James Jackson Toth Takes “Waiting” on the Road

The Artist Formerly Known As Wooden Wand promotes his debut solo LP.

By Fred Mills

You’ve read the official BLURT review of the album.

You’ve read the official BLURT interview with its creator.

Now you can catch James Jackson Toth (a.k.a. The Artist Formerly Known As Wooden Wand) on tour in support of his debut solo platter, Waiting In Vain issued last week by Ryko. According to his label Toth, wife Jexie Lynn, Wymond Miles on guitar and keys, Shayde Sartin on bass and Richard Gowen on drums will be on the road starting in mid August and running through September, joined with what Ryko describes as “surprise guests in select cities. The 5-piece band will play mostly songs off of the new album, though they will be drastically overhauled and changed from the album versions.”

Toth added, “Some of this is going to be hard to recreate live, so we may try to change and adapt it, maybe do ‘Midnight Watchman’ loud and fast, then slow another number down. The idea that people merely want to hear a record recreated in a crowded, smoky room and pay seven dollars for drinks – I never understood that.”

TAFKAWW is joined on tour with The Dutchess & The Duke, a duo of childhood friends who play dark folk music reminiscent of early Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.  Kimberly Morrison and Jesse Lortz are the pair who released their She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke debut on Hardly Art in July, and you can read the BLURT review HERE. Toth will continue touring after his solo bout by opening up for the Silver Jews, starting in mid-September. 

James Toth tour dates (w/Dutchess & Duke unless otherwise noted):

Wed. Aug. 13             San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop

Thurs. Aug. 14            Santa Cruz , CA @ The Crepe Place

Sat. Aug. 16                Los Angeles, CA @ Echo

Sun. Aug. 17               San Diego, CA @ Bar Pink Elephant

Tue. Aug. 19                Austin, TX @ Mohawk

Wed. Aug. 20              Houston, TX @ Mink

Thu. Aug. 21                New Orleans, LA @ Rykodisc Party*

Fri. Aug. 22                  Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon

Sat., Aug 23                Birmingham , AL @ The Bottletree

Mon. Aug. 25               Athens, GA @ Tasty World

Tue. Aug. 26                Atlanta , GA @ E.A.R.L.

Wed. Aug. 27             Asheville, NC @ Harvest Record

Thu. Aug. 28                Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

Fri. Aug. 29                  Charlottesville, VA @ Gravity Lounge

Sat. Aug. 30                Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club

Sun. Aug. 31               New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

Mon. Sep. 1                 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall

Wed. Sep. 3                Cambridge , MA @ TT & The Bear's

Thurs. Sep. 4              Albany, NY @ Valentine’s

Fri. Sep. 5                   Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

Sat. Sep. 6                  Bloomington, IN @ Uncle Fester’s

Sun. Sep. 7                 Pontiac , MI @ The Cro Foot (Pike Room)

Tue. Sep. 9                 Rock Island, IL @ Daytrotter*

Wed. Sep. 10             Chicago, IL @ Schuba's

Fri. Sep. 12                 St. Louis, MO @ Billiken Club*

Sat. Sep. 13                Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone*

* Without The Dutchess & The Duke

Dates with Silver Jews:

Wed. Sep. 17            New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's
Thurs. Sep. 18           Houston, TX @ Orange Show
Fri. Sep. 19                Austin, TX @ Emo's

Sat. Sep. 20              Denton, TX @ Hailey's
Sun. Sep. 21              Drive Day
Mon. Sep. 22             Tucson, AZ @ Plush
Tues. Sep 23             San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Thurs. Sep. 25           San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
Fri. Sep. 26                Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex

Meanwhile, check out the new “Doreen” video, from the album: