Back From Tour, Must Clean Spare Room

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Krista

I’ve gone through my pictures about forty times today–the pictures I took while I was on tour with Mindy and the band, that is. And I’m having a hard time deciding how to share the awesomeness that was the Mindy Gledhill Christmas Concert Tour.

It’s been a long time since I felt the need to pinch myself and ask, “Is this really my life?” But lately, that’s how I feel. Life is so good. So fun. So fulfilling. So full—full of cool people, cool experiences, and opportunities that make me happy.

When I climbed into bed last Monday night (after our own house concert) I had a feeling it was just the beginning of a great week. Turns out, I was right.

[Media Appearances]

[Tuesday Night @ the Velour Live Music Gallery]

[Wednesday Night with the Teton Chamber Orchestra]

[On the tour bus ... i.e. Le Chateau]

[Friday Night during Soundcheck @ The Rose Room ... I am magic.]

[Saturday Night in Tri-Cities, WA]People sometimes ask what I do when I manage a tour like this and the answer is … I do details. I make sure the band is taken care of, that there’s food when food is needed, that the sound tech knows when soundcheck is scheduled for, that the set looks good, that hotel rooms are reserved, that email lists are passed around, that the baby is bounced, that merchandise is set up, sold, and accounted for, that backs are rubbed, that the promoters know our wherabouts and needs, that photos are taken, and that the media knows we’re coming.

It’s a ton of work and I’m utterly exhausted when I get home.

But then I think … is this really my life? How much cooler could it get?

(Apparently not much cooler at all seeing as how I now need to go change the sheets in the spare room and scrub the toilet. My sister, brother-in-law, and niece are coming tomorrow for Christmas. And I’m guessing they’d appreciate clean sheets and a clean toilet. It’s the least I can do.)

Song for Saturday [Wham! Last Christmas]

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Krista

This morning I woke up so happy. So totally happy.

So I got out of bed, went to see if Frit was awake, (she was), and told her I was making a Starbucks run (in my jams & slippers, bedhead and all) to get us some necessary deliciousness to start this cold Saturday off right–a caramel apple spice for her and a hazelnut steamer for me.

When I got in the car and turned the ignition, the very first thing I heard were the very first notes of the awesomeness that is Wham!’s Christmas hit, “Last Christmas.”

This, only made me more happy. If that was even possible.

And now, I’m sharing that fantastic-ness with you.

Trust me. It will make you happy.

One of the best things about this song is that just when you think it should be over, there’s still four more chorus to go! And as for the video … I don’t even know where to begin … classic and awesome all rolled up in some seriously styled hair.

After bedhead and Starbucks, the rest of the afternoon included a new washing machine, a lot of photo shoot editing, and a matinee showing of The Muppets (GO see it!).

Happy indeed.

P.S. There’s just one week and a day until the Mindy Gledhill concert AT MY HOUSE! Have you gotten your tickets yet? CLICK HERE. They’re only $10/person until Dec. 12, and $15 the night of.

Buddy the Elf! What’s your favorite color?!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Krista

***Don’t forget to enter to win a new Christmas CD by leaving a comment on on this post. I’ll draw the winner on Friday.***

This afternoon I got the funnest phone call. It was from a new reader who wanted to reserve two tickets for the Mindy Gledhill Christmas concert Frit and I are hostessing in two weeks! (Hi Jessica!) Seriously, it made my whole day. It always amazes me that people actually read this here crazy bloggity and I never tire from meeting those new friends who do. Really, truly. Thanks for reading.

AND … can I just tell you how excited I am about this concert?! Gah!

I am! So. Excited! It’s going to be such a dreamy night of music and I’m consumed with the planning and decorating and refreshments menu. I so hope you’ll come. Tickets are $10 until Dec. 12 and $15 the night of. You can RSVP on the Facebook Event Page, or you can email me, or you can call (801.360.1235).

… In other news …

Tonight Frit and I, for family night, ate a gargantuan amount of naan, tikka masala, and coconut kurma. Then we put Buddy the Elf on repeat, which is tradition you know (we’re on our 2nd time through at this very moment), took down Thanksgiving and began decking our halls with Christmas. Frit is the resident tree light expert. She’s really so good at it. (And she’s such a good sport to do it every year.) While she’s busy with the boughs, I set up the rest. And then we do the ornaments together.

This is one of my favorite nights of the year. I love the glow of the lights. I love the sparkle in the ornaments. I love the hazelnut in the chocolate on the stove. I love how hard Elf makes us laugh every, stinkin’, year. I love the ribbons in the windows, the nativity on the piano, and the feathers round the lamps.

I’m just really, so happy tonight. Happy. And tired. And ready for Christmas … almost.

Song for Saturday [Mindy Gledhill, Winter Moon] + HOUSE CONCERT!!!

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Krista

We might have gone overboard on the pies. We might’ve.

There was my pecan and sugar cream. Plus two pumpkins. Plus a lemon sour cream. And a chocolate cream.

Quite honestly, there was more pie per capita than Thanksgiving turkey. But by golly, come Friday morning, I was sure glad to be greeted by a gratuitous slice of leftover pecan for breakfast. Fav.o.rite.

After morning pie (akin to morning to prayer), we traipsed up the mountainside, like we do every year, looking for the perfect tree. Oddly (gratefully) it wasn’t very cold with only a light, snowy mist in the air.

We weaved in and out of the firs and evergreens, up this way and then back that way, when quite fortuitously, and rather quickly (compared to years past), we found her. The perfect mix of whimsy, fullness, and Charlie Brown.

And just like that, Christmas had begun. Hip! Hip!

In honor of the newly opened yuletide season, I wanted to share the music video debut of “Winter Moon” by my friend, indie-singer/songwriter Mindy Gledhill. She just released a Christmas album, of the same title, and I’m in love love love with the whole darn thing. The collection, to me, is reminiscent of simple Christmases, dreamy and playful, with hints of delightful quirkiness. Her rendition of “Christmas Waltz” (Track 2) is hands down, my new favorite Christmas song. I had it on repeat for, oh, 2 hours or so last night. So I am quite confident when I say that I think this should be your 2011 Christmas CD purchase.

Find the album here (hard copy, on sale for $11.24 today) and here (iTunes, $9.99).

And if getting to share the music video wasn’t exciting enough! I have a copy of Winter Moon to giveaway to one of my readers! Just leave a comment below telling me your Christmas wish and I’ll randomly draw the winner next Friday night. ***This GIVEAWAY has ended: The winner is Brenda Taylor! Congrats Brenda!

Oh, but there’s more! I’m hosting a private house concert featuring Mindy and her stellar band (who are flying in all the way from LA for the show!) on Monday, December 12 at 8:00 p.m. You’re coming right?! The artist donation fee is $10 until December 12, or $15 at the door.

I’m over-the-Winter-Moon excited about this concert and am already scheming-dreaming the decorations and refreshments! Oh, how I hope you can come. If you have any questions, send me an email.

Now without further adieu, may I present Mindy Gledhill (+ a few surprise guests) singing the title track of her new album “Winter Moon” …

Roadtrippin’ with Mindy Gledhill: Our Southern Idaho Tour

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Krista

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.)