Tea Leaf Green Announces First Tour Of 2016 & Departure Of Reed Mathis

Bay Area jam act Tea Leaf Green played over 100 shows a year for a bulk of the ’00s and early ’10s, but more recently TLG performances let alone tours have been rare treats. The band will finally hit the road this fall for an eight-show tour and with bassist Reed Mathis busy with Electric Beethoven and Golden Gate Wingmen, Tea Leaf Green have recruited the extremely talented Eric DiBerardino (Go By Ocean, The Loyal Scam).

DiBar is no stranger to the music of Tea Leaf Green as he has played on past shows when Mathis was unavailable. Reed Mathis took over the bass seat for Tea Leaf Green following the departure of founding member Ben Chambers in 2007. The Oklahoma native contributed to such TLG studio efforts as 2008’s Raise Up The Tent, 2010’s Looking West, 2011’s Radio Tragedy! and the group’s most recent LP, In The Wake. An announcement on TLG’s website mentions the band “have decided to part creative ways” with Mathis. “Reed joined us at a pivotal period in the life of our band, and we are forever grateful to him for the integral role he filled in TLG and for the collaborator and friend he has become. Reed has a unique musical voice, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors, the latest of which are the visionary Electric Beethoven project and Golden Gate Wingmen. Check ’em out!” reads a note from the band.

Tea Leaf Green’s Fall Tour begins at Baltimore’s The 8×10 on October 6. From there, the band will play Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia along with Keller Williams on October 7 before a gig in Washington, DC on October 8. The tour resumes with performances in Richmond (October 10), Philadelphia (October 11) and Fairfield (October 13). On October 14 the five-piece will play Once Ballroom in Boston ahead of a tour-closing performance at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City in October 15.

For a taste of TLG with Eric DiBerardino listen to a show from May:

Check out a 2005 feature on Tea Leaf Green penned by JamBase co-founder Andy Gadiel.