WAIM #141: Bob Andrews & Jayne Ballantyne of Undertow Music

Bob Andrews fell ass backwards into becoming the touring manager for Uncle Tupelo and Wilco. He’d been working at a drum shop in Nashville and was good friends with Ken Coomer, Uncle Tupelo’s drummer. After a brief meeting with the band, Bob was hired. He went on to manage Tupelo, and eventually Wilco through the initial tours for their 1996 opus, Being There. Undertow began the same year that Andrews walked away from the Wilco gig, as he began to take on management duties for clients like David Bazan of Pedro The Lion.Over the course of the intervening thirty years, Bob and his ever expanding roster of mid-level artists have been building careers amidst an ever-changing and increasingly difficult musical landscape. By leveraging the intimate power of house concerts, Andrews has also helped to foster a burgeoning underground network of alternative venues.More than a decade ago, Jayne Ballantyne came on board as an intern. Coming from a theater background, Jayne combined her navigational skills with a penchant for logistics and a deep love of music to become a natural at the dark arts of artist management and booking. Today she counts herself as a partner in Undertow with Bob.Artists That Have Worked With UndertowAnders ParkerBad Bad HatsBottle RocketsCalifoneCave SingersChris BrokawChris StaplesClap Your Hands Say YeahCraig Finn (The Hold Steady)Damien JuradoDanielle DurackDavid BazanDavid DonderoDiane CristiansenEarlimartEef Barzelay (Clem Snide)Emma SwiftEric Bachmann (Archers of Loaf)Flock of DimesForrest Kline (HELLOGOODBYE)Geoff FarinaJason NarducyJenn ChampionJeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate)Jesse Sykes & The Sweet HereafterJohn VandersliceJosh Caterer (The Smoking Popes)Julia NunesJustin Kinkel-SchusterKevin DevineLady LambLaura GibsonLaura Jane GraceLaura VeirsLauren Ruth WardLenoreMaria Taylor (Azure Ray)Marie / LepantoMark Eitzel (American Music Club)Matt Talbott (HUM)Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing)MirahThe MynabirdsNataly DawnNora O’ConnorOceanatorPeter Silberman (The Antlers)Pedro the LionRichard BucknerRocky VotolatoS. CareySamantha CrainSarah BorgesSay HiScott McCaughey (R.E.M., Young Fresh Fellows)Sera CahooneShelby EarlSpencer ThomasSteve DawsonSydney SpragueThalia ZedekTim Kasher (Cursive)TORRESUp Around the SunVandaveerWalter Martin (The Walkmen)Warren DunesWill Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel)WussyBoth Jayne and Bob are very cognizant of the myriad changes happening within the music industry. Music is something close to free while concert ticket prices have soared astronomically in recent years. At Undertow, they’re working incredibly hard to create the best possible environment for each and every show. They have developed a network of reliable hosts across the country, and with each show are spreading the gospel of the house concert.These shows are not just terrific experiences for audiences, they are also a great deal for the artists as well. House concerts help to cut out the middle man costs that exist at most established venues. This means that an artist can keep the vast majority of what they make without the venue taking a big cut on ticket and merchandise sales. For many middle class artists, that means a night playing to just 40 or 50 people can still pay the bills, all without charging ridiculously high ticket prices.During our conversation Jayne and Bob share some of the frightening economic realities for artists not at the top of the pile. We discuss what a golden age it is right now for house shows and alternative venues. And, we talk about the ever expanding definition of what it means to host a “house concert”. We also cover the unexpected community that has popped up around Undertow, and we even rail a bit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation. This one does include a little inside baseball on the music industry, but it’s a crucial conversation for anyone that loves live music.So, here now are Jayne Ballantyne and Bob Andrews from Undertow Shows. Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to Bob and Jayne for joining me. You can find out all about their work and upcoming shows at  https://undertowmusic.com/The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe