For the past 15  years, Tea Leaf Green have been an integral part of the San Francisco music scene and managed to cement themselves among fans as a jam band extraordinaire. Not unlike many other rock and roll acts, there has been the loss of a member, coming to a crossroads as a band, the addition of a new member or two, and everything in between. But in the face of adversity, TLG decided to keep on keepin’ on and are now releasing their seventh LP, Radio Tragedy!, on June 7th via Thirty Tigers Records.

As a nice accompaniment to the release of Radio Tragedy!, Tea Leaf Green decided to sit down for a mini-documentary of sorts and talk about what brought the band to this point to be able to create their latest studio effort. Aptly titled “Behind The Radio Tragedy!” (a CoS Premiere), guitarist Josh Clark and company discussed everything from the evolution of the band to the awesome concept behind the album’s artwork (a sweet comic book-style insert, if you’re curious…). But the real message behind the video was that the making of Radio Tragedy! was more than just playing music—it became a spiritual unification of the band. Something bigger than themselves.

CoS was also lucky enough to be given a preview of the album’s first two singles, “Honey Bee” and “Easy To Be Your Lover,” which can be streamed below. At first listen, they provide the listener with two very different sounds and a glimpse into what could be a rather diverse range of influences among the Tea Leaf Green family. Imagine if Grateful Dead and Little Feat had a kid (“Honey Bee”) and managed to find a friend in the love child of the Bee Gees and Electric Light Orchestra (“Easy To Be Your Lover). Pretty interesting family.

Take a peek at “Behind The Radio Tragedy!” to get an honest look into a hard-working band that’s doing it for all the right reasons. And they’re not the only ones who seem to think so. Hasidic rapper Matisyahu, whose own ties to the jam band scene run deep, is even taking the band on the road this summer for a 17-date string across the U.S. Check out the Tea Leaf Green website for further information and peep all confirmed dates below.

-Megan Caffery

Honey Bee

Easy To Be Your Lover

Radio Tragedy! Tracklist:
01. All Washed Up
02. Easy To Be Your Lover
03. You’re My Star
04. My Oklahoma Home
05. Fallen Angel
06. Sleep Paralysis
07. Germinating Seed
08. Honey Bee
09. The Cottonwood Tree
10. Arise
11. Nothing Changes

Tea Leaf Green 2011 Tour Dates:
06/08 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Arts Festival
06/09 – West Chester, PA @ The Note
06/10 – Norfolk, VA @ Harborfest
06/11 – Baltimore, MD @ The 8×10
06/12 – New Hope, PA @ Triumph Brewery
06/15 – Pawtucket, RI @ The Met
06/16 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
06/17 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
06/18 – Boston, MA @ Rock On! Concert Cruise
06/19 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony
07/02 – Snowmass Village, CO @ Eco Music Festival
07/10 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews All *
07/11 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *
07/12 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection Lounge *
07/13 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre *
07/23 – Bridgeport, CT @ Gathering of the Vibes *
07/26 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory *
07/27 – Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom *
07/28 – Portland, OR @ Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre *
07/30 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre *
07/31 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall *
08/01 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort Theatre *
08/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia *
08/04 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre *
08/06 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Pool *
08/07 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s *
08/09 – Anaheim, CA @ The Grove *
08/10 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre *
09/05 – Bethlehem, PA @ SteelJam Festival

* = w/ Matisyahu