Why Isn't Jason Martin Touring

[rcreek00]

...now before you answer, I know probably the most obvious answer, so I want you to think about this first.  I know he has a fulltime job, he also records/produces bands, and he has a family...

...but, i am listening to the new album thinking "why aren't these guys (jason) bigger?"   i mean they've been on T$N for what, 17 years and they've had some fame on mtv and on prime-time but they've NEVER been on a big tour and Im sure they could get hooked up with someone?

I mean even if it was for a year....T$N could throw some money together, promote the album/tour a helluva lot better than they have in the last decade of starflyer touring....and maybe they would go somewhere.  i know there are people right now thinking "maybe jason doesnt want to "go anywhere" " and i agree....and i believe to each their own, BUT....i dont know why jason wouldnt just go for it, maybe one last time before getting too old.  go out on tour with like Wilco or Death Cab...or  Cold War Kids or something (as they have multiple hookups). Also strikes me odd that they've never left T$N (im guessing him and ronnie have dirt on Ebel and Ebel is scared to let them go lol) but i dont know why another indie label like barsuk or sub pop wouldnt sign these guys.   

[shadymugs]

all i know is - the "Old" tour - with Martin, Cloud, Lenz, and Swift pretty much blew my mind and there hasn't been a whole lot better than that before or since.  those guys looked like they were all having a blast.

[cyclone]

Jason has stayed with T&N because he and Ebel have always had a healthy relationship, and Jason has gone on record several times saying that he appreciates the artistic freedom that Ebel has/continues to give him from the past to the present.  A lot of people have plenty of issues with T&N and rightfully so (I'm one of them), but I'm pretty sure if you asked Jason, he would be very happy with his situation.  At this point, after a decade and a half of making music, I'm sure if he wanted to switch record labels, those days are far, far behind him.

I think you've answered your own question about why Jason wouldn't try to go out on some big tour now, as you said, because I don't think that's really significant to him now.  I think it's clear that if SF59 was going to "peak" if you will, it probably would have been around the time of LHAS or so.  There were solid full line-ups, touring was (somewhat) steady, and they were getting a fair amount of attention, even from important modern critics like the likes of Pitchfork, etc.  Jason has said that he doesn't look back on the days of "breaking out", and as a Christian, he looks at every degree of success he has had with the band as a blessing (the exact quote would be in one of this site's Q&A session).  I do agree though that SF59's popularity would have increased if they had toured more steadily over the years, because through shows is really where a lot of new music is discovered nowadays.  I think there were a couple setbacks though ... A. the fact that Jason and the band never really had a great "live prescence".  Jason is about as unanimated as it gets on stage, which makes sense since he has said he's uncomfortable on a stage.  And B. the fact that SF59 tended to play with a lot of other Christian acts/Christian festivals.  Not that that's a bad thing, but I think it ultimately held the "break through" status back a little bit considering most of those audiences probably became pretty familiar with them, where they were playing with David Bazan or playing Cornerstone.

[dreamover]

david bazan told me jason just can't afford to leave the trucking company for more than a day or two.

[rcreek00]

I agree about the Old tour - I caught them in Tulsa righ before Old and saw them with Martin, Cloud, Esquibel, and Swift.  They seemed to have a great time, then I saw the same line-up for Old in OKC (minus Esquibel with the addition of Lenz).  Amazing shows.   

I understand what you mean about Jason's stage performance, however if you ever saw him in the Silver/Gold days, he would get into it and rock out quite a bit; so I just can't buy the whole stage-fright thing. But i would say he's more of a recording musician opposed to touring.

To the last respose, I dont think you thought about my post enough.  I understand Jason has a job and Bazan is probably a good resource for information, but what i was getting at was if the record label fully backed the artist, they could put more money into the touring and help take care of their home life (bills) while they're gone, which obviously T$N will not do.  that's unfortunate.   

And I do agree the Martins and Ebel have a healthy relationship (who else would put out an album with NO tour, like the Bros. Martin)

[The_Ordinary]

There's likely more to "can't afford it" than the income aspect. Jason's in charge, and maybe he can't leave because of managerial duties.

*gets off the fanboy wagon*

[grandeped]

I did see SF59 when they were touring between Silver and Gold. He just stood there and played - not too exciting. Saw him again after EMM - still the same deal. There's a difference between stage fright and not being comfortable on stage - and every time I have seen them live or a video or whatever, and he always seemed uncomfortable.

[Keithy Huntington]

I was at the show in OKC for old. GREAT show. And they did ep nights AND birthright that night!!! FANTASTIC set they played. I've seen the band probably about 10 times between 1998 and 2004. And he was always great to watch. I remeber seeing him play acoustic in Coweta, OK and he did an encore of just an instrumental blues jam improv. That was the last time I've ever seen him on stage

[The_Ordinary]

The reason Wayne Everett speaks French between songs on Plugged??

Nothing was going on on stage. Jason just stood there making sure his guitar was tuned. So Wayne spoke French to fill in the gaps.

Jason doesn't have much of a stage presence as far as "doing" anything. The point of seeing him on stage at a show is to watch him play guitar.

[crunchee]

has anyone here actually been in a touring band?

[Zelönka 22]

[easternsky]

I've only seen SF59 3 times (2001,2004 & 05) but as a long time fan I wish he'd do more shows and have a better "connection" with his fanbase. but over the years of him not touring and the reasons why you just kind of have to, reluctantly, "accept" it (kind of,haha). Although, one can hope!
 I do think that if touring is still not in the plans,  it would be rad if he did some sort of a "online" live  session(s), somehow. I wonder if he'd be up for that. Maybe that can be a question to ask him in the next interview

[shadymugs]

I agree about the Old tour - I caught them in Tulsa righ before Old and saw them with Martin, Cloud, Esquibel, and Swift.  They seemed to have a great time, then I saw the same line-up for Old in OKC (minus Esquibel with the addition of Lenz).  Amazing shows.   

I understand what you mean about Jason's stage performance, however if you ever saw him in the Silver/Gold days, he would get into it and rock out quite a bit; so I just can't buy the whole stage-fright thing. But i would say he's more of a recording musician opposed to touring.

To the last respose, I dont think you thought about my post enough.  I understand Jason has a job and Bazan is probably a good resource for information, but what i was getting at was if the record label fully backed the artist, they could put more money into the touring and help take care of their home life (bills) while they're gone, which obviously T$N will not do.  that's unfortunate.   

And I do agree the Martins and Ebel have a healthy relationship (who else would put out an album with NO tour, like the Bros. Martin)

i never had the opportunity to see him during those times, but here's my theory - when he whispered his way through Silver & Gold, it was easier to rock out with reverbs and tremolos and walls of distortion.  As the distortion scaled back and made way for the LHAS and OLD song-craft & melodies, he was singing higher, in different keys and in some cases, felt like he "sounded like a chipmunk" (his words not mine)..   My guess is as the music got more mature it was harder for him to replicate what happened in the studio to a live setting, hence the uncomfortable stage presence in the latter years.  but again, it's only one facet, and i could be totally wrong.

[Cerealx59]

I think people have the wrong idea about Jason's Job. He does not have any "managerial duties", as he does not have any employees. The company consists of Him and 1 truck. It used to consist of Him and Ronnie and 1 truck. And before that, his Dad, Ronnie, him, and 1 truck. Before his dad passed, his dad was semi-retired, and Ronnie and Jason would do the trucking together. When one of them wanted to tour, they had the other one to take over the duties while they were on the road. And at the times when they were both on the road, their dad would pick up the slack. At one point around the year 2003, I know Ronnie was able to quit working to pursue music fulltime, but he would still fill in for Jason when he would hit the road. Now that their dad has passed, and Ronnie has moved out of State, the only thing Jason would be able to do as far as touring is park the Truck completely during the period he is on tour, which anyone that understands the nature of small business, knows that he would end up losing a percentage of the already small group of Clients I'm sure he works very hard to keep.

At this point, I'm not sure he can even take much time to record other bands. Until very recently no one had logged into the JasonMartinRecording myspace since June. I hope he does have time for it though, because I am about to start the process to raise enough money to go out there to record in the Spring (hopefully).

[pacifimatt]

has anyone here actually been in a touring band?

i have toured the whole US several times and done atleast 1 tour a year since 1999 with Pacifico, Monday In London, and The Almost
why do you ask?