairly uneventfully. The crowd was thin when I started but filled out as the set went on. My second set started around 11:45 and there was a pretty respectable crowd at this point. This was the Kathy’s Pub I remembered. Local sharks were playing pool, guys were chasing girls, and every so often someone would stumble by the stage, not sure exactly what they were doing. One dude stood awkwardly next to merch and swayed back and forth on his long, skinny legs as if he was about to pass out or puke. This went on for about 2 songs. I was watching him like a hawk. “Please don’t puke on my merch skinny leg dude” I said to myself as I played. He didn’t, but it wouldn’t be his last appearance of the night.
I was playing my song “I Lost My Wallet in West Virginia” when a large guy from the billiards table came over, stood 18” in front of me, and started telling me something, like, mid-song, while I was playing. He wasn’t giving up, so I stopped the song, explained to him that I was working, and sorry to interrupt him, but, ya know. And he said in a thick African accent “Play that song…. ‘take me home, country road” and I explained that I don’t know that song I and play my own songs and besides, he wasn’t throwing any Jacksons in the jack-o-lantern tip bucket was he, so… what the hell, I’ll give it a shot. After my Wallet song, I fumbled with the chords. It has to be in G right? So I started strumming the verse and that sounded more or less right, so I started singing, and wouldn’t ya know the ENTIRE bar started singing along, and that would prove to be the most engagement I got all night by a longshot.
My third and final set started at 12:45am and the air was thick with tension and alcohol. I kept the third setlist mostly quieter, sadder, late-night kind of stuff, thinking that would be the vibe. Two fellas at the pool table got into a fairly heated squabble about something related to the game, or who was up next, or something – I’m not exactly sure. It escalated quickly and they almost took it outside, but cooler heads prevailed and things quieted down eventually.
I wrapped up at 1:45am and packed up my gear. Two Rochester squad cars were outside and the police were standing in the doorway to the record store a couple doors down. They were talking to….? Yup, skinny legs “please don’t puke on my merch” guy, who looked even worse now; a shade of purple-green that was new to me, and the pungent aroma in the air indicated that my merch was possibly spared a shower for some unfortunate business owner’s doorway. I pulled my truck around and parallel parked between the two cop cars and loaded out, telling the cops about my run in with puke guy earlier. They got a good laugh, teased me about my jack-o-lantern tip jar that I bought in Portland, Oregon for $2.87 and has paid for itself 100x over, and said he was heading home and should be ok.
I made it back to the mansion around 2:45am pretty beat, heated up a slice of my leftover burrito, did some business work, and crashed out pretty hard just shy of 4am. This morning it’s bloggin’ and breakfast, then heading east towards Wausau, Wisconsin, where I’m playing Nevermore on Third tonight with CASHED and Elk Startled By Thunder.
Thanks to Kathy’s Pub for always being an adventure and part of what this dive-bar circuit I play is all about. I like nights like these. Hope to come back and do it again some day soon! xx
May 9, 2025 - Wausau, Wisconsin
I left the BnB in Minnesota around 10:30am and headed back east towards Wisconsin. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day. As I crossed the Mississippi River back into La Crosse, a bald eagle flew overhead, and if you’ve been reading the blogs in recent years, you know that is usually an omen of good luck. I hit I-94 and veered north for a few minutes before I was routed onto a 2-lane highway east. As I passed through a nature preserve, I saw a second bald eagle flying over the water and gave him the Jeremiah Johnson head nod. Eventually I hit I-39 and headed into Wausau.
I hit Innersleeve Records, where I’ve wanted to stop for a couple years, and perused the bins for a few minutes. It’s a small store dealing mostly in new vinyl, and they were busy, which was good to see. I walked around a couple blocks of the downtown area but my bladder was full and I was wiped out from the long set and late night on Thursday so I headed south into Rothschild and checked into my motel. From my window I watched a couple painters clean their buckets and trays, dumping the runoff into the storm sewer, which certainly leads to a waterway somewhere. I’m sure the bald eagles love their fish marinated in latex paint, I thought.
After a couple hours of downtime, including some email catchup and a little nappy-nap, I got myself together and headed back north into Wausau. First stop was Taco John's. You might wonder if I am incapable of learning lessons from negative experiences, and the answer is clearly “no.” However, compared the disaster and subsequent trauma caused by the Taco John’s in Marion, Illinois, this place was friggin’ Tavern on the Green. The girl taking my order was pleasant and fast, food came out accurate, fast, and hot, and it was downright yummy. A great experience! I’m starting to think that John Brown is right – the Marion franchise really is the problem.
Nevermore on Third is an Edgar Allen Poe-themed bar that used to be called the Polack Inn. While I miss the old moniker, despite it’s cultural political-incorrectness, they’ve really put a nice face on the joint, inside and out. New ownership is behind the changes, but they’ve remained committed to live music and kept Frank on as manager/talent booker and some of the other staff on to help, so the vibe is very much the same, and it felt great to be back for the first time since The Tucos played there in 2022. I said hello to the other bands, including my pals from CASHED, who played with us back then.
Elk Startled By Thunder, from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, went on first and they played some tight punk rock with forays into more melodic, groove-driven stuff every few songs. Great bass playing and guitar tones, efficient songs, and high energy. Can’t wait to check out the CD! After them I played a 45-minute set to a decent crowd. It was the best I’ve played in a few shows, and I felt right at home on stage in a punk dive, my comfort zone for sure. After me, old pals Cashed went on and played their energetic and fun punk rock. They had crowd noise piped in between songs, which was hilarious (once I figured out it wasn’t amplifier buzz). Super fun band, great dudes.
Afterwards we got a photo to document the occasion, sold a little merch, hugs and goodbyes, and back to the motel. I stopped at a gas station for a half-pint of milk because for some inexplicable reason I have some heartburn going. Couldn’t possibly be from Taco John’s from tonight and Boxcar Hippie the night before could it? Anyhow, the girl at the gas station was a little lonely at 2am and made sure to ease any concerns I might have had by informing me that the milk had just come off the truck and don’t worry – it’s fresh. She always makes sure the milk isn’t expired. She quickly picked up that I was a musician and showed me her tattoo of the bass clef, except “I know, it’s backwards” she giggled. Anyhow, she warned me about the many cops that were on patrol and be careful. I raised my milk bottle and told her I’d pace myself, and headed to the motel where I crashed out around 2:30am.
This morning I got in on the lobby breakfast just before it ended, so it’s a shower and off to Rockford, Illinois for some Cheap Trick sightseeing, a stop at my fav record store, and hopefully some Beefaroo before my show tonight at Marys Place with Mana Kintorso . Maybe Bunezuela Carlos will make an appearance!
Thanks to Frank, Cashed and Elk Startled By Thunder for a super fun show last night! You you all soon! Xo
May 10, 2025 - Rockford, Illinois
The drive from Wausau to Rockford was three hours, under sunny skies with Hüsker Dü, Jim Croce, and Jason Isbell providing the soundtrack. First stop was Machesney Park, just north of Rockford, to get a look at the Robin zander commemorative street sign. Each member of Cheap Trick has a street sign in the neighborhood they grew up in that was designated around the time they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Previous visits with the Tucos included stops at the Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos signs, and now I’ve visited Robin’s. I wondered what the neighbors in this quiet suburban neighborhood thought as I snapped a selfie and took it in for a moment. Next time I’ll wrap this checklist item up with a visit to Tom Petersson’s sign.
From there I headed into Rockford and stopped off at Culture Shock Records. I was bummed to miss my pal Skeyler but happy to see his partner Jared and we had a nice talk about Rockford, Cheap Trick, and the record store business. I saw a bunch of stuff I wanted, but nothing I wanted to carry across the country with me for the next week, so I narrowed it down to one gem and headed out. They now have a copy of my new album Dynamite Alley (GTG Records), so stop in and support these good people!
After a quick stop at Binny's Beverage Depot for some motel whiskey I pulled into the new Hard Rock Casino Rockford on the other side of the highway. I’m generally not a big Hard Rock fan, or casinos for that matter, but this one is Cheap Trick themed and a must see. There’s a giant replica of Rick’s Hamer checkerboard explorer out front, which is one of my favorite guitars ever (like, the guitar that is modeled after, the checkerboard Dream Police Explorer that he’s still playing). I got a couple photos and did a lap around the casino floor checking out the Cheap Trick kiosks and memorabilia. It’s pretty awesome. Not something I’d likely do every visit to Rockford, but a must-see if you’re on the Cheap Trick wagon.
I checked into my dive motel, which was a bit of a culture shock itself after some of the nicer accommodations I’ve had so far on this run. I enjoyed a little downtime, called TrooperGirl22 back home, and got ready for the show. I stopped off for dinner at another Rockford tradition: Beefaroo. My double cheeseburger with olives was awesome and the curds in the side made for a nice binder. It was a bit of a gut bomb, but I’ll only do a fast food burger once or twice a year, and when there’s a Beef-A-Roo around…well… Do try if you ever get the opportunity.
Marys Place is a great dive bar that sits on the Rock River just off downtown Rockford. It checks all the boxes: great people, built-in, music-loving crowd, and a great townie/party atmosphere. I’ve come to know a lot of these people since The Tucos have played there a couple times in recent years and it’s become a favorite tour stop. Kinda like the venue I played in Rochester last week, except the majority of the audience is actually into the music. The Cheap Trick connection might be enough to make this a great stop, but it goes way beyond that – it’s a great gig in every way.
I said hello to the main band – Mana Kintorso, and my friends Daryl and Charma, who’d driven up from DeKalb and Sandwich, Illinois, respectively. Charma told a great story how the had to change the lettering on the cop cars so it says Police of Sandwich rather than Sandwich Police. Then out of the woodwork appears my pal Tim from Detroit, rocking his Tucos shirt, and excited to surprise me with an impromptu visit. Tim is a mega live-music fan and he’s not afraid to put some miles in. A great dude, and it was awesome to get caught up after not seeing each other for quite a while.
I went on around 8:30 and did an hour for an engaged, rowdy crowd, which isn’t something that happens all that often. I felt good about the performance and talked to several people afterwards who seemed to dig it. Mana Kintorso went on around 9:45 and played a killer set with some psychedelic visuals and some great tunes. They have their own thing going on for sure, but at times I heard hints of Afghan Whigs and The Vertabrats. And they really sounded great - a great mix in that room – not too loud, not too quiet, and good separation. I’ll be pulling their stuff up for my long drive tonight.
After their set I got caught up a bit with my pal Jason who works at Mary’s, sold a decent amount of merch (sorry, hardcover bathroom books are now sold out!), packed up, loaded out, said my goodbyes, and headed back to the motel.
Once again, Rockford and Mary’s Place did not disappoint. Love this city, these people, and that bar! Thanks to Jason and Mana Kintorso and my friends who came out and the new friends I met last night!
Today is the bear of the tour. I’m playing a matinee 3-6pm (after the Mother’s Day brunch) at Black Lung Brews Fox Lake, IL, then driving to Cleveland after the gig. Don’t worry, I stocked up on a BIG bag of gummy bears, some Binny’s honey-roasted peanuts, and a 6-pack of diet coke to keep me awake. I should be ok. Come hang for the brewery matinee and let’s cap-off the first half of the run in style!
And happy Mothers Day to my sister Kristen, my friends Rachel, Kelly, Debbie, Amy, Amy, Alessandra, Angie, (and so many more), and everyone else out there who is a mom! I lost my mom in January, but she’s still around to some small degree in some of these songs I’m out here slingin’ every night. xx
May 11, 2025 - Fox Lake, Illinois
I left Rockford at 10:30am, waving at the giant checkerboard explorer as I drove off. I headed east though an hour + of farmland to the cool little historic town of Woodstock, IL where I stopped into a cool record store called The Records Department. I chatted with the owners for a few about the store and possibly playing a show there sometime and headed back out. The breakfast at my dive motel wasn’t appealing so I stopped at Walmart and got some cheese and crackers, pineapple, and milk and took in some sunshine in a small park while I ate. It was probably the healthiest meal I’ve had since leaving home last week.
I drove another half hour to Fox Lake, Illinois and stopped of at a lakeside park to clean out my vehicle, which had become somewhat of a disaster area after 4 shows. It’s a giant city lake, reminding me of some of the areas in Oakland County, northwest of Detroit. Black Lung Brewery sits at the bottom of a hill right on the lake, in a great setting, with a beer garden by the dock and nice building across the parking lot. I talked to the owner Joshua, bought a bracelet from his daughter, who’s working on a fund to get a couple bunnies, loaded in and set up. Black Lung has 3 locations, I’ve played one of the others twice, but this was my first time at Fox Lake.
As I was setting up my gear I found a little container with the poop emoji on it – Pooplets “Poop-shaped Candy.” Now which one of you heathens stuck that in my gear and when? The poop emoji is my favorite of all emojis (I’m not weird about it or anything, just immature) and someone clearly knows me. So looks like the Pooplets guy will sit on my amp for the rest of the tour.
I went on at 3pm to a fairly thin crowd, and was glad to see ol’ pal Daryl walk in. Dude is a rock and roll soldier! It started quiet, but there was a pretty steady ebb and flow as I started playing and had an ok-for-a-Sunday audience for most of the set. I played 2 sets and wrapped up just after 6, tipped out, loaded out, and pointed the vehicle east. Ya never know with a Sunday, and Mother’s Day on top of that, but it was a fine afternoon, and I was glad I did it.
Tonight’s show is in Buffalo, New York, so that’s a pretty healthy 10 hour drive, if you’re keeping track, plus you lose an hour to the time change. With the early show in Fox Lake, I had an opportunity to get a good chunk of that behind me yesterday, and never one to turn down a miserable challenge, I drove to Cleveland after the show. The drive went fine for the most part, cranking the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live box set (which was even more awesome than I’d remembered) and popping a couple gummy bears every time I started to fade. Gummy bears are like little fruit-flavored trucker speed for me and never fail to get me to my destination. I arrived at my motel at 2:15am (great time!) and crashed out hard by 3am. Big thanks to Joshua and Black Lung (Fox lake) for a fun Sunday afternoon!
Tonight I’m in Buffalo at Sportsmens Tavern with Jungle Steve. Show is 7-10, and I am very much looking forward to finally playing this room, seeing Steve again, and an early bedtime! Do I know any early Goo Goo Dolls covers? See ya there! xx
May 12, 2025 - Buffalo, New York
I left Cleveland around 10:30 with not nearly enough sleep, but grateful for the short drive ahead. I drove through Pennsylvania and into New York cranking The Afghan Whigs and NP Presley & The Ghost of Jesse Garon and landed at my BnB around 2PM. My host Jen showed me around, and again, I find myself staying in basically a historic mansion with the run of the place. I set my laptop up, changed the strings on my guitar, got caught up on a couple emails and texts, and got ready for the show.
This is my fifth show in Buffalo, each one at a different venue. I’ve been trying to get into the Sportsmens Tavern for many years. I always heard it was a great room, perfect for The Tucos, but never was able to seal the deal. Finally, with the assistance of my pal Geoff, I was able to secure a date, and got my pal Jungle Steve to play too. The Sportsmen’s is a bigger room than I’d usually play but turnout was good for a Monday and it all worked out. It’s got a balcony floor and a main floor, a bar in the back corner, and bar and another venue out back. Plenty of space and a great sound system. It’s an awesome room, best I’ve played in a while. The food is great too!
I went on at 7:15 and played for an hour. My fingers weren’t behaving, and I was fumbling a bit, but I played ok and had a good, attentive crowd. Jungle Steve went on after me and played a great set. He’s a fantastic songwriter and can pick circles around me on guitar. He’s the boyfriend of the sister of the fiancé (Alexandria) of my brother Nate Presley. Got all that? Well, we played together in Lexington, KY in December and here we are again, so thanks for that connection, NP!
After the show I got caught up with Geoff and a few other people who stopped by to get some merch. I (re)met a guy named Dave who saw The Tucos back in 2016 when we played Buffalo Iron Works. We were both amazed that it was 9 years ago. We talked about the other band Second Trip that played that night, who we both really liked, but they are no more apparently. One dude came by the merch table and picked up on just about every single lyric I stole in all my songs. “So when you say ‘spanning time’ in Bottled Regrets…” yep, that’s from Buffalo `66. “And when you say in Josh that he didn’t ‘have time for dice or drink or whores’…” yep, Pogues, Body of an American. And there were about 4 more, but I don’t wanna give away the secrets to all of my thievery. He picked up on things no one else ever had, it was awesome.
Before I left, I got to have a chat with John Lombardo, the guitarist for 10,000 Maniacs, who took in both sets. We talked some Marquette, Detroit, and Ann Arbor and he has many fond recent and older memories of Michigan. Super nice guy with some flattering compliments, and very cool that he was there. And yeah don't @ me. I was honest and told him that my friends and I were listening to Hüsker Dü and The Replacements while our girlfriends were listening to 10,000 Maniacs back in the day.
I called home and talked to TrooperGirl22 on the drive back to the BnB. Things are good back in Michigan, and I’m 6 down and 5 to go before I go home. Big thanks to Jay, Jungle Steve, and everyone who came out to the Sportsmen’s Tavern tonight – probably my best Buffalo gig to date! Tomorrow I’m at Downtown Brew in Fredonia, New York with Eric Weinholtz and Ed Croft. Show is 8-10 so come on down! Xx
May 13, 2025 - Fredonia, New York
My Tuesday was spent at the BnB working in the library, drinking coffee, getting caught up on communications around the next shows, lodging, and future plans, and a little rest before the show. I had every intention of getting out for a run, but the day got away from me, and it’s been so fast-paced and non-stop for the last several days that I just took advantage of a little downtime.
Around 5PM I left Buffalo and headed back southwest towards Fredonia, about an hour’s drive. It was a steady sprinkle of rain, the first I’ve seen since Michigan, and some annoying construction, but the trip was relatively uneventful. Fredonia is a village that has a music school ( Fredonia School of Music ) and a football team called the Hillbillies. It’s a small, Main Street USA town with a couple restaurants and a Walmart on the outskirts and seems like a quiet place to raise a family, but you’re just an hour out of Buffalo if you want to go a concert or a football game. My first stop was at Rhythm & Grooves Record Store (can't tag), where I met Sage, the owner, and picked up a copy of Rainbow – Long Live Rock and Roll, which has been on my list forever. They’re now carrying my GTG Records solo album Dynamite Alley and The Tucos’ last album Candy Coated Cannonball, so stop on in and get your copy! Thanks Sage! Xx
From there I drove around the corner and parked in front of Downtown Brew. Inside was my pal Scott and his girlfriend/DB’s owner Janet. I’ve known Scott as the singer from ALL, and we talked about how I saw them back in the day in Detroit. He has memories of those shows and it was fun to revisit. He’s a rock and roll lifer and we have a lot in common, so we get along great. Janet is his calming force, providing some structure and organization, but she’s a rocker too, and super fun and supportive of live music. They are awesome people.
I set up and did a quick soundcheck and ran across the street to Mrs. Fred's where I scarfed down a couple awesome tacos (Taco Tuesday, ya know) and a bowl of their amazing chicken and sausage soup. The waitress was wondering what a fella like me was doing in a joint like that and she raised an eyebrow and nodded reluctantly when I told her. She was lovely, and just salty enough to make the dining experience authentic. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Don’t ever stop being you, darlin’.
I went on shorty after 8pm to a decent sized crowd and played for about an hour. I fumbled a few lyrics, nothing new there, but otherwise played ok, and people seemed to dig it. I got some compliments on a couple of the new ones, and some indifference to the quieter stuff, but that happens. We endeavor to persevere. After my set, Eric Weinholtz (can't tag) and Ed Croft went on and played an hour of great blues/country/old-timey tunes that had the crowd going. Fantastic picking and great chemistry up there. These guys were a late add to the bill, and I was glad they were able to do it. I can say with relative certainty that we haven’t seen the last of each other.
Merch sales were good and we had one last toast and some hugs and it was load-out and back to Buffalo. I called TrooperGirl22 to get me through the drive and we talked for most of the trip. She was in a bad way on the count of some shitty Szechuan take-away she got after she got her hair did, that she’s been thinking about for a few days now. The struggle is real in suburban Detroit too, I guess. She’s holding her own, and had to remind me twice what day of the week it was.
Huge thanks to Scott and Janet and Eric and Ed for a great night at Downtown Brews. Tuesday nights are a crap shoot, and this one was a winner for sure. I had a blast and made some new friends, and there’s not much better than that.
This morning I’m inhaling some yogurt and granola, grabbing a quick shower, posting the blog, and heading east, were I’m playing Silhouette Lounge in Allston, Mass (near Boston) tonight with The Big Lonesome and Manuverse. Doors at 8, music at 8:30, come on out – my last show in Boston was a total drag so let’s get it right!!! Xx
May 14, 2025 - Boston, Massachusetts
I hit the road early on Wednesday morning with a daunting 8-hour drive staring me down. There was a steady drizzle/sprinkle, but not much full-out rain and I eventually lost the Buffalo skyline in my mirrors and headed east towards New England. Quick stops for gas and coffee, but not much else as I followed the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River towards Boston. I crossed the Hudson River and then into Massachusetts, past the “highest point on I-90 east of South Dakota” hitting Boston traffic around 2pm, and landing at my motel after 3pm. I love Boston, but the traffic is the worst and the drivers are not friendly. I had a very brief window to chill at the motel before I had to head back into the city for dinner and load-in.
I pulled into the Allston neighborhood around 6:15 and parked a half block up from the Silhouette Lounge, where the show was. I was hoping for something quick and easy for dinner but also wasn’t looking for a fast food burger or anything like that, so I headed over to the Indian Kitchen Boston and was disappointed that it was carry-out/delivery only. What the hell, it was a nice day, so I ordered some goad vindaloo medium+, it came out in a few minutes, and I settled in on a city bench and had a little one-man picnic. Food was good and I’ve got some leftovers for lunch today! I had a little time so I called TrooperGirl22 and checked in for a few minutes. 7 down, 4 to go.
Back at the Silhouette I loaded in and said hello to the band playing, The Big Lonesome. Super nice guys, and all looking forward to the Wednesday night show. The band room is separate from the bar room and has a couple dart boards and pinball machines. The bar was packed and lively, with that Boston tension that’s always present where it feels like anything could happen at any time.
One of my closest friends Rachel lives in Boston and she came in rocking her maroon Tucos shirt and matching flannel and we had time for a quick catch up before the opener Manuverse went on at 8:30. He’s a solo act, singing mostly in Spanish. He started off a little timid but quickly warmed up and played some great folky songs about amar and corazóns. I apologized in advance for butchering his native language in my song “Angelito Bebe” and he laughed and encouraged my to do my best.
I went on at 8:30 to a thin but attentive Wednesday night crowd. My picking was on point for the most part, but I was struggling with my voice a bit. People seemed to like the songs about animals, “Josh” and “Wachin’ Otters Play,” and the quieter stuff went over better than it did the night before too. No complaints! After my set Rachel and I ran out to my vehicle to get some earplugs (I keep a small stockpile) and went back in to watch The Big Lonesome, stopping for a moment to watch the rats scurrying between the dumpster behind the bar and the apartment building adjacent. The Big Lonesome were great – sorta indie-rock, fantastic musicians who play great together and clearly work on their songwriting and arrangements. I had a good chat with singer Chad and the other guys, and we’ll be crossing paths again for sure.
It was a fun night in a cool joint and I felt good about it. Said goodbye to my fiends and headed back to the motel, but not without an unwelcome detour through downtown Boston thanks to some construction. Signs were…vague, to say the least, but I managed to get back on 93 south and somehow back to my motel around midnight. Had time for a nightcap and some email catchups before crashing out. Big thanks to Matt for setting up the show, the Silhouette, and to everyone who played and attended!
Tonight I’m at The Stomping Ground in Putnam, CT with Matt Charette, around 8PM. Hope to see ya there! Xx
May 15, 2025 - Putnam, Connecticut
Thursday morning was spent in the motel room doing some work and getting caught up on some communication and promotion. I left the south Boston suburb of Randolph around noon and headed east towards Worcester, sad to leave such an awesome city, but happy to put that brutal traffic behind me. From one motel to another, I checked into my next room and enjoyed some downtime for most of the afternoon.
Around 5pm I headed south into Connecticut and into the small town of Putnam. First stop was a grocery store to stock up on breakfast foods as my next couple rooms don’t come with a free breakfast. They charge for grocery bags out here and that’s not a mindset that’s prevalent in Michigan, so it’s never on my mind, but I somehow remembered today and brought my own in. Chalk one up for me! Seriously, it’s a good idea and I know we’ll come around soon.
I drove into town and parked near the venue and did a lap around on foot. Rotary Park sits on the banks of the Quinebaug River, and the bridge provides a great view of the Cargill Falls, bloated with the recent rains. It was nice to take in a little nature after being cooped up in nothing but vehicles, venues, and hotels for the last week and a half. I sent TrooperGirl22 a photo of the falls and followed up with a call. She was pretty excited to share that the Tigers had just swept the Red Sox, and told me to make sure Rachel was aware.
The Stomping Ground is a bar-grill-venue that sits on the main street in Putnam’s downtown. There’s a small stage next to the front door, a row of tables along the left side of the room, and a bar along the right. The Straight Up Jazz Band was playing some great jazz and I took that in while enjoying a Neil Young wrap (chicken, bacon, caramelized apples, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and duck sauce) and a cup if their amazing chili. I talked briefly to a couple guys from the band and exchanged pleasantries as they were tearing down. Pretty soon my pal Matt Charette showed up with his band’s keyboard player Christopher so we worked out logistics for the evening with sound guy Evan and got down to business.
I played for about an hour fifteen, a little longer than my recent sets since Minnesota, which was fun, to get into a couple different songs I haven’t been doing. The room was fairly full, and most people were mildly engaged, but there were plenty that were locked in too. A table of women in the back were particularly animated and responsive, and we traded some banter during the set. I couldn’t get off stage without mentioning that the Detroit Tigers had just swept the Boston Red Sox, and one gentleman didn’t take to kindly to that. I diplomatically told him to calm down and think about some of the damage the Red Sox have done to the tigers over the years. I was later informed by someone else that this kind of stage banter would likely get my ass kicked at the sports bar around the corner, but “don’t worry brah, this place is chill.”
I wrapped up around 9:16 and Matt and Chris took it from there, playing a fantastic set until just south of 11pm. It was great to see Matt play again, such a great songwriter and singer. I love his tune “Girl from Ontario” and quite a few others resonated too. Chris is great on the keys, coming in and backing out perfectly, and providing some tasty harmonies too. They also did a great cover of “Achin’ to Be” by The Replacements and a killer version of “Glad and Sorry” by Faces, which I loved. Really enjoyed their set and need to dig into the catalog deeper tomorrow and Sunday on my long drives.
I chatted with some of the locals and got a photo with my new pal Liz from the rowdy back table. One of them has some Michigan ties and we talked about Big Rapids and Kalamazoo a bit. One dude was trying to convince me that the worse thing the Lions ever did was trade Stafford, and I begged to differ. A couple guys said they had this idea where audience members could scan a QR code and follow along with the lyrics to the song being played on stage. “Interesting…” I said, knowing that it wouldn’t work for my shows because a) I can barely remember my lyrics half the time and have to improvise or sing them out of order and b) the setlist played is rarely the exact setlist on paper, as adjustments are made on the fly based on the room, audience, and my own mood. Still, interesting idea, pal! Patent that shit!
I loaded out, tipped out the bartenders (who were amazing), said goodbye to Matt and Chris, and drove back to my motel near Worcester. It was a fun night at a cool joint in Putnam – big thanks to everyone who was there, and especially to Matt for helping me with these three shows!
Tonight I’m in Manchester, New Hampshire for a show at the The Shaskeen Pub with Dead Time and Regals. Doors at 9, music at 9:30. The 43rd state I’ll now have played a show in. xx
May 16, 2025 - Manchester, New Hampshire
I left my motel near Worcester, Massachusetts around noon and heading North into New Hampshire. I was runnin' on fumes so I stopped off to get gas near the New Hampshire line and other than some traffic congestion it was an uneventful 75 minute drive. My motel is near the Manchester airport and I got into my room early and chilled out for a couple hours, getting caught up on communications and accounting, watching some TV, and eating the last of my goat vindaloo from Boston and the last few bites of my chili from last night in Putnam. If you missed those blogs, go to my Jeremy Porter music page and scroll down to read them.
I headed into Manchester and stopped at Newbury Comics where I found a sweet tommy conwell & the young rumblers album and some nick-knacks for my guitar case and patch jacket. From there I checked out the Riverwalk and Amoskeag Falls, hoping to catch a glance of a bald eagle I’d heard tell hung around those parts, but just saw some ducks and maybe a cormorant. I called TrooperGirl22 and got caught up about our grass being a foot tall and the neighbors are certainly about to call the cops on us, and my alliums just about to bloom so I better get my weary ass home before I miss `em. One more show boo…
Over at the The Shaskeen Pub I met Devin the sound engineer, the dudes in Regals and a couple of the guys in Dead Time. I also met Miketon, who worked with Matt to book the show and build a lineup around me. I’m eternally grateful to these good people. I ordered a drink and the Erin’s Open Face Turkey Sammy (with stuffing, Guinness gravy, cranberry mayo, and Swiss in rye) and it was basically Thanksgiving dinner – so good. I ate about 1/3 and took the rest back to the motel in a box.
Down Time went on around 9:15 and played a killer, diverse set of indie/alt rock with elements of stoner rock at times. I told them after that they should cover “Space Truckin’” by Deep Purple. Super good dudes, and a solid, fun band. I went on after and did about 45 minutes to a fairly full room that was mostly engaged and attentive. I played as well as I have on this run, and didn’t blow too many lyrics. Devin had the sound dialed in and I felt pretty comfortable up there. After me Regals came up and played an awesome set of original tunes that reminded me at times of Drive-By Truckers at at other times of Country Westerns, but they certainly had their own thing going on with great songs, and great dynamics and synergy on stage. They’d fit perfectly in my record collection! After their set I fetched my vehicle from the parking ramp a couple blocks away, loaded out, said my goodbyes, and headed back to the motel where a couple from South Carolina got in the elevator with me and said they’d just seen my entire set at the bar. They talked up the Tin Roof, which I was familiar with from WATERSHED tour dates. I had a nightcap and did some paperwork before crashing out for about 4 short hours.
Today I am out very early with a daunting (according to Google) 6 ½ to 10 ½ hour drive to Baltimore, through NYC and Philly, where I’m playing tonight at Micky's Joint with The Starlings - Charm City . Show starts around 8ish and it’s gonna be a fun (but exhausting) end to the tour with some collabs! Let’s wrap it up in style! Xx
May 17, 2025 - Baltimore, Maryland
I was up and at `em on Saturday morning, staring down a 6–10-hour drive (according to Google) including passing through New York City and Philadelphia. I was out of my Manchester, New Hampshire motel by 7 and on the highway with large black McDonalds coffee in a few minutes. It was a beautiful, warm day and I was short on sleep but buzzing from the fun show at The Shaskeen Pub the night before. The first couple hours were rough – couldn’t seem to pour enough coffee down my throat to wake up, but by the time I passed into New York state I was feeling a little better. All that coffee took its toll, though and I as entered Yonkers my back teeth were floating I had to pee so bad. There are no travel plazas in the city and I knew it was only gonna get worse so I took my chances and pulled off the highway, figuring at worse I’d use the empty Beef-A-Roo cup I’d saved for just such an occasion. I was a block off the highway when as luck would have it there was a construction site with a glorious porta-potty out front. I backed into a no-parking space, did my business, and resumed my journey within a couple minutes. The struggle is real, but the gods shone down on me in that moment.
I entered the Bronx, then crossed the Harlem River onto Manhattan, then crossed the George Washington Bridge across the Hudson River into New Jersey. The entire day was blue skies and sunshine except the hour and a half I was in New York State, when it rained on and off for the duration. I navigated through New York/New Jersey traffic hell for another hour or so, through Newark and Jesey City, and eventually landed on the New Jersey Turnpike, where I sang Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” to my self over and over again. I could see the Manhattan skyline in the distance, and that’s always a sight. I crossed into Pennsylvania and was relieved that my GPS didn’t take me trough Philadelphia, as I’d expected, but kept me well east. I crossed the massive and beautiful Delaware Memorial Bridge (with the Philly skyline way off over my right shoulder) connecting the New Jersey Turnpike (cue: “counting the cars….”) and the Delaware Turnpike, and finally into Maryland. After a stop for lunch and a second stop for a 25-minute power nap, I landed in Baltimore at 4PM, nine hours after leaving New Hampshire.
My first stop was Celebrated Summer Records, named (presumably) after the great Hüsker Dü song. I’ve wanted to check this store out for years and finally made it in. It’s basically a punk museum with tons of setlists and posters from early 80s punk shows by Descendents, Black Flag, Hüsker Dü and more. I chatted with the owner a bit, we talked a little Negative Approach, and they’re now carrying my GTG Records album Dynamite Alley and The Tucos’ Candy Coated Cannonball, so stop on in, check out the killer store, and pick one up!
Around the corner was a big city park with a skate park and lots of space. I looked for a place to relax in the shade and call TrooperGirl22 but couldn’t really find anything, so just did a big loop on foot, still shaking off that bitch of a drive. My bladder was once again at capacity and there wasn’t a toilet to be seen, so I started heading back to my vehicle and an imminent date with that Beef-a-Roo cup when glory be there appeared before me another porta-potty, my second of the day, just in time. That Beef-a-roo cup might still come in handy, but it’s gonna have to wait a while longer.
I had a couple hours to kill so I put on my tourist cap and headed downtown to the Inner Harbor and waterfront promenade, a tourist hot spot where they have a tall ship, a submarine, restaurants and gift shops. It was congested as all hell, so I parked in a ramp and headed out for a lap on foot. Can’t say it was totally my scene, but it felt like something that I should see. I got a Baltimore sticker for my guitar case and made it back to my vehicle (after looking for 15 minutes in the wrong parking ramp) just before I would have been nailed with the double-after-1-hour charge.
I called TrooperGirl22 who was preparing the castle for the arrival of her king after his tour (not really, she was chilling, watching the Tigers, and just generally TCoB) and we had a nice chat and a “see ya tomorrow.” I headed into the Hamilton neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore and found parking about a half-block up from Micky’s Joint. Inside I said hey to my pal Joseph, who I met a couple years back when The Tucos played with his band The Silverites , and my new pal Sean, guitarist for The Starlings. We talked a little logistics and got set up. At the urging of Joe’s wife Patti I got the smash burger with a side of OLD BAY® Seasoning, which is a MAJOR thing around these parts. Not sure I ever tried it before, but down at the harbor they had EVERTHING Old Bay – tee shirts, Christmas tree ornaments, magnets, you name it. What the hell, let’s do it. Burger was amazing and so were the fries – I’ll be getting some of that good stuff for home! My pal Stephen and his wife Jodi came up from Virginia for the show, and it’s always a pleasure to see these good people too.
I went on to a pretty good room of people a little after 8pm and did about 35-40 minutes. I sang alright but my fingers weren’t entirely cooperating, but I’m not sure anyone really noticed. The crowd was engaged and generous with their applause and it felt like a great way to wrap up the tour. Sean came up and played some lead guitar on a Steve Earle song, then the rest of The Starlings came up and we did a John Prine song and a Hank Williams tune (not to self: it goes to D, not F). I stepped down and they stayed up and played for the next couple hours. It was mostly originals, great sounding Americana rock, sometimes a more of the latter, sometimes a little more of the former. Great playing, great harmonies, and a fun set. I got back up and strummed some on a Velvet Underground song, then traded verses on Big Star’s “Thirteen,” which I’ve been doing occasionally in my own sets forever. I realized as we were playing it that my version is pretty much self-made-up and I don’t actually know the tune, so I tried to lay back a bit so as to not make a bigger mess of it.
After the set I tipped the bar staff, had a few pleasant words with Quinn, the manager (awesome guy), took a couple photos, sold a little merch, and headed out. BIG thanks to The Starlings and Micky’s Joint for letting me crash their party and being beyond cool to me in every single way from start to finish. These guys are a great band and wonderful people. Thank you!
I drove about and hour northwest to Frederick, Maryland and got a room for a few hours of sleep. I was wiped out after that long-ass day and it didn’t take long before I was out. This morning hit hard at 6am. I scoffed at the sorry-ass breakfast buffet, made a calculated decision to pass on the expired peach yogurt, gulped down a bowl of stale Raisin Bran, and headed again northwest towards Michigan. It was a beautiful morning and the rolling Maryland countryside was green and lush. I crossed Antietam creek, rolled under the Appalachian Trail, then into Pennsylvania and onto the PA Turnpike, winding through the Appalachian Mountains. I crossed into Ohio around noon, and the whole trip was smooth sailing until I hit Michigan, just 45 minutes from home. Three lanes went down to one and it took me an extra half hour to get onto I-275 North into the western suburbs. Yup, bladder full of coffee again, but the Beef-A-Roo cup was safe, I made it home.
At home my lawn is insanely long and I’m sure there’s been a complaint filed, but I made it in time to see my giant alliums in bloom. I’ve got what feels like jet lag after very little sleep and 17 hours of driving out of the last 30, but I feel great after what has easily been my best solo tour to date, in every way. HUGE thanks to all the venues, bands, promoters, and friends who were a part of it. This shit ain’t easy, it ain’t always fun, and it’s rarely financially viable, but somehow these last 11 shows have reinforced my motivation and love for traveling and playing. Thanks for reading and traveling along. Xx
Days: 13
States: 13
Venues: 11
Miles: 3750 (200 more than my PNW tour in October)
Hotels/BBs: 9
Record Stores: 7
Bald Eagles: 3
Porta-pottys: 2
Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit, fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos, and plays acoustic shows all over the place. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
www.thetucos.com
www.facebook.com/jeremyportermusic
www.rockandrollrestrooms.com
Twitter: @jeremyportermi | Instagram: @onetogive & @jeremyportermusic
