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Hoss The Boss' Exclusive Interviews with Jamon Huntington Herald-Dispatch article To read article, click here. Charleston Daily Mail article May 2009 News Cookeville Herald-Citizen interviews The Toluenes!!! How long have you been a band? Jamon: I think we started this band in 2003, didn’t we? Dan: THIS band, yeah. Jamon: What is this…about the 3rd or 4th band we’ve been in together? Dan: At least. Jamon: We grew up in a VERY small town. Style of music? Dan: I don’t really like labels, but we seem to get lumped into Americana or alt-country. Jamon: I like to think of us more as a Southwestern band from the Southeast. Inspiration and influences? Jamon: I guess my earliest inspiration would have been Elvis. I can remember being a little kid and getting into my dad’s old records. From the moment I heard “Don’t Be Cruel”, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I was blown away by everything he sang. There was actually a time when I put music into two categories: Elvis and not Elvis. I couldn’t understand why radio stations didn’t just play him all the time. Dan: I didn’t really have a lot of new music when I was growing up but I had some older cousins who listened to Black Sabbath, CCR, Rush, Ted Nugent, AC/DC…stuff like that. So, that’s what I was inspired by. Jamon: My musical awareness really began some time in the mid-‘80’s, though. I was into a lot of New Wave at the time. I’m still a HUGE Duranie. Dan: I was listening to heavy metal back then, but I got into stuff like Waylon and Willie later on. That’s the stuff that really influenced what I’m doing now. Jamon: And we both liked bands like Gin Blossoms and The Refreshments. Dan: I guess when you put all that together you get The Toluenes. Next Cookeville performance? Dan: We’ll be playing at Crawdaddy’s Grill on Cinco de Mayo. Jamon: Or, as the gringos call it, May 5. Any recordings (and where to find them)? Dan: We have two c.d.’s out. The new one is called “Off The Wagon and On The Lam”. The first one was called “Four Chords & A Pack of Lies”. You can get them online or as downloads at Amazon.com, iTunes, Rhapsody and Napster. Proudest achievement? Jamon: I think my proudest achievement would have to be that I’m able to make a living doing something I’d do for free. Dan: I’m not sure I can name one thing that I’m proudest of but there’s a lot of things I’d like to forget. Why do you do it? Jamon: I do it to get chicks. Dan: Seriously, though, I think I do it for the satisfaction of knowing that something I’ve created is out there and has a chance to affect people and…what am I saying? It’s definitely the chicks. January 2009 News Hear "El Diablo" on Americana Roots Review!!! Host Ray Randall spins some amazing Americana music on his show and was kind enough to give our new single a whirl on episode # 70. Check out that show, as well as the archives, at americanaroots.com...and purchase "Off The Wagon and On The Lam" here or download it at Amazon.com, iTunes, Rhapsody or Napster. December 2008 News
November 2008 News Meanwhile, everyone's favorite Southwestern band from the Southeast has just put a big bow on our Christmas present to you. That's right...the mostly eagerly-awaited, somewhat anticipated follow-up to "Four Chords & A Pack of Lies" is finally complete and will be released December 16. "Off The Wagon and On The Lam" will feature 10 brand spankin' new tales of love & alcohol including the first single "El Diablo". For a preview, visit our official Myspace page. The disc will be available on the "music" page of our website or can be downloaded at Amazon.com, Rhapsody, Napster and iTunes. We'll also be on the road in early 2009 playing it for anyone who will give us free beer. Hopefully, we'll see you along the way.
Until then, Dios este con usted.
Jamon
July 2008 News With half of 2008 behind us and a few months since the release of "Four Chords & A Pack of Lies", we continue to find our names popping up in all kinds of places other than the usual post office walls. Recently, Adios New Mexico was picked up by Clear Channel Broadcasting and can now be heard on such stations as New Rock 103.9 The X in Dayton, OH, 104.1 WTQR Country in Greensboro, NC and 94.9 Zeta Rocks in Miami, FL. We also got pinned down long enough to do a couple of interviews with Graffiti Magazine and with Junior’s Cave a while back.(You can check out both of those in the “news” section of our website.) Meanwhile, Four Chords & A Pack of Lies has sold…literally…several copies. If you haven’t picked up one yet you can get it at www.thetoluenes.com or, if you’re a member of the ipod generation, you can download any or all of it from Amazon.com, Rhapsody, itunes or Napster. Most exciting, though (at least to me), is that somewhere between Nashville and Mexico we managed to jot down a handful of happenstances and set them to music. The result is the soon-to-be-released follow-up to Four Chords called Off The Wagon & On The Lam. The album is due sometime in September and will feature 10 brand new tales of love and alcohol that have only been heard by those shifty enough to have caught us live these past few months. The first single will be released in August and will likely be either El Diablo or I’ll Have What He’s Having. We’re still arm wrestling over that issue. Anyway, that’s where we are. Hope all is well where you are. Dios este con usted, Jamon
June 2008 News http://www.juniorscave.com/toluenes.html By Tamar Alexia Fleishman Eastern Kentucky’s The Toluenes call themselves a “southwestern country rock” band. The Toluenes are Jamon Scott and Dan Allen Crawley and they’ve beat a path from Asbury Park to the Rainbow Room in Hollywood. Now regulars at Nashville’s best venues, their debut CD is called “Hola from The Toluenes.” They have also on occasion joined up as part of The Outfit, a collection of Nashville singers and musicians. RRRadio.com (Internet Based Radio Station) Jamon rocked as the crew did what they do, Jamon and Scott did some acting, Dan did some rockin' of his own, Ashley Rose did some acting, too, Justin gave a "memorable" performance, ...and Rachel told everybody what to do. At the end of the day (and when I say 'day', I mean three 18 hour days) a good time was had by all. Check back soon for more pics, some clips and information on the "Bottle Rockets" premiere. j. In the show, Scott plays "Jake," a singer/songwriter, with Sullivan as "Connor," Jake's best friend and fellow performer. National award-winning actress Ashley-Rose Withers will round out the cast as Julia Brees, the intriguing new girl in town. In the director's chair is Rachel Goldberg, editorial assistant on Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill 2. "She (Goldberg) loved the script so much that she's flying out from Los Angeles to helm the project," Scott said. Behind the camera is Jason Epperson, whose Lexington, KY-based production company, Eppic Films, has filmed several country music videos in Nashville, including the latest Sawyer Brown video. www.thetoluenes.com Jamon May 2005 Newsletter January 2005 Newsletter
Visit our official Myspace page for a sneak peek from our upcoming disc, "Cervezas, Senoritas, Etc., Etc.", due in early 2010.
Free Mp3 Download!!!
Interview 1
Interview 2
To read article, click here.
"The Best of Both Worlds" by Ken Utterback
To read article, click here.
June 2009 News
The Toluenes are proud to announce that we are now official spokeshombres of Ale 8 One soft drink. If you hang your hat in the hills of Kentucky, Southern Ohio, Southeast Indiana or thereabouts, then you may be enjoying a cold one right now. Otherwise, head on over to www.ale8one.com and have some delivered directly to su casa. We recommend it straight or mixed with our other favorite drink.
Cheers,
Jamon
New disc available this Tuesday, December 16!!!
To purchase "Off The Wagon and On The Lam" click here. To hear sound clips or to purchase an mp3 download of the disc click here.
Hola amigos & amigas,
The leaves have begun to fall in the Smokies, turkeys everywhere have gone into hiding and somewhere there's a jolly, red-garbed, white-bearded hombre checking his list to determine which boys & girls will find limes & cervezas under their trees in the coming weeks. So, watch out, don't cry and don't pout because...well, you know the rest.
Hola amigos & amigas,
Hola amigos and amigas,
In a move that figuratively brings The Toluenes kicking and screaming into the 21st century, Four Chords & A Pack of Lies is now available for download on Amazon. com. However, if you're still "old school" and prefer to receive physical matter for your money, you can purchase the c.d. by clicking here.
Meanwhile, Adios New Mexico has just been added to playlists at IAC's Country Rose and Texas Back Porch radio. Hear us, as well as thousands of other artists, by logging onto iacmusic. com and clicking on the station of your choice.
Dios este con usted.
Jamon
February 2008 News
Check out an exclusive interview with The Toluenes at:
December 2007 News
Interview with Graffiti Magazine:
Four Chords & A Pack of Lies
Most bands never have a debut TV pilot, but Jamon was a co-writer and co-starred with Dan in “Bottle Rockets,”which ran off with the 2007 Indie Gathering winner award for best TV pilot.
Graffiti: Tell me about your projects.
Jamon: We’ve just finished a new CD called “Four Chords & A Pack of Lies.” It was written by the band and, not to name-drop or anything, but it was co-produced by Jim Allison, who has written a truckload of cuts in Nashville, including a No. 1 hit for Reba McEntire.
Dan: The album title is a reference to the famous Harlan Howard quote that country music is “three chords and the truth.”
Jamon: We also just took first place in the Indie Gathering Film Festival for a TV pilot entitled “Bottle Rockets” that we shot in Morristown, Tenn., late last year. The show is a sitcom in the vein of “Seinfeld” or “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.” It’s set in Nashville and is about a group of friends trying to make it in the entertainment industry. I co-wrote and co-starred in it along with Scott Sullivan, an actor/stand-up comic from Russell Springs, Ky. The director of photography on the project was Jason Epperson, who is from Winchester, Ky. His credits include music videos for Sawyer Brown and Blackhawk and you might also remember him from Fox’s “On The Lot” reality series, on which he finished second.
Dan: Not to name-drop or anything.
Graffiti: What kind of music do you play?
Dan: Well, people tell us we’re a little too rock to be country, but a little too country to be rock. I guess that would make us alternative country ... maybe?
Jamon: Or maybe electric Americana?
Dan: Hey, that sounds pretty cool.
Jamon: I have this dream of being on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine next to the caption “The Americana Nirvana.”
Graffiti: Where in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky do you play?
Dan: Anywhere they’ll give us a bar tab.
Jamon: And free food.
Graffiti: What are some of the most important gigs you’ve played?
Jamon: We played at Luther Luckett Correctional Facility in LaGrange, Ky., a while back. That was an experience.
Dan: Yeah, I was channeling Johnny Cash all day.
Jamon: We also played the Master Musician’s Festival in Somerset a few years back. Shared the bill with Nickel Creek at that one. I’m not sure all those bluegrass fans really knew what to make of us, though. Oh yeah, and I played an acoustic gig at The Rainbow Room on the Sunset Strip. That was cool.
Dan: Wasn’t that where heavy metal bands used to go to get a hummer after they played at The Whisky?
Jamon: That’s the legend. Nobody offered me one, though.
Graffiti: Who are your musical influences?
Jamon: Well, I spent my formative years listening to New Wave music. I’m still a huge Duran Duran fan.
Dan: I was a metal head ... but I liked Prince.
Jamon: We both liked bands like Gin Blossoms, The Refreshments and Third Eye Blind, though.
Dan: And Steve Earle, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
Jamon: I guess when you throw all that stuff into a blender you get The Toluenes.
Graffiti: What are your plans for the future?
Dan: To keep doing the same thing we do everyday — try and take over the world.
Jamon: While quoting cartoon characters, no less.
Dan: Seriously though, we’d like to be able to create music we like and get it out there to as many people as possible ... and, hopefully, make a living doing it.
Jamon: Oh, and we’d like to date a lot of supermodels.
Graffiti: How old are you?
Dan: Old enough to know better but young enough to still get away with it.
Jamon: What he said.
Graffiti: Do you play any other instruments?
Jamon: I’m not sure I technically “play” any instrument. I bang on the guitar and make really cool sounds on the synthesizer, though.
Dan: I play guitar and bass, but I can usually make sense of about anything that has strings on it.
Jamon: How ’bout a piano?
Dan: Pianos have strings IN them.
Jamon: Touche.
Graffiti: Do you come from a musical family?
Jamon: I had an uncle who used to play the flat top a little, but no one in my family was a serious musician.
Dan: My family doesn’t even like music.
Graffiti: How did you get started in the music business?
Jamon: As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be Elvis. I can’t remember ever wanting to be anything else.
Dan: I wanted to be Prince.
Jamon: So, you wanted to wear a raincoat and panties?
Dan: Wait till you see what I wear to the next show.
Jamon: My family had an old floor model stereo and my mom says I used to beg them to put on some Elvis and then I’d stand in front of it with my chin propped on it and fall asleep staring at the record spinning around. As I got older, I started to get into the New Wave bands of the ’80s. That’s when I got my first keyboard. I used to try and play stuff I would hear on the radio. What I was playing wasn’t even close to the actual song, but it still sounded pretty good. So, I thought, “Hell, I’ll just write words to this.”
Dan: Actually, Jamon inspired me to get into the business. He had recorded a song with a guitar player friend of mine and it was getting some serious airplay on a local radio station. I heard it and decided right there and then that I wanted to be a part of it. I called up my friend and asked if they could use another guitarist.
Jamon: Now, what you have to understand here is that Dan couldn’t even play guitar at this time.
Dan: But I thought I could ... at least until we set up an audition. I chickened out at the last minute, though, and never showed up.
Jamon: But we crossed paths later on and the rest, as they say, is rock and roll history.
Graffiti: Where in eastern Kentucky are each of you from?
Jamon: I’m originally from Louisville but grew up in a little town called Albany. I think there are more cows than people there.
Dan: Well, to make a short story long, I grew up in the same town but I moved to Nashville right after high school and fell a**-backwards into a publishing deal, which turned out to be more of a learning experience than a moneymaking experience. I moved to Lexington after that and played in a couple of bands before moving back to Albany a few years ago.
Graffiti: Do you spend a lot of time there?
Jamon: Most of my family still lives there so I go back pretty often.
Dan: I’m there every damn day.
Graffiti: What does being from eastern Kentucky mean to you?
Jamon: Well, I’ve traveled quite a bit and seen a lot of this country, but there’s just a certain sense of pride here that you don’t see anywhere else. This area has such a rich heritage and you really get the sense that it’s a part of the people who live here. I know it’s a part of me.
Dan: You just went John Mellencamp on her ass, didn’t you?
Jamon: Yeah, a little.
December 2006 News
Amigos and amigas,
To quote an old song, it's Christmas time in the city...and the country...and the mountains...and the desert...and, well, you get the picture.
Anyway, 2006 has come and gone (almost) and it's been a pretty busy year for The Toluenes. I'm not sure how much we've actually accomplished, but we've done a lot of stuff. Let's see...we wrote some songs, played them from Nashville to L.A., made a few new friends and drank a lot (and when I say a lot, I mean a lot) of cervezas. We also marked our territory on Myspace a few months back and made a few more new friends. Somewhere along the way I found the time to co-write and co-star in a t.v. series pilot with a very talented hombre by the name of Scott Sullivan. (You can find out more about him at www.scottsullivanshow.com.) On top of that, we hit the airwaves in a big way (and when I say big, I mean, well...okay, maybe not big, but we hit the airwaves). The Toluenes can now be heard on the following stations:
• KPND 95.3 - Spokane, WA
(Saturdays at 11pm PT)
• WNKU 89.7- Cincinnati, OH
(Sundays at 9pm ET)
Online streaming available @ www.wnku.org
• KYGT 102.7 - Idaho Springs, CO
(Saturdays at 4pm MT)
• KSMT 102.3/102.7 - Breckenridge, CO
(Sundays at 8pm MT)
• WSGE 91.7 - Charlotte, NC
(Tuesdays at 12am ET & Sundays at 1am ET)
• WUIN 106.7 - Wilmington, NC
(Saturdays at 8pm ET)
• WRFA 107.9 - Jamestown, NY
(Fridays at 11pm ET)
• KTBG 90.9 - Kansas City, MO
(Sundays at 8pm CT)
Online streaming available @ www.ktbg.fm
• WFPK 91.1 - Louisville, KY
(Sundays at Midnight ET)
Online streaming available @ http://wfpk.org/listen.htm
• WNCW 88.7 - Spindale, NC
(Thursdays at 4am ET & Sundays at 11pm ET)
Online streaming available @ www.wncw.org
• WTMD 89.7 - Baltimore, MD
(Wednesdays at 9pm ET)
Online streaming available @ www.wtmd.org
• KSPN 103.1 - Aspen, CO
(Sundays at 9pm MT)
• KFMU 104.1 - Steamboat Springs, CO
(Sundays at 8pm MT )
• KSJC 92.5 - Silverton, CO
(rotating)
• WBSD 89.1 - Burlington, WI
(Fridays at 7pm CT )
• WQNR 99.9 - Auburn, AL
(Saturdays at 11pm CT)
• KHNS 102.3 or 91.9 - Haines, AK
(Mondays at 11pm AKT / 10pm PT)
• WIUP 90.1 - Indiana, PA
(Saturdays at 5pm ET)
• WESS 90.3 - East Stroudsburg, PA
(Thursdays at 6pm ET)
• KRBS 107.1 - Oroville, CA
(Thursdays at 10pm PT)
Online streaming available soon
• KVMR 89.5 - Nevada City, CA
(Mondays at 10pm PT)
• KWCA 101.1 - Weaverville, CA
(Saturdays at 7:30pm PT)
But enough about us already. The real reason I'm writing this is to wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season. I hope you accomplished everything you set out to in 2006 and I hope you find everything you're looking for underneath your tree this year. As always, Dios este con usted.
Jamon
November 2006 News
The taping of 'Bottle Rockets' is officially behind us. Here's a peek at how it went down:
October 2006 News
An independent television series pilot, Bottle Rockets, will be filmed in downtown Morristown, Tennessee this weekend from Friday through Sunday.
"The cast and crew are very excited to spend an October weekend in the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee," said Jamon Scott, a Louisville, Kentucky native, who moved to Morristown four years ago. "We're also very grateful to Kirk Fenner, who has allowed us to film in his establishment, Higher Grounds." Scott, lead vocalist of The Toluenes, was a regular performer at the business before it closed its doors a few months ago.
Bottle Rockets, co-written by Scott and screenwriter and filmmaker Scott Sullivan, is set in Nashville, but Morristown will stand in for Music City. The two co-writers will star in the pilot.
Sullivan, a professional actor from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a stand-up comedian/magician and recently returned from performing at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. He is a former writer for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
"When completed, Bottle Rockets will be submitted to various film festivals and, more importantly, pitched to all the major networks and cable channels as a situation comedy series," Scott said. "The F/X television network hit series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia got its start in this same way."
Once filming concludes in the Lakeway Area on Sunday, the production will move to Nashville for a day of exterior shots. According to Scott, editing is scheduled to be completed by the end of November with pitch meetings scheduled for December in Hollywood.
December 2005 News
Hola all,
As Dios paints his latest masterpiece across the mountains of east Tennessee and the holidays slowly creep upon us, The Toluenes are as busy as Santa’s little helpers packing up the Chevy and preparing to hit the road (and I use that term loosely) in early 2006. However, in the course of making our list and checking it twice, we have made a startling discovery: We’re a Toluene short! Yes, it’s true. While Dan swings the axe and Chris pounds the skins and I scream & holler and beat my poor unfortunate flat top into submission, that somewhat strange-looking long-necked four-stringed instrument known as the bass guitar sits there in the corner all covered with dust.
So, why am I telling you all this? Well, I was kinda hoping that you or someone you know might be interested in making this trio of gringos a quartet of…gringos…or a…trio of gringos and a…gringoette (is that a word?). Anyway, before you answer I feel that I should warn you that the hours suck, the pay is horrible and we tend to get thrown out of places on our asses from time to time. But if you’re all about some senoritas and some damn good tequila (or at least one of the two) and you live in or around Knoxville or Nashville or thereabouts, then have we got a deal for you. Check out some of the tracks at www.thetoluenes.com and then drop me an email at jamonscott@hotmail.com . Oh yeah, and it would help if you could play bass, too.
Muchos gracias
Jamon
November 2005 News
Amigos and amigas,
In the weeks since we last visited with you, we’ve traveled halfway to Mexico and back again with nothing but a half-full (What can I say? I’m an optimist.) tip jar to show for our troubles. Well, that’s not entirely true. We did manage to make a few more friends and drink a whole lot more good tequila along the way…but that’s another story (and the same old song).
We’ve made our rounds to some of the finest dives the worldwide web has to offer in recent weeks, as well. For those of you who are keeping score, The Toluenes can now be found at www.unsignedbandweb.com & www.funender.com . Thanks to the continued support of our amigos and amigas, we have consistently ranked in the top ten in our genre on both sites, even hitting the number one spot a time or two.
Also, if you happen to be in our neck of the cyber-woods, feel free to stop by our new home:
You can even pick up your very own copy of “Hola from The Toluenes” while you’re there. It’s only $6.99 (plus shipping) or you can save the shipping and buy it out of the trunk of my car. Of course, you’ll have to catch me first (and that’s something El Presidente’s horses and El Presidente’s men haven’t been able to do yet). But, as usual, I digress.
And on that note, I suppose I should probably get while the getting is good. As always, thanks for listening to my ramblings. Until our paths cross again, Dios este con usted.
June 2005 Newsletter
Amigos & amigas,
I'm sure you've all heard it said that ‘todas las buenas cosas vienen a las que esperen'. Okay…maybe not. Nevertheless, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that the long-awaited debut from me and my merry band of gringos is now available for purchase. It's called "Hola from The Toluenes" and the official track list is as follows:
Adios New Mexico
One Cerveza
Mexico
Dust
A Song About Mexico
"Better Than Nothing", which was originally to be included on the c.d., will instead be available as a free download on the website. If you haven't stopped by for a visit yet, here's a link:
www.audiostreet.net/thetoluenes
In addition to the Audiostreet site, you can now find The Toluenes on Garageband.com. In the past couple of weeks since we've had the Garageband page up, we've received several positive and a few rather strange reviews for "Mexico". I prefer to take it as a compliment any time someone takes the time to write about me, though. But I digress…every chance I get.
Anyway, if you feel the uncontrollable urge to own a little piece of us…and you have 7 bucks that's burning a hole in your pocket, stop by the website and click on the "Buy C.D." tab at the top. You'll be glad you did…or at least we'll be glad you did.
And that's about all I have to say about that. Until next time, Dios este con usted.
Jamon
Amigos & amigas,
Well, summer hasn't even officially begun and it's already hotter than Mexico in my neck of the woods. Meanwhile, me and my merry band of gringos are working up quite a thirst trying to get this project to some stage of completion. In between bottles of Corona, we've actually managed to finish an e.p.'s worth of songs and take some test photos for the c.d. cover. You can see some of those and preview a couple of brand new tracks on the website. You'll also notice that we are the "featured Americana artist" on Audiostreet this week and that may not mean much but it must mean something. If you haven't visited us yet, here's a link:
www.audiostreet.net/thetoluenes
As for an actual release date for "Hola From The Toluenes", your guess is as good as mine. We‘re shooting for late May or early June. In the meantime, "Mexico" (the first single) is now available as a free download for a limited time. So, get it and burn it and pass it out to all of your friends and stuff.
By the way, we'll also be popping up here and there a little more often in the coming weeks. All dates will be posted on the website as soon as they're confirmed, so check back often and come out to say ‘hola' if you're able.
Once again, thanks for listening to my shorter-than-usual ramblings. Dios este con usted.
Jamon
April 2005 Newsletter
Amigos & amigas,
Well, it's official: I am a big, fat liar. I can sense the astonishment of all of you at this little "news flash".
Actually, I'm referring to the alleged impending release of the debut offering from me and my band of merry gringos. For the umpteenth time, it looks like this thing is going to be pushed back yet again. The good news is that the recording is complete. About the only thing left to do is snap a really sexy photo of us for the cover, which, as any of you who have seen us knows, could be quite a challenge.
But seriously, with the first mock-ups complete, it's actually starting to look like a real album. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to a release date, but the e.p. will be entitled "Hola from The Toluenes" and the track listing is as follows:
1. Adios New Mexico
2. One Cerveza
3. Mexico
4. Dust
5. A Song About Mexico
6. Better Than Nothing (Demo Version)
Upon release, the e.p. will be available for purchase on the website or out of the trunk of my car while the first single, "Mexico", will be available as a free download on the website. For those of you who haven't visited us yet, here's a link:
www.audiostreet.net/thetoluenes
We'll also be posting some snippets of the remaining tracks, along with some other "downloadable" goodies, i.e. home demos, live cuts, etc. So, check back often…and keep an eye on the "Events" section, as we will be popping up for live acoustic performances here and there in the next few weeks leading up to a full-blown band tour later this summer.
Meantime, there's a bottle of tequila somewhere with my name on it and I've wasted enough of your time anyway. As always, thanks for listening to my ramblings. Dios este con usted.
Jamon
March 2005 Newsletter
Amigos & amigas,
Well, the ides of March have come and gone and, man, did they leave a mess to clean up. The floor is literally carpeted with empty cerveza bottles and pizza boxes and cigarette butts…as if I didn't have enough to do, what with trying to get this c.d. out some time this year before you all start to think I'm as big a liar as I claim to be.
But seriously, we know how anxious you are to hear the new songs…or maybe you're just tired of hearing about them. Either way, we've decided to release a six-song E.P. while we work on the other half of the album. The track listing for the E.P. will look something like this:
Adios New Mexico
One Cerveza
Mexico
Dust
A Song About Mexico
Also included will be a demo version of "Better Than Nothing", which will only be available on this E.P. So, I guess that will kinda make this thing somewhat of a collector's item, right? The E.P. is scheduled for release in April with the entire album to follow later this spring (hopefully).
We've also been working diligently to learn to play these songs without screwing them up in anticipation of taking them to the people. We even snapped a couple of photos just to prove we've really been doing something besides ingesting gallons and gallons of tequila. So, if you're still not convinced, you can check them out on the website:
www.audiostreet.net/thetoluenes
In the meantime, look for me and my six-string on a stage near you. Any and all performances will be posted on the website, so check back often.
Until our paths cross again, Dios este' con usted.
Jamon
February 2005 Newsletter
Amigos & amigas,
At the risk of beating the same old dirty, rotten, stinking, dead horse, I‘m a little behind schedule once again. But hey, it's still technically February. So, as long as I get this newsletter finished before Tuesday, I'm okay, right? (Damn, I wish it was leap year.)
Anyway, you've probably noticed (or maybe you haven't) that we've kept a relatively low profile for the past few weeks. Rest assured it's only the calm before la tormenta. With two more tunes in the bag, we're still scrambling to meet our self-imposed March deadline for the release of "Four Chords & A Pack Of Lies". The track listing should look something like this:
Call Me Sancho
Adios New Mexico
One Cerveza
Mexico
Dust
Here's To You
Muchacho Solo
Broken & Busted
A Song About Mexico
In addition to recording, we've also been doing lots of other "fun" stuff (I'm being sarcastic now) like rehearsals and photo shoots and liner notes and typesetting, etc., etc. Okay, so some of that stuff is kinda fun, I guess.
I also found some time to make my screen acting debut, as well as writing and performing the theme song, in a little film called "Steak Dreams", which was directed by my best amigo Scott Sullivan. If you're not familiar with his work, there's a link to his website on our website. This guy is one funny and talented gringo. He's performed on stage and screen and at colleges and comedy clubs from coast-to-coast and has even done some writing for one Mr. Jay Leno…and I know you've heard of him.
You may also have noticed a few changes on the audiostreet site. Those folks have been doing some major overhauls and we've been doing our best to keep up with the new features. If, for some reason, you still haven't paid us a visit, here's a link:
http://www.audiostreet.net/thetoluenes
To date we've been ranked as high as 41 overall out of literally thousands of artists on the site and this is all thanks to your interest and/or curiosity, as well as our constant nagging. (Ple-e-e-ase visit our website. Ple-e-e-e-e-ase.) But seriously, we'll be posting up-to-the-minute news concerning the status of the upcoming c.d., as well as photos, new music and the latest tour dates in the coming weeks. So, check back often.
Well, I suppose I‘ve rambled long enough. Hopefully, you found this somewhat informative or interesting or amusing or at least not too annoying. It's just my little way of saying you're in our thoughts. So, until we pack our six-strings into the old Chevy once more and set out for a cantina near you, el Dios este' con usted.
Gracias,
Jamon
Greetings,
So, here we are: January 2, 2005. We are officially "into" the new year and, as usual, I'm a day late (and a dollar short, but I digress). To be honest, I've never been big on New Year's resolutions anyway. Normally, if I happen to realize that I'm continuously doing the same stupid thing over and over I'll make some attempt to stop it, even if it's May 12 or August 2 or December 9 or whatever. The same is true if I discover something I need to be doing. Those are the things I tend to want to begin immediately.
That being said, I'm sure there's one question burning in all your minds: "Why the hell are you telling us this, Jamon?"
Well, at the risk of getting all sentimental on you, I've met a lot of new amigos and amigas during my travels of the past year. I've gone west a few times, drank a lot of cervezas and met some girls (and their boyfriends…yikes!). From Albuquerque all the way to Kentucky, several new faces have checked into the Hotel Tennessee. So, I guess I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to everyone for coming out and listening and clapping and coming up to me afterwards and saying, "Good job, Mexico man" or whatever it was that you said. I know a lot of you are artists in your own right and isn't that why we keep doing this?
As most of you already know, we took a step toward moving into the 21st century in August of 2004 when we launched our website. For those of you who haven't visited yet, here's a link:
http://audiostreet.net/thetoluenes
Since the first week we have been ensconced at the number one position in our genre (Americana) and we are very grateful for your interest and support in this. We will continue to update the site with the latest show dates and sneak peeks at the upcoming c.d.
Speaking of which, you may have noticed that the release date for Four Chords & A Pack Of Lies has been pushed back a little. (Surprise…late again.) We currently have three songs in the bag with the other six in various stages of the creative process. We're optimistic about a late-February/early-March release date. In the meantime, check the website often to hear finished product and works-in-progress, including the occasional "downloadable" goody.
Also, we plan to spend a lot more time on the road this year in one incarnation or another, be it Dan and me with a couple of six-strings or the entire posse. Sometimes we may even come bearing gifts…and who doesn't like free stuff?
Anyway, I think that's just about everything. I hope you weren't too bored with my ramblings. If it's any consolation, you may now consider yourselves officially "in the loop". 2005 promises to be an exciting year for all things Toluene and we hope you'll come along for the ride because home is where you are.
Muchos gracias,
Jamon
If one of these happens to be in your neck of the woods, give 'em a call and tell them you want to hear "Mexico". That'll mean more to us than any Christmas present money can buy.But enough about us already. The real reason I'm writing this is to wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season. I hope you accomplished everything you set out to in 2006 and I hope you find everything you're looking for underneath your tree this year. As always, Dios este con usted.JamonIf one of these happens to be in your neck of the woods, give 'em a call and tell them you want to hear "Mexico". That'll mean more to us than any Christmas present money can buy.But enough about us already. The real reason I'm writing this is to wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season. I hope you accomplished everything you set out to in 2006 and I hope you find everything you're looking for underneath your tree this year. As always, Dios este con usted.Jamon
If one of these happens to be in your neck of the woods, give 'em a call and tell them you want to hear "Mexico". That'll mean more to us than any Christmas present money can buy.But enough about us already. The real reason I'm writing this is to wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season. I hope you accomplished everything you set out to in 2006 and I hope you find everything you're looking for underneath your tree this year. As always, Dios este con usted.Jamon
