My Life In Pictures

Just before leaving Seattle, I got a new cell phone. It's no iPhone or anything, but it takes color photos! Here's a few highlights from the last couple weeks...


As we were setting up on stage at the 5 Spot, a couple weeks ago, I took a pic of everyone in the band. Here's Nathan's letting out some steam before the show.


And here's the famous Joey, who played drums with me during the Suburbiac and New Old Friends days of Dolour. He moved to Nashville three years ago, and was my only friend out here the first time I came, almost two years ago now.


Here's Josiah. Although he is a new friend, we have a bit of back-story. Around the time I was working with Aaron Sprinkle on Suburbiac (2001-2002), Josiah was simultaneously working with Sprinkle on the first Holland album. We met briefly in the studio at the time. I can almost picture the LOST-style flashback.


I took this photo of Stephen Sebastian and Co at his acoustic show last week at Ugly Mugs. If you look closely at this low-res phone capture you will notice that the-hardest-working-man-in-Nashville, Nathan Thomas, is on the upright bass.


I've had a lot of quality time with Boris since Meagan started her new job. Yesterday afternoon I tried to get a good pic of us on our front lawn during this recent sunshine. I couldn't hold the phone and get Boris to pose, so I ended up with this. But you can see the cool veiny trees from our front yard.


Yesterday Meagan's manager sent steaks home with everyone, and he gave her an extra one for me! Life is good.


On our third day of consecutive sunshine, Meagan had the day off so we took Boris on a big long walk. He's still recouping from more exersize than he's had in months, but I captured this moment as he took one of his many breaks this afternoon.

Hope you enjoyed this photo journey of my last couple weeks. As ever, there is more coming soon...

About Last Night (at The 5 Spot)

Despite the fact that we were the only band scheduled last night (due to an emailing mix up) we had a great crowd (quality not necessarily quantity) and a full night of music. Our friend Stephen Sebastian was there and so we had him play a few songs to get the night rolling. I love his voice, and he's one of the rare performers who doesn't need a band behind him to get people tapping their toes and feeling the groove. After his short and sweet set, we took the stage. Our band has expanded since the Family Wash show, we now have Josiah Holland playing keys with us. He's most recently been seen playing bass with The Lonely Hearts and keys with his brother Will Morgan Holland. At our first show, last week at the Family Wash we introduced ourselves as Shane Tutmarc & the Oceanic 2 (since it was the night of the big LOST final season premiere) but last night we were Shane Tutmarc & The Enablers. I kinda like the sound of that, might use that one again. Here's a photo Meagan got on her phone's camera:



Our friend, local photograher, Emjae was also on hand to capture the night. Here's her gallery.

We played a 10 song set, pulling songs mainly from Hey Lazarus! and Shouting At A Silent Sky. After laying off of the Mercies stuff in Seattle for the last year, its been fun pulling out those songs again. There is a freshness to them that is undiminished. Here's the set-list (with a couple random video links):

1 Fair Warning
2 Honey I Choose You
3 Idle Hands
4 Across the River
5 Next Best Thing
6 Never Turnin' Back
7 Lost Myself Again
8 Mortality Blues
9 Death & Texas
10 Ain't No Grave

Next up, I have another solo gig at Drifters on the 18th. We'll keep ya posted with more going on here as we get settled in Music City!

The BIG Catch-up

Alright, the day finally arrived. Internet at home!

So let me catch you up on some of the highlights of the week.

First of all here's our house...



Loving our house. I recently wrote a song called "Double Paned Windows", somewhat inspired by our Home Sweet Home.

So Tuesday was the big day of the week. Our internet guy came and set us up, then we headed out to the Municipal Auditorium to be extra's in the Gwyneth Paltrow/Tim McGraw movie, Love Don't Let Me Down. Not nearly enough people were there to fill out the seats, so they put dummys in most of the seats. But Meagan and I were on the ground floor only 15 feet (or less) from the stage, so there is a good chance we'll be seen as Gwyneth is strutting down the catwalk of the stage singing the movies closing song. It was so much fun I almost hated to leave, but I had a rock show to play!

That night, instead of huddling around my TV or computer watching the season premier of LOST, I was playing my first show as a local with a full band. It was at The Family Wash for their "short sets" night. We played 6 songs, had a great time, and got a good reaction from our friends, the club and its patrons. I had Joey Sanchez and Nathan Thomas backing me up, so what could go wrong?

Here's the setlist (w/ live & studio clips from various sources):

1. Lost Myself Again
2. Honey I Choose You
3. Idle Hands
4. Across the River
5. Death & Texas
6. Ain't No Grave

Meagan filmed most of the show, and once we figure out how to get the video and sound synced up on iMovie, we will post a clip. But for now here's a picture that Joey's wife Brynn took.



Next Tuesday (will I ever get to see LOST when it's new) Joey, Nathan, and I will be joined by Josiah Holland on keys to round out the band's sound when we play The 5 Spot. We will be playing a full set, so be prepared for more video clip threats, and rock shots by the wives and girlfriends :)