Tuff Sunshine and the dark bitter light of "The Story Ends"

 

"gather round children that I've never had..."

Step into the song "The Story Ends" by Tuff Sunshine, the project / musical moniker of Brooklyn based musician, provocateur Johnny Leitera and you will surely be taken on a journey but not taken for a ride (although you might sometimes feel like it). This journey may feel surreal, may feel like visions you may see after dipping into mild hallucinogens or be, at least, slightly drunk on one two many Old Fashioned drinks. There is a rambling nature here, one of busker nights and dead sleep days. Johnny's vocal aesthetic feels as worn and rutted as an old New Mexico desert road and his dark poetry that walks last walks and gives you the feeling that our dreams, our night visions may be our real lives, will leave an impression on you like a fond tattoo.

The overall aesthetic here and with other Tuff Sunshine songs that I have perused, stuck my head into as a point of discovery feel like dark dioramas that, to me, feel like parables. The style here is daring but not in an audacious way, in a natural way like a lightning strike and while the overall effect is hard to describe, comparatively, as I walked into the dark light of "The Story Ends" I thought of an amalgam of King Slalmon, Tom Waits, Cracker, Elliot Smith and Charles Bukowski.

Of this song, Johnny shares:

"I was thinking about when someone dies, everyone else's life goes on, homes bought, children, other milestones, etc, how once we are gone other people’s lives continue but the departed never know (at least to our knowledge) how the story ends, or what ultimately happens to those we love. How THEIR story ends. It felt sad to me I guess, the lack of closure, but also comforting maybe that there's nothing we can do about. I have been trying to literally live in the moment these days and this was a way of working through this aspect of things."

Yeah, the song makes you wonder, punches you in the gut and gives you a shoulder to cry on.

-Robb Donker Curtius

DeclaredGoods · TUFF SUNSHINE - The Story Ends

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

https://www.facebook.com/tuffsunshine

https://twitter.com/Tuff_Sunshine

https://tuffsunshine.com/


Tuff Sunshine is the indie/rock/acoustic/garage/non-genre-restricted musical vehicle helmed by Brooklyn musician and songwriter Johnny Leitera, which Time-Out New York describes as "cool, emotive indie fare that skillfully fuses funky soul with wiry post-punk.” An accurate description…

"Tuff Sunshine is one of the most dynamic, energizing and altogether rousing bands out there"

—Stereo Embers Magazine

"A catchy, sunny blend of rustic rock 'n roll and power-pop hooks"

—PopMatters

"Grand vision--loss and transcendence are given equal weight with a sound that exists outside the convenience of pigeonhole tags and pretentious micro sub-genre adjectives"

—Impose Magazine

"Glam, punk, and even roots-rock--the diversity keeps things interesting"

—Austin Town Hall

"Instantly likeable"

—Magnet Magazine

“Play Loud.”

—The New York Times

"Cool NYC trio Tuff Sunshine does emotive indie fare that skillfully fuses funky soul with wiry postpunk."

--Time Out NY



** At this particular time we find ourselves in a financial pinch due to many factors. We want to keep AP going. It has been a passion project for over 13 years. PLEASE consider donating, we could really use the support. Thanks so much


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 Tuff Sunshine, singer songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist, Johnny Leitera, Brooklyn, New York, storyteller, dark folk, busker punk, indie rock, avant folk, art rock, art folk, psychedelic folk,