Thanks for everything Uncle Ike. I dropped out of jazz school so that I could play shows with this guy, who was miraculously willing to cross the country and play some Zappa music with a bunch of chaotic 20 year olds. I learned how to do so much of what I do so that I could do it with him, and he always encouraged me to keep going. I’m forever grateful to him for putting me on the path that I’m on and always encouraging me to be silly and be myself. In one of his many catchphrases which I can still hear clear as day, “Ugh… yay.”
We put this track, Monkey Can’t Sleep, up for free on Subvert and Bandcamp for anybody who wants Ike Willis to read them a story today. We had the day off on our 2017 tour and decided to have some fun at the Hangar; the story is by @daimonalexandrius and the full video is on our YouTube
Rest in peace Ike, see you on the outside
FIRST 2026 SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT AND WHAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT IT IS. COME JOIN US AT THIS YEAR’S @furnacefest ALONGSIDE SOME INCREDIBLE ARTISTS.
WHAT MAKES THIS EVEN MORE SPECIAL IS THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF OUR ALBUM “MONGREL”. YES WE KNOW IT CAME OUT IN 2007…BUT MONGREL WAS BORN IN 2006. THAT’S WHEN THESE SONGS FIRST STARTED BREATHING. THAT’S WHEN THIS WHOLE THING REALLY BEGAN.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE’LL BE PLAYING SONGS FROM “MONGREL” THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN PLAYED LIVE BEFORE. OLD GHOSTS. NEW LIFE.
THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST OF MANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR 2026. HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RIDE
is Pat Metheny cool? discuss
where I’m at this weekend:
• Doing my Mark Egan/Jaco impression at the Pat Metheny tribute tonight at Hopewell Theater!
• @weusedtocutthegrass tomorrow [SATURDAY] at Prototype Paterson
• Audra Mariel and a Real Human Jazz Band Sunday at Triumph Red Bank (early show)
I’m turning 34 on April 17th and I’m celebrating by arranging a brass quintet at Palmetto because that’s my warped idea of a good time. Come check out Brass Grass, the brass-only edition of @weusedtocutthegrass :
@joeygullace i have no idea what this guy plays
@tonesforbonesjones trombone
@whozyourpatty tenor/bari
@kpgdrums drums & also drums
@wildairbeer 6pm doors we’re gonna be raising money for @jsimmigrantsupport ! @martinhowth is up at 6:30 and we’re playing trio immediately after her set. we might even do a *special cover* with Audra come thru 🖤
![is Pat Metheny cool? discusswhere I’m at this weekend:• Doing my Mark Egan/Jaco impression at the Pat Metheny tribute tonight at Hopewell Theater!• @weusedtocutthegrass tomorrow [SATURDAY] at Prototype Paterson• Audra Mariel and a Real Human Jazz Band Sunday at Triumph Red Bank (early show)](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727412922393410664420_0_237d5929bae0eaa212c02ee0bcf34a7f.jpg?o=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&h=dba527c7a6bbb9404cfe145c3d9fdbaf)
