A heart to heart with you the fans

plop · Joined: 14 Nov 2001 Posts: 221 Location: cracker barrell

While we appreciate and thank you for giving us the oppurtunity to share our art with you and complete the creative circle, I feel it necessary now to remind you of the amount of blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice that goes into being in a grassroots band like this one. The reward is not mansions, lambourghinis and caviar, its the pleasure of making great music exclusively. The demands of constant touring are not easy to survive under and its your support that makes life on the road bearable.
Having said that I would like to address the current discussions going on here regarding our very own Reed Mathis. First of all he is Tea Leaf Greens Bassist. This constant stream of petty criticisms and comparisons is juvenile and embarrassing. Ben left the band. We want to keep playing, let this forever be the light above the door if you want to go with him.
Tea Leaf Green is Reed Mathis, Josh Clark, Trevor Garrod and Scotty Rager.
Reed has bent over backwards to assimilate his sound and styles into tea leaf green music and for the better if you ask me. You want the funk, go see parliment. You want sparkling harmonies go check out the fleet foxes. you want to rock the fuck out stay right here, but figure it out and let us work.
This is not an overnight process. When Tea Leaf Formed Ben had been playing the bass for less than a year, I the guitar for three,scotty on the kit for four, and Trevor had just begun to explore his songwriting talents. Fortunately we had great fans with patience to allow us to develop individually and collectively, simultaneously granting their support. Here I ask you of this again.
I know this is a public forum, but this is also our house. show some respect. Dont shit where you eat.
Reed has been changing his life completely and putting up a great deal of sacrifice to help make Tea Leaf Green the best band in the land. He's here to stay and I expect him to be welcomed as one of four and kindly at that.
Don't be Hatefull, Be Gratefull.

Respectfully,
Josh Clark
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ploppy wants to play too!

Stroker Ace · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject:

nuff said.

i will pick option three.

thank you for your patience with us.
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There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality. - Pablo Picasso

fred · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 12527

Well done Mr. Clark! Well fucking done!

dreamer · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 1538 Location: Ringgold,ga.

well said. ( southern tour in less than 30 days!)
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That's very hip of you, old man saggy balls - Unibrah.

taperguy · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 647 Location: Sausalito CA

Beautifully put Josh.
Long live Tea Leaf Green.
Bob C

DBlanco · Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 1875 Location: Richmond, Va.

Great thread!

Looking forward to a run of shows next month. Keep up the good work guys.

AuntAvis · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 5006 Location: Long Beach, MS

Amen; I owe you a beer after the show in Birmingham, Josh. I'll be the old dude.
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MuleMan, Ret. · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 5218

where's all the fucking naysayers now???

headyesq · Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 23758

good read.

in honor of it, i will remove AIP's quote from my siggy.
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"We are the music makers; we are the dreamers of dreams."

i am no longer human · Joined: 22 Jun 2005 Posts: 6480 Location: the swan

reed hasnt even been in the band for 2 years. i think some people over look that. and i agree wholeheartedly about what plop said about this site being their house. i think we need to hold our posts to a higher standard because what is said here reflects directly on the band. good post clark.

StrangeLeaf · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 1168

Thanks for posting Josh...It's unfortunate, but your words are appreciated (similar to sauce's last week). Rock the fuck on...see ya'll in september.
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Asphalt Funk~>Earth and Sky

MuleMan, Ret. · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 5218

headyesq · Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 23758

pilgrims622 · Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 2668 Location: The Big House

PhiLEAFdelphia · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 3466 Location: Conshorocken, PA

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datsofunky · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 3066 Location: Vivaville, USA

Hit the nail on the head. So much of it comes down to respect.

For JC to even acknowledge the bullshit that spews from some peoples computers shows a lot of class, cheers to you sir!
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"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"
Berthold Auerbach

Seirin · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

Josh, thanks so much. Just read this to the wife (huge fan, as I hope you know) and she compliments you on your writing and I agree- well put!

Pepper · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:56 pm Post subject:

Ms.Guyute · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject:

Well put Josh! You brought a tear too my eye

Goudy Stout · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

same with the mikey thing.

any band that loses an original member for one reason or another will have those "hardcore, back in the day" assholes.

who gives a fuck who's playing.

your favorite band is still alive.

be grateful that you still are, and are able to enjoy it.

even if someone else is in the band.

there are 4 members of TLG.

we have no right. no say.

signed, unabashed reed luva. love

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"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." - W.

bexy11 · Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 6497 Location: the planet Epic

thank you for posting this.

i sincerely appreciate the sacrifices you've all made to be able to share your art with us.

the fact that y'all formed the band in the first place and continue to create your art even when it's not easy has changed, and continues to change, my life for the better. i'm sure i'm not the only one.

Sparkle · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 6331 Location: near the ocean

Pepper · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject:

DakineFord · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject:

I have shit on the kitchen table and now it is my turn to eat it. I think we have all fallen victum to recless late night posting. I dont mean to be undercutting the acomplishment, hardwork and sacrifice that everyone involved with TLG has done to make them the great band that we all know and love.
My intention was not to shit on Reed or to re-open old scars. It the high caliber of show that TLG regularly puts out that has sett the bar so high. Both nights at Baltimore were fun and excited shows that I was glad to drive 7 hours to be lucky enough to see. When you go and see a bunch of shows in a row it is easy nit-pic at small flubs while overlooking the much bigger picture of great music.
The forum has created an opportunity for fans to connect and talk to each other and has created a tighter knit community of fans that are unrivaled. The forum has allso allowed fans presume too much of what they expect from band. It looks like i have joined that group. Is there any place for a fan to be critical or should the forum be strictly a place to find a ride and sing the bands praises?

Ill be putting myself in time out so that i don't start anymore shit.
Aip your still a little bitch.

got sax? · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 765 Location: Among the Leaves

Wow, it's pretty sad that Josh felt the need to make this post. I'm sure it wasn't easy for him to do. He didn't need to stand up for his partner in rock, but obviously felt it was time.

Thanks Josh. Perhaps it will wake up those who spew negativity here.

This forum is the band's house that they let us in. Respect has been lacking and in my opinion, many lines have been crossed. While I sincerely hope that this thread will make a difference, time will tell.

I hope the band can look past alot of the nonsense and focus on the future. Clearly, the ball is in the fan's hands to get our act together and support the band. As Josh states...its embarrassing.

Peace and Rock On!
fistpump

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Live music will unite the world. It's just a matter of when.

the blue professor · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 80 Location: los angeles

thanks jc for dropping some knowledge. i only wish it hadnt been necessaary but sometimes people can get out of line.

tlg has given myself and i think all of us so much. i cant imagine asking for anything more at this point.

...except for a custom JC face melting in LA on 8/21

see ya'll at the troub
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we all have a light to shine

shows: 8/5/06, 6/3/07, 8/17/07, 12/8/07, 6/13/08, 10/28/08, 8/21/09

Focker · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks for expressing yourself about this topic Josh. Well said, well received.

I know for certain we're all here for one reason, we love and care about this band and want success for TLG for a long time, though that underlying fact probably gets lost day to day. None of us would be here otherwise.

Keep doing what you're doing, we'll still be here. I can't promise I'll clean up my act here forever, but I'll do my best provided I still get to pwn Uni from time to time.

Also, I like e-talking with the rainbow people, I find the discussion engaging. hug

p.s. would this be a bad time to ask for a Mockrock? bunny

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Pants on the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground
With the gold in your mouth, hat turned sideways
Pants hit the ground, call yourself a cool cat
Lookin’ like a fool, walkin’ to the town
With your pants on the ground!

Pepper · Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject:

Chapelchilla · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 703 Location: Durham, NC

Great post Josh. I admire and appreciate (and try to financially support in my own small way) what you guys are doing. Thanks for the good times, excellent artwork and terrific music. Great, great songs and musicianship.

I can only imagine how tough it is to do what you do. It is not all for naught, you guys ARE the best band around and deserve the rewards that are still coming. Thanks for chiming in too, it needed to be said.

On that note- I think Reed was an excellent addition to TLG and this line up holds a lot of promise. He obviously has the chops and seems like a good guy too. It is nice to hear that he is such a valued and permanent part of the team. I am pysched to see what this group can produce as it grows together.
Things ARE growing again, you can tell, and that is awesome. It's coming...

On the flip side, we have got to get it together around here. There has been too much naysaying, whining and bickering for months. This site used to be the best music forum around. Good folks, mostly semi-polite and focused on welcoming new folks, and in exploring/discussing the music that was being made. Some of those people are still around and contributing positively, others have been turned off or run off. I think we can do better.

Looking forward to the Fall tour.

Sincerely,
Seth
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Ridin' the Green Wave....

MineTheAsteroid · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 1641 Location: Colorado

when the clark speaks...people listen.
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