Ani Difranco At First Avenue 10-18-14

Whenever I think I'm over Ani Difranco, I just need to go see her live and all the love and admiration I have for this woman comes bursting out.

I almost didn't want to go to this show. I was going alone (as I could not find anyone else to spend $40 on a ticket). It was a Saturday night, which meant the probability of a much more drunken crowd (and many of her fans tend to be extremely obnoxious already). And the First Avenue concert calendar had labeled that a show in the Record Room would be starting at 10pm. The Record Room is a little offshoot of First Avenue's mainroom where people go and listen to bass heavy dance music at an extremely loud volume. When I saw Amanda Palmer there, I left early because the Record Room was drowning out her performance and ruining the show for me.

But enough complaining because there was nothing to complain about last night.

She played so ferociously. All the power and energy she puts forth on stage was in full throttle mode. The sounds she makes with those acoustic guitars is unreal. You can talk about her politically charged lyrics, her beautiful soaring voice...but don't forget to talk about her guitar. She can play like nobody else I've ever seen.

The crowd was excellent. They were really into it, yet super respectful of everyone - including Ani. No "I LOVE YOU, ANI!!!" were shouted. Only one drunken woman was screaming the lyrics in my ear - but it was only for one song towards the end.

The set list was amazing and she played so many songs I hadn't heard in ages...including "Tis of Thee" which is a song I've recently fallen in love with again. It's like, how did she know that song was on my brain and to pull it out of obscurity? ; )

Ani's set list
Manhole
Half-Assed
Marrow
Shy (good god this was so amazing and fun)
Careless Words
Not a Pretty Girl
Fuel (crazy cool version with opener Jenny Scheinman doing some wicked things with a violin)
Tis of Thee (totally cried)
Woe Be Gone
Angry Anymore
Harder Than It Needs to Be
Dithering
Genie
Swan Dive (this is the song the shout singing woman started up on)
Both Hands
Out of Habit
Gravel
Fire Door
32 Flavors

I just will never ever miss a show she plays. Ever.

 Ani flagged down the beer guy cuz she was thirsty. 

Recording Days 9 And 10....And Other Things

The vocals are done, man.

Last week, Colleen and Laura finished their beautiful backing vocals and last night I finished mine.

Listening back to the rough mixes and I'm just so incredibly happy with them. Things are sounding really good. I cannot wait for this album to come out.

I put together this little video with a snippet of a new song...



I think, if all goes according to plan, we have just one more day of recording left. Just all those bells and whistles I've been talking about.

Deep breaths...

In other updates, I sang at a Uke Fest last weekend. Uke Fest is a festival started by musician Katy Vernon. All proceeds go to The Arc Greater Twin Cities. It was super fun. Only ukulele players allowed. So I got my uke out - after way too long of not bringing it out - and played a couple of songs: "Blue Whale" and  "Walking" (which I had never played live before). Then Katy and I led a sing along of Taylor Swift's new song "Shake It Off"...on our ukes. I love that song. Have you heard it? (Beware the earworm)



Katy also had these super cute ukulele necklaces made so I had to get one:

I guess other than that, not much else has been happening. Just trying to get the album finished. Going to see Ani Difranco tomorrow, so expect a write up about that. Oh, and prepping for our next show. Full band. We'll be in St. Paul next Thursday, October 23rd. See you there?

Recording Days 7 and 8

We are deep into vocals land in the album recording process. Most of my vocals are done and this week we brought in my friends, the fabulous singers, Colleen and Laura.

These ladies are singing all over the new album. They are sisters. They've been singing together for a long time and their voices just know how to do it. They do harmonies that blow my mind. And they do them seemingly effortlessly. It's really lovely to listen to it and I'm thrilled that they want to be a part of it.

It's a lot of work to put songs together. Sure, some come along with more ease than others. The basics of a song can take place in minutes. But when you really start to dig in and make them something special, it takes time and focus and I'm just always stunned that people want to spend their time on songs I've written. How incredibly lucky am I to be surrounded by all of these ridiculously talented people who want to create and perform music with me? It can really swell a girl's heart, you know?

We go back in a week to finish the backing vocals. After that, it's just all the little bells and whistles (not literally bells and whistles...but maybe?) and then the tracking is done. Then mixing. Then mastering. Then actually getting the physical things made.

The goal is still mid-spring...

331 Club 9-25-14

Another great time was had at the 331 Club last Thursday night. I really do love playing that place. The staff is great. They treat you really well.

This show marked the debut of our new drummer, Sara. I am so thrilled to have her on board.

We were joined by the dreamy Warehouse Eyes and the impeccably-voiced songwriter, Adam Svec. Both were fantastic additions to the set and I hope to play with both of them again.

Warehouse Eyes

Adam Svec

Since we had a new drummer on board, we changed up the set a bit from what we have been playing at recent shows. Always nice to change things up a bit.

Set list for 331 Club 9-25-14

• Lens
• Car
• Float
• Blind
• A Story 
• Salt
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Good to Know
• The Reminder
• Yesterday

Next up: I'll be playing a couple of solo songs at Uke Fest this Saturday, October 4th at The Aster Cafe.

Three Years

It was three years ago today that we had to say goodbye to Murray.

He was my baby. He was my life. And it is so heartbreaking to look at that picture of him and realize how much I've already forgotten. I hate that.

We have a new dog in our life now (Robbie) and when we first got him, I remember how weird it was to pet him. Murray had such long, soft fur. Robbie's is short and bristly. I thought, I will never get used to this. I don't like this. 

But now I'm used to it. Now when I think of petting a dog, I imagine it feels like petting Robbie - not Murray. And that makes me so sad.

Murray was very special. He was such a good dog for Matt and I and so difficult for so many other things. We could never bring him anywhere. He had some fear-based aggression issues. Or, really, overly protective aggressive issues. But never with us. So he was a stay at home dog. We took him on walks, of course. And he loved going to Grandma's house and he was so good with her. And he was fine at the groomers. He just had such a difficult initial reaction to people that it was always a bit trying and seemed best to avoid those situations.

Now, when I walk Robbie and he can greet anyone and anything and there is not a single concern of biting or growling, I just feel so relieved. Yet, I would never trade any of that for my time with Murray.

He was special. Very special. He never seemed like a dog. He was a true buddy. Robbie is very much a dog. Everything he does is very dog like. You give him a toy, he destroys hit. He wolfs down his food in seconds. Murray was so different. He had a ridiculously huge collection of stuffed toys because he never destroyed them. He just licked them. He would sit licking his toys - or "ducks" as we called them - for hours. We would just leave his food out and he would eat when he felt like it, but he never finished his bowl. The most dog-like thing he did was chase the ducks that would ever taunt him when we would go up to the cottages in the UP. He was so good up there, though. He could be off leash and he would stick by our side (except for when those damn ducks would swim by quacking at him).

My mother-in-law always said she'd never seen a dog look at people the way Murray looked at Matt and me. He LOVED us. And that made me feel like the best damn person in the world. Because to earn Murray's love like that was a very special thing.  Me, Matt, and grandma. Those were the only three people in the world he needed. And we were the luckiest three.

For as long as I have this blog, I will write about him on this day. Share a memory. Even if it's just about the feel of his fur. And tonight I will do a toast in his honor.

I miss you so much, Murray.

I wrote my whole album Intermission for him. This song is called "Pumpkin" - that was my nickname for him.

The Replacements At Midway

So I saw The Replacements last weekend. Everyone in Minnesota has already recapped their day at Midway Stadium. I am late to the party. But that's okay.

I always liked The Replacements, but I was never a die hard. I really only knew two albums and their radio singles. I almost wasn't going to go to this because it was expensive and I didn't want to take tickets from someone else who maybe really really really wanted to go.

But I changed my mind the morning the tickets went on sale and I'm so glad I did. It was probably one of the best days of the summer - by far. I had a blast.

It's funny to say summer because it was maybe 55 degrees out and everyone was bundled up in jackets, hats, and scarves. But the sun was shining.

My friends got there early to secure a spot for tailgating. Because, yes, there was tailgating. I'd never tailgated before but it was so much fun. I tip my hat to Kimi and Bart for making that happen. They were excellent hosts of the parking space. Plenty of beer, food, and Bart made the BEST grilled cheese sandwiches.

Needless to say, much drinking was had. But also much fun. It was the type of show that you knew everyone at. There was a lot of positive energy in the air.

The show itself - the reason we were all there: The Replacements reunion - was phenomenal. Matt and I managed to worm our way up fairly close (about 20 rows back) and - for once - I had a perfect view of the stage the entire set. No super tall dude standing right in front of me for rows and rows.

The Replacements sounded excellent. The crowd was super into it and friendly. Nobody was pushing. Everyone was just singing along, pumping their fists, jumping up and down. And despite being about 50 degrees out, it felt warm in the crowd. The sky was crystal clear.

If this happens to be my last outdoor event of this summer, it was a good one.

Three Things Full Of Happy

I can't believe I haven't written about the Sylvan Esso show last Wednesday...because it was phenomenal.

I was wary of going to this show because - although I enjoy this kind of music - I despise paying money for shows just to watch someone play on a laptop. I just feel like it's not that hard to get a band to recreate the sounds.

But these two put on a hell of a show. The laptop was there along with a mixing board, but Nick Sanborn played those things like he was behind a guitar or a drumkit. There was a ton of passion there. And dancing.

Amelia Meath is a wonderful front woman with a killer voice. I first noticed her when as a part of the group Mountain Man. They sang backup for Feist on the tour I saw and she completely stood out - nearly stole the show with her enthusiasm. She's darling and I think it's great that she's getting this success with her own stuff.

They got First Avenue dancing. That just doesn't happen. Minnesotans don't do that at concerts, but the place was jumping. It was a fantastic show.

This is their video for their single "Play It Right":



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I had been craving margaritas. That's a weird thing to say. But really I think I was just craving sitting outside on a beautiful summer day with friends and having some fun drinks. So I arranged a get together at a place in town that serves margaritas and a bunch of us had fun drinks on the patio on what was probably the most perfectly gorgeous weather day of the summer. Then we all headed back to my place and had a fun just hanging out together. I have nothing more to add to that (or pictures to share) but it was just a really great day.

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Then on Sunday it was Dog Day at the MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Arts). They open the doors to dogs and their humans and host activities for dogs in the courtyard. They can contribute to a mural and make their own art. They have photo booths and a caricature artist. Placed around the lot are water bowls. It's really fun and dogs are everywhere and the cuteness is overwhelming. It was also another gorgeous weather day. We took Robbie last year and it was muggy and cool, but this year it was gorgeous and the place was packed with dogs and people. It was super fun. And Robbie made more art. He's so talented.