Backstage in Portsmouth, VA

I only met Leroy Justice once.  It was the last show of a small tour in support of our first record Revolution’s Son and we were at his son’s bar Tequila Mockingbird in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Leroy sat at the end of the bar when we got there, playing a video game having something to do with monkeys.  Now, we hadn’t named the band after him for any good reason, we just liked his name more than any other we could come up with at the time.  But the mystique of the poker machine-owning, telecaster-shredding old guy from South Cackalacky had grown enough to make this a meeting to remember.  As we approached and introduced ourselves as his namesake from up north, he just sat there, tapping on the screen, eventually turning halfway to say a quick hello, shake my hand, and then back to the monkeys.  Later, when his son Adam asked if his dad could sit in with the band on some blues tunes, we were skeptical but obliged.  He strapped on my acoustic guitar with ease and took the stage.  I leaned in and suggested some twelve bar blues in E, and he promptly started playing “Before You Accuse Me.”  In A.  Leroy was a natural front man and didn’t miss a lick or a word.  Three songs later he finally let up and left the stage to a round of applause, marking the one and only time Leroy Justice sat in with Leroy Justice.

Leroy Justice, the man, went on to his great reward last week.  The band will play some blues for him.  In A.

Jason, Adam, and Dan in Baltimore, MD

It was Raining in Baltimore yesterday. Literally. We even got drenched in a downpour to help us remember. Then Adam did what he had to do and sang the song. It rains, it pours. Best show of the tour so far. I didn’t think it was possible but this gig is getting better. On the side of the stage before the encore, Notar said we will never forget this tour, and we agreed we are pretty lucky to be a part of it. I miss my brothers from LJ a ton, but it’s good to have one on stage with me every night on this tour too.

Officially a member of “everyone”

Jason on a Jumbotron

Taste of Minnesota

Counting Crows Traveling Circus and Medicine Show

Photo by Ryan Bash

The first night on the Counting Crows Traveling Circus lived up to its name.  ”Caravan” was the first tune we played at Summerfest, and Dan from Augustana sang the verse I was supposed to sing last.  No worries, Adam leaned in and yelled out the first two lines in my ear and it all came back to me.  After that trial by fire, it was all downhill.  Notar turned a huge festival show into an intimate club and we absolutely destroyed ”Matador.”  It was a relief to get the first one under our belts.  Can’t wait for 29 more.

-Jason

Day 1, Traveling Circus and Medicine Show. Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI.

Sloan Marshall, Brooklyn Bowl

June 12, 2010

Photo by Cory Schwartz

The first time we play a new song titled “Before I Die”

Brooklyn Bowl, June 12, 2010