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jefflewis · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1512

Hi all!
As some of you may know I'm about to embark on a bunch of solo performances in the US, as the opening act for Times New Viking and Super Furry Animals, on these dates and places:
MID-FEB 2008 - Jeffrey Lewis solo, w/ Super Furry Animals & Times New Viking :
Fri-Feb-15 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
Sat-Feb-16 Chicago, IL Metro
Sun-Feb-17 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Mon-Feb-18 Buffalo, NY Tralf Music Hall
Tue-Feb-19 OFF (maybe Jeff free in-store in Toronto, tbc)
Wed-Feb-20 Toronto, ONT Mod Club
Thu-Feb-21 Montreal, QUE Cabaret Music Hall

I realize that this is kind of annoying for anybody who wants to see me, because my sets will be short and the ticket prices will be expensive for Super Furry Animals (maybe 12- 20 dollars). Super Furry Animals ARE being quite generous to me in offering to take me on this tour, quite literally they are "taking me on tour" because I will be traveling/sleeping for free in their tour bus from show to show, a huge financial help.
BUT I wonder if I might be able to play ADDITIONAL shows in each of these cities after my early opening sets? In other words maybe I could play my opening slot for TNV and SFA then head somewhere else in town to play a free house show or a small venue, which would be great for me to get to play for more people (who knows if anybody will even be at the SFA gigs early enough to see the little opening act of the opening act?) , plus great for people who just want to see me but don't have enough interest in TNV or SFA to want to pay 20 bucks to see me.
Of course if I DO do any additional shows I'd have to then get back to the original venue to meet SFA and get back on their tour bus for the night to sleep/travel to the next city.
Just putting this out there, in case anybody has any suggestions of additional places I might be able to play for free or cheap in any of the above areas!
I won't really have this problem on the West Coast US Mountain Goats tour, because I think people who want to see me will also probably want to see the Mountain Goats so the higher ticket price will be worthwhile, plus for the Mt. Goats shows I'll be with my whole band, AND playing full 45-minute sets, AND be on stage right before the Goats, so it's a better situation.
Whaddaya think?
Hope everybody's well!
Jeffrey

morgan · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:23 am Post subject:

Sweet!!!
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Dav · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

15/20 bucks is a fair concert ticket price to me anyway, it's coming to see you for 5 that is cheap...glad to hear that' you'll be touring in a bus and all, it'll give you time to draw and all...might be a little tricky to play the opening set then rush to another place to play again, unless the venues are close to eachother....
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morgan · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject:

Also, it will be a late show. But, I'm sure it will work out well.
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kevin!gilmartin · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:28 am Post subject:

wish there were an NYC show, I love TNV! I'd like to see them some time. I've never really listened to Super Furry Animals.
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Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

i'm gonna stick my neck out and say - SFA are putting you up in their bus, and you're gonna throw that at them and play little house gigs? surely they asked you to play because some of your fans might come to see you and get turned onto SFA in the process?? this is less likely to happen if you play somewhere else for free or cheap. shit, i dunno, seems rude to me though

jefflewis · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 1512

Yeah, on one hand it IS perhaps "rude" to Super Furry Animals for me to play additional cheap or free shows on those nights, but on the other hand I haven't even announced these tour dates to my email list yet and I've already got a few sad emails from fans lamenting that every time I play their city it always is as an opening act, playing a short set for a very high ticket price. I thought the idea of an additional show was a fair solution for those people who have no interest in seeing the bigger two bands and feel ripped off by the amount they would have to pay to see me - of course if there are people who are fans of Super Furry Animals and/or Times New Viking AND interested in seeing me then the ticket price is certainly worth it for them, and there's nothing to stop them from coming to the official show and being happy with that arrangement, staying for the full night while I go eslewhere and play for others. I don't know, maybe it's a tough issue. As of now it's just hypothetical anyway, I don't have any additional shows. Just an idea.

morgan · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:49 pm Post subject:

I agree with Jeff. I really don't think a house show will hurt the SFA, it will just help everyone who is lucky enough to see him. Jeff doesn't tour the US often and he never is the headlining act. I've never heard the Super Furry Animals and I always prefer smaller sweeter shows. I think many fans feel the same. Personally, I haven't seen Jeff play since November of 2006 and not for lack of trying.This is a great favor and I really appreciate it!
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fabalbert · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 435 Location: London

jack fe · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 865

Nah, I see Kieron's logic, and it COULD be taken like that by some people. But I think most logical people wouldn't take it like that. If is was in SFA's position, I wouldn't mind. A very small amount of people buy tickets just for the support (let alone the first of two). The shows would sell out anyway, and maybe Jeff's fans showing up could take away valuable tickets from SFA fans!
The support slots will be great for winning over new fans and a smaller show will be perfect for older fans. I remember one particularly frustrating audience where so many people just weren't getting Jeff, although, I did see a few minds exploding. One guy sitting near me refused to applaud and was talking all the way through the set.

This way, Jeff's fans and SFA's both win! And if a band wants to argue with that, they aren't so great in my book. My snobby, selfish book. Smile

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Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

I think i was too hasty. i now think it's a good idea! haha. i'm so contrary! i tried to imagine it from both jeff's point of view and SFA's point of view, and i think it would be a good idea. and i guess there would be plenty of time for jeff - soundchecking one guy with a guitar doesn't take too long, does it? anyway, it was nice debating! Laughing

Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

jack fe · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 865