jana pochop singer songwriter austin, texas music blog

All the Way to Tennessee

2009-10-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Oh hello. I thought I'd take a break from looking for a record deal here in Nashville to write a blog post. I've been pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, hoping that someone in this town will recognize my potential as the next Taylor Swift.

I'm just kidding, but I am in Nashville. We had a great drive out here, with shows at Studio Joe in Little Rock, AR and Hot Springs, AR as well as Memphis.

Somewhere in Arkansas

Susan and I songswapped in Hot Springs, something we have done before but haven't done in a very long time. It was fun, because we have all kinds of dirt to tell on each other from stage. Just kidding. We also know all of each other's songs, which helps.

View from the songswap.

Then in Memphis Susan did a true "in the round" with some nice folks. I had forgotten how musically influential Memphis is, and could only yell out "SUN RECOOOORDS!" when we passed the legendary studio. Maybe next time we can tour Graceland and see the Jungle Room.

The Otherlands in Memphis

Then we proceeded to Nashville where Susan had another "in the round" show with Jane Bach, Yvonne Perea, and Kelly Fitzgerald at The Bluebird. Jane is known for her hits with Reba McEntire and Jo Dee Messina, so that was fun to hear. And it was cool to see everyone's styles go back and forth. The show was sold out and there was a line out the door - The Bluebird is famous as a listening room, and every seat in the place was accounted for. I had to set up merch sales on the host podium.

After the show there was another one starting, and I was asked by some normal looking guy if I would sell her merch. I explained I was not working the whole night, just for Susan's show. So I glanced at his CD and his name was Tony Arata, who kind of wrote "The Dance" for Garth Brooks. That really, really famous song. Dangit, I should have said I'd sell them! Sorry, Tony.

Anyway, I'm currently supposed to be working on a project but I'm blogging instead. Right. Now you're all caught up.

Scionara, Hyundai

2009-10-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

This has been one of those "life" weeks, whereupon the stuff I spend a lot of time ignoring all came to demand my attention at once. I did my first round of taxes by myself that didn't just involve copying info off a W-2...my 2008 had 4 months of county government work, then Red Leaf, then music income, and merch girl income. It also had a giant expense of making The Early Year. Turbo Tax better have done it right because I have no clue. I just put in the numbers.

Then, before we left for New York, my little Hyundai that I have had since college...met a tree on a curve going to Wimberley. I was paying attention and being a good driver and not texting or anything, so to see how that can happen so easily will now make me yell my face off any anyone that texts and drives. Or does their makeup in the car. Or whatever. STOP THAT.

Unpleasant as it was, I now have replacement wheels in the form of a Scion and dang, the new (used) ride is cool. I am pretty stoked about the stereo, actually. And I can pack more stuff in it. Not that I'm a packrat, but guitars take up space. I spent the weekend making up excuses to drive long distances.

This week I head to Little Rock, Hot Springs, Memphis, and Nashville with Susan. Nashville is a nut I need to crack. Going to work on that.

Episode 3 in NYC

2009-10-18T18:48:00.001-07:00

Last Day in NYC

2009-10-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Monday we woke up in Boston, got delivered to the train station by our wonderful host, and once again found ourselves on a new form of transportation. At 10:45 AM we approached the Fung Wah Bus counter in Boston's South Station. The tickets ladies looked at us and said, "To New York?"

"Yes."

"Fifteen dollars each. Gate 25. Leaves at 11."

Well ok then. We were on a Chinatown bus to New York City. Known for their cheapness, some of our friends were convinced we'd end up in a Mafia plot or something. I was a bit nervous, but as we boarded we found awesome purple upholstery and a perfectly ok ride.

We stopped for a bit in Fairfield, CT, where I miraculously scored a Connecticut pig at the McDonalds/travel center rest stop on our 10 minute break. I had a pig homing device in my brain working overtime, apparently.

We drove into NYC at about 4 PM, and the views from the giant bus windows were amazing. Check out that giant graveyard. I guess we all gotta go somewhere.

That night we went to an open mic hosted by a friend at Cafe Vivaldi right along Bleecker Street, mecca of folkies in the 60's. Very fun. Then we wandered about 35 yards into Central Park before we decided that, unlike the rest of NYC at 12:30 AM, it was strangely dark and empty in there. So we went to Times Square instead. And it was bright. Really, really bright.

It was a good way to end our time in New York City...I loved how busy it was, how everything was at your fingertips at every time of day, how navigable it was, how we felt like we could handle the subway 3 days in. Everyone should try it, the Big Apple is something to behold. We'll be back next year!

New Jersey and Boston

2009-10-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

All right...so the next couple days were a whirlwind. After I bought my Delaware pig, we were hurtled once again on a train to transfer to a train in Philadelphia to get to Newark Penn Station, NJ. Now...there is a Penn Station in New York City, and there is a Newark Penn Station, and that Newark is in New Jersey...and there is also a Newark, Delaware which is pronounced "New-ARK" as opposed to the other one which is "NEWark." Um, yeah. We got off at the right station which is all I care.

Susan played a lovely house concert in New Jersey, we saw a little of Newark but not enough, and then before we knew it we were back at Penn Station (in NEWARK) on an Amtrak to Boston. This was the most cushy ride of them all and I enjoyed the time laptopping and watching Connecticut and Rhode Island skate by us out the window. The leaves were changing and I ate a bagel from the snack car. Any form of transportation with a SNACK CAR wins, people.

We found ourselves delivered to Boston in 4 hours, and our awesome house concert host, Jim, dropped us off at Faneuil Hall, or Quincy Market, in downtown Boston. It was Sunday and everyone was out touristing.

We made our way to Paul Revere's house, which was old and had lots of old stuff in it. It's hard to process that this structure was standing during the Revolutionary War, and yet, there we were on the creaky floorboards. Very cool.

Then of course we found America's Oldest Tavern and had to stop in for a Sam Adams. Only proper in Boston proper.

The house concert was again fun and we met so many awesome people. We were both pretty exhausted after our weekend of nonstop travel, though, and found ourselves yawning by 10:30 PM. Lame. Next time, Boston, we shall see your night life.

NYC: Episode 2

2009-10-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Getting to Pennsylvania

2009-10-09T22:52:00.000-07:00

All right, back to the tour recap. Since getting back I've been a little preoccupied with car-shopping and sleeping since I kind of had a run in with tree before we left, and I kind of picked up a cold in New York. Anyway...

On Friday we had to get to Pennsylvania. I posted our train and bus schedule below...the miraculous thing is that is all worked! We only had one trip up standing on the wrong corner in Philadelphia, causing us to miss one bus. Thankfully it ran every half hour and we made sure we had plenty of time to spare, so it was no big deal. We drove through Valley Forge National Park, which made my day...I so wanted to pull that yellow cord on the bus so we could pull over and I could see where Washington and his troops quartered for the winter, but alas...another time. It was a gorgeous bus trip, though.

When we got to Phoenixville, we sat outside on the street for their First Friday celebration. Very fun. The gig itself was great as always...Susan charmed the crowd including a nun, who even appreciated the cuss words. Or at least she was cool enough to let them slide by.

That night we stayed with some friends in Wilmington, Delaware, which was a state I was not expecting to visit -- and I will admit -- really EVER expecting to visit. In college I made a joke about Delaware not really existing because I had never met anyone from there. Now I have, and it was lovely. Also, the next day at the train station, I scored a Delaware ceramic pig. The odds of finding a ceramic pig for my collection at 7 AM in a train station newsstand are pretty low...he is a treasured porker.

Carry on...

East Coast Episode 1

2009-10-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

Headed to Boston

2009-10-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Whoa. We've had an amazing tour up here on the East coast so far. I'm kind of obsessed with the idea of either

a) living in NYC for 4 months which means I need thousands of dollars or a benefactor
b) living in a little fishing village in Connecticut for 4 months and learning how to sail a boat

I'm sure I'll add Boston to my list once we're there. We've had fantastic luck with trains and busses and subways so far...none missed and arriving with time to spare at all our shows. That what was most on my mind when in "road managing" mode...which I guess in this instance turns into "track managing."

On Thursday we took a subway down to Times Square, talked to some rappers (because they all approach you trying to sell their latest project), gave some tourists some directions, took some people's photos...the usual, haha.

The show at Rockwood Music Hall was great - Susan and I both had friends show up that made the evening a great one. Who knew I knew so many people in NYC?

More soon on the Pennsylvania - New Jersey leg...we're close to our South Station stop in Boston, and on to the next show!

Big Apple!

2009-10-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

Times Square

Day 2 in NYC and we have been good little tourists. Last night we caught some jazz music after wandering up Broadway, ate at Tom's Restaurant (from the Suzanne Vega song and of Seinfeld fame), and today we subwayed to Times Square and back and ate Korean food. Not bad for less then 24 hours in to our landing. Tonight is the big show at Rockwood Music Hall!

Ceramic pig: located.

NYC Tomorrow

2009-09-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

Land of Mañana = chile.

It REALLY does not seem like it is time for us to go to New York City already. This tour was in the wee planning stages this summer and all of the sudden here we are, autumn on the east coast. I'm pretty excited. I'm pretty freaked out at our train schedule on Friday to get from NYC to Phoenixville, PA outside Philadelphia:

- Leave West 125th Street Station: Take the A train from 125 Street station heading Downtown / to Far Rockaway
- Get off at 34 Street - Penn Station
- Take the NJ Transit - Northeast Corridor Line from New York - Penn Station heading to Trenton
- Get off at TRENTON
- Take the R7 Line from Trenton station heading to Chestnut Hill East
- Get off at 30th Street – PHILADELPHIA
- From 30th Street Station Take Bus 125 to Valley Forge -
- Get off at KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA – Take Bus 139 to Philadelphia Premium Outlet/Limerick
- Arrive at MAIN ST BRIDGE ST, PHOENIXVILLE stop

That is just FRIDAY. I think the other days have a lot less hopping around. But really. I grew up in New Mexico, where the few buses that did run were late all the time. Land of Mañana is what we called it. So this is slightly new.

Between now and then we need to figure out how Susan and I are going to pack all our clothes into one bag. Egads. And then get to the airport. And then take off. And then land in New. York. City. Sweeeet!

Music Everywhere

2009-09-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

I am so behind. I feel good about it, though, because there's lots of things stirring in my pot of projects. I just spent the morning at Whole Foods and saw Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines play for HAAM Benefit Day - the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. That program does great things for a large part of the community in this town. They cover my teeth, yo, because my normal insurance does not...they help out a lot.

This weekend's set of Susan gigs was awesome...I had my 2 weeks off from the tour life so it was good to hop in and go for some neat shows. Suz songswapped with Beth Wood, who is someone you all should see live as soon as possible. She's the real deal. That was in Possum Kingdom Lake, where I saw no possums, but I did see a lake.

This house concert was in a COOL house.

Beth Wood and Susan Gibson!

Friday night Susan joined forces with Michael O'Connor who is one of my favorite people as well as guitarists. They played a great show at Dosey Doe in Houston, whereupon we wandered in a pawn shop before the show and I could have dropped a good chunk of change on DVDs, guitars, and gold watches. I never even knew I needed a gold watch. Or an accordian.

Michael O!!

Susan sang with Kyle Hutton for his CD release gig.

Saturday was one of my favorite venues for a Susan show - the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth. This means...FULL BAND. The energy in the room was potent. I spent all night filming things for one of those aforementioned projects Susan and I are working on. I had four cameras going at once...we'll see how it all turned out.

Also, the lighting all weekend was GOOD. I am only a good photographer when other people light things well. Don't ask me to do it.

Tomorrow I fly to Albuquerque, where I have to ready the first real toast I have ever given at a wedding, for my best friend Jamie. I hope I can be witty and touching and all that while making everyone cry, but not crying myself. Hm.

I'll be back in Austin on Monday, have Tuesday to get ready, and then on Wednesday we FLY TO NEW YORK CITY! So excited for this string of gigs. It seems like only this summer when I was on the phone constantly booking these shows. Wait, it was only this summer. Things come up fast.

Back to it.

2009-09-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

I figured I'd actually write a blog post for once instead of posting a movie. Four in a row is kind of overboard, I guess. But that's why my name's at the top of the blog, so there.

I had a great time at the JFK Sixth Floor Museum. I've always been sucked in by conspiracy theories and intrigue in politics. I also really dig visiting the actual sites of where things happened...so looking out the windows at the "sniper's nest" was a fascinating thing to do. Gave me the willies, to be honest.

No smoking+no guns=no smoking guns

Who knew they actually marked the assassination spot on the highway?

Then it was off to Marble Falls to catch up with the boss and watch a songswap with some awesome folks. Hal Ketchum was among the swappers, and I have loved his stuff since I started listening to country radio in the 90's. Weird how someone you see on CMT when you're a kid is playing a show you're at in Texas 15 years later. It was a great set!

Gary Nicholson, Hal Ketchum, Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins

Susan rocked as aaaaaalways!

Now I'm back in the van on the road to Possum Kingdom Lake, Houston, and Fort Worth. I hope I see a possum. An opossum? Hm.

In Search Of...JFK

2009-09-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, another video. This weekend I took a day and visited the Sixth Floor Museum at the Kennedy assassination site in Dallas. Since my degree is in Modern American History, I was quite thrilled to see it.

Religion and First Aid

2009-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know...this is probably the weirdest film ever. It's not even on the same weird level as the chicken one. I'm not sure if it's the scary music, or the neosporin, or the gospel music. Maybe I'm just going avant garde. Respect the art, yo.

Recording EP 2: Day 4

2009-09-04T02:43:00.000-07:00

In Search Of: The Luckenbach Chicken

2009-09-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

I used to watch "In Search Of..." all the time...it was one some cable channel when I was a kid. They were usually hunting Bigfoot or aliens or something. I was looking for something far more sinister in Luckenbach, Texas.

August Recap...

2009-08-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Here we are. Here I am, here you are anyway. I'm in Albuquerque...not being a merch girl in Colorado. I quit the tour in a fit of frustration over a lost bag of Skittles in the van last Thursday.

Just kidding. While I love touring with Susan, I have another job in Austin that must be attended to at the music school. It's good for me to have both, and I am fortunate enough to have both jobs let me be flexible with where I am at any given moment. I fly back to Austin tomorrow and Susan stays on the road for another 2 weeks. The first two weeks went fairly smoothly besides the gaping wounds on my feet (mostly healing well, one is still gaping and hurts right now...but it was the worst one so it's taking longer heal. Skin is pretty awesome, growing back over itself and stuff).

We played at the Rhythms on the Rio Festival in South Fork, CO last weekend. We drove all night from Fort Collins to get there (translation: Susan drove all night while we slept and I took the last half hour drive in the morning so she could go to bed and sleep a bit before the festival). We stopped at a rest stop somewhere in CO at 3:30 AM and let me just say this...if you are a creepy dude, or any dude at all, or any creep at all...never ask 3 girls in a van at a rest area to jump start your truck at 3:30 AM. Ask a guy. Or call the cops. Or just wait for daylight. We left in a hurry and I'm sure creepy guy got a jump start...just not from us. Shudder.

It was the first annual and went really well for a giant production like that in its first year. The scenery was awesome, the people were great. Susan played a great set and won a lot of new fans. I played what is called a "tweener" set between bands while Great American Taxi set up their gear. It's weird to play solo at a big festival. I felt like an ant on the big stage, but it was fun nonetheless. Even ants have fun.

Then it was off to Taos, NM for two nights at the Old Blinking Light. The 2nd night we were lucky enough to be outside, and the view was gorgeous. Sunsets rock here. I have thought it for a while but really, mark my words, I am retiring in Taos in an adobe house. I can't wait. I want to retire when I'm 32.

A few days in Albuquerque are good for meeting up with people I haven't talked to face-to-face in a while. I get to be a bridesmaid in my friend Jamie's wedding, so I tried on the dress today. I hope I don't trip in its fanciness - it will be a fun wedding!

Currently listening to the new Imogen Heap album...she's brilliant as usual. My wound will continue to gape for a while. In exactly a month I'll be flying to New York City. Things swim in my head.

Me and a Bicycle and the Road

2009-08-22T21:49:00.000-07:00

We've been traveling for over a week now and it's been one heckuva tour so far. Mostly pretty dang good. Susan played to a packed house in Dallas and San Angelo was a fun stop with lots of good weather photos, as posted below.

On the way to San Angelo we started spewing black smoke out the back of the van and losing power on hills...not a good thing. Everyone had an opinion at the bar, but we made the decision that maybe bad diesel was the issue and we headed to Albuquerque because

a) my folks will always put us up
b) the Sprinter dealer that Susan purchased the van from lives in ABQ

So after some runaround and about 3 different Sprinter dealers and mechanics, Susan herself found that there was a crack in an air hose, which tends to cause black smoke and loss of power. She duct taped it and things improved immensely. There is not a thing that she can't do with a roll of duct tape, I don't think. We found Ricky the Sprinter Magician who
got us a new air hose (because 100 degree weather is probably not the best for duct tape on a very essential car part) and we were on the road to Colorado by Tuesday morning.

Mom "helps" Susan fix the van.

Mechanic rear view.

ABQ Rear View.

Susan played a really neat show in Arvada called "America's Soul Live" at the Old Town Pickin' Parlor, which is exactly what it says...a parlor (aka a paradise aka a room) FULL OF GUITARS TO PLAY. Nothing I picked up that night cost less than $2500, I don't think.

We spent the last few days up in Centennial, Wyoming, home of the Friendly Store and Bar...owned by some awesome folks. This town has about 60 residents in it but they all come out to see the show, and some drive in from Laramie and other towns in the area.

On Thursday we decided to take what is called a Cruiser bike ride down the mountain near Centennial. You pick a bike, all made int he 50's or 60's or so...put it in a truck, take it up the mountain, and you coast down. It's awesomely gorgeous and the best way to see the natural beauty around area.

However, you see...I wore flips flops because I didn't really know the exact components of a Cruiser ride, and obviously this was a bad idea. I made it all the way down almost when on the very last...10th of the ride I felt some brake loss and then tried to stop myself with my flip flops, which true to their name flopped over so that I was off both pedals trying to stop on a hill DRAGGING THE TOPS OF MY FEET ON THE ASPHALT.

I'll let you soak in that image for a bit.

Luckily I didn't like this situation for very long and veered off into the weeds once I realized that I had. To. Stop. I got up with help and rode the rest of the way down because I guess I was in shock and my feet just looked brown, which was probably what burned skin looks like.

We got back to the house and I was pretty bloody...so our kind hosts and Susan offered Band-Aids, Advil, and tequila. I think the tequila probably helped most. FIRST AID TIP ALERT: The next day we didn't have gauze so we cut up a maxi pad and used it. Surprisingly the exact same material. Worked amazingly well.

I limped around for our Friendly Store gig and tried and probably failed to not be too whiny about it, but now I'm all wrapped up and we're in Fort Collins, Colorado and I'm feeling ok. I borrowed a pair of Crocs and I walk like I'm 50 years older than I am...but things seem to be on the mend. I do plan to milk the sympathy card for as long as I can though.

Tonight after the show we drive to South Fork, where I'll be playing along with Susan at the Rhythms on the Rio Festival. Pretty excited! No more accidents.

Who Made Texas So Pretty?

2009-08-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

We had the most beautiful drive to San Angelo today...

Notes and Asides

2009-08-11T09:51:00.001-07:00

I have a sunburn on my nose, well earned and cherished since I got it at the ocean in Port Aransas. I had been to Port A twice before but never had time to actually hang out in the ocean, only look at it. Sometimes I stress about things like money, scheduling, people, and life...but sometimes I get to hang out on the beach because I'm there for my job and that's pretty awesome.

I had a meeting with Katie, Melissa, and Emily last night to discuss some musicalness...Katie's blog tells you the topics we covered in detail. The thing that made the biggest impression on me was when Katie picked up her purse from the floor of the coffeehouse and a clipped toenail fell on her lap. I almost gagged. Then we wondered who would clip their toenails in a coffeehouse.

Today Dan and I re-listened to what we had tracked on the new EP last week and we liiiiiiked it. Some vocals are a little edgier than what you are used to hearing from me, or what I am used to hearing from me...but I think it works. It's all in the name of the story of the song in my mind.

I'm having issues identifying the type of singer I am "supposed" to be...it's not a matter of picking my favorite singers and copying them, and it's not a matter of angling toward some fantasy of what I think I should be. I believe overall most of us could sing however we wanted to, with training and practice. I think in my case my voice is there to serve the song and the words I write. Not much should get in the way of that. What that means in terms of inflection and breath and thought behind it is what I am working on, but I guess it's good I decided my voice is that of a storyteller. I like that idea.

This weekend I leave on a two week tour again to Colorado and New Mexico...I'm about to freak at the 50+ days of over-100 degrees we've had so not a moment too soon in my book. Hallelujah.

Coming Home Radio

2009-08-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

Go about 40 minutes in on this interview from Coming Home with Dave Wheaton for a spot with Susan. She talks about our touring this summer...and banjos and donkeys. (There really were donkeys).

Checking Inn....

2009-08-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Just to say I didn't skip blogging for a week. It's been a busy one...car trouble, meetings, prepping for the rest of the month and into the fall. Susan played at a wonderful venue called Third Coast Theater in Port Aransas last night, which is tied to a gorgeous resort...where we were are staying. Same place where Terri Hendrix has her Life's A Song workshops that I've attended. We walked to the ocean last night after the show and were back again this morning. I am salty. In 30 minutes we leave for a show in Corpus Christi and then we drive all night back home, so Monday can start things all over again.

More details shortly...and yes my car is fine!

Recording Log Day 3

2009-08-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Three Days In...

2009-08-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Whew! Dan and I wrapped up three days of recording on Friday and it was a great experience all around. We got a LOT done. "Switzerland" is pretty much where it needs to be, so we're going to let that one stew and come back to it. We started "Ritalin" on Friday and got a good ways into it. I was so tired by the end on Friday (which I'm not sure why, it's not like I'm doing all the work), so I had to yawn my approval...but I assure you kids, it is CATCHY. Who knew my songs would benefit so much from Hammond organ?

We walked in not really knowing what we were shooting for...other than a certain vibe that some of our records have, but no set plot for instrumentation or anything. It ends up being fun to just kind of go at each tune and try things out.

So we have a break due to both of our travel schedules, and then we'll meet up one day in August, and then another flurry of travel activity. I'm chomping at the bit just to play around more with these tunes, but I think some sit back and listen time is good for them, too. Once again patience is the name of the game.