We're home!
Here's our advice for any parent in a band considering bringing a small child on tour:
1. Stay in hotels near the club.
2. Put diapers, peanut butter and bread on the rider.
3. Get some good, junior-sized headphones for hearing protection. They're available
at gun shops, not music stores (wtf?).
4. Put the car seat in the first van row of seats. (We used to think our little
girl never got car sick, too).
5. Bringing Grandma might actually be a great idea, even though you are embarking
on a rock and roll adventure. (She'll let you sleep in.)
6. Get a DVD player for the car — yes, those ones you hate seeing in
SUVs.
7. Stop for a few days in kid-friendly cities (San Francisco, Chicago), and anywhere
with a beach.
8. Don't schedule drives for more than a few hours between shows unless you
have a day off.
9. Let your child be a part of what you do. I never knew what my dad did at
the office. Magnolia knows how to set up a drum kit. And she writes songs for us!
10. Don't let anyone tell you that it's not right to do what you are doing
to your child. Trust me, we've had everything from someone telling us the music
is not good for her little heart to someone waving the "tsk-tsk" finger
at us for having her up too late. (We were still on New York time in Amsterdam
and she was hungry, so we were out feeding her.)
11. Enjoy spending more time with your child than most people get to.
"Band on the (Diaper) Run" will now take a short hiatus. Thanks — and get some sleep — Kori, Jason and Magnolia!
©2007 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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In Dallas, our two-year-old does her best Bob Dylan.
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From a packed concert hall to a sudden funeral, we keep singing.
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Magnolia magically transforms into "friendly airport kid."
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With our Seattle tour approaching, our daughter fights her binky addiction.
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