Posted by: Alison
Posted date:
June 17, 2013 |
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So, much to my surprise, Joe Brandmeier (director extraordinaire) sent me an email a couple of weeks ago that we had won a silver Telly award for our “Smash & Grab” video. Joe and his crew did an amazing job making this video for us, and while I always thought it was the coolest video around, we have never had any formal recognition for it’s awesomeness. Until now. Something spurred him to submit it, and WE WON!
Now, I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of the Telly awards. So, I had to look them up. Turns out they honor the very best in film and video production. They...
Posted by: Alison
Posted date:
May 6, 2013 |
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People always ask me what being on the road is like. The whole concept has been glamorized to death. I’m sure it is pretty fabulous if you are Lady Gaga or The Rolling Stones. For the rest of us though, I think it’s pretty different than you’d expect.
Imagine yourself on a road trip with no destination. That’s kind of what it feels like. Mind you, we are always headed somewhere, but we spend way more hours in the car than we spend on stage or in any one place.
I’ve been spoiled these last few years because two of my band-mates, Peter Anderson and Steve Price, do most all of the driving....
Posted by: Alison
Posted date:
September 17, 2012 |
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So, I do have some exciting stuff going on this week! The band and I were lucky enough to receive a grant from the State of MN as part of the Arts Tour MN. This is funding a 7-city tour all over the state, mostly in smaller town/cities and mostly places we've never played before. We're kicking off this tour this weekend in New York Mills!
I have to admit, I'm still a little shocked that we were chosen to be a part of this. In some weird way I feel legitimized as an artist. If the state is willing to back me, that's pretty damn awesome!
(See what CityPages had to say about this!)
We'll...
Planning a CD release party is kind of like planning a wedding. At least the way my band and I do it. We always have to get as many musical guests as possible and make the evening as complicated as possible. That’s what makes it fun, and potentially AWESOME for the audience. However, that is what freaks me out in the end. With so many balls in the air, you just have to assume something will blow up. Manage your expectations, and then you can have fun no matter what. So, last Friday night, that is what I was doing. We had 6 guests in my set alone, at least that many more in Kevin’s set plus...
So, I just got home from dinner with Andy (my husband). It’s one of our favorite things to do...find a great restaurant, relax, have someone else do the work after a long day. However, it’s an activity I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and the effects of that action. If you read my last blog you know that the environment is something that is really important to me. I’ve been trying to make changes in my life and my home, step by step, day by day. I’m a LONG way from where I want to be, but it does feel good to know that I’m making an effort. Last year I decided to go 10 days without...
Posted by: Alison
Posted date:
May 19, 2012 |
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I keep thinking about that saying that you should leave the world better than you found it. It makes me stop and analyze every little thing. I don’t want to be one of those people who just abuses this planet and leaves the fallout to my kids. It’s not right.
The last couple years my husband and I have been on this documentary kick. It’s amazing what we’re capable of ignoring just because we don’t want to deal with it. Especially here in America, we walk around thinking that we’re invincible and that there are no consequences for our excessive lifestyle. If we can’t see it, it must...
Posted by: Alison
Posted date:
April 30, 2012 |
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It’s almost here!!!!!
The boys and I have spent much of the last few months locked in a studio drinking creativity juice to bring you guys the next addition to our discography.
The song choices are different from our usual go-to's. Yes we have some quality vintage on this album (“Trampled Underfoot” by Led Zepplin, “Trouble” by Cat Stevens, and “Tomorrow Never Knows” by The Beatles), but we’re also cutting some new stuff. Now, when I say “new” I mean less than 20 or 30 years old. Radiohead’s “High and Dry,” and Elliott Smith’s “Waltz No. 2” both made the cut....
So last night I played at The Amsterdam in St. Paul for Celebrate Women in Music. There were four bands performing: me, Desdamona, Holly Newsom and Pink Mink. There was also a panel discussion on what it’s like to be a women in this industry that included the women in these bands in addition to Kim King from the Fine Line, Sonia Grover from First Ave, Andrea Swensson from City Pages, Maggie MacPherson (who’s done everything!), and all of this hosted by our beloved Current Leading Lady-Barb Abney. Lots of good questions were asked. Some I wished we had gotten to, but we didn’t have time....
Destination of the day? Denver, Colorado. Length of stay 21 hours. Today is a little different than normal. We traveled here by plane and got to bypass our usual hours in the Suburban. Also, we are traveling as a duo, not the full band.
Kevin and I spent the entire flight thanking god that Denver is only a 2 hour flight since we had two screaming children kicking our chairs the entire flight. I’m not talking love taps. I’m talking physically trying to move our entire row forward. They failed. However, my butt may be bruised. I love kids as much as the next person. More even. But seriously...
So, lot’s of cool things are happening for the band, but possibly the coolest thing is Freedy Johnston. For those of you who think you don’t remember him, just look him up on itunes, sample the song “Bad Reputation,” and your memory will come back quickly. Lucky for me, I am booked by the ingenius Mr. Eric Roberts of Hello Booking, and so is Freedy. Freedy hasn’t toured with a band in quite some time, Eric knew he was in need of one, and I don’t mind sharing. So, for the rest of the summer we’ll be playing festival dates all over the midwest. I get to open, and then...