Tour Stories Ruinous Media

This is the Built In Sun appreciation episode. Released on August 7, 2015 via PIAPTK Records, Built In Sun is Joe Plummer's first and currently only solo record. BIS began as an instrumental idea, with inspirations landing somewhere between John Cale’s Fear, the punker vibrations of The Wipers, guitarist John Reis and Joe’s favorite soundtrackists, John Brion and Clint Mansell. Recorded both at his studio in Seattle and with the late Richard Swift at National Freedom, Joe made a point to collaborate with his friends and former bandmates. The lyrics and vocals on the record are provided by longtime friend and former The Black Heart Procession colleague, Pall Jenkins, with additional players David Bazan and Cody Votolato filling out the piano and guitar respectively. In this episode, Joe expresses his love for the opportunity to make a record with his pals and leaves an easter egg or two.
Built in Sun
Episode supported by Izotope
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Kai James is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and a founding member of Brisbane based Girl and Girl. Their newest record and Sub Pop debut, Call A Doctor, is out May 24th with extensive touring planned throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Kai shares his experience of life growing up on a farm outside of Brisbane, how music entered his life and why it’s an important form of expression for him. Joe and Kai discuss the direct and personalness of his lyrics, the familial origin of Girl and Girl and the experience of recording Call A Doctor. Joe encourages Kai to become an actor, Kai tells us about surfing with “big fish” and we hear a couple tunes off the new record.
Girl and Girl
Sub Pop Records
Mother Video
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Surprise! Part 2 of Joe’s interview on @thetourstories with Eric D Johnson is up with a big announcement. Bonny Light Horseman, the trio of Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman, are set to release their new double album and Jagjaguwar debut Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free on June 7th! Eric shares the origin of BLH, how he came to be a contributing member and why they use a “yes and” style in their voltronic writing process. He also tells us about how the record was made partially live in an Irish pub, how his bandmate Anaïs has changed his lyric stylings and why the new record might have a broader reach of listeners.  Joe and Eric also discuss Eric’s deep indie rock pedigree and his rich history of touring and recording from the early aughts to the present. The two reminisce about their tenure together in The Shins and how they both greatly benefitted from that experience.  We learn about the invention of the famous SoftRockTail™ and hear a new tune from Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free.
Bonny Light Horsemen
Eric D Johnson
Jagjaguwar
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Episode supported by Thunder Road Guitars

Eric D Johnson is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and film composer based in Los Angeles. He is the founding member of Fruit Bats, has played with indie luminaries Califone, Vetiver, The Shins and is a contributing member of Bonny Light Horsemen. In Part 1 of a rare two-part episode, Eric shares a few stories from the road, spanning from his early tenure in Califone (opening for Modest Mouse), his interaction with a MTV beach party, to a more recent experience of jamming with Bob Weir in a small club. Old pals Joe and Eric laugh, they almost cry, and we hear a great live version of a Fruit Bats song.  And this is only Part 1.
Fruit Bats
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The Red Pears are a three-piece band hailing from El Monte, Ca. Comprised of childhood friends Henry Vargas (vocals/guitar), Jose Corona (Drums) and Patrick Juarez (Bass), the trio are celebrating their fourth album, Better Late Than Never (out April 12th via Daycare Records). The three share the inspiration behind the new record and how a newfound freeness in production allowed them to toggle between listening with their hearts and employing technical input. We learn how cooperative comradery drives the inspiration of The Red Pears and the why a kindred conscientious serves as the glue in their writing, recording, and touring. They discuss the contrast of extensive touring and structureless home life, their upcoming shows at The Forum and Coachella and we hear a few tunes.
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Episode supported by Thunder Road Guitars

Joe P is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who writes, records and self-produces from his basement studio in Asbury Park, NJ. HIs newest record, Shadows in the Sun is expected to be released in summer 2024 and currently has 3 singles out via Atlantic records. Joe tells us how he got his start playing music and a very young age and shares his experience of trying to fit into his local hardcore scene in his late teens. He tells us about his approach to songwriting as an entirely self-produced artist, his philosophy on live performance verses recording and why he ended up recording vocals in his van while on a recent tour. The two discuss shoes, why it’s important to make touring loveable and we hear a few tunes.
Joe P
Episode supported by Distrokid
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Episode supported by Thunder Road Guitars