Basement Tapes

Everything seemed to fall into place at last Monday's Basement performance. No longer does this feel like "Shane with his Nashville pick-up band" - we ARE a band. After the show a few people asked me if we all moved out here from Seattle, assuming we'd played together for years. Aaron Tosti, Nathan Thomas and latest addition, Eric Newcomer have really taken these songs to new places. They are not doing note-for-note recreations of the recordings, I wouldn't want them to anyways, they are making these songs their own - and we're forging a new sound.

Super-fan, Meagan Mays captured the energy and electricity of the night with these video clips...


"So Hard to Make an Easy Getaway", which I've been kicking around for a couple years, made it's full band debut, and it's fast becoming the "feel good" pinnacle of the set.


After our impromptu cover of The Beatles' White Album rocker at last month's 64-Ten show - we've refined it and now it's one of our favorites to play.


"Ain't No Grave" is one of those songs that relies almost completely on the groove, and Aaron (drums) and Nathan (bass) reached a new level with this performance. It's also liberating to have Eric (guitar) filling in some licks so I can focus on my preacher-man delivery. I can't wait to get this band together again.

Next up... May 26th at the Family Wash...

Further Reading...

Meagan and I found a great place in East Nashville, in the Inglewood area. Our landlord, it turns out, is kind of a big deal >> http://mark-johnson.com/

We move in tomorrow. At that point, I will have more time to devote to this journal.

For now, here's some recent writings related to my transition from Seattleite to Nashvillian.

"Shane Tutmarc is Leaving Town" The Stranger's Line Out by Megan Seling, 12/1/09

http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2009/12/01/shane-tutmarc-is-leaving-town

"Never Turning Back: Shane Tutmarc is Nashville Bound" SoundontheSound.com, 12/1/09

http://www.soundonthesound.com/2009/12/01/never-turning-back-shane-tutmarc-is-nashville-bound/

"Easy Street Records: Shane's Best of 2009 & Decade Lists"

http://easystreetonline.com/blog/2320/shanes-best-of-2009-the-decade

"Shane Tutmarc's Top 5 NW Albums of 2009" SoundontheSound.com, 12/31/09

http://www.soundonthesound.com/2009/12/31/best-of-guest-lists-shane-tutmarcs-top-5-seattle-albums-of-2009/

And here's a picture of Meagan and I at Graceland for Elvis' 75th, later that day we arrived in Nashville.

http://gracelandeventpics.smugmug.com/2010-75th-Birthday-Celebration/2010-75th-Birthday-Celebration/10929280_TU2FS#763380112_SpoJ9

Seattle Shane becomes Tennessee Tutmarc

Hey friends - despite the fact that I already have a Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, ReverbNation, NoDepression, iLike, and ShaneTutmarc.com - I feel like this "journal" (hate the word blog) will be a better place to share my thoughts, personal photos, and hopefully keep you up-to-date on my recent move across the country.

I was born and raised in Seattle, WA 28 years ago. On January 1st 2010, my girlfriend Meagan and I started a road trip that took us across the country to Nashville, TN. We got into town on Elvis' birthday (January 8th) yesterday, and now begins the search for a place to live, putting together a band, and a temp job. I don't have much time to write right now, but I will be writing more and sharing photos soon!