The Mad Tea had two shows this weekend, one planned, one spontaneous.
On Friday night we played in Rutherfordton, NC at Legal Grounds. The best part about that night was getting to see our dear friends Little King and Donna. We hadn’t seen them for awhile so we were really happy to catch up. It was nice showing off our new sound to them, too.
On Saturday Mad Tea picked up a last minute show in Asheville at the New French Bar when someone in the band Jason was supposed to be playing with there (Krek & the Kurmudgeons) called in sick. We decided at 8 pm to fill in for the Kurmudgeons, and were playing by 11 pm. It was a complete blast, no pressure, rockin’ show. Dancers and hooters and holler-ers and friends and family made it extra fun. And remember the guy we helped out on Halloween morning? He was there, and kept yelling out between songs, “Mad Tea Party saved my life!” How awesome.
Afterward, we ended up at a friend’s 30th birthday party until 4:30 am.
This is a photo of me with Mudder, my grandmother (who is 95 years old), on Thanksgiving. We had on matching outfits! What are the odds?!? We have a lot in common, really, including a love of travel and adventure and New Orleans. She wrote a book and got it published when she was in her 60s. So inspiring. Jason and I had a great day with my family and with his family.
Well, looks like the annual avalanche of x-mas “cheer” is upon us once again.
For those of you struggling not to be swept away by it, Mad Tea is throwing out a rope. Namely, we’re giving away two songs dedicated to the grinch in each of us. A little seasonal angst that you can dance to. So click here (or to the right or below) to download ”Oh Sh*t it’s Christmastime” and “It’s Cold Outside” and add them to your holiday playlist.
You can also hear these songs live at the Mad Tea’s upcoming shows opening for Southern Culture on the Skids – Friday, December 4th at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC and Saturday, December 5th at the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC.
“I’m So Thankful” by Reigning Sound from a recent show. The video’s not much to look at (you can’t even see the whole band) but I love this song and I felt like it was very fitting for today. Happy Thanksgiving!
Whew! It sure was a big project documenting the recent weeks in the life of Ukulele Rockstar Ami Worthen. It took some discipline on my part to put it all together. I blog because I like having a record of my adventures, but I also do it because some of you tell me that you enjoy reading this and following Mad Tea.
Believe it or not, the day we got back from tour Jason and I had a show.
The show was on Monday night November 16 at Robert Seven’s Artoreum – his home/studio and incredible art gallery/performance space. It was a rare Sugar & Spice performance – my project with Caroline Pond. We opened up for our good friend Maury Rosenberg of Hypnotic Clambake, who was in the area on tour from New York. The show was sold-out, and full of familiar smiling faces. The Sugar & Spice set was a complete blast. Caroline is one of my dearest friends and it is such a treat to play music with her. We hadn’t played together in months, but the practice we had earlier that day on my porch payed off. It was a total warm fuzzies sort of musical experience. Jason played guitar with Sugar & Spice as well was with Maury. Good stuff.
It was a yummy night and the perfect way to return home to our sweet Asheville artistic community.
Then on Wednesday night I went out to see Jason play his weekly gig with the Screamingj’s at MoDaddy’s because Maury was sitting in with them. Maury was dressed up crazy in a wig with a doll head attached to his accordion. The band sounded awesome and the energy was thrilling. I danced much of the night.
Catching up to more current events, last Friday we played a show withPinche Gringo and the Lonesome Chihuahua’s at the Westerwood Tavern in Greenboro, NC. It was a perfect grungy rock show. Mad Tea and Pinche Gringo both killed it. The crowd was nifty. Thoroughly enjoyable. Mad Tea is going to play a lot more shows with Pinche Gringo in 2010.
I am just going to give a quick overview of Mad Tea’s last 3 days on the Gulf Coast. We played in Ocean Springs, MS; Pensacola, FL (where we had the most lovely hosts – Janis and Fred Pruitt); and Mobile, AL. In fact, I think I’ll just post a photo gallery with captions. Here you go….
Tuesday November 10 found Mad Tea in the tiny Louisiana town of Opelousas. We played at the Whirlybird, a speak-easy of sorts built in an old train depot. Even though it was an “underground” spot, the Whirlybird is actually much nicer than many of the venues we play. And the folks that run it are super cool. We have a bunch of friends that live in that area and many of them came out to the show, including guys from the world-class Cajun/swing band the Red Stick Ramblers. It was a lovely show, with people dancing to every song, including to some songs that we had never seen anyone dance to before.
We spent the next two days with our friends David and Yvette, who have a gorgeous place out in the country near Lafayette. Yvette is a terrific artist. We relaxed, had interesting conversations, and enjoyed the perfect sunny weather. It gave us a change to rejuvenate after the wild time we had in New Orleans. A delicious mini-mid-tour vacation.
Then it was time for the home stretch of our tour.
We savored our last day in New Orleans, exploring the city, enjoying a classic lunch at Ignatius, and walking around the Audubon Park (which is beautiful and full of all kinds of water birds). The weather was exciting, because Hurricane Ida was blowing past us to the east. That night Mad Tea joined Chris and Ashley’s Three Piece Spicy Band for their weekly show at Ernie K-Doe’s Mother-in-Law Lounge.
The Mother-in-Law Lounge is a sight to behold. It was created in 1994by R&B singer Ernie K-Doe’s wife, Antoinette, to celebrate his career. It is full of mementos of his successes, most notably his hit song “Mother-in-Law”. The whole place had to be re-done after Katrina, but thankfully it’s still there. Antoinette and K-Doe are both deceased (Antoinette passed away during Mardi Gras this year), and Antoinette’s daughter Betty now runs the place. It is a totally funky, one-of-a-kind spot.
The outside has murals of K-Doe, Antoinette and of Quintron and Miss Pussycat – New Orleans musicians who helped revive K-Doe’s music later in his life. (Editor’s note: Quintron and Miss Pussycat are absolutely fantastic and Jason and I are big fans of their music.) Outside is also a fantastical garden with plants in bathtubs and other colorful yard art.
The centerpiece inside the Mother-in-Law Lounge is a mannequin of K-Doe, which gets dressed up in different outfits and is taken out to second-line parades and other events. Many of the photos in the Lounge were of people (including Antoinette) posed with the mannequin. It’s beautifully bizarre.
Three Piece Spicy and Mad Tea rocked out that night. Betty is a hoot, and she served up awesome soul food for everyone. I slipped off to the van at one point to start writing a new song. New Orleans had infused me with creative inspiration.
After the show, we hung out with Betty and a few Mother-in-Law Lounge regulars, laughing and enjoying the setting. Once again we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning.
I am so happy that we had such a kick-ass time in the Crescent City.
The air in New Orleans when we drove back into town on Sunday was positively electric. Especially because we drove right into downtown (near the Superdome) a couple hours before the Saints took on (ironically) the Carolina Panthers. All of downtown was a sea of Saints jerseys and the largest tailgate party I have ever seen. Folks had full-on grills set up next to fancy RV’s. There were bands on huge stages sponsored by different products, and TV screens everywhere. It was completely surreal. As we drove through the Saints mayhem, we were sheepish about our NC plates to say the least.
We met Chris and Ashley next to the only house left in the center of downtown, which happens to be owned by a friend of theirs. Behind the house was a big stage and a P.A. set up for the Three Piece Spicy Band. It was so bizarre being in the middle of that crazy scene. Jason played guitar with Three Piece Spicy and we all enjoyed being in such an un-real setting. When the game got ready to start, Chris and Ashley ran off to see it with tickets they had just aquired, and we went and had an excellent lunch at Mother’s.
It seemed like everyone in New Orleans was watching the game. We met our friend Jim at a corner bar, and, though we don’t even like sports, it was hard not to get caught up in everyone else’s excitement. When the Saints won, you could hear fireworks and people yelling from every corner, and there was a trumpet playing in the street near us. We were caught up in the exuberance.
Ashley
Chris
For dinner we were treated to a gourmet meal prepared by Jim’s girlfriend Eve.
Our show that night was at the Circle Bar, which is a very hip place. We played really really well that night. Chris and Ashley showed up in the middle of our first set, still pumped from the game, and they helped keep the energy high all night. And we made some sweet new Mad Tea fans. Jim stayed until the bitter end and helped carry our stuff. We have terrific friends.
On our second day in New Orleans (Saturday, November 7) Mad Tea got to play a set at the Rock Art Circus. What a blast! The promoter (super-cool artist LSW) booked us for it the night before, so it was an exciting unexpected addition to our tour. The Rock Art Circus, which was held at a venue called the Big Top (and in the street in front of the venue) was aptly named. It had rock, art, and circus performers. It was right up our alley and the crowd was killer. We saw some wild things there like a fire dancer and a 10-foot tall angel.
Sadly, we couldn’t stay and hang out at the Circus (even though we were offered another set there later in the evening) because we already had a gig booked at the Celtic in Pascagoula, MS. We wanted to honor our commitment. The less said about our experience in Pascagoula the better. Playing shows in random bars is not always glamorous. We truly appreciated the folks that danced so enthusiastically to our music that night. We did not appreciate how we were treated by the owner of the club. ‘Nuff said.
The next morning we high-tailed it back to our beloved New Orleans.
On Friday November 5 we drove from Huntsville, AL to New Orleans, LA.
I am in love with New Orleans.
How could I ever deign to attempt to describe the Crescent City? To me, it’s like another country. A completely vibrant, juicy, spicy, jubilant, musical place. Setting the stage for our magical experience in the Big Easy was the moment when Jason’s dad Tim’s song about New Orleans, “No Mo Do Yakamo” came on our iPod right as we drove into the city. Incredible. Our entire visit was filled with that kind of synchronicity.
We were so thrilled to be there and to see the historic houses, live oak trees, Spanish moss, street cars, people on stoops, colorful signs, and to tune into one of our favorite radio stations, WWOZ. We landed at our friend Chris and Ashley’s house which is near the Maple Leaf, a fabulous club (really, a New Orleans institution) where our show was that night. Chris and Ashley’s house is a lively place full of art and photos of a life filled with music and friends. We were very happy see them.
Jason couldn’t wait to eat some of the local cuisine, and so it wasn’t long before we were thrilling our taste buds with Creole and Cajun flavors.
The show at the Maple Leaf was off the chain. Mad Tea opened for Chris’s band the 101 Runners, a collection of New Orleans musicians who played heart-warming and booty-shaking New Orleans music – a mix of styles as flavorful as gumbo. I was knocked out by the music and ended up on the dance floor with Mardi Gras Indian Wild Man John of the Wild Tchoupitoulas, who was dressed in full regalia and pumping up the crowd with his theatrical moves. More fun was had when Jason sat in on fiddle. Hot stuff.
(At the show we met Steve Williams, an artist and the promoter for the Rock Art Circus, who was at our show because he had seen us perform at the Heavy Rebel Weekender. He hired us on the spot for the next day. More on that later. )
The evening turned towards morning as we hung out with Chris and Ashley and some of the members of the 101 Runners, listening to the Creeper, WWOZ’s incredible Friday night/Saturday morning DJ. Near the end of the Creeper’s show, Chris called up to request “Itty Bitty Pretty One,” Thurston Harris’s song that Mad Tea had covered that night in our set in tribute to Jason’s dad, who used to sing it. Chris and the Creeper have a 12-year relationship of Chris calling and requesting songs, though they have never met in person. It was 5:08 am (a little after the Creeper’s show had technically ended) when “Itty Bitty Pretty One” came on the air. We all danced and my heart was filled with the spirit of New Orleans.
The Red Stick Ramblers are top notch. And, since we hung out with a couple members of the band last night and played a show where most of this video was filmed and which is the town they are singing about in the song, I thought it would be most appropriate to post today. More on the aforementioned show soon.
Right now I am in the middle of a very exciting Gulf Coast & More tour and wondering how I will find the energy/time to blog about what has happened so far, not to mention what is yet to happen on this tour. New Orleans in particular was chock full of juicy adventures. But I am pretty committed to at least give you an overview of what we’ve experienced, so I guess I’ll start at the beginning. It may take me a week or more for me to bang this all out here.
We started out at the Flying Monkey in Huntsville, Alabama. The Flying Monkey is a terrific non-profit arts center with funky stores, artist studios, and a theater (where we performed). The tables around the theater had been decorated with props right out of Alice in Wonderland. It created a storybook atmosphere, for sure.
Our friend Rita Burkholder, aka Helen Keller’s Ukulele, opened up the show. She was joined by Shawn Webster on bass and percussion. Rita’s songs and singing and playing are simply beautiful. Her set was mesmerizing.
The Mad Tea Party followed with our rockin’ tunes. After the show, we chatted with the nicest people. Then we went to Rita’s cozy house which was full of instruments and art. A truly creative space. I can happily say that we have had some incredible hosts on this tour, Rita being one of them. We slept well, and woke ready for the journey to New Orleans. After a delicious breakfast, we hit the road.
Today (Thursday) Mad Tea Party heads out on an 11-day southern tour. Our first stop is Huntsville, and our next stop is New Orleans, where we have 3 gigs planned. I am so excited to go to New Orleans I decided to feature a New Orleans musician for the Thursday Hooray. It was very dificult to decide what to feature, since there is there is so much incredible music from the Crescent City, but I decided on Fats Domino. This is one of my favorite songs – it gets played in the Mad Tea van all the time, and on vinyl at the house.
Dang! I still almost have to pinch myself to believe that Mad Tea Party got to open for Southern Culture on the Skids on Halloween. I guess if you stick with something long enough, things that at one point seemed like a virtual impossibility can come true. Like getting to open for one of my favorite bands on my favorite holiday.
Jason and I have made a lot of sacrifices and shed a lot of tears in the pursuit of a sustainable career as musicians. I would not say that trying to make it as ukulele/one-man-band duo playing mostly original songs is the easiest path to take. But I will say that nights like Saturday night help fuel us to continue holding the torch for Mad Tea Party.
We didn’t know what to expect as we drove down the mountain to the show, but it turns out that the Catawba Valley Brewing Company in Morganton, NC is a really nice place. And it has fantastic sound (thanks Josh and L.P.!). The show was sold out and the crowd was in full Halloween regalia and ready to party. We nailed our set (the great sound and the receptive crowd made it easy). It was the culmination of our push to promote ZOMBIE BOOGIE, so the songs from the EP took on extra significance. And it was extra fun to play “Zombie Boogie” and to look out and see zombies dancing along to it.
Once we were finished, we got to hang out and listen to a stellar band (and, admittedly, to enjoy the Catawba Valley Brewing Company’s excellent beer). Throughout the night we got tons of feedback from folks who really liked our music. One guy even said, “You guys give me hope,” and went on to compliment our uniqueness. It was all very affirming. Southern Culture on the Skids ROCKED it, as usual. Boy do I LOVE them! I took this photo from backstage. Rick got a bunch of folks up to dance on the stage. It was mayhem. Completely delightful mayhem. I wish I had taken more photos of the awesome costumes there (including ours), but honestly I was too busy playing and dancing.
After the show, we hung out a long time shooting the shit with the Southern Culture crew. Finally we headed back to Asheville and landed at a friend’s party. The party was raging when we arrived and we were jacked from an exciting show. So we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, hanging with a dinosaur and a turtle and a skeleton and other assorted costumed creatures.
On Thursday and Friday Mad Tea Party had the good fortune of opening up for our friends Toubab Krewe in Charleston (at the Pour House) and in Charlotte (at the Neighborhood Theater). We are very happy they asked us to be on those bills, because we had SUCH a great time with them. The venues and crowds both nights were top notch. The show in Charleston was extra special to me because my dear friend Amanda and her partner Tasha were there to cheer us on.
On Friday before the Charlotte show we stopped by WSGE to help them with their fund drive. Earlier in the day WNCW aired a live performance we taped the week before. I have to get up on my soapbox for a moment: I can’t express enough how important public radio stations are. They are crucial to the cultural vitality of our country. They do so much for independent musicians. I sure hope you support your favorites!
Jason and I are both huge fans of Toubab Krewe – they are super-talented musicians. Not to mention the fact that they are all the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. They are experiencing great success in their career and they totally deserve it. Jason sat in with them on fiddle both nights, which was awesome. I took some video which I will try and post soon though I have been slack on video editing lately, sorry. We’re getting a Mac soon so hopefully I will get inspired by it. Anyway, I got to play before great crowds and to dance to one of my favorite bands two nights in a row. Can’t beat that.
Here’s a random story: We drove home after the show in Charlotte. I think we pulled into Asheville around 3:45 am in the morning or so. As we drove up Chestnut Avenue, we saw a guy lying in the street with his bike between his legs, not moving. Of course horrible things ran through our minds as we stopped and jumped out of the van. Jason ran to the guy and I dialed 911. But it just took a moment to realize that he had not been hit by a car (though he would have if he stayed there), but certainly had been hitting the bottle. I guess he just passed out while riding home. We asked him where he was heading and he told us. It didn’t seem like he was going to be able to make it so we put his bike in the van and drove him home. At one point he said, “Who are you guys? Angels?” He works downtown. I wonder if he’ll recognize us when we see him around. Probably not. Maybe when he sees us he’ll think he’s seeing ghosts. It was a bizarre way to start Halloween.
I believe we are exactly where we are supposed to be at any given moment.
Recently Jason and I watched Anvil! The Story of Anvil which is a great documentary about a heavy metal band. I rarely watch movies, but when I do documentaries are my favorite. This will probably one of the few movies I’ll ever include in a “Thursday Hooray!” Anyway, we were really struck by how much of ourselves we saw in Anvil. The same type of things happen to so many bands and musicians, no matter what the genre. It’s really fascinating.
On a side note, we were stoked when the very popular Rue Morgue Radio included “Zombie Boogie” on a recent show – and that Anvil’s song “Metal on Metal” was on the same show! Thanks to Zombie Boogie, Mad Tea Party is starting to make our way into uncharted territories, for sure.
On Saturday night Mad Tea Party played in Wilmington, NC. We saw this boat before our set and felt like it was a sign. Jason and I are sticking to this crazy path.
Truthfully, it wasn’t my most favorite night ever, but there were some rockers at the show whose reaction to our songs affirmed that we are kickin’ butt musically.
On Sunday morning we had a peaceful walk on the beach. That is, until this huge crazy pit bull that was ignoring it’s owners almost attacked us. We got to our van safely and high-tailed it back to the mountains.
We had a wonderful time in on Friday night! Mad Tea Party performed at The Showroom at Hub-Bub, a super cool art/performance spot in Spartanburg. The show started out fun, but mellow, but evolved over the evening into a RAGING dance party. I can’t thank the fantastic crew of folks who were there enough for being so wide open and wild. We got to turn it up full throttle, which felt great.
The Mad Tea had two shows this weekend, one planned, one spontaneous.
