Jeremy Porter - Pencil Storm’s Co-Editor in Chief, and our lone rep from that state to the North - is bringing his solo-acoustic show to Columbus for the first time on September 18th at The Ohio Taproom (1291 W. Third Ave). Showtime is 6-8 pm. Last time he was here, his band The Tucos opened for Watershed at a packed Rumba Café. This time there’ll be no half-stacks, no drums, and no Watershed, but Jeremy brings a long history of playing Columbus with him.
You’ve been out promoting Dynamite Alley (GTG Records) for over a year now by yourself for the most part, solo acoustic. How has that gone?
Hey Colin! Man, it’s been amazing, to be honest. I mean, yeah there’s been a few clunkers along the way, and it gets lonely at times on those long drives and late nights alone, but for the most part it’s been surprisingly well-received, fulfilling, and fun. It all kind of came to a peak moment in July when I played BüddiesFest in Tillsonburg, Ontario. Sitting in with Greg Norton on a bunch of Hüsker Dü songs, playing my own set, hanging with a bunch of friends and peers over an amazing weekend. Whatever frustration and trepidation I had about things was wiped out that weekend, at least for a while.
Do you miss playing with the band? Why aren’t they out with you?
I do miss playing with them. I always answer like this: Playing alone is way easier, but not as fun. Playing with the band is way more work, but more fun. I miss the camaraderie, the volume, the connection on and off stage. There’s nothing like the adventures that come with traveling with the boys. But The Tucos are a machine, and it requires a lot more effort to get her cranked up and keep her running. It’s nice not having to deal with the other stuff – more complicated travel, way more gear, stress about booking, and keeping the boys paid and happy. They are the best dudes, we have no issues, and I’d rather be doing that in the end, but it’s just way less stress when I’m the only one I need to worry about.
The Tucos are still a thing. There have been life changes, other obligations, and some burn-out, if I’m being honest. We just can’t all be on the road right now. I hope it comes back. I hope it’s with Gabe and Jake, but the future is unclear. One thing for sure, The Tucos will go on existing in some form.
Mixing Tucos’ album #5 at Black Sheep Audio in Novi, Michigan (L-R) Tim Patalan, Gabriel Doman, Jeremy Porter. Photo: Steve Presti
The Tucos have been mixing with Tim Patalan? How is that going?
Yeah, I was just about to get into this… our fifth album is nearly mixed. It’s going very, very slow. February will be two years; which I hate, but this solo album and all this touring really put a damper on the mixing schedule. With our inability hit the road, releasing new music is kind of not the immediate priority, but I am dying to get it done and see what the future has in store. I can tell you that I love the record and the material and I can’t wait to get it out there.
And Colin, you know Tim better than anyone. He’s just great behind the console and a great hang in general. This is a different situation because we’re mixing up in Novi at Black Sheep Audio because a) The Loft had a terrible fire and wasn’t operational, and b) The record was recorded there, and with some technology not available at The Loft. Tim is commuting. He’s been awesome, and we are SO CLOSE to being done! I think that as with Watershed, and this was the case long before you and I ever met, Tim is as big a part of this band’s recorded output as any of the members. His mark is heavy on this record as well.
What’s this Fall Tour looking like? What should we expect at The Ohio Taproom on Thursday?
The fall tour started in Canda (as it always does) last week, with a warm-up show in Detroit in August. Next up is this Midwest run of Columbus, Louisville, and Indianapolis. Then I’m out in the Dakotas for my first shows there, and Minneapolis. Then I’m doing another run with The Wild Honey Collective (from Lansing) down the east coast to Florida and back, before wrapping the year up with another Midwest run in December. Just spelling that out makes me want a nap!
As it stands it’ll be all solo acoustic, with me playing songs from my solo releases and all the bands I’ve been in, plus a cover here and there. The Wild Honey run will see those guys backing me up on some stuff, and me sitting in with them. There may be a Jeremy Porter Band show or two in there too, but those details aren’t quite sorted yet. The shows have been a mix of rowdy/fun upbeat stuff and crying-in-your-beer heartache/Americana stuff. I’ll take requests if you got `em and I know `em.
I love Columbus, ever since I first played there in 1995 at some venue no one seems to remember the name of (High Street Downunder?). Everyone thought our bass player was Curly from the Afghan Whigs that night. I love Two Cow Garage, Lydia Loveless, Watershed, Micah & Vanessa, League Bowlers, Shane Sweeney, LilyBandits, Todd May, and my first favs Scrawl, so the city is very well represented in my record collection. I think this is my 9th or 10th show in Columbus. The last one with you guys at Rumba was by far the best.
What’s 2026 looking like? What’s in the future for you and your music?
That’s the $9 question I guess. The Tucos record WILL come out. It needs to be supported on the road if there’s going to be physical product to sell. I have nearly enough songs written that are worthy of another solo album and I want to record that with a band. I don’t want to take time off the road, I want to go back out with a band, I want to go back to Europe, and I have five states left to play. I probably can’t do all that in 2026, but I’m trying to figure it all out and it’s giving me an anxiety attack. I haven’t ruled out spending 2026 on the couch watching football, baseball, and Emergency! re-runs either, but I ain’t getting any younger, so I perpetually feel like I am on the clock.
Check Jeremy Porter out at The Ohio Taproom and all over the Midwest and Eastern USA this fall!
Jeremy Porter Website
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JEREMY PORTER FALL 2025 TOUR DATES
Thu 14 Aug...Detroit, MI...Outer Limits
Sat 23 Aug...Marquette, MI...Forestville*
Thu 04 Sep...Tillsonburg, ON...Paddy's Underground
Fri 05 Sep...Montreal, QC...Barfly
Sat 06 Sep...London, ON...Richmond Tavern
Thu 18 Sep...Columbus, OH...Ohio Taproom
Fri 19 Sep...Lousiville, KY...Highland Tap Room
Sat 20 Sep...Indianapolis, IN...Centerpoint Brewing Co
Tue 23 Sep...Detroit, MI...Motor City Brewing Works
Wed 01 Oct...Souix Falls, SD...Full Circle Book CoOp
Thu 02 Oct...Bizmark, ND...Laughing Sun Brewing Co
Fri 03 Oct...Grand Forks, ND...Half Brothers Brewing Co
Sat 04 Oct...Minneapolis, MN...331 Club
Fri 17 Oct...Lansing, MI...GTG Fest
Sat 18 Oct...Lansing, MI...GTG Fest
The WILD HONEY COLLECTIVE + JEREMY PORTER
TOGETHER + SEPERATE FALL 2025 SOUTHEAST USA TOUR
Wed Nov 5...Dayton, Ohio...Oregon Express
Thu Nov 6....Chattanooga, Tennessee...Cherry Street Tavern
Fri Nov 7...High Springs, Florida...High Springs Brewing Co
Sat Nov 8...High Springs, Florida...High Springs Brewing Co
Sun Nov 9...Gainesville, Florida...Backyard/Boca Fiesta & Palomino
Mon Nov 10...Jacksonville, Florida...Crispy's v2.0
Tue Nov 11...Asheville, North Carolina...Sly Grog Lounge
Wed Nov 12...Raleigh, North Carolina...Pour House
Thu Nov 13...Washington, DC...Haydees
Fri Nov 14...Baltimore, Maryland...Mickey's Tavern
Sat Nov 15...Akron, Ohio...Rialto Theater
Wed 10 Dec...Goshen, IN...Goshen Brewing Co
Thu 11 Dec...Milwaukee, WI...Anouncement soon!
Fri 12 Dec...Chicago, IL...Lizard's Liquid Lounge
Sat 13 Dec...Springfield, IL...Buzz Bomb Brewing Co