Super Pal Universe at Auditorium Shores/Saturday, March 15 and Bad Words…
March 17, 2008
/Super Pal Universe was superfly superfine super-super on Saturday!
When I saw the gianormous stage, the first thing I said to the kids in the band was, “Oh, I’m sorry the stage isn’t BIGGER!!!”
The kids rocked in the morning sun to about 350 people, many dancing and boppin’ to the pop driven activism music, the fun bantering, and the utter electricity of watching teens make music on stage. And a big shout out to BORIS, our keyboard player, who may have hairline fractures in both feet!, and still managed to show up, play the gig, dance around, rock the crowd, wow ‘em with his smile. INCREDIBLE!
The crew thought the kids were great, too…and, right now, right this second, I’d like to THANK THE CREW for being courteous, professional and patient. What a great group of stage hands, sound men (stage and front of house). They made the kids sound ENORMOUS with the delays/reverbs and I had HUGE tears of PRIDE in my eyes, watching Sam (drums) pound it out with all he had, Julee singing/playing guitar/jumping over to bass (!!!), Nadia calm and confident on bass and vocals, jammin’ away with Boris on his song, “What You See is What You Get” and Evan, keeping his cool, playing solo after solo, smiling his mysterious smile. What a super-duper group of hard workin’ kids!!!
The cds are supposed to arrive today for our CD release party this Saturday at Rutumaya, South Congress, 4 pm….I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!
Stingray (the design group Lance, me, Todd and Neil own) did the design for the packaging, and, of course, Marty Lester did the engineering and co-producing with me….I am so proud of this project!!!! If you want to sample the kids/their music, go to http://www.superpaluniverse.com
AND NOW…THE BACK STORY ON SATURDAY’S GIG: Things a manager must do!
Our sound check was supposed to be at 11 am, but Ice Cube’s folks went on…and on….and on….and we were all patiently waiting, so at 11:30, I walked up the catwalk to the head
stage manager, Chris (super nice) and asked what was up and that we needed our check before doors opened at noon….He said he thought Ice Cube’s dudes were almost done.
They were singing to tracks and a DJ, so really, it sounded done to me, but at 11:40, I walked over to two large (and I mean SUPER LARGE) dudes with the Cube clan, (complete with
giant bling and one in a Lakers shirt) and I introduced myself:
“Hey, there! I’m Sara Hickman, and I’m manager for Super Pal Universe…our sound check was supposed to be at 11…and doors open in twenty minutes…could you ask your
artist to wrap it up?”
Big smiles from the dudes. Sure, sure, they said.
Again. Nothing. Just more SEVERE, and very loud, musical cursing about BITCHES and “Muthaf*****” this and “Muthaf*****” that and I was just feeling my skin peel off my face.
And my blood boiling. But I stayed calm. Ya gotta stay calm!
So, at quarter to noon, I walked back up on the stage, right up to the Ice Cube poser (Ice Cube wasn’t actually doing his own sound check), stuck out my hand, shook
Ice Cube imposter’s hand and said,
“Hey, thanks for ending your soundcheck so my band can come up and do theirs now!”
And he said,
“Yo, baby, what’s your name?” as he picked up my SXSW tag and studied my name.
He continued with, “Hey, Sara, this your band? You got records out?”
And I said, “This week their first cd comes out, and this is a big gig for them, so I’d like to get them on stage.”
Then he said, “Yo, maybe I’ll see you at the Grammys…”
I said, “Are you on the board?”
And he said, “No way they letting someone like me on the board!”
And I said, “Well, I’m a board member, and you could get on the board. We have Beyonce’s dad on the board. He’s quite a gentleman!”
And he says, “No way, we say “F*** the police” and s***!”
And I said, “I think, perhaps, if you didn’t say BITCHES so often, it would help getcha on the board.”
And he just grinned and I reiterated that I thought the word BITCHES should go.
Then I called down to my gang and told them to start on up to the stage.
I never felt like anything but a woman taking care of her clan. I’m so tempted to make a shirt that says:
I don’t call you a****** so don’t you call me b*****
Or I don’t know. I have to think about it. I just don’t get it, though, how people understand that using the “n” word is
demeaning/refers to slavery/refers to another time/refers to oppression, but this African American male using the word “bitch” is ok/not harmful/cool/musical and he is
making millions of dollars off of demeaning women/oppressing women/encouraging others to belittle women/little girls.
It is NEVER alright to demean ANYONE, and on behalf of my gender, it is NEVER ok to call us bitches.
EVER.
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:05 am
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Ken Saro-Wiwa
March 14, 2008
On November 10th 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni colleagues were executed by the Nigerian state for campaigning against the devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies, especially Shell and Chevron. I called up Shell to cancel my credit card, and when the guy on the phone asked the inevitable, “Why are you cancelling your card?”, I told him about Mr. Saro-Wiwa. There was a long, silent pause, and the man quietly said, “I had no idea…” So, always speak about injustice because you never know whose heart you might touch, whose mind you might get to turn towards justice, as well.
My mother-in-law just sent me the following, so I thought I would share it with anyone who reads my blog….pass it on.
WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON
Gas rationing in the 80’s worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.
An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.
Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don’t import their oil from the Saudis.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.
I thought it might be interesting for you to know wh ich oi l companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.
These companies import Middle Eastern oil:
Shell……………………… 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco……… 144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil…………… 130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway… 117,740,000 barrels
Amoco…………………… ….62,231,000 barrels
Citgo gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel
Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:
Sunoco………………0 barrels
Conoco………………0 barrels
Sinclair………………0 barrels
B P/Phillips…………0 barrels
Hess………………….0 barrels
ARC0………………..0 barrels
If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.
All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.
But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers.
It’s really simple to do.
Now, don’t wimp out at this point…. keep reading and I’ll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!
I’m sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) …and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)… and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers !!!!!!! If those three million get excit ed and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have be! en contacted!
If it goes one level further, you guessed it ….. THREE HUND RED MILLION PEOPLE!!!
Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. How long would all that take?
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:15 pm
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Million Musicians March for Peace/Austin, TX March 15, Noon-4ish pm
March 06, 2008
saturday, march 15th, will be the 3rd annual million musicians march for peace. this is timed to commemorate the invasion of iraq,
and also to show all the music folks in town for sxsw that they can go home to their communities and put their music to work for peace
and have a good time at the same time.
the parade is a blast. for those of you in marching band, this is nothing like that. no rehearsals, no uniforms, no straight lines, not even
if you try could you make a straight line happen, trust me! we only play a few tunes and they repeat a lot so you can pick them up by ear, or you can
click on the link below where the music is now posted on the website and practice up before you come. that is the music for the jericho brass band, which heads the parade.
it’s crazy and fun!
there are many other ways to participate. make a sign, make a float, bring your own band, load a battery powered
pa in a shopping cart and march with your guitar, or join bill oliver and his otter space band, who will be doing that very thing.
wear crazy clothes, do anything you want, just join us if you feel moved. it’s a blast. there will be music and speakers at the beginning of the parade,
at the rally at the state capitol from noon to 1, and again at the end of the parade at the city hall whenever we get there till about 4:00.
great musicians like carolyn wonderland, guy forsyth, barbark k, jon emery, i don’t even know who all is scheduled to play or speak at this point.
> NOW ENLISTING:
> Marching Musicians of all kinds!
> Drum Groups! Fife/Drum/Flag trio(s)!
> Molly Ivins Pots and Pans Brigades!
> Church choirs! More Flags!
> Bagpipes, ukes, mandolins, accordions, guitars, fiddles, kazoos!
> Bring your band….or join another! You name it!
> Support the troops. Support the innocent civilians. Support the
majority for peace. Have fun and show the world you still care.
If you want to march, endorse, or volunteer, please register at
http://www.InstrumentsForPeace.org.
Marching band charts are on the website at:
http://www.InstrumentsforPeace.org/MMM-charts.pdf
Or just show up and play your heart out!
love,
sara and fabulous flautist, beth galiger
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:39 am
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Rockin’ in Rockdale on my 45th Birthday!
March 03, 2008
wa-hoo….only two days old!
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:26 am
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MY FRIEND SARAH JEANSONNE introduces BARACK OBAMA yesterday!!!!!!!
February 29, 2008
watch this and you will see her….oh, man! i am so so so proud of her!
these are exciting times, everybody! ANYTHING is possible!
posted by Sara Hickman at 01:02 pm
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I Will Not Visit This World
February 27, 2008
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
Unknown
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:45 pm
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FOLK ALLIANCE 2008: If I was handing out Grammys for GOOD TIMES:
February 24, 2008
COUNTRY ROCK BAND: Stone Honey will be the next big thing, you mark my words. 5 gorgeous guys who sing and rock and, generally, are all about fabulous harmonies and drinking and getting the crowd UP AND DANCING and SINGING. Man!
CONTEMPORARY (AND TRADITIONAL) SWING: Phoebe’s band, The Bellville Outfit.
BEST NEW ARTIST: Betty Soo hands down. Her husband, Double D, will be playing drums, smiling that sneaky smile, while she walks out to collect her little golden trophy!
CONTEMPORARY FOLK: Amy Meyers….Beth Wood….Julie Christenson…Anna Wolfe (sublime)
FEMALE ROCK VOCALS: Patrice Pike
BEST NEW TRIO: Wendy Waldman’s new group, and I can not think of the name of it right now…maybe because it is 4:49 in the MORNING.
BEST FEMALE BLUES: Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland
BEST ALL AROUND BELOVED MUSICIAN: Vance Gilbert
BEST NEW SONGWRITER: Dennis McGregor (wowie zowie catchy songs)
UP AND COMING: Emily Elbert
BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE: Eric Schwarz should have his own HBO Comedy series based around his life and music. Why isn’t someone just following him around with a camera? Huh? Just capturing his life and letting us
be amazed by the output of his unbelievable brain.
BEST CHILDREN’S PERFORMER: Guess who would go here!
Four and a half days of staying up til the wee hours, making music, meeting new friends, hearing music, laughing, laughing some more, eating a piece of chocolate cake, losing my phone, having security return my phone, Go Girls music. com, showcase 1 with dan navarro and dave crosslin (sp?) and kristin and phil parlapiano and that was a beautiful night. oh oh oh, great songs, fox run laurie gave us purple stoned gems in silver rings and
a children’s show with nine other childrens entertainers in a big white tent for 90 minutes meeting folks from festivals talking on a panel with Darden Smith and some other incredible folks about children’s music (making it, performing it, the how tos…) losing my phone again, meeting people for dinner cuz we forgot to eat, running back to the room and changing clothes another showcase breaking strings not one but two telling stories hanging on for dear life heard my phone was locked in a room heard so much more music in the halls in the elevator up in the rooms on 17 18 19 crashing calling my family up and out the door more music going back to the room for a quick nap finding someone to let me back into the room to get my bag full of cds people have given me and business cards and drawing a tattoo on my arm and kristin’s arm and having a deep conversation with kristin we are getting tired and we are crying we are so tired and then we jump up and move on and hug and go back out into the awesome and overwhelming energy and i think about lucinda william’s dog who dug up trash when greg johnson tells me a story and robert scarborough and dalis and michael terry and teresa and rusty god bless his back and their son michael, running sound for fox run, and board meetings and meeting new people that i will be on the board with for three years and anya from the ark who has the best sly smile and laughing some more and val denn’s bright fuschia hair and charlie dahan helping me driving talking meeting talking more playing with his two beautiful children chilling with his wife, melissa, at the movie back to the folk alliance which i never left the movie happened before all this and eric schwarz is making me laugh but then beatle bob makes him mad and cliff is drunk and i hope he made it to his room and patrice pike says nice things and people pack my last big showcase and kristin and i just go for it and joseph and steve browne are on the front row and i meet more folks from big festivals i have tears in my eye the sound guy did such a good job and the gigs are over for me and i am crying with happiness we got a standing ovation and i love everybody and the tiredness doesn’t deter me from going back to 17 18 19 to hear more music, sit in with the cover band and sing “mother’s little helper” and “honky tonk woman” and do doot doot doos with ben wisch on the keys (!!!) and freebo joins in and there is photoglo singing “sitting on the dock of the bay” and stone honey is the house band and so many smiles so many pretzels and cowboy boots and women dancing in slinky pants and low cut blouses and beer whisky cognac people going out on balconies to smoke haven’t seen the moon but i’ve heard a lot of music and songs and stories and melissa greener had the prettiest purple eyeliner
posted by Sara Hickman at 03:28 am
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Columbus Rocks with Austin Musician
February 17, 2008
Last night’s show at The Loft in downtown Columbus wasn’t what you’d call an ordinary show. The premise was a young, vibrant folk musician, Sara Hickman, hailing from Texas, who would be joined by fellow musicians from Tennessee, Tisha Simeral and Brian Ashley Jones, on upright bass and guitar, respectively.
For those who have never been to The Loft, think of a 1940’s dance hall converted into a large listening room with a bar in back. The owners have inserted a moveable glass wall that can contain the intimacy of the song, yet keep the entire hall feeling lively. Smoking is allowed, but of those in attendance last night, I only saw a few listeners light up. Since this was billed as a family style venue, I expected that there would be music of the same ilk.
First up on stage were Brian and Tisha. Under the red glow of stage lights, the pair teamed up to deliver country bluegrass with a hint of another Austin super group, Uncle Walt’s band, throw in for good measure. Being as both these musicians are tall gives them a feeling of stature before they even begin to pick and pluck and croon. Both talented in their own rights, they sang all originals written by Ashley Jones, whose nearly baritone voice resembles a familiar radio personality I can’t quite put my finger on, but delivers the goods none the less. Great musicianship, solid songs and clever patter in between warmed up the Saturday night crowd and set the scene for what was to come—or so I thought.
Ms. Hickman bounced up on stage, blonde hair wisped behind ears, a smile as big as her home state, and she quickly endeared the audience with her quick wit and ballsy approach to the guitar, or “large hunka wood”, as she heckled one man on the front row. She chatted with several women in the audience after a particular rockin’ song, and told women they should all play guitar because “the wood never felt so good”, to which one woman clearly spit out her drink while laughing in response.
The show turned into a three hour set, mostly Hickman originals, but shenanigans soon ensued as Ms. Hickman started to take requests from the audience, even delivering a near perfect rendition of “Evergreen”, complete with a Streisand vocal range and sound. Those at the bar on the other side of the wall were captivated so much so that they actually were chanting “Tequila” when Ms. Hickman, accompanied by then with Tisha and Brian, ripped into it. Ms. Hickman covered a vast ground of sound—-from Aretha to the Stones to even the theme song from the capsized thriller, the “Posiedon Adventure”.
Although there may have not been the audience size that Ms. Hickman is accustomed to, she handled the evening with grace and aplomb, obviously enjoying herself as much as her gracious, attentive audience.
posted by Gene Cowan at 09:07 am
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Poor David’s Pub Photo Phun
February 12, 2008
photo by Kevin Kunruether
posted by Sara Hickman at 02:48 pm
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Super Pal Universe Grant Recepient Writes in…We are STOKED!!!
Sincerely,
Akasha Villalobos
posted by Sara Hickman at 02:43 pm
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Houston Press
February 06, 2008
Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 12:51:20 PM
The next time you’re at a party or out with friends and feel like bringing the conversation to a standstill, try bringing up the death penalty. It’s the rhetorical equivalent of announcing you’ve got the Hanta virus or, you know, maybe Osama bin Laden isn’t all that evil. But Dallas-raised Austin folk-pop singer Sara Hickman wants to change all that.
For the past five months, Hickman, one of the few performers with loyal followings in both children’s and adult music, has teamed up with the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) on the “Music for Life” concert series, which combines music and discussion in one Texas city per month. Hickman and native Houstonian Trish Murphy bring the tour to Houston today with a 6:30 p.m. performance at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art, 1502 Alabama at La Branch. Tickets are $10 or $5 with a valid student ID. Waiting for her flight at the Washington, D.C. airport, Hickman called Houstoned Rocks yesterday to discuss this extremely sensitive, rarely brought up issue.
Houstoned Rocks: Tell me about this tour.
Sara Hickman: Last spring, TCADP called me and asked if I’d do a benefit concert, and I said, ‘Well, let me think about that.’ And then I invited them over to my house and said, ‘I could do a benefit concert and you’d make $1,500 or $2,000 or whatever, but what if we did something bigger? What if we did a yearlong tour where I went to a different Texas city and you brought speakers, and we got another musician, two musicians and two speakers, and we started a dialogue across Texas about the death penalty.’ They were like, ‘Whoa!’
I find it disconcerting that we execute so many people, and yet people in Texas are either one way or the other way. It’s a pretty hostile conversation, and it seems to me there should at least be dialogue about it. So once a month we go to a city and I play, and a speaker comes up for ten minutes, and then we open the floor to the audience to ask questions, and then we have another musician come up and they play for a little bit. Then we have a break and I sing again, and the second speaker comes up, same format, and that’s it.
HR: What cities have you been to so far?
SH: We started in Austin, and then we went to Huntsville, Corpus Christi and San Antonio, so tomorrow will be our fifth city.
HR: What sort of dialogue have you been able to get going?
SH: Well, when we were planning this, I had it in my mind there would be more hostility. I envisioned there would be, perhaps I should say more combativeness, but really, I think the majority of the people that come have already decided they’re against the death penalty or have questions about it. Which is good, because really I was hoping we’d get the middle-ground people, who are on the fence or don’t know enough about it or have questions. We haven’t had anybody show up that is terrifically for it. We haven’t had anybody come with bullhorns and disrupt it. That was kind of a pleasant surprise. I was expecting some of that.
In San Antonio, one of our speakers was the prosecutor for the State of Texas, and he was probably the most conservative speaker we’ve had. He came to speak not for moral reason, but because of economic reasons why the death penalty is wrong. He got engaged in a question with a woman who want him to understand he should also morally oppose the death penalty. That was touchy. They were getting a little heated. He stayed pretty calm, but she was getting emotional. That’s exactly what I was hoping for. I was hoping there would people of different opinions talking so that others around them would get invigorated or see that there’s different opportunities to discuss this issue.
HR: What sort of questions are people in the crowd asking?
SH: Well, it depends on the speakers. In Huntsville we had Rev. Carol Pickett, who was the death row chaplain and witnessed the execution of 92 inmates. So people had a lot of questions for him about what was that like, were the inmates scared, what did you say to them, what was it like as they were being put to death, how do you feel about it now compared to before you took the job.
Another speaker we’ve had, Linda White, who’s also going to be at the event tomorrow night, she’s the mother of a daughter who was murdered, and everybody was pretty much speechless after she spoke, because she said she never for one second wanted the death penalty, she never wanted the two boys who murdered her daughter executed. So she gives a really compelling story about her feelings and why the death penalty is a myth because it doesn’t bring closure to anyone and extends the pain to the families of those who are executed, so the violence just continues.
HR: As a musician, what part do you play in this dialogue?
SH: Well, I think my music has really come from a spiritual place, so my role I guess – I kind of just felt like I was the spark to get this thing ignited. I think I just felt frustrated, not just about the death penalty, but about dialogue in general in the United States. It seems like it’s just really dumbed down. Like I said, people are pretty violent about whatever issue they’re talking about, whether it’s education or it’s political, people running for office, or it’s abortion, anything. And the death penalty to me is the biggest hot-button of all because nobody wants to talk about it.
HR: Moreso than, like, abortion?
SH: Well, I think abortion gets talked about a lot. You hear about it a lot, really, but you don’t hear people in coffeehouses debating the death penalty, or people on the streets. Honestly, when in the last week have you talked about the death penalty except with me, probably? It’s not something people just casually bring up at a cocktail party. And not to say that abortion is brought up casually, but I think that there’s more people on fire speaking out about this issue than there are about this issue, which is costly, not just economically but in terms of lives, so I guess I just really wanted to be an instigator and get people talking. And I’m enjoying my role.
HR: Why do you think this issue is not discussed very much?
SH: One thing, I think people are tired. I think the economy and the war and people who are parents working just to make ends meet, they’re tired. This is a very volatile issue in that people don’t want to talk about it – they think that if someone’s in prison, they probably got their just desserts, they’ve done something violent and if they get put to death, well, an eye for an eye. But I think how it eats away at the moral fiber or moral fabric of this nation is that a) of course, many innocent people have been executed; and b) the death penalty doesn’t really bring violence down.
In fact, in the states that have the death penalty, violence is up, and it costs for the legal ramifications for someone to appeal the death penalty versus having life in prison. I mean, I could go on and on and on. It’s a complicated issue and like I said, people are tired, so they might not feel like they want to go spend a Wednesday night hearing somebody discuss the ramifications of the death penalty, but the people who have come have a lot of questions and they’re very impassioned about it and want to put this thing to bed, so to speak. I think New Jersey ending the death penalty was great.
HR: That does seem to be a trend elsewhere in the U.S., people reconsidering the death penalty. Do you realistically think Texas might ever actually take that step?
SH: I’m going to say yeah. I know we’re a really yee-ha cowboy state, that’s what people think of us, but I think that’s changing. I think there’s a lot of youth and vivacity moving to Texas that’s changing its perimeters. It’s not a big oil/cowboy state anymore, it’s become a lot more international, and that’s exciting. I think with the internationalism comes more thought, more debate and more dialogue. That might be because I live in Austin. But there’s a lot of conservatism in Austin, but there’s also a good, lively dialogue. I have a lot of hope for Texas. I think in the next five, ten years, we’re going to abolish the death penalty. That’s what I’m going to say.
HR: Have you ever written any songs specifically about the death penalty?
SH: I have. I have a song in conjunction with the Virginia Tech shooting. When I was watching the news when it happened, and how violent and disconnected Cho was, I really couldn’t see where music was. I couldn’t see a song in that. It’s sad. Then I overheard somebody talking about Cho’s mother, how she’d had a nervous breakdown and was in such pain, and that’s where I made the connection.
I’m a mother, and how overwhelming that would be to get a phone call that not only had 32 people been murdered but that my daughter had murdered them and then murdered herself, blown her face off, and I could never hold my child again or say goodbye. So I wrote a song from Cho’s mother’s point of view, and I sing it a cappella at the events. I’ve had a lot of people come up and say ‘That really opened my eyes and made me think twice about the death penalty,’ and I’m really glad. It’s probably the most powerful song I’ve ever written in that it gets right to the heart of it really quickly. – Chris Gray
posted by Sara Hickman at 12:45 pm
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Jammin’ Java
FEBRUARY 14th…Ok, even though I live in Austin, it is a hard, hard nut to crack…so, if anyone is here and wants to come out to hear some lovin’ love songs, please come to Momo’s (above Katz’s Deli) and hear me and Kristin sing to you….8 pm show! How’s that…so romantic. I’ll dedicate a song to you and the love of your life/choice/dreams
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:33 am
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Tequila on the Tip of the Tongue: LIVE POOR DAVID’S TAPING…but wait! There’s MORE!!!
February 02, 2008
The crowd was so quiet, I thought, “Crud! What’s wrong?” but then when I asked, someone yelled out, “We’re trying to be quiet!” And I was dumbstruck!
Of course! Only my audience would be THAT considerate!!! So, I had to say, “No, no! You’re SUPPOSED to be here! You’re SUPPOSED to react!” and then things
got under way. Cuz I messed up “Living In Quiet Desperation” by going to an F# instead of the F, and I think I might have saved that nano-second, but in my artistic mind, of course, I was SUNK, and after that sung, I fessed up to messin’ up, which, of course, then turned into a comical farce because I realized my new guitar teacher, who shall remain nameless until he gives me the thumbs up to announce him to the world, was sitting DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, and then I just went into Carol Burnett meets Robin Williams mode and COULD NOT GET OUT OF IT, especially when that Wisconsin couple starting channeling through my mouth! Where do they COME FROM? How do they get into MY BRAIN like that? I could NOT stop talking like I was from Wisconsin! By then, we were all giddy and I started heckling my teacher and introduced him as Henry Higgins and immediately burst into “Just you wait Henry Higgins….Just you waaaaaaaaait!” in my best English flower girl accent, but that turned into Shakespearean Old English and I just could not turn the pony around! We played two and a half hours, I think. So, let’s see. That would be three songs recorded live and 800 minutes of my incessant babbling about politics, sex, the state of my bra, old boyfriends, you name it. I said it. All on tape (and film.) Ok, you have an idea of what is headed down the pike towards you at 600 miles an hour! Of course we’ll edit! Thanks to Kristin for hanging on and letting me tell her what I needed to tell her after that miniscule tongue touch to the tequila (I hadn’t eaten since two, and let me tell you, who wants Tequila on an empty stomach? Maybe John Wayne, but alrighty then, I’m not the man!) Secrets on stage rule! Girls gotta have fun when they are the only two up there jammn’ out the jams for the masses!
Thanks to all the life long friends, new fans and happy faces. It was a kickiddy- assidy show!
KOLANOWSKI HOUSE CONCERT
Ok, Greg and Kim. What can I say? Here, I’ll say it. They rule. I mean, just hand over that first prize ribbon right now! Yes, that one. The one you’ve been hoarding.
Give it up, I say! Give it to the Kolanowskis cause they totally treated me like I was Chrissy Hynde. Or Babs. Or some singer that would expect to be given the red carpet treatment. I’m used to Astroturf, and hey! I’m fine with that. No need to mow!
But as I walked into this amazing home concert… voila! I was in tears in about two minutes because Greg and Kim had made a SPACE for me. A backdrop, a big comfy chair, a side table replete with lamp and an authentic, handmade tiger tea cup!… and a stool….and lighting, filtered so I would have just the right glow, and rows and rows and rows and oh my gosh who knows how many rows of black seats, all lined up in a half moon with an AISLE. I was expecting a bevvy of ushers to pop out at any moment. It all felt so… classy….! And I thought, “Wow. This feels GOOD. This feels RIGHT!” And even though my head was full of cedar fever and swollen membranes, I gave my all, best I could, because I really loved the care and thought that went into their presentation of….me! Perhaps I’ll call my next cd, “Red Carpet Treatment” cuz, hmm, now I like it!
No, no, I’ll call it “The Day The Kolanowskis Brought Me Home From The Zoo.”
I liked it so very much that I suggested a five night house concert run this summer, a house concert TOUR, if you will, of the concert series in Houston. Bruce’s Loft, Rouse House, the Kolanowskis, and two others.
The audience was awesome. The food was first rate. The time spent with Zac, the K’s nephew, after the show was just terrific. Zac is a fifteen year old bagpipe/guitarplaying/unicycle riding kid who has big, smart eyes and a wicked smile that makes you think he might eat your cake if you turn your head
for twenty seconds! What a nice guy. We sat on the set and he played guitar and I made up songs and I said, “Hey, you’re like Jack in the White Stripes and I’m like Loretta Lynn!” I’ll see if I can post the vid that Greg took of these magical moments.
TODAY
I am off to do a surprise baby shower and then hitting the road to run to the airport to get on a plane to D.C. for a private show for Josh Cohen (awesome…he and the Kolanowskis should meet!) and then Jammin’ Java on Monday night. Please come out, if you live in the D.C. area. I promise to kick it. To be in high gear. To sing like a songbird. To hug you. To pick that lint off your sweater.
SUPER PAL UNIVERSE
There is so much going on here my head is spinning. I will try to write about all the wondrous stuff these kids are up to, but suffice it to say that Marty is the best friend a woman could ever hope to have cuz he is engineering this record, and thank God for Joe McDermott for being music director…but mostly thanks to the kids for forming this band and wanting to make a cd and for working hard towards the pilot and for my not exploding into 7200000 fragments of joy! Not yet, anyway!
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:31 am
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AUSTIN CHRONICLE AWARDS
January 19, 2008
NOW’S YOUR CHANCE! Thank you so much!!!
Here are catagories you could vote for:
Best kids band (majority of the members under the age of 18): SUPER PAL UNIVERSE
Best song: COMFORT’S SIGH
Best album: MOTHERLODE
Best producer: SARA HICKMAN
Best label: SLEEVELESS
Best acoustic guitar: SARA HICKMAN
Best folk artist: SARA HICKMAN
Best acoustic room: CACTUS CAFE
Best family club: RUTUMAYA
You can find a ballot in the latest Chronicle and also on-line at http://www.austinchronicle.com/musicpoll
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:19 am
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Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys
January 09, 2008
My booking agent, Charlie Dahan, is picking up this new client whose album/cd comes out today. Her name is Amanda
Shaw, she is a 16 year old fiddle player, and this is her first release on Rounder.
http://www.myspace.com/officialamandashaw
She’s really talented and cute to boot!
Enjoy supporting another musician with a big smile!
Sara
posted by Sara Hickman at 09:32 am
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Dad Labs Performance #2
January 08, 2008
Part 2 of your interview is up. It’s on the homepage today. Here is
the permalink:
http://www.dadlabs.com/home/2008/1/8/246-the-lounge-singing-and-drinking-with-sara-hickman.html
These are really fun to watch! Looking forward to the next time…
Cheers,
Clay
Clay Nichols
Chief Creative Officer
DadLabs Inc
http://www.dadlabs.com
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:06 am
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Orpha
January 04, 2008
I was just informed that a young lady I walked with down the runway at a cancer event for children has passed away. She was 18 years old. Because of my music, I get to meet many people, sometimes only briefly. But some people stick with your heart, your memory. This is a person who had a lot of depth, a lot to offer the world. Here is my quiet attempt to say “goodbye”.
A Poem For Orpha
Just like her name
She was unique
She kept a smile close to her chest
And like most children struggling
With what they cannot understand:
She did her best.
Quietly smiling
Smart as a whip
We walked together
Letting secrets slip
Knowing this was all that
Just might be
She stood tall next to me
The faces seated down below
Gazed upwards as the time came
For her to walk down the runway
Following the sound of her name, then
Sensing who knows where or when
She knew none of us can really
Know our end
She stood with grace
And bowed to no one
Courageous to the core
And though some may think
That she has left us
She is even stronger than before
Love,
Sara
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:35 pm
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One of my Favorite People in the World
January 03, 2008
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:10 am
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Me on “Dad Labs”, a tres cool site
January 01, 2008
I use two “dastardly” words. Otherwise, I would like to say I don’t really drink beer, but I sure had fun trying it!
Especially at 10 am on a Friday.
Happy New Year!
http://www.dadlabs.com/home/2008/1/1/242-the-lounge-sara-hickman-part-i.html
posted by Sara Hickman at 09:38 pm
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And now some lighthearted reading: An essay I wrote for “Austin Monthly”
December 21, 2007
I’ve learned a plethora of things since I’ve moved to Austin. I’ve learned that my heart can actually ache for home when I’m out on the road. I’ve learned people will return your wallet if you lose it. I’ve learned what “H.E.B.” stands for.
So, here’s a list I’ve compiled to help anyone new to Austin understand what’s worth fighting for, talking about, standing up on behalf of, speaking out about and singing over, why signing petitions is important, how lighting candles can bring people together, and how to walk the walk while you herald the talk. Think of this as a top ten list…only I just couldn’t stop at ten.
SARA HICKMAN’S LIST ON AUSTIN
(Feel free to cut this out and add on)
AH, NATURE!
Visit the Greenbelt, although be aware it can have intense cotton mouth or it can be swollen with raging waters.
Make sure you hike it when it is neither.
(Unless you’re one of those uber muscular folks with the rock riding bikes or a kayak.)
Where else but Austin can you have a raccoon use your doggie door to come in for a snack?
Cheap thrills: For $6, you can canoe on Town Lake, where you can reach into the water, catch the turtles, and take them for a ride.
WARNING: they will pee on you. Also, the swans will glide right over, almost resting their delicate heads in your hands.
For best man-made internal caves to crawl around in with your kids: go to the Austin Nature Center or Book People (second floor).
Our ZIlker Park “Trail of Lights” is a gorgeous wonderland, right across from the infamous Zilker Christmas tree, both which go up only in December.
Zilker Park also has a miniature train running right through it, but it seems to be hibernating during the coldest time of the year.
So check that out in the spring. It is also inexpensive and relaxing!
I hear there is a place where people can get naked. It is called Hippie Hollow. You will never see me there, but it might be just the thing for you.
IN THE MOOD FOR FOOD?
Austin is worldly. You have Momoko on 24th for Japanese Bubble tea with sushi (they also have cool hand made stationary, funny cuddly toys and tiny tee-shirts). There’s Veggie Heaven for veggie Thai food; Pho for Vietnamese; Taco Express for Maria’s one of a kind Chimichuri salsa complete with a giant 20 foot tall statue of her likeness (dressed according to her mood); French, Italian, Ethiopian, Soul Food…you name it. We’re food central. Especially with Whole Foods and Central Market providing the makings for your own homemade schmorgasbords.
Taco Deli (hidden back on Spyglass). A delicious, creative Tex-Mex + All Good Looking Men All the Time= Mmm good! In my book, they make the best
guacamole jalapeno salsa. Unbelievably creamy and spicy.
Flipnotics: UPSTAIRS: start off your day with the best coffee in town
DOWNSTAIRS: pick out a one of a kind outfit for lunch, then march back upstairs for quiche and salad, march back downstairs for evening attire,
return to the top for live music. All for under $75. What a deal!
I learned that a true donut store will be open twenty-four hours. We call it Ken’s Rock-n-Roll donuts. Go there immediately. Rick Perry will pick up your tab.
Did you know that if you have three sips of a margarita from Baby Acupulco
you can not pitch a softball game afterwards? (see following category for more
info.)
I’ ve learned my neighborhood has a lot of moms who bake casseroles or homemade cookies in honor of newborns, birthdays, even divorce.
There are also lots of kids with lemonade stands. I’m a big fan of Little Jimmy Hightower, who down the street, come rain or shine, has a stand for
Justice Juice: his concoction consists of two parts satire to every four parts truth. Very tasty! They also carry it in the Austin Chronicle. Get some today!
I’M NOT INTO SPORTS BUT HERE’S SOME FEEDBACK ON IT:
If you want to listen to sports, you have Jeff Ward and Ed Clements on KLBJ/AM. I don’t even like sports radio,
but these two have me actually tuning in to find out why NASCAR men can behave like Neanderthals
stuck in a cerebral tar pit. Their banter is hilarious. I would like to start an
I LOVE JEFF & ED fan club, just for the ladies. I think the two would approve.
Especially Ed.
Speaking of someone who should stay away from any NASCAR event, Leslie can stand on a corner in a thong, high heels
and a glittery top while talking with a group of business men in ties about politics. If you don’t know of whom I speak, you
are probably imagining a lovely girl who has escaped the grips of Hooters. No. I am talking about a man. A local lo-cal skinny man.
Anyway, I find it puzzling and charming at the same time. It doesn’t really have to do with sports, but it was a nice segueway. Plus,
it will prepare you for the next time you are stuck in rush hour traffic at the corner of 11th and Congress.
When you go to a UT game, you better be utilizing burnt orange underwear, eye shadow, breath mints, and cow bells. There is no fooling
around. You are BURNT ORANGE, my friend, or you better be sitting on the far side. Like in Jersey. I stopped in at the official UT Salon on my way
into my first game (UT vs. New Mexico State, 2003—-no, you shut up!) and had my hair dyed a lovely shade of UT (permanent, of course!) just so
I’d fit in and feel part of the gang in those extra large, comfy stadium stands. (This is where the breath mints come in to play.)
Did I mention I can’t pitch a softball game after a margarita? But I did play on the Flames one year, and you can, too! The city has lots of intramural
softball and soccer teams. Austin cares about your health!
There are people in this town who have tennis racquets pierced into their ear lobes. Huge netted dream catcher like things. I never saw these before
I moved to Austin. I don’t have anything against them, but I have to control my urge to yell, “ Deuce!” whenever I see them. I worry about these guys’
lobes when they hit 80. Will their lobes need slings?
NO IMMUNITY FROM OUR COMMUNITY!
People care about each other in Austin—-from Hands on Housing to Any Baby Can, folks get out in the community and try
to make life better for one another. And we grieve, too. Once a year you can come to the House the Homeless Sunrise Service on Town Lake
(November 18, sunrise) where we read the names of those who have passed away on the street.
I’ve protested against the death penalty and spoken out against the war.
Both by candlelight. Both with large groups of people swaying, singing and praying. My children were always with me, and I never felt afraid.
I felt like I had the right to voice my concern and I wasn’t treated like an idiot. Even while in front of the governor’s mansion. I love that about Austin.
People can speak out about racism, homelessness, joblessness, Barton Springs, developers… You name it. Sometimes action is slow, or a result is not
what I would prefer it to be, but it feels like democracy in action. There’s something to be said about the freedoms we still have in this country
and how the people of this city will not sit idly by and let freedom be chewed up and spat into the sewer.
If you want to understand local flavor, read John Kelso or watch Jim Swift.
I have the feeling they actually founded Austin because they always know
that the “small “ stories are the biggest.
I’ve learned they are shutting down the South Mary post office. Yvonne , Dieter and Jamie will be moved to the Congress location.
Let me just say: please visit these folks before they move. Walking into this post office is like visiting
a small hometown memory. And it is a mico-cosmic overview of Austin’s most interesting characters.
Did you know this fact: Austin has more readers than any other city in the United States. I learned that from Half Price Books
while drinking some of their free tea. I go there at least once a week with my seven year old for tea and reading. Or, as she might say, ”Read and teaing.”
For kids, Austin is a slice of heaven. Did you know we have over 62, 031 moms groups, 2700 lactation consultants, and more childrens musicians
than any where else in the world? Even the bats can’t compete in number! We have Carl Anderson, the best Santa, and the Austin Children’s Museum;
a quaint zoo (check out the tigers during feeding at 10 a.m. any day! If you like watching someone really enjoy their food, go tomorrow morning), great public
and private schools, stay-at-home dads, more parks than sticks, and if you stand in the middle of the star in our state’s capital and sing “My Favorite Things”
with twenty four children, no one complains! They find it charming. Even when legislation is in session. Which isn’t very often, so go! Sing! Sing LOUD.
MUSIC, MUSIC EVERYWHERE
I like a town where everyone knows the musicians by their first names:
Eliza, Jimmie, Joe, Ray, Charlie, Shawn, Bob, Ruthie, Terri, Matt (he’s an electrician, too)… It’s so homey, homey!
Austin City Limits. I learned that those stars aren’t real, but who’s really looking at the stars in the sky? And the ACL Fest is
the best festival in the U.S., hands down. Get your tickets now because it’s just going to get crazier. Or you can get in with
me and my possee next year. We’ll form a choir!
Todd Wolfson has taken every local (and international) musician’s photograph at least once over the last twenty years. And he still decided to stay.
What other city has local musicians singing about cars, mobile homes, parks,
and perched precariously on a gazebo? Austin uses it’s musical resources
locally and nationally.
Say…I didn’t even get a chance to talk about our film makers, authors, illustrators, SXSW, Amy’s Ice Cream, Waterloo, Uncommon Objects,
our great public and private schools, the diversity of religions and thought…or my highest bowling score. Poop. Next time.
Well, you know, since it closed, I’ve heard people talk about Les Amis as if they’ve just paid the bill. I’ve also enjoyed the roar of an
Armadillo World Headquarters crowd from the stage, even though I never had the opportunity to be on it. My friend, Pauline, lives over by Matthews Elementary
and tells how she used to stand on the hill of an empty field and holler with friends to her momma from across the tracks. Legend has it LBJ and Ann Richards both
went to my church, First United Methodist, across from the capital. To sum it up , these are the things I love about Austin: the passion for history and storytelling,
the love for community, and the drive to preserve our authenticity and small town feel.
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:15 am
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What you give, not what you get
December 20, 2007
the time you get.
What a different world this would be.
Instead of kids writing lists to Santa that said, “I need a bike. I need a doll,”
kids would learn to write,
“Dear Santa:
This year I am going with mom and dad to the shelter. We are going to sing
Christmas songs and take thermal underwear to all those we meet.
Could you please bring some thermal underwear so we’ll have plenty to take?
Love,
Erin”
It became cool to be involved in your community, to be aware of social justice,
to have kids growing up realising they have the power to change the world!
And office parties…all the food and drink would be taken to the shelters when folks were finished
at the parties, and served with love to those who don’t have Christmas parties.
And people would visit retirement homes and recognize the need for the elderly to
have year round visits, so it wasn’t just once a year.
And you know what is great about this idea? Is that it is an idea that is already ALIVE with many people!!
That Christmas isn’t about getting, it is about giving. That action DOES create change.
Giving hope.
Giving love.
Giving TIME.
Giving expertise.
Giving voice on behalf of those who can’t speak out for themselves.
Because Christmas isn’t a time of year, it is a way of living. It isn’t a a day where gifts are given,
it is a way of gifts being lived.
Ok, just thinking about all this and wondering how to sway the tide of consumerism into a tidal wave
of consciousness about the moments we have to be on this earth, and how we will use our time here
to benefit one another and those in need.
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:14 am
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The Service of Christmas
STORY # 1 —-I NEED IT
Walgreens is right up the street from us. I like having a neighborhood pharmacy, where I know
all the people who work in the store, people who are a sort of extended family to us because you learn to
trust these folks over the years, you can learn some of who they are…
and I can grab some toothpaste or get some lotion for mosquito bites.
Last week, I ran in to get some moisturizer, and as I was walking down an aisle, I heard a tiny little voice say,
“Mommy, I need this!”
I rounded the corner and there was a two year old girl, short blonde, curly hair, wandering over towards something
at the end of a display case. The mother was following behind, responding with,
“Show me what you need, honey…”
The little girl pointed at something and answered,
“This. I need this.”
The mom looked at whatever it was and said,
“Oh, you don’t need that. Let’s find something else you need.”
Well, my heart just about broke in half. I was tempted to start a conversation with the woman about how
the little girl didn’t “need” that thing, she “wanted” that thing.
But I kept it to myself and decided to ponder on the difference. I could put a list of “needs” and “wants” here, but
I think you can see what I mean. Maybe this will make you consider the differences, as well.
STORY # 2 —-THE BUS STOP
This morning, I was headed toward ARCH (Austin Resource Center for the Homeless) with some donations, when I spied a young man
sitting outside on the ground, crosslegged, rocking himself back and forth in front of a bus stop.
I kept driving my van, but that eternal voice came to me, “Go back.” I drove another block until the voice was
so strong, I followed it by turning around and heading back.
I parked in Peter Pan Putt-Putt’s parking lot, walked to the back of the van and grabbed some oranges, poured a glass of
apple juice, gathered some brownies. I headed over to the young man. He was drooling quite heavily.
“Hello, ” I said. “I brought you something.”
“No thank you, ” he rocked.
“Are you thirsty?” I sat down on my heels near by and looked him in the eyes, with a calm, laid back demeanor. I’ve always find
if you are approaching a stranger, it is best not to act like a stranger yourself.
“No, no thank you,” he looked me in the eye, and I could see he was calm, too. He had something else in those eyes, though. It
looked like “forgotten”. He was covered in age old filth, but his clothes were relatively clean.
“Do you need blankets…?”
“No, thank you,” was how he replied, again.
“I will be thinking of you, ” I said respectfully.
He nodded, and I walked back to the car, and headed towards the ARCH.
STORY #3——THIS MORNING
On the way to the ARCH, I saw another long line of homeless down the street, and decided to deliver the food to St. David’s,
instead.
Parking on the side of the building, I was just trying to figure out how to carry all the goods, which came from the school
Christmas party* yesterday, when a fellow in camouflage came running around the wall,
“Miss, I can help you miss!”
I don’t even know HOW he knew I needed to carry all these supplies, he couldn’t have seen me unloading, so I decided he
was my morning’s angel!
He carried a giant chocolate sheet cake while I carried cookies, apples, oranges, grapes, jugs of juice, cups and a serving knife and plates.
We were feeling quite jolly!
He started to take it inside the building, but I stopped him.
“Let’s serve it outside, where all the people are…”
He smiled, “Oh, certainly!”
Immediately, there was a buzz through the line of about sixty people, and we were swarmed
with expectation.
“What’s in the bag?”
“I want cake! Give me some cake!”
“Can I get some for my husband, too?”
Immediately, I was sitting on the sidewalk with the young man and we put together our makeshift
serving line… putting plates together of grapes, cookies, oranges, apple slices, and I was rapidly cutting the chocolate cake
and plopping the slices onto plates appearing around my face from people hunched over, ready to eat, worried
they wouldn’t get some of the food. You could feel the worry in the air.
Amazingly, there was enough cake for everyone, and a request for more oranges and tangerines.
I promised to bring more by.
One man said, “You know what they say about chocolate! It just makes me happy! Thanks for all the chocolate!”
My angel started to gather trash and I reached over to take it all to the car, but he insisted on carrying it for me.
“Did you get some cake? I saved a piece for you,” I said.
“No, thank you. I have a little bag of cookies, ” he smiled back at me.
I handed the last plate of cake to the chocolate man.
Everyone was so grateful, “thank you for coming!” and “Thank you for thinking of us!” and “Bless you!” and I was hugging people,
touching arms, smiling at everyone.
We got to the car, the angel and me, and I asked him his name.
“Michael, ma’am. Michael Gonzales.”
I told him he was my angel for the day, and I hugged him goodbye and got in my car.
My hands were covered in chocolate frosting, sticky. I found a bottle of water under a seat,
and leaning out the driver’s door, I poured water across my hands, as the man who loves chocolate
walked by.
“MMmmm, remember what they say about chocolate!”
“I’ll just have to bring you some more,” I laughed. He laughed, too.
posted by Sara Hickman at 09:41 am
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I am Spreading the Word. Can you?
December 19, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuBo4E77ZXo
Sara
posted by Sara Hickman at 09:42 am
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Dan Fogelberg’s Legacy
December 17, 2007
I practiced learning every song on that album, alone in my room,
dreaming that someday I, too, would be a leader of a band, or tour, or make records.
I never got to meet Dan on the tours with him. He had other people do his soundchecks, and he always arrived right after I had finished my set.
He’d come dashing in from the car, go straight to his dressing room (if there was time), and then straight to the stage. Usually it was straight to the stage, where he would sit down at the piano and start to play.
Trust me, I wanted to meet Dan. I wanted to say “Thank you” for his encouraging me to become a singer/songwriter, even though he had no idea how he had done so. I wanted to tell him what an honor it was to sing before him night after night, for him to share his listening audience with me, for all the love I felt as I sang along in the audience to every word of every one of his songs.
I don’t feel bad that we didn’t ever meet. There are forces bigger at play here then me meeting a childhood idol. In his heart, surely he must have known that there were thousands of kids like me who grew up to make music because of him? Or, if not, then he certainly knew that his music was loved and revered, and I didn’t need to be one more
voice reminding him. He seemed to be very private, and I respected that.
So, I will say it out loud now, at my computer, for his spirit to hear:
Thank you, Dan. Thank you for giving me the gift of a dream, one that is being carried on, now, through my daughters’ love of song, too.
Songwriters/singers/musicians like you are the storytellers of our lives, and you capture those moments that we wish to reclaim, anytime we choose, simply by putting
your music on the stereo… instantly we are transported to those times of laughter or tears.
Should old acquaintance be forgot….and never brought to mind…
I think not, Dan. You’ll never be forgotten.
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:16 am
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Read a complete bio at sarahickman.com.
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Featuring "Look At Me" as heard on American Idol!
I Am Going On A Journey: the DVD
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