Band on the Diaper Run

No Pain, No Spain

Spain is beautiful, I got to practice my broken Spanish, and the people are so nice. And at Benecassim, the back stage was pretty much a resort.

 We stayed at a small town outside of Valencia and after realizing that the famous Spanish siesta is a real thing (all restaraunts and stores close for afternoon rest period) we never found ourselves trying to look for food at 4pm again.  

 

 Sculpture "Maternidad"  (From the front she was breastfeeding but we saw this angle first and I totally related)

 There was even a silent disco (everyone wears head phones and dances in silence to their own choice of music.) We enjoyed the blue lights since we didn't bring headphones.

 

However, (and heres where it gets ugly) it was not easy travel. We were in Spain, SF and LA within 5 days.

Before we left for this leg of tour, I was intent on getting June on a schedule because that's somtimes the only way to manage the crazy baby days and sleep deprivation.  Also, I heard it helps them learn how to sleep through the night.

Anyway, here is the massive 2 day schedule (which has nothing to do with getting your baby to sleep..ever...)

1:50 am Played a set at Benecasim to a diminishing but happy crowd (Sigur Ros, the headliner, played right before us, they order bands backwards there) 

3 am Got ride back to hotel and packed up stuff while June babbled instead of sleeping

4 am Got 2 hours of sleep

6 am Left for Valencia airport, took 15 minute nap in airport chair and when I stood up I couldn't walk because my foot fell asleep.

9am Flew to Madrid, went through customs, etc.

12-9pm Flew to Chicago, kid behind us got motion sickness and barfed all over because all his parents fed him was chocoate milk for 8 hours, I didn't sleep because I was holding June and my arms both fell asleep and I was afraid of dropping her into the airlane aisle. And, btw, I think airlines are starting to save money by not turning on the air so we were all fanning ourselves inside the massive sauna airplane.

9pm Arrived at Chicago to a crazy busy airport with lots of pissed off, delayed travelers. When we finally sat down at our terminal this girl, who was taking up a whole bench of seats asked if I was going to Chicago.  I told her yes and she asked if I could wake her up when we were boarding. I had an infant whom I was rocking to sleep and I must have looked a little frazzled and I looked back at her and said, "I'm sure you will hear them call us."  She replied, 'No, I'm very tired."  I said, "If I'm still sitting here I'll wake you up."  But in my mind I said, "You don't know tired, and no I will not wake your 20 year old ass up unless you scoot over and let me sleep for five minutes."

1am (spanish time) 5:30pm (Chicago time) Got on another plane-to San Francisco

8pm After sitting on the runway for a couple of hours due to lightenng, we finally took off after the captain explained that we'd be on a bumpy ride and that there were thunderstorms everywhere at which point I started balling.  I lost it.  Slightly scared, ok, really scared to fly, and not sleeping for over 2 days and holding a screaming, pissed off, usually very happy baby off of any sort of schedule, I lost it.  I thought we might die on the plane and I'd never get to see Magnolia again. Jason calmed me down reminding me that we're all a little delirious at this point.  And, oh, also, the heat on the plane was again in full swing until I complained to the flight attendants.

I watched 2 movies, didn't sleep, the plane ran out of water so I sucked on cough drops all night and every time June woke up, she screamed full-on until I she got a breast again (way overboard on the number of times she fed on the flight).

 And then, we got to SF 26 hours after leaving Spain (after not having slept the night before we left) and we all went to bed.


But here's the best (or worst) of it.  I apologize for this but it's somewhat funny when you know what it feels like to go 2 days without sleep and be continiously traveling.

I got a little mean when they shoved us into one of those tram cars to get to the other terminals.  We were packed into the tram in 110 degree heat  and people were bithcing about stuff, and it really bothered me because they had nothing to complain about compared to us.  Then when people wouldn't move out of the way after we said, "Excuse us, this is our terminal, we need to get off." I took the cadillac of a stroller we have and started rolling right over everyone's feet to make my way to the exit.  And the sea of people began to part.  And they said things like, "Out of her way! She's crazy..etc" ( I think I heard that)  I know I was mean but for a second, before I realized kharma would set in later and our stroller wheels would break in calfiornia,it felt so good to roll over some toes. (I'm sorry)

So, before you talk about how mean spirited I am, please remember it was a long long trip and now, I've been going out of my way to be nice to people, in fact on the flight today, I didn't complain even once, even though I'm still tired.

We have been in the air longer than we have been on the ground this trip.  

I didn't even inclue the trip to LA and then the trip from LA to NYC (Brooke Shields was on our plane and she totally checked out June) 

But we have Magnolia's 4th b-day party to look forward to in 2 days (and then off to Vancouver the next day)

Whew 


 


+ DIGG + STUMBLE

Comments

 

Tash said:

Wow, you guys are awesome. I am a huge fan of your music and love Re-arrange Us. Sorry to hear about the flight drama, I totally know what you mean, they really must have stopped putting air conditioning on airplanes recently.

You guys are probably so sick of touring by now but it would be so great if you ever make it out to Salt Lake. Heck, you guys could stay at my house!

Hope you make it home okay and Magnolia has a great birthday!

July 24, 2008 11:50 AM
 

Andrea P. said:

The mental image I had of you rolling over peoples' toes made me seriously laugh out loud! You were completely deserving of doing something like that for sure, haha. At least it seems the whirlwind traveling will die down soon + happy early birthday to Magnolia!

July 24, 2008 11:54 AM
 

Migs said:

Makes our travel experiences look like cake on top of EZ pie with a side no problem.  On our last journey however, we came up with a brilliant maneuver of napping our little girl (16 months) on the floor of the plane under our feet.  Probably won't work with with most kids and definitely will get you some "those people are crazy" looks, but so worth it.  I don't know how you do it, but keep it up!

July 24, 2008 1:11 PM
 

karl said:

Damn!  You guys have got to set an itinerary that is more family friendly.  That and get all those festivals to cater to your needs, na'mean?  Make them fit your schedule.  You guys are working too hard.  Still, when the kids are a little older and when you're a little rested up (like next year) you guys should come to Michigan.  Please!

July 24, 2008 1:43 PM
 

amandashea17 said:

Busy...busy!

July 24, 2008 5:06 PM
 

pamela said:

no wonder lots of touring bands use drugs!  i feel like i need something after just reading that.  more power to you guys!  you have a rockin family.

July 24, 2008 10:21 PM
 

delftwaves said:

Spain?  You guys are so lucky.

July 25, 2008 5:07 AM
 

GirlsGoneChild said:

Holy balls. That's quite a life you're leading. Good on you guys for making it all happen... Heard you on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic last week and was just shaking my head in awe. Most of us can barely handle crossing the street with our kids, let alone crossing oceans and continents and then waking up and doing it again. ( I was at Benicassim the summer of 2001. Alltime favorite music festival ever.)  Oh and Happy Birthday to Magnolia!

July 25, 2008 1:37 PM
 

Lin said:

Vancouver?! Where are you guys playing here?

July 26, 2008 3:38 PM
 

cait said:

I would've hauled off and smacked that little brat at the airport. That would've been my Karma moment. Good on ya for keeping it together as long as you did.

Hope Pemberton was a blast. Hope you Lollapalooza's even better.

I SO wish I was there.

cait

July 31, 2008 4:27 PM
 

erick said:

hahaha.  Glad I found this blog.  I didn't know you guys were real people with real lives.  Odd.  (Totally kidding.)  This 'silent disco' thing is amazing.  I've never heard of it.  Oh, and from the sounds of it, breakin' a few toes sounds as if it was worth it regardless of what kharma can throw back at you.  *Bonus points if there was an unsuspecting elderly lady in a wheelchair in your path of destruction.  ;)  

August 9, 2008 9:53 AM
 

Rachel said:

Couldn't feel sorry for you, it's the world you created for yourselves, your kids and your mom.  Gee, wonder who put together Mags BD party.  So you guys are a mediocure band musically but couldn't choose to keep it part time.  Let's see Kori a wonderful teacher could reach out and help so many kids and families (I know she taught 2 of my children). And a big let's see, Jason a cancer researcher, had he kept working my Dad and husband might still be alive. A life worth living and living well, better spent in the classroom and lab, leaving the music to a hobby, you will have touched more people with the former and loving music for musics sake...sounds like your fans are more important than your family.  Of course you mom(s) siblings, cousins etc will never tell you your music is less than average. Getting a little tired of hearing about the kids and your fan(s) could careless.  THINK ABOUT IT!!!

August 9, 2008 10:57 PM
 

baby zooey said:

wow that was harsh rachel...

August 12, 2008 8:49 PM
 

Gootch said:

OMG.  RACHEL:  Kori and Jason are my hero people and parents.  If you don't like their music and think they suck so bad why are you creeping around on this blog?  And you're obviously quite the music critic.  Best spend your time elsewhere.  I'm sure you're kids would rather be spending quality time with you than watching TV while you're needlessly bad mouthing Kori and Jason.  Mates of State is a band who touches the world and their kids the best way they know how.  Looks to me like they have more fun and love in their lives than most families.    

August 13, 2008 5:16 PM
 

Gootch said:

OMG.  RACHEL:  Kori and Jason are my hero people and parents.  If you don't like their music and think they suck so bad why are you creeping around on this blog?  And you're obviously quite the music critic.  Best spend your time elsewhere.  I'm sure you're kids would rather be spending quality time with you than watching TV while you're needlessly bad mouthing Kori and Jason.  Mates of State is a band who touches the world and their kids the best way they know how.  Looks to me like they have more fun and love in their lives than most families.    

August 13, 2008 5:16 PM
 

Pinkerton said:

These two things struck me, in particular:

"You don't know tired"

and

"they had nothing to complain about compared to us"

Nice that you think you know what every single person you encounter is going through, and how it pales in comparison to your experience of being a musician and dragging your children along on tour. Don't get me wrong here...I LOVE your band, and you guys seem like fantastic parents - probably better than most - but boo filppin' hoo. I don't feel bad for you. I'm sure you were all exhausted, but this is the life that you chose. Also, running peoples' toes over with a massive stroller just because you're in a crap mood and they're in your way? Not cool.

August 14, 2008 5:04 PM
 

Jules said:

Oh, but I would do the exact same thing too with the stroller running over the toes thing. If nobody's willing to move for a /few seconds/ when you need to get off, THAT'S not cool. It's perfectly understandable to run over some toes when you're sleep-deprived in 110 degree heat--in my opinion, anyway.

August 27, 2008 10:14 AM

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About korkor

I'm in a band of 11 years with my husband of 8 years and I'm a mom of two girls of 5 and 1.5 years. I want to live In San Francsico again. I've been writing here for a few years.

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About the Blogger

Mates of State

Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel

Kori Gardner is the organ-playing half of the band Mates of State; her husband, Jason Hammel, plays drums. Known for their vocal harmonies and euphoric melodies, Mates of State has been described by critics as "unabashed joy", "honesty at its best", a "two piece with balls", and "a band that you must see live." Their daughter, Magnolia, was born in 2004 and started touring with the band at 10 weeks. June, their second girl, was born early this year. The whole family is touring the world right now. Hear their latest album, "Re-Arrange Us" at www.matesofstate.com, or myspace.com/matesofstate



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