Jeremy Porter & The Tucos

Jeremy Porter & The Tucos is an American rock and roll band from Detroit, Michigan. The band is composed of Jeremy Porter (guitar, vocals), Gabriel Doman (drums, vocals), and Bob Moulton (bass, vocals).[1] Their sound has been described as a combination of classic American powerpop and alternative-country[2] with elements of punk and Rockabilly.[3] The band is often compared to The Replacements,[4] Cheap Trick,[5] Uncle Tupelo and X.[6]

Jeremy Porter & The Tucos
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos (Photo: Sara Jones)
Background information
OriginDetroit, Michigan, United States
GenresPower pop, alternative country, cowpunk, alternative rock, punk rock, heartland rock, pop rock, indie rock, rock and roll
Years active2010–present
LabelsMagwheel Records (Toronto 2010–11)
New Fortune Records (Detroit 2012–2016
GTG Records (Lansing 2017-present)
Associated actsThe Replacements
Cheap Trick
Uncle Tupelo
Gram Parsons
X
Hüsker Dü
Two Cow Garage
Lucero
Websitewww.thetucos.com
MembersJeremy Porter
Gabriel Doman
Bob Moulton
Past membersJason Bowes
Patrick O'Harris

History

2010: formation

Jeremy Porter & The Tucos were formed in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Michigan, in November 2010 by Jeremy Porter when he needed musicians to play on a Christmas song he had written for the annual Suburban Sprawl Music Christmas Compilation. Jeremy recruited drummer and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Doman (The Hotwalls) and bassist Jason Bowes (The OffRamps, Fidrych, Culture Bandits) to round out the trio for the recording session. The lineup would remain intact for four years.

The band's name is based on the character Tuco Ramirez, played by actor Eli Wallach in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly[5][7] and was an alternative to a suggestion by original bassist Jason Bowes, who proposed The Mortimers, after the Lee Van Cleef character when the band found that a punk band from Poland had already claimed it.

2011
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos c. 2011: Jason Bowes, Gabriel Doman, Jeremy Porter

In 2011, the band released their first single Night On The Town b/w Ain't My House Anymore on the Toronto, Ontario-based record label Magwheel Records[8] and started playing regional shows across the upper-Midwestern United States. Their third show was a coveted support slot for Jesse Malin & The Saint Marks Social at Small's Bar in Hamtramck, Michigan.[9] That same year they made their first appearance at the Hamtramck Blowout,[10] now known as the Metro Times Blowout, a music festival featuring mostly Detroit-area bands,[11] and crossed the border into Canada for their first shows in Toronto, Ontario, Montreal, Quebec, and Wakefield, Quebec.[12] The Canadian shows and a previous run of Midwestern USA shows were a double-bill with Toronto/Newfoundland singer-songwriter David Picco (Jetset Motel).[13]

2012

2012 saw an increase in activity for the band. They released the live-acoustic ep Live and Acoustic @ The Plymouth Coffee Bean[14] in August, featuring "unplugged" versions of five songs, including "Way It's Been" by David Picco and "My Uncle" by The Flying Burrito Brothers as well as three Porter originals.[15]

2013: Partner In Crime

In March 2013 the band released their first full-length LP Partner In Crime on the Detroit-based New Fortune Records.[16] After the release of the album, the band toured more consistently[17] and appeared in bars, clubs, theaters and festivals across the United States, including The CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee,[18] the Bearded Lady Motorcycle Freakshow in Minneapolis, Minnesota,[19] and the Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing, Michigan.[20] In November 2013 the band embarked on their longest tour to date, playing up and down the East Coast of the United States, hitting most of the major cities including Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C.[21]

2014
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos and Those Crosstown Rivals - Louisville KY c.2014.

2014 saw the departure of original bassist Jason Bowes[22] and the arrival of Patrick O'Harris (Mike Hard Show, Sons of the Gun).[23] O'Harris quickly garnered the nickname "Patty 'Two Shoes'" for the white leather leisure shoes he wears at the band's performances. The band toured the western and southern United States with the Lexington, Kentucky, rock band Those Crosstown Rivals, playing as far west as Denver, Colorado, with the punk band King Rat,[24] and as far south as Houston, Texas,[25] and New Orleans, Louisiana.[26] 2014 also saw the band increase their footprint in the Detroit area with high-profile support slots for bigger-name touring acts like Lydia Loveless,[27] Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires, Two Cow Garage,[28] Supersuckers, and Old Man Markley,[29] and the record release show for ex-Junk Monkey David Bierman.[30][31]

2015: Above the Sweet Tea Line
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos c. 2015 (Photo Doug Coombe)

in 2015 the band released the follow-up to Partner In Crime, Above The Sweet Tea Line, on New Fortune Records.[32] The title is a reference to a saying by J. Tyler Gregg of Those Crosstown Rivals who refers to "the sweet tea line" as the divide between the Northern and Southern United States where iced tea comes sweetened by default (South), rather than by request (North). The album was received well by national press and the band continued their aggressive touring schedule throughout the year,[5] including a return appearance at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville and their first appearance at the Detroit Riverdays Festival. The "Above (And Below) The Sweet Tea Line Tour" took them to several new markets, including Chapel Hill, Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina, Athens, Georgia, Jacksonville, Florida, and Knoxville, Tennessee, among others, as well.[33]

2016

2016 started with the band contributing their song 'Pretty As You Please" to the Slimtown Singles series of songs donated to benefit Slim Dunlap, the gutarist from The Replacements[34] who had suffered a major stroke in 2012.[35] In March 2016, Jeremy Porter & The Tucos were officially nominated for the category "Outstanding Alt/Punk/Indie Artist/Group" at the Detroit Music Awards.[36]

In May, the band continued the "Above (And Below) The Sweet Tea Line Tour" with shows in new markets in upstate New York, the Midwest, and their first Canadian shows since 2014. They recorded a Daytrotter Session in June, and On July 1, they released a new 7" single on New Fortune Records, 'Barrel of Tears,' featuring a cover of the song Blue Letter by Fleetwood Mac on the B-side. The download that accompanies the single includes a bonus track called 'Cemetery Road,' a fictional homage to Columbus, OH.

The Tucos toured the Northeast in October, hitting several new cities including Burlington, VT, Ithaca, NY, Providence, RI and Charleston, WV as well as several others. Also in October, their second 7" of the year 'Avenues Are For Heroes' was released as a limited edition, hand-cut, antique-lathe pressed clear-vinyl record by LEESTA VALL Records out of Brooklyn, NY.[37]

In November, the band's Daytrotter session was released to the public. Recorded in May in Rock Island, IL between tour dates in Iowa City, IA and Lafayette, IN, the session contained 4 songs and was recorded live to 2-track tape.[38]

2017 - Don't Worry, It's Not Contagious
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos c. 2017 (Photo EonZero)

JP & The Tucos spent the first four months of 2017 in pre-production for their third album, writing, demoing, and ultimately returning to The Loft Recording Studio in Saline, MI. to record. In may they started a run of 14 shows across the upper-Midwest and south, hitting upstate New York, Pennsylvania,[39] Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota. They also played a couple local shows, including an opening slot for Ha Ha Tonka at The Loving Touch in Ferndale, MI..[40] They also contributed a version of Conventional Wisdom, originally by the band Built To Spill to a compilation benefiting the ACLU on the newly formed Fourth Line Records label.[41]

The band finished recording in June and the rest of the summer was spent mixing and mastering. In September, The Tucos made their fourth trek into Canada, playing shows in Toronto and Montreal, and their first appearance in Windsor.[42] They also acted as local support for the Philadelphia band Beach Slang's Detroit stop at The Shelter on September 12.[43]

In July the band was introduced as a new addition to the GTG Records roster, a Lansing, MI based record label home to The Plurals, Alpha Rabbit, and many other bands that Jeremy Porter And The Tucos have played with. Their debut on the label was a live version of their song Elimination Round on the label's 100th release compilation GTG100. In September they released the first single "Huckleberry" [44] from their new record "Don't Worry, It's Not Contagious" which was released on November 10.[45] The album was released on CD, digital download, and limited edition 180 gram vinyl pressed at the new Third Man Pressing plant, the vinyl manufacturing branch of Detroit native Jack White's Third Man Records on Detroit's Cass Corridor. A string of 18 Fall shows was also announced to promote the album, including a tour through the Dust Bowl, the Deep South, and back up through West Virginia and Kentucky and back-to-back record release shows in Detroit and Lansing.[46]

2018

In 2018 The Tucos played over 40 shows including two Canadian runs, and returns to upstate New York, the Rustbelt, and the Midwest. In March, they opened for The Raelyn Nelson Band (fronted by Willie Nelson's granddaughter) [47] at The Brass Rail in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who would go on to invite them to their home-town of Nashville, Tennessee to play with them in December. In October, the band played overseas for the first time with a nine-show tour of the UK [48] which included an appearance at the Swansea Fringe Festival in Swansea, Wales [49] and a well-attended and documented show at The Islington in London. [50] After their homecoming show at PJs Lager House in Detroit on December 1st, coinciding with the release of their fifth 7" single, "At Least She's Still In Love With You," [51] The band announced that bassist Patrick O'Harris would be leaving before the end of the year. [52]

2019-2021

In 2019 Bob Moulton joined on bass guitar[53] and the band did a short run through Ohio and Indiana in January, then spent the rest of the winter working on material for a new album, playing the occasional local show. They toured the west and deep south in October of 2019 returning to Denver, Colorado for the first time since 2014[54] and playing new markets including Omaha, Nebraska[55] and Wichita, Kansas. In December, they released a collection of Christmas songs recorded over the previous decade called No Use For Christmas and Other Holiday Favorites on GTG Records[56] and closed the year out with a release show at Ghost Light in Hamtramck.

In January, 2020 the band started recording the follow up to "Don't Worry, It's Not Contagious" at Willis Sound in Willis, Michigan and wrapped just before the Coronavirus pandemic shut the recording industry down. Because of the pandemic they were unable to tour,[57] but spent the summer mixing and mastering the record, which will be released in January of 2021.

Band members

Current members
  • Jeremy Porter—guitars, vocals, organ, piano, harmonica (The Regulars, SlugBug, The Offramps)
  • Gabriel Doman—drums, percussion, vocals (The Hotwalls)
  • Bob Moulton—bass, vocals (Cactusk)

Former members
  • Jason Bowes—bass, vocals (November, 2010 - July, 2014)
  • Patrick O'Harris—bass, vocals (July, 2014 - December, 2018)

Discography

Albums
  • Partner In Crime, New Fortune Records (2013)
  • Above The Sweet Tea Line, New Fortune Records (2015)
  • Don't Worry, It's Not Contagious, GTG Records (2017)
  • Candy Coated Cannonball, GTG Records (2021)

EPs
  • Live & Acoustic @ The Plymouth Coffee Bean, self-released (2014)
  • No Use for Christmas and Other Holiday Favorites, GTG Records (2019)

Singles
  • Night On The Town b/w Ain't My House Anymore, Magwheel Records (2011) 7" Vinyl and digital
  • Plan B b/w Throwing Stones, New Fortune Records (2014) 7" Vinyl
  • Barrel of Tears b/w Blue Letter, New Fortune Records (2016) 7" Vinyl and digital
  • Avenues Are For Heroes b/w Real Damaged Girl, LEESTA VALL Records (2016) 7" Vinyl and digital
  • Huckleberry (+2 Live), GTG Records (2017) Digital, ltd. ed. CD
  • At Least She's Still In Love With You b/w How About A Beer For Smokey The Bear?, GTG Records (2018) 7" Vinyl and digital
  • Dead Ringer / Hummingbird Heartbeat, GTG Records (2021) Digital

Compilations
  • "No Use For Xmas", Suburban Sprawl Records Holiday Compilation (2010)[58]
  • "Christmas Dance", Suburban Sprawl Records Holiday Compilation (2011)
  • "Silver Bells", Suburban Sprawl Records Holiday Compilation (2012)
  • "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year", Suburban Sprawl Records Holiday Compilation (2013)
  • "Erase Today", The PRF Tribute Series: Hüsker Dü (2016)[59]
  • "Pretty As You Please", Slimtown Singles (2016)
  • "Conventional Wisdom", Stronger Than Fear: A Compilation to Benefit the ACLU (2017) [60]
  • "Elimination Round (Live)", GTG100 (2017)[61]
  • "Lonely Mrs. Claus", Fourth Line Records Holiday Compilation (2017) [62]
  • "Christmas Dance", Bermuda Snowhawk (2019)
  • "Christmas Dance", Night Shadows - Aldora Britain Records (2020)

References
  1. "Jeremy Porter and the Tucos, Above The Sweet Tea Line (New Fortune Records)". Dagger. September 30, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Tumblr.
  2. Winterbottom, Sarah (August 20, 2014). "Turn It Down: A Survey of Lansing's Musical Landscape". City Pulse. Lansing, MI. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. "Jeremy Porter & The Tucos: Partner In Crime". Real Detroit Weekly. May 1, 2013.
  4. Tupica, Rich (July 27, 2011). "Turn It Down: A Survey of Lansing's Musical Landscape". City Pulse. Lansing, MI. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  5. Ritchie, Mike (October 13, 2015). "Delivering Detroit Rock City: Jeremy Porter and the Tucos Back at Bob's". Dayton City Paper. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  6. Metro Times Staff (April 26, 2013). "Blowin' Up!". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. Cox, Amanda (January 26, 2012). "Jeremy Porter Returns to Hometown". The North Wind. Marquette: Northern Michigan University. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. Callwood, Brett (July 26, 2011). "City Slang: Weekly Music Review Roundup". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  9. Manning, Craig (March 16, 2013). "Jeremy Porter & the Tucos Bring Unique Genre Blend to Kalamazoo". Western Herald. Kalamazoo: Western Michigan University. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  10. "Blowout Music Festival Takes Over Hamtramck". CBS Detroit. Southfield, MI: WWJ-TV. March 3, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  11. "Metro Times Blowout Isn't Just For Hamtramck Anymore". Huffpost Detroit. The Huffington Post. April 23, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  12. Kukkonen, Zach (January 26, 2012). "Jeremy Porter and the Tucos Trio Heading to Orpheum Theatre". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, MI. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  13. MaggieThurber (October 13, 2011). "Entertainment at Mickey Finn's". Toledotalk.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. Dargay, Sharon (August 15, 2013). "Local Band Mixes Power Pop, Country Twang In New CD" (PDF). Plymouth Observer. p. B6. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Jeremy Porter Music.
  15. "Jeremy Porter & the Tucos: Live & Acoustic @ The Plymouth Coffee Bean". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. "Our Pick: Live Music". The Detroit News. March 28, 2013.
  17. Broz, Eric (April 4, 2013). "Jeremy Porter & The Tucos, Partner In Crime CD Review & Tour Dates". Honesty Is Such A Shallow Grave. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Blogspot.
  18. "Where To Go ... What To Do". NowPlayingNashville.com. May 25, 2013.
  19. "Bearded Lady Motorcycle Freakshow". City Pages. Minneapolis. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  20. "Common Ground Adds to 2013 Lineup". Common Ground Music Festival. June 7, 2013. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  21. "Jeremy Porter & The Tucos Will Play At Bullfrog Brewery". NorthcentralPA.com. November 4, 2013. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  22. Frometa, RJ (November 9, 2015). "Interview: Jeremy Porter And The Tucos". Vents Magazine. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  23. "Bio/About Us". Jeremy Porter & The Tucos. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  24. Andress, Alli (December 19, 2014). "Get to Know a Denver Band: King Rat". AXS. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  25. "Those Crosstown Rivals: Jeremy Porter & The Tucos in Houston". Eventful. October 15, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  26. Vicious, Romeo Sid (May 11, 2015). "Jeremy Porter & The Tucos, Above The Sweet Tea Line, 2015". Nine Bullets. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  27. Graff, Gary (February 24, 2014). "Sound Check: Lydia Loveless Comfortable Ignoring What Other People Say". The Oakland Press. Pontiac, MI. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  28. "Two Cow Garage featuring Jeremy Porter and the Tucos / Empty Orchestra". Live Nation. May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  29. "Old Man Markley (Show Preview)". Hip In Detroit. June 23, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  30. "Entertainment Events This Weekend and Beyond". The Detroit News. September 30, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  31. "Past Show Archives". Jeremy Porter & The Tucos. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  32. Marie, Melissa (September 29, 2015). "Jeremy Porter and the Tucos: Above the Sweet Tea Line". Skope. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  33. Butschek, Hillary (October 19, 2015). "Detroit Rock Band Jeremy Porter & The Tucos to Play at Athens Venue". Athens Banner Herald. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  34. "Jeremy Porter And The Tucos: 'Pretty As You Please'". Slimtown Singles. January 26, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  35. Swanson, Andrea (June 10, 2013). "Slim Dunlap's Long, Difficult Recovery Inspires Star-Studded Songs for Slim Project". The Current. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  36. "Nominees". Detroit Music Awards. March 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  37. "Jeremy Porter And The Tucos Limited Edition 7" Lathe Cut Record". LEESTA VALL Records. October 10, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  38. "Jeremy Porter And The Tucos Nov 23, 2016 Futureappletree, Rock Island, IL". Daytrotter. November 23, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  39. "Jeremy Porter & The Tucos Set to Kick Rook's Tookus". Erie Reader. June 7, 2017.
  40. "Ha Ha Tonka, Trapper Schoepp, Jeremy Porter & The Tucos in Ferndale". Eventful. June 6, 2017.
  41. "Fourth Line Records Releases Compilation of Detroit Artist to Benefit ACLU". Hip In Detroit. April 20, 2017. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  42. "Black Eyed Susan w/Jeremy Porter & The Tucos/The Feedbacks/TUFR". Places To Go In Windsor. September 9, 2017.
  43. "Beach Slang at The Shelter in Detroit, Michigan on Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:30 PM EDT". LiveNation.com. September 12, 2017.
  44. "Jeremy Porter and The Tucos – "Huckleberry" single". GTG Records. September 18, 2017.
  45. "Jeremy Porter and The Tucos – "Don't Worry, It's Not Contagious" LP/CD out now!". GTG Records. November 13, 2017.
  46. "Detroit rock'n'roll: Jeremy Porter & The Tucos to bring blue collar sound to Jackpot Music Hall". The Kansan.
  47. "HER OWN WOMAN: Raelyn Nelson combines famous grandfather's country with rock 'n' roll". The Daily Times.
  48. "Jeremy Porter and the Tucos hits UK for dates next month". AmericanaUK.
  49. "What's On - Music Nightlife - Swansea Fringe 2018". Wales Online.
  50. "Jeremy Porter and the Tucos/Jimmy Regal and the Royals - The Islington, London". The Afterword.
  51. "Artist Spotlight: Jeremy Porter & the Tucos". The Detroit News.
  52. "On the Road with Jeremy Porter and The Tucos in Their 'Old Kentucky (2nd) Home'". Indy In-Tune.
  53. "Catching Up With Jeremy Porter - by Colin Gawel". Pencil Storm.
  54. "JEREMY PORTER AND THE TUCOS,THE BORN READIES, TELEVISION GENERATION". 3 Kings.
  55. "Road Blog - October 12, 2019 - Omaha, Nebraska". Facebook.com.
  56. "Jeremy Porter and the Tucos Holiday EP!". GTG Records.
  57. "Covid Thoughts, part three: 5 Great Music Venues Venues That Didn't Survive - by Jeremy Porter". Pencil Storm.
  58. "The Suburban Sprawl Holiday Compilation". Suburban Sprawl Music. 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  59. "Jeremy Porter & The Tucos: 'Erase Today'". PRF Tribute Series, A Tribute To Hüsker Dü. January 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  60. "Stronger Than Fear : A Compilation To Benefit The ACLU". Stronger Than Fear : A Compilation To Benefit The ACLU. April 2017.
  61. "GTG100 Out Now!". GTG100 Out Now!. July 31, 2017.
  62. "2017 Holiday Music Collection". 2017 Holiday Music Collection. December 20, 2017.
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