Last week I spent the night with Al Kooper.  Wait, that sounded wrong.  What I meant was, I, along with about 20 other Minneapolis musicians all spent the evening jamming with him at The Dakota Jazz Club.   Al Kooper is a name many of you know, and a name the rest of you should know.  If you read his resume, you'd see what I mean.  Here are some snippets: He wrote "This Diamond Ring," performed by Gary Lewis and the Playboys Al played the signature organ riff on Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" as well as the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" He founded  the group Blood,...

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Izzy McBride is riding around the Twin Cities with the Jon Bon Jovi seal of approval. When McBride made a stop at the U Saturday, while chauffeuring the entourage of E! TV show host and best-selling author Chelsea Handle, a couple people whispered to me, "Izzy is Jon Bon Jovi's favorite driver." To confirm this tidbit, I asked Bon Jovi Thursday when he visited the homeless residence People Serving People in Minneapolis. "Is Izzy my favorite driver in the Twin Cities? Absolutely," said Bon Jovi, laughing and pointing at my camera (see  HYPERLINK "http://startribune.com/video" startribune.com/video)....

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It all started a few weeks back when my, drummer, Peter Anderson sent me a link to win a chance to open for Jon Bon Jovi and said "go for it!" So, I did! Then, last Monday afternoon I was informed that we had made it to the top 8 finalists in the “Big Break Contest” on KQRS, a local radio station. We’re talking a classic rock station, so frankly, I was shocked to have even been considered. The prize was to open on either April 7th or 8th for Bon Jovi at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Chance of a lifetime! So I got busy, begging and posting like a fiend “Vote for me, please!...

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It's been a good one, I have to say.  I picked up guitar again.  I'm taking lessons from my friend Stein.  It's not my first time playing, but I think it might as well be.  When I went to college, I knew there was going to be a big gaping hole in my musical self because I'd be without a piano.  My parents were kind enough to buy a guitar for me.  I took a few lessons and I actually played a lot that first year of college.  Unfortunately, then I moved home, back to my piano.  So there the guitar sat, lonely in it's case.  Until now.  Of course I remember nothing, so we're starting from...

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2010 arrived on my doorstep a few weeks back.  I wasn't sure I was ready for it.  However, now that it's here, I'm pretty stoked about it.  We've had two rockin show so far this year and I think they are really setting the tone for how this year is going to go.  Last week we opened for Lissie, this chick from Rock Island, IL.  She could not have been nicer.  It was refreshing.  I love stumbling across the good ones when you least expect it.  Not only was Lissie super down to earth, she sounded fantastic and her band was killer.  We girls have to stick together.  It's not that often I get to share...

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This has been an interesting question for us these last couple of years.  What’s more important?  Appealing to the masses, or appealing to the hipsters?  It’s a tough one.  I have to say, we’ve definitely had better luck with the masses.  We’ve sold cds like crazy, packed loads of clubs, and opened for great national acts.  Yet, the Minneapolis music mafia still barely has us on their radar.   I like to play my songs for anyone who will listen and I'll do anything it takes without sacrificing the music itself.  But when it all comes down to it, I'm just NOT the new cool thing. ...

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You know how I know?  Because my crazy neighbor down the street just started putting out her plethora of lawn ornaments and twinkly lights.  Tell me something, if there was only 1 baby Jesus, why does she need 7?  And so it begins, before you know it you won't be able to escape it.  Lucky for me, I love Christmas time.  Just seems a bit premature.  However, the band and I need to start getting ready now.  So I should stop dragging my feet and embrace it already.  All the holiday parties and company parties will start sooner than you think.  We have to be there, ready to bring down the house....

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You know, the band and I are always busy.  We've been playing a lot in the last couple of years.  However, it is not often that I get the chance to open for two huge icons within 10 days of each other.   Last Thursday Boz Scaggs was at the State Theater in Minneapolis.  Kevin and I were asked to be a part of the show.  We couldn't have been more excited.  Getting to play to 2000 people is not something we get to do every day.  I'd like to think we won them all over.  I know we sold a lot of cds!   Boz put on a great show.  He has a humidifier blowing at him.  It's placed right next...

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So, I have been writing a lot lately.  Not sure what it is, but it comes in phases.  I can go two months without writing a thing, and then I'll write three songs in one week.  We've got everything we need for the new album now.  I can't wait for you guys to hear some of the new material.  Kevin and I were in the studio working on some of it yesterday, and it's going to be fantastic.   Oh, something else that happened recently, a little fun fact for you all...I won this contest.  It's a website based out of LA.  Every month they pick a "vocalist of the month."  Here is a link to the article,...

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Music Lovers, Hello, Hello.  I just got back from a week on the North Shore.  I think it just may be my favorite place on earth.  In between the R & R, we played a few crazy shows up there.  Let me start off by saying that the people of Duluth sure do love their music!  Blues in particular.  Actually, it seemed that half the people there were Minneapolis natives who make the annual trip up to share in the Bayfront Blues Festivities.  You know, you think they are tame when they are down here in the cities.  However, after a weekend of beer, junk food, and guitar solos,  they go crazy!...

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