Ever wondered what guitar tunings I use, how I wrote a particular song or what the strangest gig I’ve played is?
Almost certainly not. You’re a busy person, with many important things to attend to. But just in case you have ever wondered something or other, and would consider framing it in the form of a question, this would be an excellent moment to ask it.
No subject is too big or small. Be startlingly blunt, be weird, be anything you like.
I’ll reply in the comments, or maybe with an audio post another time.
Wait I should say it's postponed rather than cancelled. We're just trying to confirm a rearranged date. Feel so disappointed, and hope it's not screwed up your plans too much.
That's it. Am sick as a dog. If it was a test of will I'd be there, but alas it's a test of lungs and mine are still shot. Hopefully not for too much longer.
Hope you can make the rearranged date, will share it as soon as we have it. And thanks for grabbing tickets in the first place.
Jake please could you send me back the link to my song To Know You Better? I have a new smart phone and I am a luddite. I am in hospital in London and my new friends on the ward would like to hear it and I can't work out how to get to my u
I get depressed every time I learn about a new guitar tuning I never heard of before (last one being one Jerry Reed uses in Mississpi Flash). Mind you, before I ask my question, I realise I'd love to know if you've heard that song, and if you could play something like that? I've promised myself I'll try and learn it, he uses a techinique called the 'claw' (which I'd also never heard of before).
My daughter loves it, Emma's 5 and it warms my heart that she already knows pretty much all the words.... Anyway.. my question.. The Ghostess! Not to pry.. but that imagery is so vivid for me, can't help wondering if it's from a real experience? Well, here's the deal, if you'll comment on Jerry Reed, you don't have to reveal anything about the Ghostess :0).
Hey Julian, I realise I missed this question in my reply post. Sorry about that!
Not familiar with Mississippi Flash, will take a listen now.
I did once learn clawhammer... found it strangely hard for something that looks quite simple. Was fun to be rubbish at it and then get better. Love listening to the experts at it.
Hey Emma!
Re: Ghostess. No literal ghosts or anything truly supernatural.
But the imagery was pretty much as it was. Toothbrushes, hair, mattress... I didn't have to look to far to dream up images, it was all right in front of me. A very real impression of how I felt then.
Hey Jake - that's fine! That's really interesting that you should reply now - as I listened to your podcast this morning. First time I've heard your voice outside of singing. So that's great. Some great questions and answers there! I have to admit, having a newsletter myself now.. does give a whole new appreciation when people such as yourself are also putting one out. The time it takes to write them.. and to reply to them! So thank you for coming back to this.
I hope you get to listen to Mississipi Flash - I can almost imagine it could be someone such as yourself, walking into some Studio Exec's office back in the early days and, in the words of the song,'sing you some songs that'll knock your hat in a creek! I got talent, boy...said back home they call me the Tuppelo Mississipi Flash!!'. Though I can't imagine you being that upfront about it! I can imagine the surprise when they heard you play. I know I was the first time I heard 'Too Many Fish'...
Yeah, Ghostess - thanks for answering. I think we've all been there, but this song captures the whole deal for me.. the surprise.. and longing and it being hard to adjust when a relationship is done and gone.... very moving.. thank you for bringing this song to life.
I 'discovered' your music when you played at Y-Not festival in Derbyshire in 2011 (?!). It seems like you've not played at that many (UK) festivals since. Is that correct, and if so, are there any reasons for that? Watching you play in a tent with a warm beer in hand (me, not you) was fab. I've seen you several times since then. Always brilliant - thank you :)
Oh my. Any chance of a tutorial for The Floods? Even just a simplified version? It’s the song that I played on repeat the most when I first heard of you and I’d love to be able to play some kind of iteration of it 🙏
Hi Jake, sorry for not participating in your newsletter recently. Been busy with family and Glastonbury. My question to you is this. There must be many memorable moments that you have witnessed as a performer on stage, what is your funniest memory?
What's going through your mind when you're performing live? You often look so tied-up and involved in the moment that you're not aware of anything else..... but in reality, you may be thinking of painting the spare room or who made the smell near the bar earlier...
is the gig at Rose and Monkey Manchester cancelled?
Wait I should say it's postponed rather than cancelled. We're just trying to confirm a rearranged date. Feel so disappointed, and hope it's not screwed up your plans too much.
Hi Pete. I'm afraid so. Did you get an email from the ticket company?
probs missed it No worries cant be helped Get well soon and see you back in Manchester
That's it. Am sick as a dog. If it was a test of will I'd be there, but alas it's a test of lungs and mine are still shot. Hopefully not for too much longer.
Hope you can make the rearranged date, will share it as soon as we have it. And thanks for grabbing tickets in the first place.
YouTube channel
Jake please could you send me back the link to my song To Know You Better? I have a new smart phone and I am a luddite. I am in hospital in London and my new friends on the ward would like to hear it and I can't work out how to get to my u
Thank you Mr beautiful port x
So sorry to hear you’re unwell right now Anne. Hopefully sharing your song with new friends will give you some fresh energy.
Here’s the link:
https://youtu.be/TTh1PiHYhNU
Get well soon!
I get depressed every time I learn about a new guitar tuning I never heard of before (last one being one Jerry Reed uses in Mississpi Flash). Mind you, before I ask my question, I realise I'd love to know if you've heard that song, and if you could play something like that? I've promised myself I'll try and learn it, he uses a techinique called the 'claw' (which I'd also never heard of before).
My daughter loves it, Emma's 5 and it warms my heart that she already knows pretty much all the words.... Anyway.. my question.. The Ghostess! Not to pry.. but that imagery is so vivid for me, can't help wondering if it's from a real experience? Well, here's the deal, if you'll comment on Jerry Reed, you don't have to reveal anything about the Ghostess :0).
Hey Julian, I realise I missed this question in my reply post. Sorry about that!
Not familiar with Mississippi Flash, will take a listen now.
I did once learn clawhammer... found it strangely hard for something that looks quite simple. Was fun to be rubbish at it and then get better. Love listening to the experts at it.
Hey Emma!
Re: Ghostess. No literal ghosts or anything truly supernatural.
But the imagery was pretty much as it was. Toothbrushes, hair, mattress... I didn't have to look to far to dream up images, it was all right in front of me. A very real impression of how I felt then.
Hey Jake - that's fine! That's really interesting that you should reply now - as I listened to your podcast this morning. First time I've heard your voice outside of singing. So that's great. Some great questions and answers there! I have to admit, having a newsletter myself now.. does give a whole new appreciation when people such as yourself are also putting one out. The time it takes to write them.. and to reply to them! So thank you for coming back to this.
I hope you get to listen to Mississipi Flash - I can almost imagine it could be someone such as yourself, walking into some Studio Exec's office back in the early days and, in the words of the song,'sing you some songs that'll knock your hat in a creek! I got talent, boy...said back home they call me the Tuppelo Mississipi Flash!!'. Though I can't imagine you being that upfront about it! I can imagine the surprise when they heard you play. I know I was the first time I heard 'Too Many Fish'...
Yeah, Ghostess - thanks for answering. I think we've all been there, but this song captures the whole deal for me.. the surprise.. and longing and it being hard to adjust when a relationship is done and gone.... very moving.. thank you for bringing this song to life.
I 'discovered' your music when you played at Y-Not festival in Derbyshire in 2011 (?!). It seems like you've not played at that many (UK) festivals since. Is that correct, and if so, are there any reasons for that? Watching you play in a tent with a warm beer in hand (me, not you) was fab. I've seen you several times since then. Always brilliant - thank you :)
How do you feel when you see someone covering one of you songs - is it a bit weird seeing someone else sing the words which were once in your head?
If you could learn to play any other instrument, what would it be?
Oh my. Any chance of a tutorial for The Floods? Even just a simplified version? It’s the song that I played on repeat the most when I first heard of you and I’d love to be able to play some kind of iteration of it 🙏
What's one of your musical "guilty pleasures" some people might be surprised about?
Barber shop quartets of course
;)
Out of all the venues you've played, which one has been your favourite, and why?
What are all the guitar tunings you've used across all the songs you've written so far?
What, if anything, did you learn from the great, late, Colin Vearncombe?
Hi Jake, sorry for not participating in your newsletter recently. Been busy with family and Glastonbury. My question to you is this. There must be many memorable moments that you have witnessed as a performer on stage, what is your funniest memory?
Give a choice which one would you like most to cover one of your songs - Christine McVie or Stevie Nicks?
What is the most confusing youtube comment you've seen on one of your videos?
What's going through your mind when you're performing live? You often look so tied-up and involved in the moment that you're not aware of anything else..... but in reality, you may be thinking of painting the spare room or who made the smell near the bar earlier...
Yeah this ☝️