Plenty of people go to see bands when they come through their town, but most people don’t think about everything that it takes to get those bands to their favorite club. Being on tour for a musician is both enlightening and daunting, as physically and mentally draining as it is stimulating. And no matter what, there are always stories to tell. In Tales From The Golden Road we let musicians tell their own stories of life on the road to get a behind-the-scenes, up-close look at what really goes down between each show.
Jamie McLean is best known as the former guitarist for New Orleans’ legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band and his own Jamie McLean Band are set to release a new album later this year that was recorded at the famed Sound Emporium studios in Nashville. The album is produced by former Wilco and Uncle Tupelo member Ken Coomer and features Sam Bush and Jeff Coffin of Dave Matthews Band. Jamie and his band are excited to share these new tunes with audiences up and down the East Coast over the next couple of weeks, and Glide Magazine is excited to be right there with them. Jamie will be sharing behind the scenes dispatches of life on the road while he tours with Louisiana singer-songwriter Marc Broussard…
On The Road
When I was a teenager I was drawn to Jack Kerouac and the Beat generation. There was something about that pull towards the open road and the freedom to do whatever it is that really moves you that resonated with me. I took a cross country trip after college but it wasn’t until recently that I fully realized my life is actually imitating art and my career as a musician has literally become On The Road. I’ve been lucky enough to tour the world playing music and there is nothing like pouring your heart out to strangers from a stage. Let’s go shall we……?!
This week we kick off a tour up and down the East Coast with our good friend Marc Broussard. Marc and I became friends while I was a member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and we were both living in New Orleans. We both share a love for the culture and music and soul of New Orleans and these shows should be filled with great energy. There are a lot of fun cities on the tour schedule and we are always excited to hit the local restaurants, record stores and coffee shops. I went to school in Boston and I wrote a song called “Virginia” so you know there is love there. I’ve also heard great things about some new restaurants in Portland, Maine, so those are all circled on the itinerary.
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Leading up to the start of tour I’ve been tying up loose ends before we set sail. The Jamie McLean Band recorded a new album in Nashville with Ken Coomer of Wilco that will be coming out later this year. I believe this is our best album yet. I couldn’t be more excited for it to release but there is work that needs to be done to get this baby out into the world. I’ve been running around NYC taking meetings with some industry folks (YouTube anyone?) as well as filming a photo and video shoot and wrapping up some new recordings. The band is doing some last minute tightening up with a couple of rehearsals and I’m always trying to write the next song. The guitars are strung, the drums are tuned, and there’s gas in the van. First stop is Boston…
The Jamie McLean Band kick off their tour with Marc Broussard tonight at The Sinclair. For tickets and info visit jamiemcleanband.com.
Check out a full list of tour dates below and stay tuned for more installments of Tales From The Golden Road!
Jan 18 – The Sinclair Boston MA
Jan 19 – Port City Music Hall – Portland ME
Jan 20 – Tupelo Music Hall – Londonderry- Londonderry NH
Jan 21 – Shalin Liu-Center- Rockport MA
Jan 24 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis MD
Jan 25 – Musikfest Cafe – Bethlehem PA
Jan 26 – World Cafe Live at The Queen – Wilmington DE
Jan 27 – The Tin Pan Richmond VA
Jan 28 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount VA
