Soldiering on.... Catching up with Joe Fletcher on the road

Joe Fletcher live @Fergie's Pub

Recently I came across perfect synergy as a fan. A national indie act that I've been following joined forces with a local indie act that is ready to hit the national stage!

Rhode Island based Joe Fletcher is on tour now with the Toy Soldiers, and just played two gigs in Philadelphia with them over the 4th of July! I had the pleasure of catching both sets, at Fergie's Pub and the Jamaican Jerk Hut, and sat down with Joe betwen sets to catch up on the world of Joe Fletcher!

The new album, You’ve Got the Wrong Man, what’s the current status? The album started out as an EP last year, and has evolved into a full album. We're preparing for release in late October!

The new tracks haven't really been getting much play on tour? Is it a fear of a crappy cellphone-video early-release on the internet? That does play a part, but I've either been playing with bands such as Brown Bird or Toy Soldiers along the way. The new album is solo and acoustic, so it just hasn't fit in with some of these rowdy sets.

You’ve been all across the land, recording sessions, shows and festivals, what have been some of your highlights of tour? One of the biggest highlights has been all of the house shows! It's such a great way to connect with fans!

Also, exciting: Brown Bird & I recorded our second Daytrotter session! When we had started tour together they would back me on stage for a few songs, and then it became nearly the whole set by the time tour ended. The Daytrotter recorded with them was a perfect match!

And of course, I'm super excited for Newport Folk Festival.

I forced Joe to pick three House Concert outfits to tell fans about. Here are his suggestions off the top of his head!

1. Billsville

2. Mechanic Street House Concerts - Cleveland, OH

3. Billsville West - Walla Walla, WA

You are heading out with up & comers Toy Soldiers. How much do you get to learn about a band before heading out on the road? In some cases, not so much. Some very little. Some members more than others.

I was on a bill with the Toy Soldiers at SXSW and was blown away. In the days after, I had been contacted by drummer Dom Billett. He knew I was heading to town, for a show in York, PA. He said, "I haven't listened to anything else since SXSW, do you need percussion for your show in York?" From there the friendships started to grow.

Joe Fletcher with Toy Soldiers @FergiesPub

After Fergie's Pub last night, how excited are you or how much do you regret the decision to go on the road with these lunatics? Very excited, they're clearly ready to roll. We had a one hour practice before Fergie's and they were amazing last night. I'm very excited for today here at the Jamaican Jerk Hut and can't wait to get on the road with these guys backing me!

Joe Fletcher with Toy Soldiers @Jamaican Jerk Hut

Current Tour
July 6th, 2013 7:30pm Bowery electric - ANDREW LEAHEY/ JOE FLETCHER/ ELIJAH OCEAN/ TOY SOLDIERS
July 11, 2013 at 8:00pm cafe nine NEW HAVEN, CT: Eileen Jewell/ Joe Fletcher
July 12, 2013 at 8:00pm Dream Away Lodge Becket, Massachusetts Joe Fletcher/ Toy Soldiers
July 13, 2013 at 1:00pm WEST KINGSTON, RI: Swamp Stomp feat. Lydia Loveless/ Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons/ Toy Soldiers/ Todd May/ Shacklehands
July 14, 2013 Harry Parker Boathouse BOSTON, MA: Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons/ Toy Soldiers/ Dave Wells/ Dan Blakeslee
July 17, 2013 at 8:00pm Mohegan Sun UNCASVILLE, CT: Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons
July 18, 2013 at 8:00pm RISD PROVIDENCE, RI: Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons
July 20, 2013 at 12:00pm Boston Common BOSTON, MA: Outside the Box Festival
July 25, 2013 at 8:00pm Newport Blues Cafe NEWPORT, RI: The Low Anthem/ Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons/ Christopher Paul Stelling
July 27, 2013 at 12:00pm Fort Adams State Park NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL: Joe Fletcher's "Nashville to Newport"

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Root Down Is A Sometime Thing...

From the desk of Root Down: Greetings Friends! It's been a bit, how've ya been? What's new? I've been gone for some time and I feel that I owe everyone an explanation of where I've been. Honestly, I haven't gone anywhere. Since I've last posted, I've still been frequenting my favorite record store, been hitting up local shows, hosted a few house shows, traveling for special shows, and making music a large part of my life. What I haven't been doing is losing countless hours fretting over knowing every new artist, tweeting, and losing sleep editing articles that spend less time getting read than I spent writing. I can definitively tell you that I'm DONE attempting to make Root Down In The Shadow "a thing" in the music world. I don't need Twitter followers, a lively blog, or anyone else's validation to share my love for music. It doesn't help my enjoyment of music to follow a shit-ton of bands on eve

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