Tag Archives: Indie Pop Music

A Smashing Success

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(soundcheck)

I don’t know how we did it, but on Monday night we fit no less than 70 people in our living room for our first annual Christmas House Concert with indie-pop star Mindy Gledhill. I’m still reeling!

Frit and I were up past midnight two nights in a row decorating and baking and getting everything ready, and despite our bleary eyes, it was SO worth it. And even now … every time we walk in the living room, we smile–we still haven’t taken the decorations down. We love them too much.

Spencer Harrison (Mindy’s bass player) and Libbie Linton opened with some delicious tunes. (Check them out here, or here.) And I am, pleased to announce, that I am a new Libbie fan. And Spencer just might be the nicest guy with the greatest coiffure and coolest voice. Ever.

When Mindy took the stage it was like our whole house suddenly went electric. The walls were buzzing neon, I swear. It was palpable. And amazing. And so gosh darn fun! The kick of the bass drum pounded the opening beats of Whole Wide World (which, may I tell you, she dedicated to moi) and I wanted to jump up and down and dance and scream, “Do you feel that? In your gut? Do you feel that?” I’m weird, I know. But like I said. The house was electric and I was, in turn, electrified. Good live music gives me such a rush.

So anyway. Mindy sang songs from Anchor and Winter Moon and Frit and I danced in our seats the whole time. Side note: When Mindy sang the Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick” Frit dared me to run wildly through the crowd (run run reindeer, run run reindeer, you can hear it right? And see it?). She said she’d pay me $40 if I did, and I even got her up to $70 by the end of the exchange. But I just couldn’t do it. I was too shy. (Right.) Now I’m thinking I was crazy not to take that dare. It was my concert afterall, right?

So anyway. As if being able to hostess the event wasn’t enough, Mindy invited me up to sing the finale song with her. … One of my finest moments, I’m sure.

This next photo cracks me up every time. Apparently, I was really getting into it. And now I know … I SOO do not sing with a pretty face like Mindy does!

The only thing I’m kicking myself over, besides not taking Frit’s dare, is that I don’t have more pictures. I guess I was just too hopped up on electricity and meeting everyone that this is all the documentation I have. But I so wish I had taken a crowd picture so you could actually see all 70 people in our living room. I’m amazed that we actually pulled that off. But as Frit reminded me, I can fit anything into any space. And it’s true. I can.

So thanks everyone for coming! It was one of the highlights of my year to put this show on and meet so many of you. And just so you know … we’re addicted to house concerts now. So stay tuned for more dates and more artists in the future.

p.s. the morning after the concert, we had to be at Channel 2 and Channel 4 bright and early for some media spots I booked for Mindy and her puppet friends to publicize the rest of the tour. Check out the ABC segment here: (Buzzy Snowman kills me!)

And because I was so happy that the babysister and her lovely ladies came … one more picture:

Roadtrippin’ with Mindy Gledhill: Our Southern Idaho Tour

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There are some people in my life that I would do just about anything for. Mindy is one of those people. So when she called last week and said, “can you?!” I said, “most definitely!” It was only two days away, but I’d move hell and high water (or is it hill and high water? I never know.) to road-trip it with MG. And though I’m constantly reminded of my un-cool-ness when I’m with her (She really is so much cooler than me. I mean hello. I still use the word “cool”.), she makes me laugh and feel creative and I find my dreams growing wings just from being around her. I feel so lucky that I can call her friend.

I went as “manager,” which means I was the go-to for publicity, set up, travel & lodging, venue contacts, all tour/show related questions/needs, etc. and just generally kept things running smoothly. The key to being a good manager/publicist? Think ahead. Imagine every possible scenario for how things will go (good and bad) and have solutions at the ready for all of them. And then everyone will love you. And everyone will be happy.

So the tour started off in Rexburg, Idaho in the Kirkham Auditorium which we totally sold out the day before the concert. Hello 1,000 screaming fans and a standby line that wrapped around the building! Awesome–is an understatement.

I’ve been with Mindy since she debuted her first album seven years ago. I’ve seen her shows; I’ve seen the audiences. And I can say, unequivocally, that this was my favorite show ever. The band rocked. Mindy rocked. And the crowd–mm hm–rocked. Oh and the orchestra! Did I leave out that detail? Yes. Mindy and her band were backed by the fantastic Teton Chamber Orchestra. And they too–you guessed it–rocked. I mean … as much as an orchestra can “rock.”

It is so fulfilling to help make a live show (that I also happen to personally love and adore) come together and then have an audience come to it that boomerangs the energy pouring off the stage right back up up there. And I’ve said this before, but Mindy’s music makes me so happy. Like I’m dancing on clouds. It was such a fun night.

Guitarist, Joe Corcoran, was incredible–what a talented musician. I was in awe. He was the guitarist who actually recorded on the album and came up from LA to play these shows.

Andrew Burton was on bass and might just be one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. Not to mention a fantastic bassist.

And Jay Tibbitts, our drummer, is, to quote myself “one of the best drummers I’ve seen in a long time.” And, as I’m sure you can see in the pictures below, he’s absolutely darling. If he were like, oh, ten years older, I might’ve gotten a wicked crush on him this weekend. But as it stands, I think I’ll just be the president of his fan club. (He’s also the drummer for Parlor Hawk–another band definitely worth checking out.)

After Rexburg, we were bound for Idaho Falls to set up for another show of 1,000. And it was just as fun the second time as it was the first.

It was all pretty whirlwind (as tours usually are) and I was beat by the time we got home, but such a stellar way to spend a weekend.

To see all the photos from our tour weekend, click here.

Check out Mindy’s music here: MindyGledhill.com. Buy the album here: iTunes.

Last Minute (Do You Live in Idaho?)

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(Last night’s sound check and rehearsal)

I got a last minute call yesterday to come manage Mindy Gledhill‘s two Idaho concerts this weekend. Um…lemme think about that…yes PLEASE!

Tonight we’re in Rexburg for a show at the Kirkham Auditorium where Mindy will be backed by her band and the Teton Chamber Orchestra. Let me tell you … it sounds pretty cool! And tomorrow we’ll be in Idaho Falls at the Civic. So if you’re up here, come! And please do come say hello! (Concert Details & Tickets Here)

p.s. her drummer also plays in Parlor Hawk, who were featured on iTunes Best of 2010 Indie Spotlight. Check ‘em out.

p.p.s. and her guitarist engineered for the Dave Matthews Band & Lenka.

p.p.p.s. You really ought to come tonight or tomorrow if you can!