THE NEW TATTOOS - Jordan Crosby Lee, Frank Martinez, and Grant Goodson

I met Frank one night after Jenna, his girlfriend, brought him out to a bar where I was performing a solo set. He had just divorced himself from a southern rock band and was looking to play. When we first got together in a detached garage just north of San Antonio, we didn't have any real direction or purpose with regard to our sound. We sort of just started playing and, over time, spilled into it. We weren't really sure (and still aren't) about what to call whatever it was we spilled into, but it has been compelling enough to keep us going since 2006.

Then came Grant and his bass guitar. A long time friend of Frank's, Grant used to be the lead man in Frank's southern rock group that fell asunder. The story from there to here is worth telling, but it's a long one. For now, I'll just say that fences were mended, and Grant brought a new and welcomed energy to our music. We're grateful to have him.

So it's just us three. Frank plays the violin, and Grant plays the bass - they are the real musical talents. Once, I asked Frank why he chose my songs and my music to play with...instead of some clamorous Texas rock band looking for nasty fiddle solos they could use to rouse audiences into utter anarchy. He insisted that he plays for the lyrics. The songs are funny and tragic, and they work hard to convey my own weird and off-centered perceptions. So here we are, and life is fairly ridiculous, and dramatic, and stupid, and wonderful, and we are all incredibly proud to be a part of something that tries to capture those beautifully raw and naked moments.

Thank you all for visiting the site. Keep checking in with us for date information and new music. See you at the next show!

- Jordan Crosby Lee