331 Club Intermission EP Release Residency Night #4

Egads! Can't believe I haven't posted about this yet! I guess I'm still recovering somewhat.

It was steamy. It was sweaty. The air conditioner was not working. By the time we got done playing, I looked like I just stepped out of the shower. Always embarrassing when that happens. But what can I do? I overheat. I sweat. It happens. Oh, well.

The night itself was a lot of fun, though, even with all of the sweat.

The Broken Bicycles kicked off the night. I love their new sound. They started out a ukulele strumming duo and have turned into this great rock band.

 We played next. I knew I was going to get sweaty, but man, ick. I think the heat and the sweat made for a good show from us. I sort of felt completely open since I was such a sweaty mess anyway.

The White Whales were up last. They are quickly becoming local favorites of mine. I gushed about them quite a bit while on stage. They released a new song snippet recently from their upcoming new album and it is gorgeous. I am so excited to here it. You can listen to it here.

And with that, the residency is over. I'm sad. I really had so much fun. I don't really know what my expectations were. I guess I just assumed it would be some little Tuesday night shows, playing to a sparse Tuesday night crowd, but it wasn't. Each night the place was filled with people. I got to play with bands I really enjoy. The atmosphere was super positive. The sound is fantastic. The staff at the 331 Club are wonderful. By night two the bartender knew my drink order. I really enjoyed going out on a Tuesday night to play some music and hang out with friends.

The original purpose of this residency was to celebrate the release of our EP Intermission. If you couldn't make it out to one of these shows, you can download the EP from my website for $5 or send me an email if you would like one of the limited edition physical copies (while supplies last) at nikibeckerinfo@gmail.com.

We have no shows until August 23rd (when we'll be at the Turf Club for my birthday!). We're going to spend July working out some new songs, reimagining some old songs, and just getting ready for the fall.

Thanks so much for a great June!

Setlist for 331 Club 6/25/13

• Flavor
• Lens
• I Guess This Is Called Moving On
• A Story
• Salt
• Blind
• Float
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Introvert
• Adore

In Sickness

Oh, yes. I am sick. After weeks and weeks of being surrounded by people with terrible colds and not catching it, I thought maybe I was immune. But nope. Here it is. Luckily, I got through my show on Tuesday (though being not getting home until after 2:30am and having to get up and go to work the next morning at 7:30am probably did not help how I feel now) and hopefully this will have mostly run its course by next Tuesday for the last night of our residency at the 331 Club.  Still bums me out, though, because I have all the plans on Saturday and I want to do them all. But even if I was well, it would be a draining day.

I’m at work today. My officemate is out this morning so I don’t feel too terrible being all gross and snotty at my desk right now. Thinking I might leave early today, though. I don’t know. I don’t really have the sick time. But I always feel like such a hypocrite being at work really sick because I get SO PISSED when other people do it.

I think one of the reasons I don’t feel so utterly death-like, though, is because I finally slept through the night last night with no interruptions. A full 8 hours of solid sleep. I haven’t had that in so long. Mainly because Robbie, my dog, wasn’t sleeping through the night and he would get up and wander and make all sorts of noise. But on Monday, after another night of barely any sleep, I went out and bought him the best dog bed ever. And he loves it. And now it’s hard to get him off of it. So we are all sleeping now.

And now, here it is. I’m sick at work, so the headphones are in and I will do all I can to not remove them so I can tune out my staggered breathing and sniffling and try to get some stuff done. My playlist of the 25 Songs that helped me get through the day.  I currently have a pretty female heavy playlist on the iPod, so bring on the ladies (and Eddie Vedder):

“Bobbing for Apples” – Regina Spektor

“1234” – Feist

 “Doubt” – Wye Oak

“Soft Shoulder” – Ani Difranco

 “Kiss” – Scout Niblett

“I Remember You” – Rilo Kiley

“The Killing Type” – Amanda Palmer

“Acid Tongue” – Jenny Lewis

“Shepherd”  - Anais Mitchell

“Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You” – Rilo Kiley

“Once in a While” – Eddie Vedder

“Tiger Boy” – Haley Bonar

“Glory” – Liz Phair

“In the Margins” – Ani Difranco

“It’s a Secret” – Dark Dark Dark

“Summer in the City” – Regina Spektor

“Big Wave” – Jenny and Johnny

“I Feel It All” – Feist

“You Promised Me” – Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps

“Under the Earth” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“Eager For Your Love” – Tristen

“Laying and Lying” – Zoo Animal

 “Love Out of Lust” – Lykke Li

 “Go Long” – Joanna Newsom

“Draggin’ Around” – Rilo Kiley

331 Club Intermission EP Release Residency Night #3

I went into last night with the beginning of a head cold and apparently I should play with a cold more because that might have been our best set...ever. After just 3 practices and 4 shows with our current line up, we are really jelling and it makes me so happy. Just two months ago I thought I wouldn't even have a full band for these shows anymore, so all of this has just been wonderful.

Martin Devaney and Jake Shyer did a lovely set to kick off the night...

...and Silverback Colony closed out the night and the bar - playing a 90 minute roaring set.

The band and I played second last night (and will be doing the same next week). Immediately into song number one, I felt a sort of gooey substance between my thumb and index finger on my finger picking hand. After the song I looked down and I was bleeding. No idea how it happened. It didn't hurt and still doesn't hurt, but I think something must cut me underneath my nail. Being as scared of blood as I am, I am so thankful I didn't faint right then and there. I played on, smearing blood all over the guitar strings. Maybe that helped to fuel the fire?

My husband took a bunch of great photos last night. So thankful he does that for me every show.

 

Set list for 331 Club 6/18/13

• Float
• Blind
• Lens
• Good to Know
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• A Story
• Easy to Blame
• I Guess This Is Called Moving On
• Introvert
• Adore

Stone Arch Bridge Festival 2013

This was my third year playing the Stone Arch Bridge Festival and, once again, it was so much fun!

There's something about playing outdoors in the sunshine that just makes everything a little better. One of my favorite things to do is watch live music outside in the sun with a beer in my hand - and it's so awesome to be the band that is playing while others do that. I don't get to play many festivals (at all), so I am so thankful to the Stone Arch Bridge Festival for letting me play.

Stone Arch Bridge Set list 6/16/13

• Flavor
• Float
• Good to Know
• Lens
• I Guess This Is Called Moving On
• A Story
• Blind
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Introvert
• Adore

331 Club Intermission EP Release Residency Night #2

Night #2 at the 331 Club was just as awesome as the first night. It's been so fun so far. If you've been able to make it to one of these shows: THANK YOU for making it awesome. If not: I hope to see you at one of the next two! Tuesday nights have tacos, 2 for $5 margaritas and tall boys and free music. It's really a good time. And remember, sure it's Tuesday and you might be tired the next day - but it's just one day. You can catch up on your sleep the next night. : )

We had Pat Dougherty from the band Fairfax, AK and Cait Leary join us. Both awesome and talented people.

Fairfax, AK

Cait Leary

Next Tuesday we'll be joined by Martin Devaney and Silverback Colony. It's going to super fun. Come have fun with us!!!

Oh, but we'll also be making a stop at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival THIS SUNDAY at 3:15pm on the Star Tribune stage in Father Hennepin Park. You should come to this festival. It's free. There's art, music, beer, food....what more could you want? Click that link up there for more information.

Setlist for 331 Club EP Release Residency Night #2 6/11/13

• Cohabitate
• Float
• Blind
• I Guess This Is Called Moving On
• A Story
• Easy to Blame
• Flavor
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Introvert
• Adore

At The Dentist

Yesterday I had my root canal. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. He numbed me up so much that I nearly fell asleep. I also got the gas. Always get the gas.

I've always been terrified of the dentist. My current dentist - who I love - always jokes that every time I come there my eyes start to well up. It's true. I always cry at the dentist. Even when nothing is happening, I start to cry.

But the root canal was not so bad. This was my second one and the first one wasn't bad either, so I don't know why I was freaking out so much. I mean, when they are going to drive a drill through your tooth, you know that you are going to be pretty numb and not feel anything. At least you hope.

When he first started to drill, he stopped after a few moments to ask if everything was okay. I said it was a bit sensitive but that I assume there will be some sensitivity. He was all "umm...no. there should be no pain" and filled my gum up with more novocaine. I didn't feel a thing after that.

I was still tense, though, so they offered me the gas and I said yes. And then I couldn't resist taking this picture. Dental work always looks like you're being tortured.

While on the gas, I started to have all of these thoughts. Have you ever seen the episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia where Charlie is on acid while tailgating and, while one of the McPoyles is rambling on to him, you hear Charlie's internal monologue about the guy and then he realizes that he was saying it all out loud? That was me on the gas. Except, of course, I wasn't saying it out loud because I had a mouth full of rubber and fingers. I mean, look at that picture. There was not way I was speaking. But I was still worried I was.

That's the other thing about going to the dentist. I like my dentist and I like the staff and they were having fun conversations while all of this was going on and I wanted to participate. They were talking about The Cure! I love The Cure. They were trying to figure out a song and I knew the answer but I couldn't speak. It was so frustrating. I kept thinking "I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS TOPIC!".

But I sat in silence.

They had to go through a crown to do the root canal. I had no idea how they could do that without busting it, but he assured me they could. Except, they didn't. It broke. Luckily, they are replacing it for free. Thank goodness because this root canal has already broke me. But, that means I have to go back in 2 weeks to get the new crown. Meanwhile, I have a temporary one on that I have to be careful with. No crunchy stuff. So no chips. Sad face.

I've always feared that my crowns will come popping off at any time. But after the ordeal of trying to get the other one off during this procedure, I now have no worries about that. They had to use - what they called - the "crown cruncher". Basically a nut cracker that they broke the crown with. That is never a sound you want to hear in your head. Never.

But, I'm not in pain anymore and I should be able to sing perfectly fine tonight at my second of four shows at the 331 Club for the Intermission EP Release Residency.

So that's good.

331 Club EP Release Residency Night #1

 

This is way late. But that's the thing that happens when you play shows late at night and have a day job and also suddenly have a ridiculous toothache and find out you need a root canal. Things get lost in the shuffle.

But this was a super fun night. I'm not sure what I expected for the residency. Shows on Tuesday nights are strange affairs. I really had no idea what to expect. But it was a blast and I am super excited for the next one.

Savannah Smith opened the show and she is wonderful. It was just her and her ukulele and she just has the loveliest songs.

Brad Senne came up next to do some solo versions of his band Walker Field's song. Although you wouldn't have known he was solo if you were just listening. He rocked it, stomping away.

Then we were up. It was the first show with the new drummer and he was excellent. Since he hasn't had time to learn all of the songs, we mixed it up a bit and did a couple of songs with just Shawn and I.

The audience was amazing. An old friend of mine who lives in Canada and who I hadn't seen in 10 years surprised me by showing up.

It was a good night. Really looking forward to next Tuesday with Cait Leary and Fairfax, AK. 9:30pm. But first I have to get a root canal Monday afternoon. Blech.

Setlist for 331 Club Intermission EP Release Residency Night #1 6/4/13

• Flavor
• Lens
• Good to Know
• Float
• Blind
• I Guess This Is Called Moving On (first time played!)
• A Story
• Easy to Blame
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Introvert

Shameless Promotion

This is happening all through June. It is FREE, FREE, FREE! I know Tuesdays are hard, but I hope you can make it out to one of these shows!