We are playing with the "This American Life" tour at the famous and beautiful Chicago Theater. It is beautiful. Last night, we played an equally incredible theater in Minneapolis. The whole time we were in Minnesota, all anyone could talk about was the four feet of snow expected to start that evening, which would supposedly lead to our being stranded there and having to cancel the Chicago show. I asked Ira Glass what he would have done if no other performers had made it through the snow. He simply replied, "I would have done the show by myself."
The authors on this tour are now my favorites. They are all a little older and more experienced than I am, and they all have the social gift of restraint and quick wit. I, on the other hand, blab until (with luck) something interesting comes out. Dan Savage is funny and sweet and has given us parenting advice (he says to have a second baby soon). He notices pretty architecture even though he has a near-broken leg from snowboarding. David Rakoff is the most friendly. He's also highly intelligent and I hope he never catches me reading People. David even carried my heavy bag one night when we all walked from the venue to the hotel and we talked about how musty-smelling thrift stores make people like myself have to uh . . . use the bathroom. I'm tempted to tell him I love him. Sarah Vowell is quiet, but I love her dry wit. When I do hear her talk, she always has something witty and memorable to say. On 
Jason and me in the Chicago Theater; above, Jason before the show. the first page of her book Assassination Vacation, she talks about the assassination of Abe Lincoln by the slave-lovin' John Wilkes Booth. I am actually related to John Wilkes Booth. Seriously. My Gramma studied our geneology and, along with the guy who invented Morse Code, we are in the same family tree as Lincoln 's murderer. I considered mentioning this to Sarah in hopes of sparking a conversation, but then I realized that it might be what people call a skeleton in the closet. Jonathan Goldstein is laid-back. He's off the tour now, but I feel like if he were still here, we'd be friends by now. I liked him. Oh, and Chris Wilcha rules. I think that guy is the most like us. He's the producer of This American Life, the TV show. He's nervous, too, to be in front of this audience. But his work is brilliant and he has a daughter a year younger than Magnolia. (Could he be a Mate-ster?) He mentioned he'd like to do a video for us and we about wet ourselves.
Eventually, this tour will make us feel smarter. It's like playing soccer against a better team; you play better defense and you are more calculated in your offense because the stakes have been raised. We feel like we will make better music and perhaps tell better stories.
I am backstage and I just got off the phone with Magnolia. Here is our conversation:
"HI Mommy. What are you doing?
"I'm getting ready to play music. What are you doing?"
"I'm playing with Beat. (Beat is her aunt, my sister Kristin, who has a slightly small head
David Rakoff, Jason, Dan Savage, Chris Wilcha, Jane Feltes and me (looking fat, I might add) on the "This American Life" tour. and was nicknamed Beetlejuice and then Beat for short)."
"What are you playing?
"ARE YOU THERE, MOMMY??" (She likes imitating the cellphone generation and shrieking, "Can you hear me now?")
"Yes, I'm here. Can you hear me?"
"Yes I can hear you. I was just checking if you were still there. ARE YOU STILL THERE, MOMMY?"
"Yes, I'm still here."
"Oh, actually I'm hungry and I"m gonna go eat right now."
"What are you gonna eat for dinner?"
"Um, spaghetti and then Beat will give me some candy . . .
"Oh, you must have been a good girl."
"No, I'm a good boy. Say I'm a good boy, Mommy"
"Good boy. I miss you."
"I miss you too. ARE YOU THERE, MOMMY?"
"Yes. I'm here still. Do you want to say hi to Daddy?"
"Yes. I want to talk to Daddy now."
"I love you. I will see you tomorrow."
"LOOOVE YOOOOOUUUU. SEE YOU TOMOOOORROW!"
Then she had the exact same conversation with Jason.
Next time: we pose (naked) for PETA!
©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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