Funk powerhouse Turkuaz will be hitting the road hard for the next three months, taking their colorful, dynamic act to nearly fifty cities across the country. The exciting nine-piece is one of the tightest funk acts in the game right now, continually progressing on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory. Live for Live Music is thrilled to be bringing you real-time updates from the road via this new weekly series dubbed the “Tourkuaz Diaries.”

Turkuaz Announces Extensive Fall Tour With Con Brio, The Suffers, And More

Turkuaz Announces New Year’s Eve Plans With Pimps Of Joytime

Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes coverage of Turkuaz next week as the group continues their West Coast leg of their fall tour, plus exclusive recaps, video footage, and more! To catch Turkuaz live and in action, check out the band’s website here to see their upcoming dates and grab tickets to a show near you.


Week Three Of Turkuaz Tour

Craig Brodhead

Saturday, September 23, Portland, OR

We get to go to a lot of places. A lot of places are good, some are okay, and a few are bad. Some places are just better than other places, and Portland is one of those places that’s better than most. Great restaurants? Check. Lots of friends? Check. People who love to party? Check. Pine trees? Check. In general, it’s one of the cities I’m most excited to visit on tour. I could see how someone who has spent a lot of time there could maybe get a little cynical about it (“put a bird on it”), but it’s a personal favorite of mine.

After departing Seattle, we made a quick stop in strip mall paradise/hell to acquire the various needs of our thirteen member crew and headed to load in. We rolled in and one thing was clear: I am not clean, and I am not comfortable interacting with humans smelling like this. It’s always a cause for celebration when there’s an artist shower backstage, but I wasn’t in luck this particular Saturday. Fortunately, I have some friends in town, and I made a phone call to one who happened to live nearby which went something like this:

Me: Hey bud!

Bud: Yo! You in town yet?

Me: Yeah. I smell bad, bud. Can I use your shower?

Bud: Yeah, bud.

So I Uber’d over and got freshened up and headed to soundcheck. Afterwards, I got a text from another couple friends who also live nearby, and they invited me over to their house for dinner. We ended up speaking at length about the music industry over some fantastic wine and some most excellent deep-dish pizza from a spot I need to remember the name of. The two of them have a background in finance, and I got a chuckle out of describing some of the realities of the 21st century music business models and watching their faces grow slowly more perplexed. We had a great time catching up, and it’s always good to see old friends when you’re far from home.

After heading back to the venue I had some time to watch Sinkane warm up the room. They are a really hard grooving band, but there is a hypnotic and simmering quality to the way they groove that has been a great addition to the tour. Turkuaz is frenetic and high energy, so it’s been nice to have a nice ramp up in the arc every night; the crowd has felt nice and warmed up every night.

The show was great. We’ve been mixing it up with one-set and two-set shows, and I tend to enjoy doing two sets as it gives you a change to adjust and acclimate to the crowd and the room. And there were lots of good friends hanging backstage, and we had a couple appearances from the one and only Steve Swatkins, which is always a treat. He had already had two gigs that day but still made it out. What a mensch. Thanks Portland!

Wednesday, September 27th, Salt Lake City, Utah

Right when I joined Turkuaz, I had just signed on to do a tour with Erin Barra, a great singer/songwriter/keyboardist/producer I met through mutual friends. It was a “when it rains, it pours” situation, but fortunately I was able to fulfill my responsibilities with both parties. Erin is now a badass teacher at Berklee and has a specific focus in mentoring young female producers (Beatsbygirlz.com) and is true master in Ableton Live. Anyway back in 2010–11, I was pretty green and only had done some small regional routes in the Midwest and Northeast, so I was excited to get out and hit the road. Erin was based in Salt Lake City, so her, myself, and my good buddy Nick D’Agostino posted up in the city for awhile, rehearsing at Bar Deluxe, getting to know many friends there, hiking and enjoying all that SLC had to offer. I always enjoy going back and fortunately the state room is right on the same block where we used to rehearse, so it was pretty familiar to me.

I had been getting unreasonably scruffy in the week prior, and I remembered there was a hipster-y kinda barber shop right there that I had never gone inside of, but looked nice from the outside. After getting caffeinated, I headed over and thankfully they took walk-ins. Had a really nice chat with my hairdresser Gillian—I explained my line of work and asked her if she wanted to go to the show. Our guest list was pretty open so I offered her a spot. I really enjoy being able to do this when possible—having a human interaction during the course of my day and being able to give them a chance to see what we do. Was really happy with my haircut and beard trim. Five stars, would come again.

Another thing I became aware of during my time in SLC was Tacos Don Rafa which are some of the best tacos in the entire country. Actually this is probably a good time for Craig’s USA Taco Power Rankings! (Craig’s USA Taco Power Rankings are calculated by a completely unscientific algorithm based on my last experience at said taco location.)

1. Taqueria La Hacienda – Phoenix, AZ

2. Taco Gordo – Burlington, VT

3. Tacos Don Rafa – Salt Lake City, UT

4. El Diablo Tacos – Brooklyn, NY (in the back of Union Pool)

5. Fuel City Tacos – Dallas, TX

Anyway, Tacos Don Rafa always serves it up. They’re small tacos, but they’re truly outstanding and only $1.50 each. Also, you can dress up your own tacos since they have a cooler with all the accoutrements, which is fun. I had an undisclosed number of these, which I found highly enjoyable.

And the show was a RAGER. Here’s something else people don’t really know about SLC: people get down at shows. Maybe it’s because it’s a little isolated, so there’s true appreciation for artists when they come through town. Or maybe because there’s a genuine counter-culture there because it tends to be a very conservative state, and SLC is a bit of a haven comparatively. Or maybe it’s the altitude. It’s probably a little bit of all these things, but it’s fair to say that the people at the State Room and some of the other venues in town have built up a supportive community, and there is a great live music culture beginning to thrive there.

Thanks Salt Lake City! Can’t wait until next time!

Sammi Garett

Tuesday, September 26th, Ogden, UT

What a fun day off in Ogden, Utah!! It’s always nice when we get a day off in a cute little town!

First, me and Shira went on a little beauty adventure. She wanted to take me to get our nails done as my birthday present, so we went in search for a nail salon.

We hopped in an Uber with a guy named Dana, and he took us to our first stop. We told Dana we were musicians and singers in a funk band from Brooklyn. He got excited and said, “Well, if you’re singers, you’re gonna love this!” He proceeded to pop in a Britney Spears CD. He cranked up the DB’s and listened to it really loud for the rest of the ride. It was loud because he thought we preferred it that way. It was actually a little too loud. Ha!

Got our nails done, and then after that, we met up with the rest of the gang for some lunch at a cute little brewery. Then after lunch we went to Toad’s Fun Place. They had putt-putt, an arcade, batting cages, go-carts and LAZER TAG!!!! Just pure joy. We had a BLAST! We were pretty much the only people at this place. We totally took advantage everything they had to offer. It was so much fun and a nice little surprise on a lovely day off.

Saturday, September 30th, Boulder–> Denver, CO

We had a super awesome treat when we played in Boulder, Colorado, because we got to stay with Annabel at her beautiful home! We woke up and chilled outside on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning with her beautiful family. I had the BEST time hanging out with her daughter, Lyric! We played Hungry Hungry Hippos, and she showed me what an awesome swimmer she is! She is an AMAZING swimmer, and she is just 5 years old! Then we ate an amazing home cooked brunch! It was the perfect way to recharge. Annabel has a very very special place in my heart. I feel like I have known her my whole life, and my love runs deep for her. We both are Jewish and from New York!

Growing up in New York with a Jewish mother and an Italian father, food was and is an important part of my life. Growing up and still to this day, I cook with my mom. What I love most about being home is cooking. I cook as much as I can and especially when I’m at my parents place. Being in the kitchen, baking and cooking, all the smells and just all the warmth and love that surrounds cooking is everything. Food brings people together, and it was a huge part of my childhood and still is today!

I have vivid memories of me and my mom cooking out of a few cookbooks in particular: The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook and The New Basics Cookbook. I can picture the covers in my head right now! That crimson red cover, the pretty ladies sitting behind all that delicious food! The pie, the cheeses, the pastel balloons!

So when I found out that Annabel’s mom wrote those books, I fan-girled out hard! Annabel’s mother also had a food store called The Silver Palate on the Upper West Side. So when I told her that when my mom (who also grew up in Manhattan like Annabel) was younger, she would go to The Silver Palate food store with her mom!!!

Having made this connection, I immediately felt connected with Annabel on so many levels. Her mothers recipes are recipes that I cook with my mother and that she cooked with hers.

So when we stayed with her this week, she kindly and lovingly gave me a copy of one of her mothers cookbooks. I was ECSTATIC!!! Like really over the moon! It meant so much to me on so many levels I can’t even explain. I will cherish this cookbook, and I will cook out of it like I have with my mom, I will cook out out of it with my kids and their kids. Food is love!

Tuesday, October 3rd, Phoenix, AZ

Sometimes I still feel like a little kid. In a good way! Bubbly, happy, and silly! And I love kids! They get me! Ha! And they dig the pink hair too. So whenever I get to hang with kids I’m in heaven, ESPECIALLY kids that love Turkuaz! I met Remy and Sunshine this week in Phoenix. These little girls are the SWEETEST and SO cool!! I mean look at Remy’s leather pants and Sunshine’s denim vest with the little pink Grateful Dead patch! Ever since their parents turned them on to Turkuaz we would get videos of them singing and dancing to our songs!

So when I finally met them in person, I felt like I already knew them! And they even requested one of our songs at soundcheck! Too cute. I could have hung out with them all day! I showed them around the venue and all of the instruments and all the cool merch we have. They wanted to stay for the show but it was 21+.

Greg Sanderson

Tuesday, September 26th, Ogden, Utah

We had a lovely day off in Odgen, Utah. Main highlight being a fun, family trip to Toad’s Fun Zone. Arcade, mini golf, go-carts, laser tag, ice cream, and batting cages! Oh, the excitement!! Check out the clips of our zany, wacky, day!!

Josh Schwartz

Thursday, September 28th, Aspen, Colorado

Chris Brouwers

Friday, September 29th, Boulder, CO

We’ve been playing shows in Boulder for a few years now, and the Fox Theatre here holds a special place in my memory. This venue—and the staff that runs it—has consistently been one of the most well-organized and professional operations in the business. Everyone from top to bottom knows what they’re doing, and they’re always eager to get involved and help out. That’s the sort of thing that makes a difference to musicians that are on the road for weeks or months at a time.

This show was my favorite at the Fox to date. Sinkane sounded awesome (btw, it’s such a pleasure to be on the road with that group—great people, and a great band). The crowd was enthusiastic, and we went out and did our thing. We were fueled by Illegal Pete’s restaurant for this one; they’ve got a sweet deal for artists, and the food is great!

Lastly, I wanted to give a maaaajor thank you to our good friend Annabel and her family for welcoming our whole group to their home after the show. Their support is heartfelt, and we honestly can’t thank them enough. A late-night swim, a trampoline session, a home cooked brunch, and a jumping pic later, and we’re back on the road!

Michelangelo Carubba

Saturday, September 30th, Denver, CO

Denver. This city is just super dope. The people and excitement for live music is SO vibrant. I can’t remember how many times we’ve played Denver now, but every time it gets bigger and better. Especially having played Red Rocks with Lettuce this past May. We headlined the Ogden Theatre, and man, Denver showed up. We had sold out Boulder the night before, and the band has been on a roll. We played a really great show. Tight where it needed to be, and relaxed and open when it needed it, too. I couldn’t be more impressed with my band members and crew, and also the fans. Everyone came to play. Especially the Glittergang.

Dave Brandwein

Monday, October 2nd, Denver, CO —> Holbrook, AZ

Today was a devastating day. Impossibly frustrating, to say the least. First, 50+ innocent people are killed and hundreds injured at a music event of all places. Then we lose one of our greatest rock legends to a heart attack at the early age of 66. Our day off all of a sudden seems like a pretty heavy day of thinking, and trying to remember why we do this, which luckily we all do.

We have the opportunity to spread joy to people, which is crucial in these times, and is by far the most rewarding and most important aspect of our job. I just pray that music remains a positive force in people’s lives, and ultimately moves us closer to where we all want to be. That’s why it’s here. It’s both a release as well as inspiration for moving forward. It’s a mirror that shows past, present and future and the beauty that it all possesses. It’s so deeply twisted that music events are being seen as an opportunity to spread pain, hate and death. That is the opposite of it’s purpose, and we won’t let it be changed by cowardly people who hide behind guns, divisiveness, and fear.

Music will prevail. Mankind will prevail. We won’t back down.

Oh and also – the drive was pretty today.

Taylor Shell

Tuesday, October 3rd, Phoenix, AZ

Well it’s been a hard few days for everyone in the country, and a nightmare for thousands. As we drove through Arizona today blasting Tom Petty, thinking/reading about the horrors that took place in Vegas over the weekend I’m not really sure what to say. I’m feeling the weight of many of my fellow humans losing family and friends in the blink of an eye. I’m feeling extra sad/scared that these types of shootings now seem to be regularly happing at concerts.

Gathering to experience music is one of the most unifying and uplifting activities we do together as humans. If we don’t take mental health and gun control reform more seriously as a people I really fear for the future of what has been for me, the most important part of being a human being. Gathering together with friends and strangers alike and feeling our primal connection to music is worth everything to me. The one thing I know for sure is that I won’t back down. I loved Tom Petty’s music very dearly. I hope we can take the courage and dedication with which he wrote and performed music and let it inspire us in the months and years to come.

I can’t think of any way I’d rather process these sad days than making Turkuaz music with my tribe. Hope to give anyone needing a lift this week a heavy groove to latch on to, and I can’t wait to get to Vegas on Friday and play with every fucking ounce of soul I got.

Let’s work for a better tomorrow.

Shira Elias

Tuesday, October 3rd, Phoenix, AZ

I’m sitting here waiting for my flight to Phoenix trying to process what happened in Las Vegas. I know this isn’t the usual vibe of our tour blog, but it’s hard for me to think about anything else right now. It feels like there’s a huge storm cloud over us that won’t clear away and might start pouring at any moment. I guess we should be used to it by now—and perhaps we are—but it’s never any less terrifying or heartbreaking. I never stop asking, ‘Why would someone do this?” I never look at images of innocent people running for their lives and not wonder what that would possibly feel like. It still hurts every time.

Turkuaz is playing in Vegas this Friday. My first thought was, “Oh no, will the show be cancelled? We can’t go there so soon after.” But that’s bullshit. We NEED to play Vegas specifically BECAUSE of what happened. Music is one of the few things in the world right now that can bring people together and provide joy and solace in these troubled times. We can’t let fear win. That would be too devastating. It’s our duty to fight the good fight and carry on. We must play and do our darnedest to add goodness and love to this madness in any way we can. It’s why we’re doing this whole thing in the first place, right? To try and make the world better through music. So with that, we’ll see you in Vegas.


Week Two Of Turkuaz Tour

Taylor Shell

Monday, September 18, EVERYWHERE

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years of driving around this crazy country of ours, it’s that Southern California and Missoula, Montana, are not very close to each other. So when embarking on said drive, I have one piece of advice: GET YOUR FUCKING SNACK GAME TOGETHER. For me it’s:

  • 1 (full size) bag of popcorn
  • 2 bags of Lorissa’s Kitchen Szechuan Peppercorn Beef Jerky
  • 5 individual string cheese’s
  • 3 sleeves of Blue Diamond Wasabi/Soy Almonds 

Once we hit the road, snacks in hand, I get into my podcast game. It’s a steady flow rotating between WTF, Pod Saves America, and The Norm Macdonald Show. See, between these three, I’ve got a great emotional palette, deep thoughtful conversation, politics, and absurd humor. With my snacks and entertainment together, I start driving. With this perfected regiment of snacks and podcasts, I put down the first nine hours of our twenty-four-hour drive. Once my eyes started to get heavy, I pass the wheel off to Chris [Brouwers], who proceeded to crush the next three-hundred miles. He then passed to wheel off to Josh [Schwartz], who crushed the last four-hundred miles. As I write this, we are sitting in front of one of our favorite venues in the country—The Top Hat in Missoula Montana. With all the miles down, there is but one thing left to go do … ROCK!!! See you somewhere down the road… —TS

Josh Schwartz

Wednesday, September 20, MISSOULA

Dave Brandwein

Thursday, September 21, SPOKANE

We had a great time as always in Spokane, Washington (or Spo-vegas as it is sometimes lovingly called). It’s Dani’s hometown, and we always have a blast with friends and family when we come through. (Dani is the behind-the-scenes magic maker for Turkuaz on and off the road, and also – my wife!) 

We’re one of only a handful of bands in our scene that comes through Spokane on a semi-regular basis. I think if this town got more love in the music world, it’s scene would flourish, and there are definitely some signs of that beginning to emerge. It’s a cool place surrounded by beautiful nature with lots of fun loving people—many of whom we saw last night.

Sinkane continues to sound great, and I’m enjoying getting to know their music better! If you’re coming to one of the shows on this leg of the tour, be sure to come early and catch their set! Now on to Seattle! Just one beautiful drive through Washington state away. — DB

P.S. Here are some notable people from around Spokane: Bing CrosbySteve GleasonChuck Jones, David Lynch, and Craig T. Nelson (he barely made the list)

Shira Elias

Friday, September 22, SEATTLE

Approximately 135 miles from the house I grew up in (in Vancouver, BC), Seattle is the closest I’ve gotten (so far) to a Turkuaz hometown show. Having spent numerous summers at a camp just outside of Seattle and countless weekends visiting friends here, this city holds a very, very dear place in my heart. The air, the trees, the coffee, the people—it all just feels so good. From the moment I stepped off the bus today and breathed in that crisp Washington air, I felt a sense of peacefulness and nostalgic familiarity. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still obsessed with New York and consider it my home, but deep down I’ll always be a Pacific Northwest girl. And with that, I give you a day in Seattle: Turkuaz edition. — SE


Some of the gang exploring Seattle’s LGBTQ hub, Capitol Hill. This neighborhood is buzzing with colorful artwork, funky restaurants and shops and tonight’s venue NEUMOS.


Chilling with one of Seattle’s most famous sons and music legends, Bronze Jimi. 


It wouldn’t be a proper day in Seattle without honoring what many regard as a world center for coffee roasting and coffee culture.  Or without getting extremely over- caffeinated (I think this was my 3rd coffee or the day. Huzzah!) After much deliberation we settled on the recommendation of a local coffee connoisseur: Cafe Vita Capitol Hill.


Super stoked to stumble across this Mecca of a record store, Everyday Records. The breadth and selection of records was astonishing, as was the uncanny Bob Dylan look alike roaming the aisles. 


Hell yes. The bar that this sign belongs to was packed. Seattle rocks.


Week One Of Turkuaz Tour

Turkuaz’s fall tour kicked off last Tuesday, September 12th, at Humboldt Brews in Arcata, California.

Listen to this unreleased soundcheck jam before Turkuaz’s show in Ashland, Oregon, on September 13th, 2017. Then, read on below to see what the members of the band have to say about their life on the road this week!

Michelangelo Carubba

Though we’ve been at this for some years now, every time one of these long tours is set to begin, I get really excited. I think we all do. We still love this. And we still love each other. Each new tour is a new beginning. Every three- to four-month stretch like this is another chance at redefining, evolving, and advancing ourselves musically, personally, professionally. It’s like New Years all over again. This time we’ve added a great new tour manager, more new songs, and newer looks. Humboldt California is the first stop on this tour. Here’s to new beginnings. —MC

Josh Schwartz

Sammi Garett

Can’t wait to see what next week brings! Hopefully lots more soup dumplings. —SG

Thrifting Across America

 Homemade cupcakes from Karin in Chico, CA

Whale Rock Music Festival at Castoro Cellars


Soup dumplings (my FAVORITE, close tie with cheese) and wine!

Greg Sanderson

Life is just better on the road. There’s a rhythm to the whole thing. We arrive into different cities, and in a flash of a few hours, we experience a rush of what each of these musical communities has to offer. It’s a great feeling being able to share what we do. We also get so much back from our fans, the clubs we play, and local businesses. Everything involved makes for a truly unique look into the cities and people we play for.

Week One Highlight: After an amazing evening at The Fillmore, our good friends Eddie Roberts and DJ Logic, threw an after party at the Boom Boom Room. Obviously, madness ensued. Chris and I were able to jump in on a few tunes with our fellow hornsmen and San Francisco horn royalty, Mike Olmos, and Joe Cohen. Always a pleasure getting up with these guys! —GS

Shira Elias

SHIRA’S WEEK 1 TOUR TAKEAWAYS

1. No matter how much I love Brooklyn, I always feel a sense of calm and ease when l return to the West Coast.

2. Never underestimate the power of some pre-show retail therapy with your gals.

3. Always trust New Mastersounds’ Eddie Roberts to lead you to the most delicious food, in ANY city. (China Live in San Francisco is the bomb.)

4. We should definitely do more gigs on vineyards. Just sayin’. Big thanks to Whale Rock Festival and Castoro Cellars!

5. Being on tour is awesome. —SE

Chris Brouwers

The Fillmore in San Francisco was such an incredible show. It really means a lot to be performing at a historic venue like The Fillmore, on stage in front of family and friends, as well as hordes of enthusiastic concert-goers. 😉 This one really brought out the best in Turkuaz—we were feeding off the energy of the crowd, and vice versa. There’s a kind of feeling you get when you’re taking part in special moments like these. It’s part hard-work, part experience, part luck, and all magic when it hits just right. I’m pretty sure I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time.

Even aside from the Fillmore show, just being in San Francisco is always a great time. Perhaps I’m biased, but there are few places that can really compare. The city is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the scene is inspiring. After the show, Greg and I took our horns over to the Boom Boom Room, where we found Shira already onstage with some of our good friends—Eddie Roberts of the New Mastersounds, DJ Logic, and a killer band including some of the best horn players around, Mike Olmos and Joe Cohen. They invited us up to end the set, and we had a great time interacting with those guys. We may not have hit all those horn lines with them, but we’ll get ’em next time, haha. ‘Til then, San Francisco… —CB

Dave Brandwein

It was quite the honor to headline The Fillmore in San Francisco. We love San Francisco. It’s the origin city of our bass player, Taylor Shell. It’s the place where he had most of his formative musical experiences growing up, and in turn, as we became friends, we had many formative experiences there together. There’s something about it that inspires creativity and makes the extraordinary seem a little more possible. It will always be one of our favorite places to play music.

[Photo: Stuart Levine]

I remember the late nights we played years ago at the Boom Boom Room. We were always waiting for that Fillmore show to let out and the afterparty crowd to rush in before starting our second set. Those were fun times, to say the least, and playing music until 4 am certainly helped to shape us as a band, but it’s also nice to now be that Fillmore show across the street and bring it full circle.

This was the first night linking up with Sinkane on the road as well. We look forward to many more shows with them on this tour. They have a different sound, and I’d say a different group of listeners than we have, which is very cool and allows for a diverse show. Between having them open up, the beautiful room, and packed house of amazing people in the audience, this was a really special night that we won’t forget.

As the tour rolls on, the image of smiling friends and fans alike propels us forward into celebrating life and music and making new memories. Thank you to everyone who has come out so far. To those in the cities ahead, we look forward to seeing you very soon! —DB

[Photo: Stuart Levine]


Stay tuned for more exclusive Tourkuaz diaries in future weeks. Plus, you can also catch Turkuaz live during their extensive fall tour. Check out their upcoming dates below, and grab tickets here!

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years of driving around this crazy country of ours, it’s that Southern California and Missoula, Montana, are not very close to each other. So when embarking on said drive, I have one piece of advice: GET YOUR FUCKING SNACK GAME TOGETHER. For me it’s:

  • 1 (full size) bag of popcorn
  • 2 bags of Lorissa’s Kitchen Szechuan Peppercorn Beef Jerky
  • 5 individual string cheese’s
  • 3 sleeves of Blue Diamond Wasabi/Soy Almonds 

Once we hit the road, snacks in hand, I get into my podcast game. It’s a steady flow rotating between WTF, Pod Saves America, and The Norm Macdonald Show. See, between these three, I’ve got a great emotional palette, deep thoughtful conversation, politics, and absurd humor. With my snacks and entertainment together, I start driving. With this perfected regiment of snacks and podcasts, I put down the first nine hours of our twenty-four-hour drive. Once my eyes started to get heavy, I pass the wheel off to Chris [Brouwers], who proceeded to crush the next three-hundred miles. He then passed to wheel off to Josh [Schwartz], who crushed the last four-hundred miles. As I write this, we are sitting in front of one of our favorite venues in the country—The Top Hat in Missoula Montana. With all the miles down, there is but one thing left to go do … ROCK!!! See you somewhere down the road… —TS

Josh Schwartz

Wednesday, September 20, MISSOULA

 

Dave Brandwein

Thursday, September 21, SPOKANE

We had a great time as always in Spokane, Washington (or Spo-vegas as it is sometimes lovingly called). It’s Dani’s hometown, and we always have a blast with friends and family when we come through. (Dani is the behind-the-scenes magic maker for Turkuaz on and off the road, and also – my wife!) 

We’re one of only a handful of bands in our scene that comes through Spokane on a semi-regular basis. I think if this town got more love in the music world, it’s scene would flourish, and there are definitely some signs of that beginning to emerge. It’s a cool place surrounded by beautiful nature with lots of fun loving people—many of whom we saw last night.

Sinkane continues to sound great, and I’m enjoying getting to know their music better! If you’re coming to one of the shows on this leg of the tour, be sure to come early and catch their set! Now on to Seattle! Just one beautiful drive through Washington state away. — DB

P.S. Here are some notable people from around Spokane: Bing CrosbySteve GleasonChuck Jones, David Lynch, and Craig T. Nelson (he barely made the list)

Shira Elias

Friday, September 22, SEATTLE

Approximately 135 miles from the house I grew up in (in Vancouver, BC), Seattle is the closest I’ve gotten (so far) to a Turkuaz hometown show. Having spent numerous summers at a camp just outside of Seattle and countless weekends visiting friends here, this city holds a very, very dear place in my heart. The air, the trees, the coffee, the people—it all just feels so good. From the moment I stepped off the bus today and breathed in that crisp Washington air, I felt a sense of peacefulness and nostalgic familiarity. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still obsessed with New York and consider it my home, but deep down I’ll always be a Pacific Northwest girl. And with that, I give you a day in Seattle: Turkuaz edition. — SE


Some of the gang exploring Seattle’s LGBTQ hub, Capitol Hill. This neighborhood is buzzing with colorful artwork, funky restaurants and shops and tonight’s venue NEUMOS.


Chilling with one of Seattle’s most famous sons and music legends, Bronze Jimi. 


It wouldn’t be a proper day in Seattle without honoring what many regard as a world center for coffee roasting and coffee culture.  Or without getting extremely over- caffeinated (I think this was my 3rd coffee or the day. Huzzah!) After much deliberation we settled on the recommendation of a local coffee connoisseur: Cafe Vita Capitol Hill.


Super stoked to stumble across this Mecca of a record store, Everyday Records. The breadth and selection of records was astonishing, as was the uncanny Bob Dylan look alike roaming the aisles. 


Hell yes. The bar that this sign belongs to was packed. Seattle rocks.


Week One Of Turkuaz Tour

Turkuaz’s fall tour kicked off last Tuesday, September 12th, at Humboldt Brews in Arcata, California.

Listen to this unreleased soundcheck jam before Turkuaz’s show in Ashland, Oregon, on September 13th, 2017. Then, read on below to see what the members of the band have to say about their life on the road this week!

Michelangelo Carubba

Though we’ve been at this for some years now, every time one of these long tours is set to begin, I get really excited. I think we all do. We still love this. And we still love each other. Each new tour is a new beginning. Every three- to four-month stretch like this is another chance at redefining, evolving, and advancing ourselves musically, personally, professionally. It’s like New Years all over again. This time we’ve added a great new tour manager, more new songs, and newer looks. Humboldt California is the first stop on this tour. Here’s to new beginnings. —MC

Josh Schwartz

Sammi Garett

Can’t wait to see what next week brings! Hopefully lots more soup dumplings. —SG

Thrifting Across America

 Homemade cupcakes from Karin in Chico, CA

Whale Rock Music Festival at Castoro Cellars


Soup dumplings (my FAVORITE, close tie with cheese) and wine!

Greg Sanderson

Life is just better on the road. There’s a rhythm to the whole thing. We arrive into different cities, and in a flash of a few hours, we experience a rush of what each of these musical communities has to offer. It’s a great feeling being able to share what we do. We also get so much back from our fans, the clubs we play, and local businesses. Everything involved makes for a truly unique look into the cities and people we play for.

Week One Highlight: After an amazing evening at The Fillmore, our good friends Eddie Roberts and DJ Logic, threw an after party at the Boom Boom Room. Obviously, madness ensued. Chris and I were able to jump in on a few tunes with our fellow hornsmen and San Francisco horn royalty, Mike Olmos, and Joe Cohen. Always a pleasure getting up with these guys! —GS

Shira Elias

SHIRA’S WEEK 1 TOUR TAKEAWAYS

1. No matter how much I love Brooklyn, I always feel a sense of calm and ease when l return to the West Coast.

2. Never underestimate the power of some pre-show retail therapy with your gals.

3. Always trust New Mastersounds’ Eddie Roberts to lead you to the most delicious food, in ANY city. (China Live in San Francisco is the bomb.)

4. We should definitely do more gigs on vineyards. Just sayin’. Big thanks to Whale Rock Festival and Castoro Cellars!

5. Being on tour is awesome. —SE

Chris Brouwers

The Fillmore in San Francisco was such an incredible show. It really means a lot to be performing at a historic venue like The Fillmore, on stage in front of family and friends, as well as hordes of enthusiastic concert-goers. 😉 This one really brought out the best in Turkuaz—we were feeding off the energy of the crowd, and vice versa. There’s a kind of feeling you get when you’re taking part in special moments like these. It’s part hard-work, part experience, part luck, and all magic when it hits just right. I’m pretty sure I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time.

Even aside from the Fillmore show, just being in San Francisco is always a great time. Perhaps I’m biased, but there are few places that can really compare. The city is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the scene is inspiring. After the show, Greg and I took our horns over to the Boom Boom Room, where we found Shira already onstage with some of our good friends—Eddie Roberts of the New Mastersounds, DJ Logic, and a killer band including some of the best horn players around, Mike Olmos and Joe Cohen. They invited us up to end the set, and we had a great time interacting with those guys. We may not have hit all those horn lines with them, but we’ll get ’em next time, haha. ‘Til then, San Francisco… —CB

Dave Brandwein

It was quite the honor to headline The Fillmore in San Francisco. We love San Francisco. It’s the origin city of our bass player, Taylor Shell. It’s the place where he had most of his formative musical experiences growing up, and in turn, as we became friends, we had many formative experiences there together. There’s something about it that inspires creativity and makes the extraordinary seem a little more possible. It will always be one of our favorite places to play music.

[Photo: Stuart Levine]

I remember the late nights we played years ago at the Boom Boom Room. We were always waiting for that Fillmore show to let out and the afterparty crowd to rush in before starting our second set. Those were fun times, to say the least, and playing music until 4 am certainly helped to shape us as a band, but it’s also nice to now be that Fillmore show across the street and bring it full circle.

This was the first night linking up with Sinkane on the road as well. We look forward to many more shows with them on this tour. They have a different sound, and I’d say a different group of listeners than we have, which is very cool and allows for a diverse show. Between having them open up, the beautiful room, and packed house of amazing people in the audience, this was a really special night that we won’t forget.

As the tour rolls on, the image of smiling friends and fans alike propels us forward into celebrating life and music and making new memories. Thank you to everyone who has come out so far. To those in the cities ahead, we look forward to seeing you very soon! —DB

[Photo: Stuart Levine]


Stay tuned for more exclusive Tourkuaz diaries in future weeks. Plus, you can also catch Turkuaz live during their extensive fall tour. Check out their upcoming dates below, and grab tickets here!