Kelly McFarling

Hey there ol' bloggity blog.  Feeling neglected? 

Being back in the land of eternal summer fog, I am inspired to curl up in my productive cloud, and search for more shenanigans to get into.  We've been laying a little low since being back (Minus an UNBELIEVABLE show at Slims with my new favorite bay are bands - Quinn Deveaux, and Buxter Hootin).

- I'm writing new songs in efforts to fill out a full length album within the year.  Writing songs is a crazy lovely experience.  There are moments of sheer joy and inspiration (FINALLY - got something I'm excited about!) and moments of pure BOOOOOORING.  Its difficult to force inspiration, impossible really.  So when it hits, its like the most precious gift - you just can't wait to get back home to snuggle up with your new song, polish it, finish it, and then BAM WHO WANTS TO HEAR IT ALREADY!?  I'm trying to read some books - old ones and new ones to start wrapping my brain around the way words can come together.  I re read some of my favorite Toni Morrison, and some Eudora Welty to get the nostalgia juices going.  Reading is something I absolutely love, and it used to occupy so much of my time and brain and heart - and I want to get back to that place.  I love having various trails of stories unfolding in your mind throughout the day.  It makes the world seem all at once more accessible, and more magical. 

The other big project right now is booking for our December East Coast tour.  I'm starting to contact places, and we have mapped the whole thing out.  Very exciting!  Today its my job to find a gig in Athens, GA and Asheville NC.  Friends, if you know of bands or venues we need to play with - dont be shy!  Let us know - the sooner the better.  The wheels have started churning and the ride begins. 

Also we are playing the infamous Hotel Cafe in LA on Aug 8th!!!  We're playing with our fav's P.Wolf and Avi - and we cannot wait.  If you have folks in LA - get em out!  This is really going to be a special night - with lots of collaborations, and witty banter, and brotherly hugs.  Good times. 

Keep in touch everyone!  Check out our calender to see where we're playing next!

Back in the Bay!

We have returned and it is lovely to be back. California - you really got it good.  The sun was shining this weekend, and I walked up and down the streets of this city feeling really lucky to live here - where freak flags fly free, and where just being outside amidst the creative caliber is inspiring.  I love you San Francisco. 

I must say however that the itch for touring has been awakened in me.  Thinking back on all the amazing people and places we got to experience this past month seems unreal.  It went by so fast, and there is something so great about having that momentum of being on the road. Life becomes really simple.  The things that matter become very basic -  getting to your destination, playing music, and finding a place to sleep and something to eat.  There is nothing better then getting to play music for a different crowd every night - and the crowds that we had were the best crowds ever.  Jam packed with friends, family, strangers, new friends new family.  When night time comes I'm feeling the energy to get going, play some music, meet some people - and I wish we had a show to play every night out here.  But alas, all the sleeping is nice too...

The other great part about being on the road is getting to collaborate and listen to so many other talented musicians.  I want to share with you a list of my favorite musical discoveries on the road - these are musicians I hope to collaborate with again in the future, and I hope that you will collaborate them onto your playlists and hearts from here on out because they are AMAZING. 

Tallahassee  - Boston's finest - Jealous Hands - is their awesome new Album and my personal summer soundtrack.

Sonya Cotton - It is So - her awesome new album which I'm singing harmonies on.

P.Wolf And Avi - Coattails - Their awesome new album which is a permanent resident in my car stereo.

Model Planes - Boston's finest

the By and By String Band - New Orleans finest

Decker - Sedona's Finest

Mamarazzi  - Brooklyn's finest - Bewilderness - their awesome newest album which I'm singing harmonies on.

Check these folks out if you are in need of some new summer tunes for your own roadtrips. I recommend. 

I'd also like to just give a shout out to the hospitality MVP's of our tour these are the folks who really went the extra mile and let us stay with them in our road grime and glory - Kyle - the fastest kid in Texas - Jackson, Lisa - the homecoming queen - Schamber, SMILEY! the Javo Family homestead, Sambone and Korincredible, Kick Ass Josh, The Kirchner Family homestead, the Laughbacher family homestead, Patrick and Mary, Patrick's porch, Patrick's Dog, Aunt Mary and the Peeler Homestead, McFarling station, Katherine - the greatest schoolteacher/human being - Needham, Hallie the magica New Mexican Dalcimer, and Erin and Colin, the recent Arizona residents.  All of you are the reason we didn't have to spend money on hotels, and the reason we got to spend som much time with the folks we love on this tour.  If any of you ever need a place to crash I will happily nestle you up in San Francisco.  THANKS! 

That is it for now.  We begin planning the rest of our lives today.  Please keep a look out for us on the east coast come December!  We won the Eddie's attic open mic in ATL and have been invited back for the shoot out Thanksgiving weekend in ATL!  We'll be back east soon, but for now - its time to eat some sprouts and avocado's, tend to our San Francisco friends and lovers, and replenish our Cali selves. 

The love,

Kelly

I'm officially in Love with New Orleans, and homesick for the South.  I know its a billion degrees - I know the sweating upon first step out the door is difficult - but I don't think I care.  New Orleans is completely magical.  More Magical then it was in my mind - which has the tendency to exaggerate the hell out of a places potential.  Hot summer nights are one of the best things in life.  I miss them.  Last night we strode through the streets of the city in flip flops with plastic beer filled cups.  We stumbled upon the legendary Treme Brass band and danced our asses off.  There was a man making sausages and pork chop sandwiches out of his pick-up truck.  Young, old, black, white, everyone was glistening.  Tonight we are playing at Mimi's in the Marigny at 10pm, and then haul it to Austin Texas.  But I hereby vow in the presence of the internet and all its kingdom that I will be back to this city, and I we will be spending a lot of time together in the future.  Yes. NOLA, I'm in love.  le sigh. 

Kelly

Oh man, I so had the best of intentions with blogging, but alas, here i am only three posts deep and about a billion things to tell all of you.  Sheesh.  Blogging on the road is tough, especially when we have been sleeping in different places every night.  It seems like on a tour like there is a hierarchy of importance that for me has been looking like this: Get there on time, know where you're going, find food, make sure the sound is good, call your friends in town, embrace them vigorously, kill your set, remember to get paid, remember all the items you brought into the venue, after remembering them, actually place them in the car, find a place to crash, sleeeeeeeeeeep. Repeat.  Not a ton of time for the blog, but here I am in my hometown kitchen, in the house i grew up in with those huge leafy green trees swaying in the humid air and it feel really really good to be here. 

Since we last spoke there have been incredible shows attended with beautiful friends, family and fans from all walks of our lives.  We played in DC, New York (TWICE!) Wesleyan University, Vermont, Boston, Richmond, Charottesville, Chapel Hill, New Bern, and now we are in hot-lanta getting ready for our big show at Eddie's attic with P.Wolf and Avi!  

We have met so many amazing musicians and had the most incredible hospitality all over this country that its hard to pick any one experience out from the others, but there are two shows that I need y'all to know about that are really special to me.  First off, one of the best stops we have had on this tour was a house concert we played in Washington DC.  We shared a bill with Sonya Cotton, and I was honored to get to sing harmonies with her and Gabe for their set.  I also got to have them sing harmony with me on "this change" which was beautiful for me.  Singing harmony with those two is one of my all time favorite pastimes in life.  There is something so magical about three human voices coming together with such precision and blend with little to no struggle for Sonya and Gabe.  They learn harmony so fast, and whenever we are work shopping things I am stunned with the ease at which we are able to make such beautiful harmonies come together.  Its the a capella, choir woman in me, but I swear there is nothing I love more then singing in three part harmony and doing it with such talented people as Sonya and Gabe is just incredible.  Anyhoo - my dear friend Smiley hosted this incredible night which was a full house of what I consider to be DC's finest.  People were crowded so elegantly into this beautiful old house, and everyone we met that night was so supportive and happy to have us.  It was one of those nights that makes me again realize the simplicity and power of the house concert. So much love and thanks to Smiley for putting together such an awesome night for us. 

My other favorite of the road was at the Lily Pad in Cambridge. We played with my new obsession band Tallahassee (this means that I will continue to play their album which I love over and over again until I lose all Tallahassee privileges in the car). They just released their new album Jealous Hands, which I highly recommend and if you are ever with me in the car you will be forced to listen.  Its beautiful, and seeing them play live was just awesome.  They somehow have the ability to combine nostalgic roots must (my fav) with a comedic and absolutely engaging stage presence.  After their set I had the overwhelming urge to be best friends with each and every one of them.  Seriously, check them out - I'm sure you will feel the same:)

Our set was a blast, we had an awesome crowd, and the lily pad has a wonderful living room intimacy that I love.  After Our set, the newly formed band Model Planes played their debut performance to a packed house.  Another amazing group of guys warranting best friend desires.  This band is chock full of talented players, beautiful vocals, and intricately interesting arrangements.  Watch out Boston, they are unleashed!  I'm excited for these guys, and for myself for catching them upon their entry into the world.  Beautiful stuff all around.  Big thanks to my dearest friend and brother Alex Cullen for helping to pull this night together, for that bowl of lucky charms in his kitchen, for all the songs we have sung together, and for throwing down late night in his JP apartment.  Also Thanks to Josh, for hosting us and all our stuff, for shredding guitar during our set, and providing us with one of the strangest movies I never knew existed. 

As I write this P.wolf and Avi are practicing for tonight with Andrew and Kirch who will be sitting in with them for a few songs.  Man have I told you how amazing tonight is gonna be?  Its going to be out of control amazing.  Eddie's attic is one of my favorite places to play ever, throughout the country and world.  The sound will be amazing, the house will be full, the music will be beautiful.  I cannot cannot wait!  If you have people in ATL - they need to be at this show tonight! 

More later - but now its time to go to Fatt Matt's and get my all time favorite BBQ.  Bring it ATL. 

Much love,

K

Hello from the delicious quiet and sanctuary of the Kirchner Family Home in Williamsburg, VA. 

Day's off on tour are few and far between, but here we are in the midst of a glorious one - full of sleeping and eating and the huge leafy green trees of the east coast spring time swishing around in the wind.  It always amazes me how different the air feels here then it does on the West coast.  I feel like curling up in it for a while and reconnecting with my eastern roots.  Even the breathing feels different.

Since our last posting we played on an incredible military de commisioned ice breaker ship which is now a yacht club right on the Lake Michigan.  So. Awesome!  A big thanks to Blake Maybeck for supporting our kickstarter and hosting such an awesome party!  A Big thanks also to all the awesome folks who came out that night and spread the love.  Deep dish and deep love found in Chicago. 

(Andrew and I walking towards the yacht - and the incredible DEEP DISH)

Then we headed to Barnesville, OH.  Small towns have a thing about them that is always really enchanting - they are truly so happy to have you there, and they make you feel all warm and fuzzy and appreciated.   We played Toby's Skylight productions series.  Toby, an avid music fan originally from Barnesville, works really hard to bring good music to this small town, and he does an awesome job of it.  His philosophy is that the small towns have not much else going on - so it easier to get a good crowd of people who really enjoy the music to come out and see new acts.  He is right.  The folks of Banresville were incredibly kind, attentive and happy to have us.  We were happy to be there. We stayed in what used to be someone's grandmother's house which they turned into a guest house for travelers.  The screen doors weren't locked, and the place was run on an honor system.  I half expected there to be a pie cooling in each windowsill the place was so quaint and lovely! Its really refreshing to know that there are still places in the world where the doors aren't locked, and where hospitality means taking you in no matter who you are because you are tired and traveling and you need it.  Again, so lovely.   

After Barnesvile we hit the city of Brotherly Love, and got to play an amazing house concert with one of our favorite SF bands, Sonya Cotton.  Sonya is touring the east coast to promote her new Album - It is so - an album dedicated to her Mother - who she recently lost to cancer.  This album is a beautiful and moving journey dealing with the issue of loss on many levels - and it is deeply personal, yet universal to the theme.  It is an incredible work, and to see it live is a special experience.  I was honored to be asked to sing harmony with her on this album, and am really excited that not only do we get to see Sonya play again, I'll be singing with her on May 18th - (TOMORROW!) in DC.  Its such a gift that we are getting to play these two shows with Sonya on the East Coast, and I can't wait for Tomorrow night! 

So as this tour is unfolding I'm trying really hard to pay attention to the changes in the weather, and the abundance of spring in the air and in the plants that are just everywhere.  I always forget how lush and invigorating the east coast is until I am once again surrounded by it, and it makes me deeply miss the dramatic shifts the seasons create over here.  This coast is saturated with family and friends and so many important people in my life.  I am going to try my best to drink in all of the impossible amounts of love we are receiving in our travels, and give back all I can.  Tomorrow we begin the bulk of our touring schedule with 7 shows in seven days.  Here. We. Go. 

Love and leaf's. 

Kelly

Greetings folks -

We're in Omaha - lingering somewhere between sleeping and squirming with excitement.  We will get to Chicago tomorrow.  In Denver we were told to pay attention to the architecture, and take note of the strong skyline the Windy city boasts. 

So far there are two important blog worthy moments I feel should be noted.  Number one - we reached 100,000 on the Honda CRV! Fern's coming of age was a special moment for all of us - SF to Omaha feeling strong in the automotive endeavors. 

Our musical experiences have been as far and wide as the Nebraska plains, resounding in one overarching musical experience: The discovery of Sasha Panache.  More on this later and the beginning of our quest to find the man behind this music - but let in be known the hunt has begun.  

Last night the Mercury Cafe in Denver provided us with delicious food, magical lighting arrangements, The Bathtub Mary's and some serious lindy hop.  Most importantly it provided a wonderful audience and delightful kick off show for this cross country tour.  We're ready for Chicago on Friday,  for the sweaty spring of the east coast, and oh yes - the yacht club. 

Long live three part harmony, and friends of friends or friends:) 

SHAZAM! 

Love, Kelly