The Cedar Cultural Center

Ever since I saw my first show at The Cedar Cultural Center (which I believe was Greg Brown), I’ve wanted to perform there. It’s just about the most perfect venue for my style of music. The sound is excellent. It’s spacious, yet intimate. Love it.

And last night I got to perform there!

It was the Prairie Fire Lady Choir’s end of season celebration. They performed along with Roe Family Singers, Aby Wolf, and the Como Avenue Jug Band…and me! 

Prairie Fire Lady Choir and Roe Family Singers sharing the stage.

I sang a few songs with the choir and then did a four song set of my own.

It was a seated show, which means that all in attendance were seated and watching and listening. I don’t think I’ve ever had that before. At bars, people tend to mill about, chat, etc and that’s just fine. I want people to have a good time. But having people just sit and listen while you perform is pretty amazing and a very cool experience.

Set list for The Cedar Cultural Center 11-27-12

• Johnny B. Goode
• Minnesota
• Blue Whale (With the Borgendale sisters on back up! Love singing this song with them!)
• For the Time Being

                                                                   Singing with the Borgendale sisters!

Next up I’ll be at the Turf Club this Sunday, December 2^nd with Swallows and Mary Bue. I will have the band with me. Yay for band shows!

Favorite Songs Ever, Part 5: "Good Intentions Paving Company" - Joanna Newsom

I’ve been talking about this song a lot lately and I will more than likely continue talking about it because I am OBSESSED. It is almost impossible for me to listen to it just once in one sitting.

I picked up Joanna Newsom’s massive triple album Have One On Me about a year ago. It’s a very delicate album and very very long. Most of the songs easily break the 7 minute mark. And with the – mostly – same instrumentation throughout, it’s easy to get lost in which song is playing. They can be difficult to distinguish.

Still there are tracks that jump out. “On a Bad Day” and “Jackrabbits” are two that  come to mind.

And, of course, “Good Intentions Paving Company”:

This is one of those songs that crept into my ear via my iPod. I ended up just throwing the whole album onto the iPod and letting it shuffle in and out of my day with the rest of my music instead of just sitting down with the whole thing and digging it. It is a triple album after all. That task was too daunting.

At some point, this song just kept jumping out at me. In the beginning of the song, when all instruments are in and it’s just bopping along, I would find myself bopping along, too. I couldn’t understand what she was saying at first, but I just liked it.

Then each time it would come on, I found myself turning it up and really starting to listen. To listen to all of it. The words, the instruments weaving in and out. It’s just so cool.

The words and the story they tell – a couple on a road trip to a show having a discussion about their relationship that is going both good and bad – is just so simple yet she tells it so differently. And half way through, when the majority of the instruments drop out and it’s just her and her piano – just gives me chills. It’s like the whole world gets put on pause for that moment and I find myself just sinking into the song completely.

By far my favorite moment in this song is right after the line “and I know you meant to show the extent to which you gave a goddang”. At this point in the song it’s just been Joanna and the piano for a little bit, but right after this line, the drums come in – but only for a second – and it’s just perfect.

I wish I wrote this song.

I want to write this song.

This is the song Bruce Springsteen never wrote. It has that Bruce Springsteen quality: Sprawling road trip song with a breakdown somewhere towards the end.

This song has everything I love in music: female vocalist, good percussion, lyrics that seem to ramble and meander but yet make so much sense, lyrics that actually do rhyme but you don’t think about that as you are listening, surprises and new things to discover upon each listen, and it even has those unexpected horns that I love at the end.

And it’s fun to sing along to.

This song puts me in such a good mood.

Thanks for writing it, Joanna.

(I've posted the lyrics here because she can be hard to understand and the lyrics are so awesome)

Twenty miles left to the show
Hello, my old country, hello
Stars are just beginning to appear
And I have never in my life before been here

And it's my heart, not me, who cannot drive
At which conclusion you arrived
Watching me sit here bolt upright and cry
For no good reason at the Eastering sky

And the tilt of this strange nation
And the will to remain for the duration
Waving the flag
Feeling it drag

Like a bump on a bump on a log, baby
Like I'm in a fist fight with a fog, baby
Step-ball-change and a pirouette
And I regret, I regret

How I said to you, "honey, just open your heart"
When I've got trouble even opening a honey jar
And that right there is where we are...

And I been 'fessing double fast
Addressing questions nobody asked
I'll get this joy off of my chest at last
And I will love you 'til the noise has long since passed

And I did not mean to shout, just drive
Just get us out, dead or alive
A road too long to mention, lord, it's something to see!
Laid down by the good intentions paving company

All the way to the thing we've been playing at, darlin'
I can see that you're wearing your staying hat, darlin'
For the time being all is well
Won't you love me a spell?

This is blindness beyond all conceiving
Well, behind us the road is leaving, yeah, leaving
And falling back
Like a rope gone slack

Well, I saw straight away that the lay was steep
But I fell for you, honey, as easy as falling asleep
And that right there is the course I keep...

And no amount of talking
Is going to soften the fall
But, like after the rain, step out
Of the overhang, that's all

It had a nice a ring to it
When the ol' opry house rang
So with a solemn auld lang
Signed, sealed, delivered, I sang

And there is hesitation
And it always remains
Concerning you, me,
And the rest of the gang

And in our quiet hour
I feel I see everything
And am in love with the hook
Upon which everyone hangs

And I know you meant to show the extent
To which you gave a goddang
You ranged real hot and real cold but I'm sold
I am home on that range

And I do hate to fold
Right here at the top of my game
When I've been trying with my whole heart and soul
To stay right here in the right lane

But it can make you feel over and old
Lord, you know it's a shame
When I only want for you to pull over and hold me
'Til I can't remember my own name

Five

Here's five things that are, will be and have been happening:

1. I have a lot of songs ready to go and so I thought it would be fun to record an EP for a release this spring - and the recording has begun! Shawn has a 4 track player and we are going to make a 4-5 song EP. Total do-it-yourself mode completely recorded at his house. I'm going to make the album art and burn the discs myself, though it will most likely be mainly a digital download. I'm super excited. Here's the first song we've done. It's called "A Story":



2. I'm performing at The Cedar Cultural Center this Tuesday for the Prairie Fire Lady Choir end of season show. As you may or may not know, I've been a part of the choir for about two years now. I'll be singing some songs with the choir as well as some songs of my own on my own. Should be a super fun night!

3. I saw The Chalice perform again at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Third Thursday event. These ladies are the real deal. Check them out!

4. My friends, The Broken Bicycles, have revamped their sound. They've gone electric! And they've done it well! No more ukuleles. Lead singer, Turkeyes' voice was made for singing like this. Love it. I took some video at the debut performance of their new sound.



5. I started watching Homeland last weekend. I'm not sure about this one. Claire Danes is so over the top. It occurred to me I haven't seen anything she's done since My So Called Life. This character feels like exactly who Angela Chase grew up to be. I will say that I am intrigued by the show's main mystery. Just not sure I care about much else - including the characters.

Happy Thanksgiving

I cannot believe it's Thanksgiving already. This year has just flown by. I am so excited for mashed potatoes and dinner rolls today. There better be mashed potatoes....

Things I am thankful for (in no particular order):

I am thankful for music - both the listening of and the ability to make it
For my friends - the ones that I've had for forever and the new ones I've made this year.
For my job and how after two layoffs in one year I've been fortunate enough to find a job that I am so happy to do.
For everyone who has bought an album of mine, downloaded a song of mine, came to one of my shows, or just listened to my music.
I am thankful for my house and my big comfy bed and my quiet neighborhood.
I am thankful for the awesomeness that is the BBC's Sherlock, the cheesiness of Grimm, the ridiculous humor of Community, and for The Walking Dead to finally get its act together and be awesome.

I am thankful for my new dog, Robbie. I am so happy we are all together as a family now.

And I am so very thankful for my husband, Matt. We go through all this together. Side by side. He buys me ice cream when I'm sick. He does the dishes for me because he knows how much I hate to do them. He knows I'm kind of crazy and prone to anxiety attacks and he stays with me and helps me deal.   He makes me laugh like no one else can.

Much love to all of you on this Thanksgiving Day.

Smitten

All I can do is think about my new dog. I want to talk about him all the time. I had to stop myself from posting picture after picture and update after update of and about him on the social medias last night. I’m pretty sure STFU, Parents who put up a special post about me if I posted about him as much as I want to.

Today is his first day home alone for a full work day and I am worried sick! I just want to go home to him and cuddle. He’s just so sweet. I wish he could come to work with me. I guess he went to work with his foster mom sometimes. If only my employer allowed it.

I think he’s starting to like us. We broke down and are letting him sleep in bed with us. We just didn’t want to kennel him all night and then kennel him again all day when we work. I think that went a long way in his feelings towards us. 

He's a very good sleeper.

 He does such goofy things. He just sits. Like, randomly sits and watches everything. It’s so cute. He’ll sit for anything.

He’s really good at giving side-eye.

He takes his toys and throws them for himself. If I try to throw them for him, he just sits, so I have to give it right back because he’s a good boy for sitting to request something. If I do manage to throw a toy, even if he’s been playing with it outside of his kennel or his room (yep, he now has Murray’s old room as his), he gets and brings it back to his kennel. Like he’s annoyed that I threw it and doesn’t think I’m playing with it right so, therefore, I don’t get to play with it at all.

Watching dad leave for work.

It’s all certainly an adjustment, though. It’s been a quiet year since Murray passed and now we are back on the 4am wake-up call of a dog getting up and shaking and his collar making a ton of noise.  And getting up an hour earlier to walk him and feed him and hang out with him before heading to work. And keeping a constant eye on him as he can still be a little naughty.

It’s totally worth it, though.

I am so glad he is in our life now.

And Introducing....

Robbie!

Yep. We got another dog. He's just about the sweetest little guy ever.

We had been looking at his picture on Petfinder and debating about him for weeks (see this post). Then Second Chance Animal Rescue* (the agency he was fostered through) had an adoption day in our neighborhood yesterday and we went and he was there and we couldn't say no.

We had called on Friday to make sure he was going to be there and then got there early on Saturday to make sure we got to him first. There were so many people there waiting for the dogs! I was so worried we'd have to fight for him. But we caught him just as he was coming in the door and met him before anyone else even had a chance to see him.

Having a dog in the house again has already been a major adjustment. He was with his foster mom for 5 months and I think they were very attached. He seems sad - cries a lot - but then every once in a while, he seems to be accepting us.

Having a dog again is also making me realize how unique Murray was. We never had to worry about him jumping on the counters, eating out of the garbage, drinking out of the toilet. But Robbie will do all of those things, so it is a constant game of keeping an eye on him.

He took to his kennel well. We set it up and he went right in there without us even pointing it out. He even put his toys in there himself. But then when we went to bed last night and shut the door, well, that seemed to change his opinion of his kennel. But he didn't make a peep all night.

He really wants to come up on our bed. And he's totally able to jump up there. Right now, we've decided this is unacceptable. The bed needs to stay animal hair free, so the bedroom door stays closed. But, I don't know. I bet he'd really like to sleep up there with us...

I'm really trying not to compare him to Murray. He is his own dog after all. But Murray is my only previous experience as a pet owner as an adult and Murray was just not a normal dog. I think Robbie is more of a normal dog. But, he's still weird. He doesn't seem to like areas with heavy traffic. On his walk around the neighborhood last night, we got to the point where we walk on a sidewalk off of a busy street and he was not happy.

And then today, we took him for a walk around the lake and when we got to a point where we were walking into the wind and you could hear the nearby cars going by, he froze and would not move.

So, we're all just trying to figure each other out and learn how to communicate with each other.

He really is the sweetest, most gentle dog. Just super mellow. Doesn't make a sound (except for the occasional crying outburst). I love him so much already. I hope he learns to love me.

 *Second Chance Animal Rescue is also where we got Murray. They are a great organization.

Cause, Part 2

Monday night at Cause last night was a super fun night. You never know what you're going to get at a Monday night show. Mondays are hard. People are tired. I'm tired. But last night was a lot of fun. Thanks, everyone, for making it out.

I played solo and got to run through some new - and older - songs again. The band and I are also working on some new songs - and reworking an older one. Hoping to debut these tunes soon at one of my next shows soon (maybe Turf Club Clown Lounge on December 2nd?).

Cause Set List 11/12/12

• Good
• The Party
• Minnesota
• Can't Even Tell
• Oh, Sun
• Easy to Blame
• Adore
• Johnny B. Goode
• A Story
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• For the Time Being

I Can No Longer Use A Telephone

The other day I got a call from a friend of mine. I had no idea how to answer. I could see this person's name, so I knew who was calling. They were calling my cell phone, so they knew I would be the one to answer. Because of this, I had no idea how to answer. Do I just say 'hello' like the old days? Do I address the person with "hi, (person's name)"? Do I answer in some goofy way like "what up?" or "hey you"?

I don't know.

Texting and social media have destroyed my phone skills.

This goes for when I call someone, too - which I try to avoid at all costs. When I call someone, do I say "hey, (person's name)" when they answer? Do I have to tell them who I am? What if I'm not sure if the number is a cell phone - do I ask for them when they answer?

How do phone conversations work these days???

It doesn't help that my iPhone sucks as a phone. I don't know how many times I've been talking and pressed my face too hard against the screen and accidentally hit the End Call button and hung up.

This inability to use the phone has now crept into my work life. If I have to call someone, I freak out. Well, okay, freak out is a strong word. Panic a little, maybe? I literally cannot form words when I'm on the telephone and it doesn't help that my desk is completely out in the open and so everyone can hear me try to navigate a conversation on the telephone.

Is this the same for everyone? Is it just me? When I see people having conversations on a cell phone, I just think why? You can just text them. And then I stare at them and think...how?

Sunday Morning

It's Sunday morning. I got up kind of early. Lately I've been sleeping in until way past 10am on the weekends. But this morning I was up at the ridiculously early time of 9:15. So I made myself some coffee and pop tarts (strawberry, unfrosted) and have spent the morning browsing the internet (while listening to the songs listed below).

I've got the internet whittled down to about 20 sites. I visit them on a rotating basis throughout the day. Some of them don't update on the weekends and I find that so incredibly frustrating (I'm looking at you Tom and Lorenzo). Is there a better time to browse the internet than on a Sunday morning with coffee and pop tarts? I think not.

This is me on the internet on Sunday morning in cartoon form. 

Songs That Have Played Randomly Via My iTunes This Morning:

1. "Blood Bank" - Bon Iver

2. "I" - Andrew Bird

3. "What Is Wrong" - Juliana Hatfield

4. "I Won't Stand in Your Way" - Stray Cats

5. "That's the Way Love Goes" - Janet Jackson (I really, really love Janet Jackson)

6. "Country Sad Ballad Man" - Blur

7. "When You Were Mine" - Cyndi Lauper

8. "Stitches the Clown" - El le Faunt and His Traveling Circus

9. "Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid) - Sufjan Stevens

10. "The Dreams You Left Behind (Reprise) - Micah P. Hinson

11. "Fell Down the Stairs" - Tilly and the Wall

12. "Island in the Stream" - Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (Kenny Rogers & I share the same birthday - August 21st)

13. "I Remember You" - Skid Row (I sometimes cover this song. Mostly very poorly)

14. "Let's Talk About Sex" - Salt-N-Peppa

15. "Paparazzi" - Lady GaGa (love the chorus of this song)

16. "Homeward Bound" - Simon & Garfunkel

17. "I Started a Joke" - Bee Gees

18. "Just Like Heaven" - The Cure

19. "Once In A While" - Eddie Vedder

20. "Run to Me" Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs

At some point today I need to do laundry. Our dryer broke a while ago and we haven't been able to get a new one yet. So laundry has to be carefully planned out so that clothes will be dry when needed. This has made it so I've been doing very small loads because there are only so many places to hang and lay my clothes to dry. But I'm almost caught up. I think if I stay in my pajamas all day today and wash one final load, I will finally have all of my clothes clean. And it will be good.

I'm sure this is all fascinating. But, hey, at least I'm updating the blog and, hopefully, giving someone else something mindless to read on a Sunday Morning.

Here's some songs referencing Sunday morning...

No Doubt: Sunday Morning:

Ani Difranco: Sunday Morning: 

Oasis: Sunday Morning Call:

Alright. Procrastination over. Laundry time. Have a great week. I have a show tomorrow night at Cause in Minneapolis. I'll be playing solo. 10pm. It's free. 

For the Time Being

Here's a new song. It's called "For the Time Being":



So ready to start working on the next album....

Yes We Did...Again!

Today is a great day.

I am so in love with this country and so proud to be a Minnesotan right now.

There was so much awesome that came out of this election – I don’t even know where to begin.

From Obama to the Marriage and Voter ID Amendments in Minnesota to Maryland and Maine and Washington and marriage equality. To McCaskill and both Tammys (Baldwin and Duckworth). To Elizabeth Warren and all the other women Senators…

I am just to in awe of my country.

Today is a great day.

And, hey, you can even smoke pot in Colorado and Washington. 

But to bring it back home...thanks, Minnesota, for being awesome. My song "Minnesota" is now free to download today and forever.

 

Today is a great day.