My partner in crime, husband and father of my children has finally decided that he will occassionally get on this thing and blog to the world.  

Here's the interview I did with him to get him started:

 What are you working on in the basement (because it sounds like Casiotone for the Painfully Alone remixing an Olivia Newton John song)

-Well, she wants to keep it on the down-low so don't post this, but Livi (she insists I drop the first and last vowel) is attempting a comeback, and because Timbaland and Mark Ronson both have busy schedules she has asked me to help.  I foolishly agreed to help her, but honestly, Girlfriend just no longer has the songs.  I'm trying anything at this point: low-fi, no-fi, the deerhunter-5th generation MBV-wash, and acapella.  What you may have heard is me re-amping her 3rd harmony vocal through the fax machine.  After changing the cartridge to a 59 German-press monochrome, I finally like the tones.  However, she's definately gonna have to re-sing the choruses.  Plus, the de-humidifier was running.

 

How did you know I would be the mother of your children?

I've dated a lot of ladies.  But, when you came walking across that field at South Park in Lawrence in that yellow button-down, songs were playing.  Good songs.  And, your smile when you got to me, assured me that you felt it too.  It was irrelevant that your soon-to-be-ex boyfriend was standing right next to you.   That was thee definitive moment where I knew my search was over.

 

How do you like it when people say, when are you guys gonna try for that boy?

The desire to have male progeny has never been that strong in me.  Would I be interested in trying it?  Sure.  But, it isn't a necessity for me to feel manly.  My daughters are excellent.  

 

Besides making spaghetti dinner, what do you think you are really good at? 

Jeez, where do I start. haha.  Learning. 

 

 Is fatherhood something you would recommend and why?

Yes I would.  It's like the FM tuning dial of your life.  It tells you when to stop turning because the jam is coming in crystal clear.  When the song ends, you start twisting once more until you hear it again, perfectly.

 

Where do you think Magnolia got her competitiveness from?  Her sense of humor? Her love of princess things?

 Me.  Us.  You.

 

 

 What do you want your children to inherit from you?  What do you want them to inherit from me? 

Hard Work => Getting what you want => Happiness. 

Your Glow.  There is this natural compelling energy that you exude, that makes you instantly and forever likable.  That. 

 

Why don't you worry about anything?  

I do, but only quietly.  Worrying aloud doesn't do the collective any good.

 

 Have you ever done anything with our kids that you haven't told me because I'd be mad? If so, I promise I won't be mad, just list them now.

 Ha ha, you are a tricky one, aren't you?  Good try.  I'll give you a little for the sake of blog-kind:

Mags wanted to try Red Bull so I gave her a little taste.  That stuff is terrible for adults (although, I admit, it most definatly gets me through exhausting tours) let alone children.  She was curious one time when I had some, so I let her take a little nip and told her she couldn't have any more until she was an adult and decided for herself to drink some.  She smiled that "hmm, not bad" smile and non-chalantly walked outside and hit up the swing set

 

Will we be touring for the rest of our lives?

Not in this capacity.  But, we'll be playing live shows our whole life, methinks. 

 

What other blogs do you read?  What do you think of blogging?

I'm not entirely sure what constitutes a blog, or a regular ole' website.   Blogs to me seem to be more about revealing the personal, and that's why I've tended to shy away from blogging.  I like to reserve my personal life strictly for my personal friends and family.  However, I'm a voyeur like everyone else, so I'll always be snooping into other people's lives.

 

Last night you were talking in your sleep quite a bit.  You grabbed me and said, "Gotcha, Stinky!!" at one point.  Would you like to elaborate or explain your actions?

I cannot be entirely sure because I was sleep talking, as I do routinely, but I do know that Stinky is June.  I was probably imaging I was hanging out with June and trying to make her laugh.  Just like the other night when I sat up and asked where June was, in my sleep.  I had dreamt/imagined that she had fallen off my side of the bed and was wedged in between the bed and nightstand.  Even though I think I eventually came to, I wouldn't believe it until I stood up and walked to check to see that she was safely sleeping in her crib.   Just be happy I'm not doing my perverted sleep talking.  

 

Are our kids going to turn out OK ? 

Yes, without a doubt. 

 I know we can't really call ourselves a New York band when we live in Connecticut. But, it always feels like home when we play our last show of a tour there. Maybe it's because we know we will be crawling into our own beds 90 minutes after the show is over.  Or maybe it's because we've played more shows there than almost any other place (actually SF may hold the crown on that one if you consider all the parties we used to play).

 Either way, I've gotten more used to the hurried attitude, I've embraced the strangers yelling at strangers because they do something stupid while driving, I've found myself becomming more impatient to wait in any lines but then find myself befriending the person behind me because they too hate the situation. 

 

Sometimes the California in me mixes with my East Coastness.  Those are my favorite moments because I think I might really belong to both worlds.  One of these moments happened at the Highline in NYC. After a lengthy soundcheck, a few run ins with workers who wouldn't let the nanny or myself into the club because they didn't believe we were in or with the band, we ran into the biggest bouncer when we were leaving. After lugging everything down the stairs (stroller included) he tried to tell my mother to walk the stroller around the roped off area where there would be a line for the show (hours off at that point).  But she, and rightly so in my opinion, walked under the rope, cutting off the burden of manuvering a stroller through a line (that didn't even exist yet).  She just ignored them and did as she pleased.  Then the bouncer rolled his eyes at my mother for walking the baby where she felt like it (and suddenly I felt very protective and loyal).  When he rolled his eyes, I said, "Is it really that big of a deal?"  He and his three big dude NY body guard type friends didn't say anything after that.  But this exchange is typical in New York.  Only this time the "is it really that big of a deal" part seems somehow very SF mentality to me.  So, anyway, we're home for a couple of weeks, in Connecticut.  

We had a wonderful time stealing golf carts, meeting some Sirius people we've been listening too on tour, playing in the rain (thank you people who stood through the rain for us) and spending time with friends and family at the All Points West Festival.  

 

Mags had a meltdown after our set when she forgot to screw on her smoothie lid before shaking it.  (Nothing a little Radiohead can't cure)

 This was the view we had directly to the right of the mainstage.  We all (including my parents and my kids) stayed to watch Radiohead, until the kids started getting way too tired 30 minutes in.  It was really beautiful though, well worth keeping them up too late.  

(last picture I took before I lost my camera/phone) 

 I seem to lose something in every city. On this past tour I lost my sidekick (also known as my camera and the only way I can send pictures to post on my blog since I broke my camera).  That, along with this tour being filled with absurdly long drives and no wireless connections, is the reason for the long pause in my contact with the modern world. 

I have left my favorite jeans in hotel rooms, my ipod and headphones, toothbrushes in every country and at least one sweatshirt a tour, oh, and I once left a pair of dirty underwear on the bathroom floor at Ben Gibbard 's apartment.  That in itself is another whole story since the underwear were crammed into my ziplock bag of toiletries. Jason and I had to call from the road to say, please mail those toiletries back and please, DO NOT LOOK IN THE (transparent) BAG.  (Ben mailed them to me later and when we finally got home to receive the package the whole thing was such a moldy mess, we threw it away) 

Anyway, I have just realized that my loss of important (or emabarassing) items has become a tour habit of mine.  But another thing I've realized is that I'm anal about my kids' things.  I frequently reorganize their suitcases (or drawers if we're actually home).  I get annoyed if pacifiers or sunhats are not where I want to them to be and their rooms are always cleaner than mine. 

I don't understand why I lose everything but I have specific places for all of their things.

I also never know where we are.  I am perpetually lost.  But, sometimes I think that is a conscious decision.  Because, if I knew where we were at all times, I would know how much longer the tour or the van ride would be and I guess I just don't want to know that.  It's like when people ask you if you'd want to know how much longer you had left in your life.  I don't think I'd want to know.  Just enjoy the ride, right? Who cares if you are in Columbus or Buffalo.  So, there it is, I like being lost. (I don't like losing things though)

 

Highlights of one week of tour:

Pemberton VIP area backstage.  The food was insane and the accomodations and surroundings were breath-taking.  I don't have any pictures though (remember, I left my sidekick, aka camera there)

Watching Radiohead while June fell asleep in the sling and Mags leaned her head on my lap while the backdrop of NYC shined in the background.

 

Hanging at my sister's house with my nephew and their family

 

and seeing Mags go under water all the way for the first time in her pool.

 Hearing the news of my other sister's engagement to a great guy and then actually seeing our nanny get engaged by surprise in Chicago.

Seeing Magnolia dance on the side of the stage at Lalapalooza with her kidsapalooza-half yellow, half purple hair. 

(She's doing a new dance our tour manager started called "The Prenzel" in reference to the way Mags says pretzel)

 

 Hugging my kids after our festival sets (early enough for them to come) 

 

 Kidsapalooza (screenprinting, punk hair for kids, Jeff Tweedy sitting on the edge of the stage to sing and termporary tats!)

Watching Judgement Day's set every night.

Singing Yo Gabba songs in the car with Magnolia and wishing she got the message in the one that goes,  "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, either way, it's ok, we're just having fun." She's so competitive about everything.

Hearing June say "ma-ma" for the first time. (even if it is only when she wants something and she's crying when she says my name)

Seeing June's first tooth pop through. (today)

Seeing June start crawling (on tour) 

Hearing my nephew (who joined us for the drive to Chicago) yell "My bummy hurts!!" over and over on the drive and then hearing my sister say, 'Would you like my to put a pillow under your butt, honey?" every time he yelled it.  It was kind of funny-after the fact. And it was great to have them along.

Talking to Mags about how all the rock and rollers like to wear black.  Then running into Janet Weiss, who was wearing black,  backstage and Mags pointing and asking me, "Is she a rock and roller?" in front of Janet.  Janet and I both said, "Definitly.  She's a rock and roller." 

Spotting Perez Hilton (maybe, we think) 

Lewis (Judgment Day/cellist) dancing in a leopard silk one-piece outfit.

 

 

The NOT highlight list:

Three 7 hour drives in a row with kids.

Tantrums  (adults included)

Carsickness

McDonalds

 

Chicago heat (Mags cooled us off with her squirt gun)

 

2 people asking when my baby is due or if I'm expecting again (come on, give me a break here)

 

 Waiting (as pictured above)

Not sleeping enough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And, of course, Happy Birthday Magnolia!!!

Four years ago today to the minute I was holding my firstborn for the first time.

Today she turned four and learned how to swim all in the same day.

She's also a pretty good dancer (check out the background in the video for her moves-I had no idea she was on stage jammin)

PS Congratulations Tom and Beat.  Nice m and m on your finger. 

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 

 

 We had a total of 5 kids and 6 adults at our house this week. And, it was totally fun.

 

Magnolia has two cousins her age and now, since they are gone, she is having withdrawal symptoms

(ie. not sure how to entertain herself)

 

I somehow managed to get a cold the day after everyone left so I'm trying to rid myself of germs before Tues...when we're off to Spain  then to California, and then, a birthday party for Mags and then, Lallapalooza and a tour home.  

Sound like fun? It will be, except, for the first 6 days, I'll be missing my little sidekick as she will be staying with Gramma.

 Speaking of Mags and Gramma, the other day they were hanging out and Mags got her first bee sting.  The best part about this was the story she told her dad later when describing the ordeal on their nightly walk.  She said,   "I got my first bee sting.  It hurt pretty bad, I screamed like this  (insert piercing girl scream).  Well, anyway I think it was a bee.  It could have been a swap."   After hearing some parental laughter she said, "I mean, wasp."

 

Also, on Thursday I played at the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls.  More on that later.  It was amazing.

  I'm loving the baby version best (thanks fellow babbler and baby, Gwynne and Anslem)

but here two videos for "My Only Offer"

And just so you know, there is a cameo (trumpet player) by A.C. Newman from the New Pornographers

(and my lil sis) in the adult version.

 

We recorded with Mr. Newman this past week-some backing vocals for his next solo record. 

He's really a genius melody maker. 

 

 

 And, June loved his beard.  (my camera is broken so I'm relying on effects these days)

 

 

 While recording, June took a nap in one of the live rooms at the studio in Brooklyn. I need to get a real piano at our house.  She literally fell asleep after seconds of listening to me play (pretty weak) versions of lullabies on the studio piano. Then, the engineer hooked up a studio baby monitor (a microphone in one room, wired into speakers in the control room) so we would hear her cries.  In fact, some of her cries might end up somewhere on his record if they are on pitch with Carl.

 

 Ahh, the New York skyline at sunset on the way home.  And I've got a good man, Happy Anniversary, Mr. Chill.

Wanna hear some gross hotel stuff...probably not but I have to get it off my chest.

 

In Austin, TX the band we were touring with checked into the Travel Inn.  

After hanging out on a bed for a while, one of them noticed that something was crawling on him.  

He pulled the covers down and found hundreds of baby cockroaches crawling around.

 

Then, at a rest stop I got caught up in a conversation with a woman whose family had to check out

of the Memphis Travel Lodge due to severe bed bugs!

Her and her children had bites (welt-like) all over their bodies.

 

I guess my complaints about the beer cans all over our room when we checked in

and the "double" beds that were really single size (see below),

and the persistant knocking on our door from housekeeping every 30 minutes pales in comparison.

 

 

 I won't watch those, "Find out the truth about hotel rooms" shows but I do pull down the covers of each bed in every hotel room we encounter.

 

On the flip side, any hotel under the name Kimpton is the bomb.  You even get leopard robes which we most definitely take advantage of.

 

Btw, June is buried under my robe. This is the whole crew minus Mags who was sleeping.

 

Cellos cases=lots of fun for short people 

 

 

 

After Loretta Lynn's kitchen, above, Menphis club-Mags loved the wall.

 

Mexican Restaraunts have sombreros and ice cream 

 

Magnolia signs her name and colors a picture on the wall at The World Cafe (where we played a few songs) and sees where she scribbled last time when she was only 2.

 

 Scenic Walk in Little Rock (I think its Little Rock-it really could be anywhere at this point)

 

 June, comfortably and safely listening to live music

 

 

Reunited with old tour mate, Penny.  We toured with the Starlight Mints a couple of years ago and Penny and Mags really hit it off.  When we got to Oklahoma City, they had a playdate.  Then we stopped at their house the next morning for a wonderful breakfast.  And, for the youngsters, a ride in the kid tractor.

 So much to do on on tour, don't even need those plastic toys from home. (except maybe when the rides are too long)

Anyone who tours in a band knows that the bulk of the trip is inside of a vehicle.  You really only make music for 1 or 2 hours a night.  The rest is filled with eating, driving, eating, sleeping, loading everything in and out of hotels and in our case, playing with our kids (we played soccer inside the club during soundcheck today).

 

Mags is old enough now to get it...she doesn't really fall for the whole, "This van ride is gonna be fun and totally different from the last seven drives!"  About a half an hour into most van rides, she starts saying she's bored...except today.

Today, she told us she didn't need to watch videos or play games.  She just wanted to make up songs and sing ones she already knew and just wanted to watch out the window.  Now, that is a sign of a truly seasoned touring kid.  She likes to look out the window while driving and just think and sing...what most of us do after years of touring.  Let's be honest, after 10 years of this lifestyle most of us put down the books, don't try to get shit done, don't do anything but think (of course this is before kids were around all the time because now we focus all of our energy on them).  Learning to just enjoy the romanticism of the open road is a long lesson to master, and here she is ready to take it on. (Or maybe she's just sick of Dora becomes a Mermaid DVD and thinks trees whizzing by are more interesting).

Her repertoire of songs today consisted of, "Kum By Ya"  I didn't teach her this but apparently someone did.  She only knew the first line of it but it didn't stop her from singing it over and over again.  I really love her singing voice but I'm not sure everyone does by the end of her hymn.

 

We think the song above is perfect for tour.  I don't know where she learned it.  She also sings one (Jason's favorite) called, "I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves" to the tune of "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" Once again, I didn't teach her that one either but I still enjoy it, even when it does get on everyone's nerves.  The funny thing is, I'm pretty sure she doesn't get the irony.

Other ways to pass the time on this tour include:

 

 Climbing walls at gas stations. 

Learning and retelling new jokes from Erin, one of the nannies.  (So far the favorite is: Do you have holes in your underwear? No? Then how do you get your legs through.")

 Calling Gramma

Talking about how Anton (riding in the other van) ate "too much cake" on his birthday and got sick the next day on the drive.

Decorating the van with artwork. 

Looking for wild pigs out the window in Texas.  She told us she saw a couple today in the woods on the side of the highway.

And my favorite, Peek-a-boo

 

 Jason saw Loretta Lynn in Austin.  I loved Coal Miner's Daughter when I was little so it's pretty cool to be playing down the street from her at the same time. 

 

 Then a couple days later, on my birthday, we ate at Loretta Lynn's kitchen and enjoyed, with heavy rounds of laughter, the store attached to the kitchen. I say this because of the trinkets we found.  Maggie got a coal miner's hat that "She needed at night in case she had to go to the bathroom and the hotel room was dark." Forget about coal mines, we explore hotel rooms in the dark!

Mags heard Loretta's music in the store and said, "I think I hear Feist."  So, we bought a Loretta Lynn CD and talked about how great her voice is and now I think she has a new favorite singer.

 

In Memphis we played across the street from the zoo.  Despite the insane heat and humidity, it was a major score.  At least they had a shaded carousel and sprinklers.

 

 

 In Cinncinatti we all went to the children's museum, possibly an even bigger score (even for the adults) 

(Lewis and Mags on a wall) 

 

  

 

Later we played a show in Newport, Kentucky (basically Cinncinatti) with Headlights who are touring with us.  And we think they hit home runs nightly.

 

 

 

And finally, thanks to the nannies, I got to wear my first birthday sombrero at dinner in the middle of nowhere at a pretty decent Mexican restaurant, score again. 

.

 

Heading to our old stomping grounds, where Jason and I met and where our band started, was worth the insane travel. Mags got to try on hair extensions from my cousin (who also gave me a haircut), we got to show off the baby to her great grandparents, we got to play with Built to Spill and see the Flaming Lips.

 

Magnolia and her new, temporary, long hair, and my cousin. 

 

Getting there was a little rocky, and by the looks of the midwest storms lately, I'm sure many people can relate. 

Flying into Kansas at night with tornado skies and thunder and lightening in the background, the planeride in was a little um..exciting.  With June on my lap and Mags next to me saying loudly, "Are we gonna see a tornado?! How come there is so much lightening? Why haven't we landed? This is really bumpy" etc, I had to put on that fake, unphased mom look while my stomach was in knots (and also tell her to make sure she uses  her inside voice)  Meredith (nanny and friend) was very good at keeping her cool as well.

Apparently the Wakarusa festival had to evacuate due to 70 mph winds (the ones we were flying into).

The drive home from the airport might have been crazier than the plane ride since we could have easily been in the worst storm we've ever driven in (slowly)  We arrived at my aunts house carrying in two screaming little girls who needed bedtime badly. 

The next day was beautiful.  We hung with a bunch of family and then played in the, and this is a first, sunny-but-NOT-humid Kansas summer day.

 

 Sound checkin at the Slow Down in Omaha

We headed to Omaha the next day.  During sound check there was a tornado watch.  The skies cleared while we played...and then at 2:30 in the morning we woke up to hotel alrams and outside tornado sirens. We had to wake up the girls, and head down to the safe zone in the hotel lobby while the severe storm passed. The first thing Mags said when we pulled her out of bed to seek cover..."Here's that storm I was telling you about!" I guess she's psychic now.

 

 

 Needless to say, St. Louis spared us a twister and we had a great visit.  Mags even got to see some landmarks.

 

 

 So, there's this show called Yo Gabba Gabba, in case you haven't heard.  It's for kids (but I know adults without kids who watch it). We recently got to be guests on the show.  We were all very quickly in awe of both the show and the people who make it. 

June watched from the side while we played "No One Wants to Be Left Out" in front of a green screen. (I call this June's "little old man angle")

 

 Here are some  reasons why I have decided working at Yo Gabba Gabba is my new dream job.  

1.  People who don't want to grow up but still have to get jobs can pretend they are kids all day while doing something unusual and artistic (and fun!).

2.  People ride bikes and skateboards around the set all day.

3.  I was served grilled peanut butter and jelly and banana sandwiches while I was there. By the reaction I got, I realized this is a regular occurance.

4.  I heard Mondays are "Mustache Mondays" and everyone, you guessed it, wears a mustache.

5.  You can wear crazy costumes even if you aren't one of the actors because they have a costume room and they share well.

6.  Everyone there is friendly and nice.

7.  You can bring your kids to work with you.  There are always kids around.  (It's a kids show, duh)

8.  The music on the show is really good. Lots of people running the show are or used to be in bands.  In fact, you can meet some of your favorite bands on the set quite often.  (ie. Ladytron was there the day before us and The Shins did a recent episode as well)

9.  You meet people like Julia who gave me 3 homemade baby gifts from her line Geela (which pretty much rules)

 

 10.  DJ Lance Rock really is that smiley in person.  (June was fascinated by him)

 

 

11.  Muno (despite the comments many people make about his.um...shape, you really can't take your eyes off of him and his one big eye) He's the big tall red monster in case you don't know whom I'm referring to.

12.  Did I mention the set yet?  It's like walking around in a Dr. Seuss book while hanging out with Willy Wonka, only better.

 

13.  Im not sure if all childrens shows have the same mood going on all day. But, it cheered everyone in our crew up, even June.

14.  It's a bizarre show in a lot of ways.  And well, I think that's a good thing.

15.  I could go on, but just watch the show because that could be the best thing about getting a job there, the end product, each episode is creative, unusual and refreshing. It's only been on the air for one season but I bet it'll be running for a while.

16. DJ Lance Rock has been known to join bands on stage at L.A. area shows.

17. When I found out the show has been nominated for an EMMY I told DJ Lance that the show will probably start getting big bands instead of little indie acts.  He assured me that the show is very committed to quality and the whole point of the show is having the music and people they want around.   

  

Wishing we were monsters. 

 Thanks Yo Gabba Gabba! We'll be watching. 

We've been flying almost every morning on this tour.  And, thankfully the family lines have been the best thing airports have done in a long time.  But, it's only fitting that I discuss an issue with flying and parenting that has been brought to my attention-there are good airplane parents and bad airplane parents.  Read on.

Situation:  When your kid starts to kick the hell out of the seat in front of them. 

 Good Airplane Parent will say something like, "You can't do that, the person in front of you can feel it."

If they continue, G.A.P warns them that the passenger they are kicking might turn around and get mad at them.

Bad Airplane Parent does this:  nothing at all for the whole plane ride

 

Situation:  When your kid sticks his hands (after coughing and sneezing and clearly having a cold on them) through the seats and touches the people in front of them (me and June and our nanny) over and over 

 Good Airplane Parent will say something like, "That's not ok.  Don't stick your hands through there, this is your space and that is theirs."  or the G.A.P will redirect the child to play with something that the good airplane parent brought along to distract and entertain the kids.

Bad Airplane Parent will do this:  nothing and also the B.A.P doesn't bring one thing, even a snack to occupy the kids.

 

Situation:  When your child thinks he or she is singing but is actually shouting at the top of his or her lungs loudly for a continuous 20 minutes.

Good Airplane Parent says, "I love the song you are singing, do you think you can sing it like this (quieter voice) because it sounds so much better like that instead of shouting"

Note: I know my child has done this very thing on an airplane but when the volume got too loud, we told her in creative nice ways to lower her voice.

Bad Airplane Parent does this:  laughs as loud as the kid is "singing" and then nothing

 

OK, i know I sound a little bitchy.  Let me clear something up though, when a child is tired of the trip and crying and whining etc, I totally sympathize with the parents (even bad airplane parents).  And I know at certain ages children are so much less likely to oblige when asked to behave.  However, if the parents behind us on the airplane at least sounded like they were making any effort, it would have made us all feel a little better when boogery hands were popping through the cracks to poke us.  

I never said anything to the mom and dad behind us because I have limits.  But, I did make one angry face through the cracks in the seats when I got kicked in the back consistently for 2 hours.  It kind of looked like this: 

 

 

That's not THAT mean is it?  Maybe I should have growled too.

And for the record, everyone else on the plane heard the kids behind us.  I heard them complaining about it. And, at one point when I thought Jason was sleeping, he turned to me and said, "People need to control their kids."  We got a good laugh out of the whole ride so there's the silver lining.

Next time, a very positive experience at Yo Gabba Gabba.  ( I want to work there, it is sersiously the coolest place ever) 

 The view you have watching bands on the main stage at Sasquatch is breath-taking.  The view from the stage we played on was great in it's own way...just not the Grand Canyon-esque backdrop on the other stage.  We had an amazing time though.  And, at Sonic Boom in Seattle, people packed in and we felt very welcome (and hot as hell).  I want to thank all the people, especially all the parents and kids, for coming.  It literally was a stroller fest just outside the store and it made me want to move to Seattle and befriend all the cool parents.  And now...I have found out that Vic Firth makes ear protection for kids.  You no longer have to go to firing ranges to get headphones for your toddler in order to take him or her to rock concerts (thanks 4 year old in the front row)

We also played a take-away show after the festival.  This crew does incredible work-check out some past performances.  They film bands live in strange locations with minimal hassle and equipment.  We shot in a stairwell with a small keyboard, a drum and the strings.  Then we shot one song while walking and one in a random hippie record store.  The video will be up as soon as they edit the other 30 bands they have recently filmed.   

 

The crowd at Sasquatch-happy bunch.

 

 Favorite Pho place in Seattle, right before in-store performance.

 

Take away shoot. 

 

 

 Anton and Lewis in the unsuspecting crowd for an unannounced Judgement Day set.

 

Whew, so much going on..Magnolia has her end of the year preschool celebration this week too and I think we (Magnolia and I) are playing some songs at it. Hmm.  Should be interesting since she has decided that she's playing the xylophone (which somehow is the loudest instrument in the world when she plays it) Jason wont be able to accompany us-he's instead driving the equipment and the van all the way to Kansas.  We'll be there to join him for the Wakarusa Festival the day after that.  

 

We finally have wireless! (Otherwise I'd be posting more often)  We've been literally flying to every show, without much rest in between.  Magnolia is staying (having a vacation) with Gramma and June is sailing through her first tour. Although, she didn't really sleep last night, or today at the show.

So far we've done some radio, some TV, some record store performances and our favorite-a couple of real shows.

 

 (Music Millenium in Portland)

 We're in the Northwest right now.
And, here's my conclusion to visiting this oasis in America:  East Coast, wake up!

 Everybody is so much more environmentally aware and active here.  You forget that when you live away from the west coast. 

There were kids outside of our hotel in Portland yelling "Green carwash!"

The flushers in the airport have the up flush for liquid waste and the down flush for solid waste. 

And, there's the friendly reminders everywhere to clean up your trash (see above pic). 

Oh, and also, let's talk about how it's more kid friendly here...at the Oakland airport, there are family lines for security and check in.  Yep, jump to the front if you have children. As soon as they see the stroller, they pull you out of the long line and move you right to the front.

 It poured on us and our equipment right before we played in Bend, Oregon but then cleared up for the rest of the show.

 
We watched the Decemberists and Death Cab play amazing sets while we hung on the side with June.

 

 I've been communicating with Magnolia through picture texting.  We try to one up each other with how much fun we're each having (she's clearly eating better than me...since I had a donut and candy for breakfast)

 I miss her but we'll be home soon to pick her up (and tour with both kids for the first time)

Now we're off to Sasquatch 

 

 

 

New record, out today.  Watch Conan tonight. We spent all day at NBC studios.

 June came with us today and Mags got to hang with one of her favorite people, Meredith, who will be accompanying us all summer to spoil Magnolia rotten as she always does (in a good way)

This week has been crazy busy with gymnastics performances, new "star" behavior charts, packing for 4 (a 3 day long process), our record release and three days in a row of driving into NY for shows including NPR (tomorrow morning), Conan (today) and other various album release stuff.  Although chaotic, it has been fun.  Only I wish June would start sleeping!!  She is the only person I know that can go all night with little sleep and still be all smiles all day.

 

 

 

 I just got June to sleep (for an hour or so I'm guessing).  I have to go crawl in bed with Mags now because I promised her I'd say goodnight even though she's already sleeping.  I'm kind of happy to do so since I haven't seen her all day.  And, since we'll be gone for a little over a week starting tomorrow night.

Conan was nice.  He does wear a lot of make-up for tv.  More on our day at the show soon.

  

We let Mags practice with us. It didn't hurt anyone, anything..she just played shaker and xylophone and sang while we ran through a few songs.  Only then she got really showy or curious rather, and wanted to play the keyboards on what kept being "one more song" until we we weren't really getting much done as a band.

It wouldn't have been so necessary to pry her away if it weren't for the fact that we were practicing with the new players touring with us, Anton and Lewis, who have an amazing string metal band, and Linnea who will be on tour for the first couple shows. I'm not so sure they want to double the length of practice so Magnolia stays happy. (Although they are all pretty cool about the kid thing) If it were up to me, she could hang out with us playing music all day. 

Anyway, Magnolia finished tantruming after I brought her upstairs. And my mom stuffed some spaghetti in her mouth (because really the root of her emotion was her hunger-not the fact that she couldn't keep playing songs with us)  Then our new little almost band member cheered up.  However, we realized that shows and sound check are gonna be rough trying to explain how she's not really in the band without actually telling her she's not in the band, if that makes any sense.  I mean, I want to leave the door open for her as a future band member but we're not quite there yet. And, sound checks are already long enough.

We have a full house of people as the players are staying with us.  And, our friend Torkel, who is riding his bike across the country, injured himself and had to come back to rest for a few days.  Soon, the house will be empty and we will be traveling the country as well.

I'm already feeling guilty knowing I'm leaving Magnolia for 9 whole days this time.  And, lately we've been so busy I feel like I haven't been able to spend enough time with her.  Oh, the guilt that comes with parenting...it's so hard to ignore it.  

Tomorrow on the agenda: Special alone time with Mom and Mags. 

 .

RIght now both kids are fast asleep, and I should be sleeping too. 

 We're practicing and getting everything ready for the record release and tour. In fact, if you want to hear the new record it's being streamed on myspace for a couple of days. 

Magnolia found out we'll be doing a segment on Yo Gabba Gabba (a srange and awesome children's TV show) next week and she asked Jason, "Could I sing it with you guys one time?" Almost broke me heart that she