Nottingham, England
We've played this town a bunch. The first time we played here at Rescue Rooms, some kids blew bubbles at us while we played. The second time, the kids who were blowing bubbles at us played in the opening band. The third time, we opened for the New Pornographers and no one posted that we were playing. This time, again with no promotion, we played in the much larger, 2,000-capacity venue, opening for We Are Scientists. They're Americans, but huge in England. It's so weird how spoon-fed the Brits are with music. There are a million dude bands that all sound alike. They all have one hit and they play these massive tours here, and NME, the weekly music rag, just goes on and on about how hot they are. Who cares? Well, just about everyone in this dreary country.
We've been a band for nine years. We booked our own tours all around the world for a long time. We've packaged up cds for mail order in our Motel 6 rooms and slept on nice peoples' floors. We toured in a minivan and finally graduated to a full-sized van when we added two crew members to make us a total of five people on tour (including Magnolia). Our four records, six singles and some other EPs were all released on independant record labels. We've always made the music we wanted to make and at one point I think we believed that we would be widely appreciated for doing something genuine and original. Not in England. I don't think we'll ever come back here.
Sorry to be so Debbie Downer. I got in a fight with some slimy little guy at the merch table. I was our selling T-shirts and cds (trying to, anyway). This guy got angry that he stood in the wrong line and when he realized I was in the opening band he proceeded to tell me what was wrong with our band: we needed to play a little more variety of songs, blah blah blah. I blew up. We had a "discussion" about the way people listen to music and where they get music from. He did admit that he mistook me for the other opening band and that he'd buy a cd for half price. I told him that this was how we made a living and that there was no way I'd give him a cd that cheap, especially after what he said. He felt he bought his right to tell me what he thought since he paid for a ticket. Well, I guarantee that his twenty pounds didn't reach our pockets. We will actually be losing money on this tour. The funny thing is — and I know I sound conceited here — we freaking kicked ass tonight. Sadly, no one noticed. Tomorrow will be better.
Somewhere else in England
We are at a camp site. There is a playground here. Magnolia played this awesome game with some little red-headed English boys. They made her a sword (a stick) and told her to point it at them and change them into different animals and characters. She giggled the most when they pretended to be old men. We showered at the camp site because
Bathing in the backstage sink. the showers here are far better than the ones inside the club. I haven't washed my hair in days, but it kind of looks better that way. Magnolia talks in her sleep like her father. She woke up and reached her hands up in the middle of the night and said, "Uppy, uppy, uppy" before going back to sleep. It's not as bad as when I woke up to find Jason barking like a dog at the end of the bed in his sleep. I'm a light sleeper. I wish I could be such a heavy sleeper that I turned into a dog in the middle of the night. We all decided that the highlight of the day is seeing what kind of songs Magnolia comes up with when she plays her little guitar. She's fixated on this one called "Goodnight." We decided we might work that song into a new one we're working on.
Mags took her bath in the backstage sink after making her first on-stage debut. We Are Scientists do a cover of "End of the Road" (yes, the Boys to Men '90s hit) as an encore and all the bands return to the stage to sing the chorus with them. Since Mags was with us watching from the side of the stage, we brought her out with us. She waved to t he crowd at the end of the song and then immediately after leaving the stage, she shouted, "That was fun!!" Jason and I have this conversation all the time: We don't want her to be in band unless she fully realizes why it's not the best thing to do with your life unless you are absolutely passionate about it and can deal with all the bullshit.
©2006 Mates of State and Nerve Media
About the Author
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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. Hear their latest album, Bring it Back, at www.matesofstate.com. |
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