Check out ChiIL Mama's original HD videos from Toys Take Over. This
show features CircEsteem's performance team and was entirely conceived,
publicized, choreographed, directed, produced and acted by the kids
themselves!
Here's the "best of" our original show stills from the 2nd half of Toys Take Over, CircEsteem's 3rd Annual Team Circus. Look for our HD show clips of the first half all week!
It's a delight to see teens involved in producing, directing, choreographing, publicizing and enacting an entire circus arts show themselves. And these are extraordinary teens.
They've traveled the country, Germany and Switzerland performing hundreds of shows. They're not only excellent performers, they teach and mentor younger kids in CircEsteem's highly recommended classes and summer camps.
ChiIL Mama's own Du-Jay (11) and Sagezilla (8) have been involved with CircEsteem since fall of 2010 and love it! They've both acquired the skills for pre-team now and can be seen in the show, opening for their team mentors.
Sagezilla's contortionist tricks include going through juggling hoops!
We highly recommend CircEsteem for the playfully serious vibe, excellent caliber of instruction, and their commitment to multiculturalism and making circus arts affordable to all Chi-Town kids.
Du-Jay was shy and reluctant to even do a scene with a partner in class when he first began at CircEsteem. Now he has three shows under his belt, with a real audience and little stage fright. He has blossomed into quite the confident kid and uses his circus skills to break the ice in other social situations.
Four of the talented team kids are headed off to college in the fall with the help of scholarships and matching funds from CircEsteem's work/college program. If you'd like to take classes--available for toddlers to adults--or register for summer camp (slots are filling fast!), or make a donation to this rockin' non profit, then check out their main site here. For loads more CircEsteem coverage from ChiIL Mama, try the search bar in the top right and/or type CircEsteem in at ChiIL Mama's YouTube Channel.
*We've bartered a reduced fee for circus classes in exchange for video, photography & writing services. All opinions expressed in features are our own.
Act Out is where you'll find our take on Chi-Town's amazing theatre scene. We review family friendly and adult shows and let you know what's opening, closing, extended and highly recommended. We love theatre and there are zillions of shows running in Chicago simultaneously. We also feature original video interviews with key players in the theatre scene and live photos and footage when we can. Obviously we can't catch everything, but we see as many shows as we can, and give you the low down. Also check out, like, and/or follow our ChiIL Live Shows Facebook Page for breaking daily music and theatre updates and press releases that don't run elsewhere. So, what are you waiting for? Get out and play!
production photos from Collaboraction
Saturday Opening: Me Tube at Collaboraction
Tonight, 11 year old Du-Jay and I are stoked to be checkin' out opening night of Me Tube and we'll have a full review for you shortly.
COLLABORACTION PRESENTS YURI LANE’S METUBE FOR A FOUR-WEEK RUN MARCH 16 – APRIL 8
Collaboraction announces the addition of a special show into their 2011 – 2012 season; MeTube featuring beatbox harmonica virtuoso Yuri Lane. Written by Rachel Havrelock and directed by Rachel Havrelock and John Wilson, with live visuals by Sharif Ezzat, MeTube will run for four weeks only, March 16 – April 8, 2012 Fri – Sun evenings at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. Saturday evening performances will also feature special musical guests and post show collaborations.
What is it like to be an overnight Internet sensation? Chicago beatboxer Yuri Lane knows all about it. His beatbox harmonica video, featuring his extraordinary talent, went viral on YouTube, garnering millions of hits and making him an instant star in cyberspace. Created with Sharif Ezzat and Rachel Havrelock, MeTube, Yuri’s new sixty minute multimedia beatbox show, reflects on this exhilarating and strange experience by turning virtual reality into theatrical fantasy.
Yuri Lane is a world-renowned solo beatbox performer who combines beatbox, acting, mime and movement to tell a story. With his creative partner Sharif Ezzat and his wife Rachel Havrelock, Yuri created “From Tel Aviv to Ramallah,” a hip-hop play that tackles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “From Tel Aviv to Ramallah” had its world premiere at Theater J in Washington DC in 2003 where it was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for best new play. The show enjoyed runs in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Baltimore and Atlanta. It toured across the US at theaters, campuses and peace events. International venues include Helsinki, London and Jerusalem. Inspired by Yuri’s famous beatbox harmonica video, which garnered over 17 million views on YouTube, MeTube was previously seen in Chicago for two performances in partnership with the Chicago Humanities Festival as part of the Victory Gardens Fresh Squeezed Series. Click here to watch the videos behind the man.
MeTube opens Saturday, March 17. Performances will run through April 8, 2012, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. There will also be an industry night Monday, April 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. A limited number of $9 student rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.collaboraction.org or call 312.226.9633.
Artist Bio:
Yuri Lane was born on a small island in Holland. His parents, a painter and a violinist, soon moved to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district to ride the 70's counter-culture current. Raised in the Haight, Yuri learned rhythm by osmosis and began to breathe beats.
In the 80's, Yuri started breakdancing and teaching moves at middle school parties. He discovered his true passion in a sixth grade math class where Yuri made sounds to compensate for his lack of skill in arithmetic. When his teacher ordered him to "turn off the radio," Yuri knew that he was on to something. Yuri spent his teenage years on stage at theaters like San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theater while attending high school at the San Francisco School of the Arts. After finishing a theater degree at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Yuri returned to San Francisco to pursue mime, improvisation and alternative theatrical forms. During the dot-com boom, Yuri found himself as "the geek" in several local and national commercials as well as in TV episodes.
As San Francisco's boom went bust, Yuri returned to theater and began developing his one- man human beatbox musical, Soundtrack City. Yuri created Soundtrack City by performing one scene at a time at clubs, bars, coffee shops, and small theaters of San Francisco. The full- length production of Soundtrack City debuted in November 2001, with runs in San Francisco and New York in 2002 and a run in Chicago in 2005. Soundtrack City chronicled the transformation of urban neighborhoods during gentrification.
With his partner Sharif Ezzat and his wife Rachel Havrelock, Yuri created “the coolly extraordinary” From Tel Aviv to Ramallah, a hip-hop play that tackles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.1 From Tel Aviv to Ramallah steers clear of ideology in order to show the daily lives of young people during the Second Intifada. From Tel Aviv to Ramallah had its world premiere at Theater J in Washington DC in 2003, where it was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for best new play. The show enjoyed runs in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Baltimore and Atlanta. It toured across the US at theaters, campuses, and peace events. International venues include Helsinki, London and Jerusalem.
Beatbox Harmonica is Yuri’s extraordinary talent, which the world began to experience with the birth of YouTube. In fall 2007, his beatbox harmonica video became the number one video on YouTube. This led to live beatbox performances at Google parties around the world, several commercials and the formation of a YouTube community bound by beatbox.
When the economic crash led to a slowdown in sponsored appearances, Yuri began work on MeTube, a personal journey through the world of YouTube celebrity that confronts issues of authenticity, originality, and self-image through beatbox and live video performance. MeTube premiered at the Chicago Humanities Festival in spring 2010. Yuri hopes to touch just a fraction of his 15 million (but who’s counting) YouTube fans with a live show in real time. He is excited to bring,” MeTube” to Victory Gardens and be a part of the wonderful Fresh Squeezed series at VG!!! 1 Michael Phillips, “ ‘Beatbox Journey’ a clear-eyed look at Mideast issues,” Chicago Tribune, Dec. 2, 2004.
Sunday Opening (family friendly, 5+) Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Lifeline:
Wilbur (Nathaniel Niemi), a naked mole rat, indulges in his love of getting dressed; in Lifeline Theatre’s world premiere family musical, “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed,” adapted by Robert Kauzlaric, music by Paul Gilvary, and directed by Paul S. Holmquist, based on the popular children’s book by Mo Willems. Photo by Suzanne Plunkett.
WORLD PREMIERE CHILDREN’S PLAY NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED,
ADAPTATION OF POPULAR MO WILLEMS BOOK,
OPENS SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2012 AT 1 P.M. AT LIFELINE THEATRE
Lifeline produces much of our all time favorite kids' theatre in Chicago! Their book based adaptations and world premiers are incomparable. Our kids have grown up with Lifeline, and we've been enjoying their high caliber, world class shows for kids and adults for years. We'll be checking out opening day and we'll have a full review up soon.
Preview Performances: Saturday March 17 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, March 18 at 11 a.m.
New Stories Come Alive! Hour Workshops Every Sunday During the Run
Lifeline Theatre’s KidSeries presents a world premiere musical adaptation of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, based on the book by New York Times bestselling author Mo Willems (Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!). The production is adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric (two-time Non-Equity Jeff Award-winning adaptor), with music by Paul Gilvary, and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Paul S. Homquist (Non-Equity Jeff Award nominated director).
Unlike other naked mole rats, young Wilbur loves to wear clothes. By daring to defy social tradition, Wilbur makes life miserable for himself and his best friend. When the teasing and bullying at school get out of control, the pups take their case before Grand-pah: the greatest, wisest, and most naked naked mole rat ever. Will Grand-pah crush Wilbur’s self-expression, or open the door of acceptance to a misunderstood outsider? A heartwarming lesson on tolerance, in a world premiere musical adaptation for the whole family. This production is appropriate for children ages five and up, and runs approximately one hour with no intermission. The book will be on sale in the lobby.
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed runs Saturday, March 17 – Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Press opening is Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m. Regular performance times are Saturdays at 1 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Previews are Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, March 18 at 11 a.m.) Ticket prices are $15 and may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.
PLUS: Join Lifeline Theatre every Sunday at 12 p.m. during the run of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (following the 11 a.m. show, or before the 1 p.m. show) for our new Stories Come Alive! Hour. Children of all ages will get up close and personal with the book that inspired the play in an interactive storytelling session, followed by theatre games exploring the characters, plot, and themes of the play. The cost is only $10 per child. Parents are welcome, though not required. Contact the Lifeline Theatre Box Office at 773-761-4477 for more information.
Lifeline Theatre also offers “Name Your Price” tickets a half-hour before the show (subject to availability), group rates and other discounts available upon request. A party room is available for full-service birthday and special event parties. Free parking is available at the designated lot west of the theatre (NE corner of Morse and Ravenswood) with free shuttle service before and after the show. Street parking is also available and Lifeline Theatre is handicapped and CTA accessible (Red Line Morse stop/busses).
Also highly recommended Sunday:
12pm & 4pm CircEsteem Teen Circus--Toys Take Over (family friendly, all ages)
You won't want to miss Toys Take Over this Sunday March 18th and 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Toys Take Over is the third annual youth created, directed, and produced circus show presented by the CircusTeens. These young performers are part of CircEsteem's youth employment in the arts program that hires the most talented and skilled teens to teach, perform and mentor younger students. Collectively, they have performed hundreds of shows throughout the United States, Germany and Switzerland.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids and all of the profit will go directly to the performers. The CircusTeens are also collecting new toys to give to less fortunate kids right here in Chicago. Can't make it to the show but still want to support CircEsteem's teen performers? Forward this email to a friend or share it on Facebook.
Don't miss this great opportunity to support local, grassroots, youth created social circus in action. For more information, check outCircEsteem's main site, right here.
The Logan Theatre is celebrating it's grand reopening this Saturday 3/17/12 with an eclectic mix of movie favs and dollar deals on flicks, drinks, & that ubiquitous show staple, popcorn. Check out shows, times and details above.
Rumor has it, they ditched the lumpy, old chairs & the moldy smell and will be showing more art films in addition to new releases that have been out a short while already. Hope you don't raise the admission price too much for the new fancy schmancyness. We dig that you offered $3.00 shows all the time. Welcome back Logan. We've missed you.
Congrats to this week's theatre ticket winners. Lost & Found at The Actor's Gym is now completely sold out through the end of their run....but we still have 4 tickets today for one of our lucky readers!
Meg M.--4 tickets to (sold out) Lost & Found at Actor's Gym at 7:30pm THIS Friday night. Click here for full show details and links to ChiIL Live Shows' review.
Aviv H.--2 tickets to teen night at The North Plan at Theater Wit THIS Saturday night. Pre-party 7pm. Show at 8pm. Pizza and talk back with the actors after the show. Click here for ChiIL Live Shows' review and show details.
The North Plan is Jeff recommended, which complete a trifecta of
Jeff-y goodness, with all three shows currently at Theater Wit considered excellent by the hard-attending members of the committee!! Big congrats from ChiIL Live Shows. We saw The North Plan and Punk Rock and highly recommend both. Great stuff happening over at Theater Wit these days.
As always, check back with ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often. We have loads of great nationwide give aways and free Chicago concert and theatre tickets.
Friday, Mar 09, 2012 8:00 PM CST (8:00 PM Doors)
- Saturday, Mar 10, 2012 1:00 AM CST Ultra Lounge, Chicago, IL 21 years and over
BLACK TUSK Confirmed For Metallica's Orion Music + More Festival
North American Tour Kicks Off Today Savannah, Georgia's BLACK TUSK have confirmed that they will be appearing at the inaugural "Orion Music + More Festival" curated by Metallica. The festival will be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Bader Field on June 23rd and June 24th. BLACK TUSK will be playing on Saturday January 23rd. More information on the festival can be found on the official "Orion Music + More Festival" Website, Facebook Page and Twitter. "We are honored to play the first Orion Fest. Metallica has always been an influence for our band. This is yet another contribution they are making for music, not just metal," says BLACK TUSK drummer James May. BLACK TUSK are preparing to kick off an extensive North American tour starting today in Memphis, TN. This run will feature headlining tour dates with support coming from East of the Wall, label-mates Royal Thunder and Hull, plus a string of dates supporting Prong and select shows with Intronaut and Skeletonwitch in March. The band will also be appearing at this year's SXSW Festival in Austin, TX on March 14th. BLACK TUSK will perform at the Pitchfork Showcase, Metal Sucks Showcase and Converse Showcase. BLACK TUSK will be taking part in an exclusive in store signing event on March 19th in Hollywood, CA at 6:00 PM. The signing will take place at Sound Check Hollywood, which is located at 8872 Sunset Blvd. For more information visit: http://www.soundcheckhollywood.com/ The guys cannot wait to hit the road: "We're getting ready to put some miles on the van and have some good times playing shows and meeting new friends and seeing old ones! SXSW is going to be pretty awesome this year, we are doing three shows in one day and playing with some amazing bands and good friends. We are super stoked to get out to the west coast again and we will hopefully see y'all at the shows!" Following the North America dates, BLACK TUSK will be heading over to Europe providing direct support to label mates RED FANG The tour will kick off April 5th in Segrate, Italy and wraps up on May 5th in Essen, Germany. A teaser video for the tour can be viewed HERE. A complete list of dates can be found below. BLACK TUSK is currently streaming Set The Dial at this location. The album is available for purchase via Relapse.com here and iTunes here. BLACK TUSK is available for interviews upon request. To speak with the band, please contact the relevant publicity contact listed below. Updated BLACK TUSK news and tour information will be made available at the Relapse Records website and BLACK TUSK Facebook page. BLACK TUSK Tour Dates: WITH ROYAL THUNDER, EAST OF THE WALL, HULL 3/8: Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone 3/9: Chicago, IL @ Ultra Lounge 3/10: Detroit, MI @ I ROCK 3/11: Portage, IN Camelot Arean 3/12: St Louis, MO @ Fubar 3/13: Fayetteville, AR @ Stone Pony SXSW 3/14: Austin, TX @ ND Venue (Pitchfork / Show No Mercy SXSW Showcase) 3/14: Austin, TX @ Metalsucks SXSW Showcase 3/14: Austin, TX @ Converse SXSW Showcase WITH INTRONAUT AND EAST OF THE WALL 3/16: Scottsdale, AZ @ Chaser's 3/17: Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 3/19: West Hollywood, CA @ The Whiskey WITH PRONG 3/21: San Diego, CA @ Ruby Room 3/22: West Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room 3/23: Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS 3/24: Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse 3/25: Fresno, CA @ Starline 3/26: Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar WITH EAST OF THE WALL 3/27: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 3/28: Portland, OR @ Rotture 3/29: Tacoma, WA @ Hell's Kitchen 3/30: Seattle, WA @ Highline 3/31: Boise, ID @ The Venue 4/1: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court 4/2: Englewood, CO @ Moe's 4/3: Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room EUROPEAN TOUR W/ RED FANG 4/5: Segrate, Italy (MI) @ Magnolia 4/6: Roma, Italy @ Traffic 4/7: Montecchio Maggiore, Italy (VI) @ E20 Underground 4/8: Bulle, Switzerland @ Ebullition 4/9: Lyon, France @ TBA 4/10: Nantes, France @ Le Ferrailleur 4/11: Paris, France @ Les Combustibles 4/12: Tilburg, Holland @ Roadburn Festival 4/13: Torhout, Belgium @ Club de B 4/14: Marbehan , Belgium @ Bois Des Isles 4/15: Southampton, UK @ Joiners 4/16: Manchester, UK @ Star and Garter 4/17:Wrexham, UK @ Central Station 4/18: London, UK @ Underworld 4/19: Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje 4/20: Leeuwarden, Netherlands @ Asteriks 4/21: Berlin, Germany @ Desertfest 4/24: Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia 4/26: Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang 4/27: Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof 4/28: Winterthur, Schweiz @ Gaswerk 4/29: Salzburg, Austria @ Rockhouse Bar 4/30: Bozen, Italy @ Halle 28 5/1: Wien, Austria @ Arena 5/2: München, Germany @ Feierwerk 5/3: Wroclaw, Poland @ Asymetry Festival 5/4: Kiel, Germany @ Schaubude 5/5: Essen, Germany @ Cafe Nova "Orion Music All That Music and More Festival /23: Atlantic City, NJ Bader Field
HEY ROSETTA WITH GOMEZ
CHICAGO-THE VIC-THIS FRIDAY 3/9
Hey Rosetta! To Release Seeds Deluxe LP on ATO Records May 1, 2012
National Tour with Gomez / Confirmed Festival Performances at Sasquatch and The Hangout
Press
“The band has won multiple awards, including album of the year in Canada; but that's not what attracted me to Hey Rosetta. For me, it was the joy in the songs...I'm a bit of a sucker for a mandolin and a kick drum." - Bob Boilen (NPR)
“Top 5 bands to watch from Canada” - Billboard
“2011 Top 5 bands to see at SXSW” - Paste
Spring 2012 US Tour Dates
3/01 - Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre*
3/02 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up Aspen*
3/03 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece
3/05 - Madison - Frequency
3/06 - Minneapolis, MN- Fine Line Music Cafe*
3/07 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater*
3/08 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall*
3/09 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre*
3/11 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom*
3/12 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club*
3/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts*
3/15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*
3/16 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater*
3/17 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel*
3/20 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl*
* with Gomez
Tracklisting for 'Seeds' LP out May 1
01) Seeds
02) Yer Spring
03) Young Glass
04) Bricks
05) New Sum (Nous Sommes)
06) Downstairs
07) Welcome
08) Seventeen
09) Yer Fall
10) Parson Brown (Upirngaangutuq Iqalunni)
11) Bandages
12) Seventeen (Acoustic) - Bonus Track
13) Welcome (Acoustic) - Bonus Track
14) Young Glass (Acoustic) - Bonus Track
Recently nominated alongside Arcade Fire for Polaris Music Prize (Best Canadian Album), as well as the Juno Award for Best New Group of the Year, Hey Rosetta! hails from the rocky and cold northeastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In 2005, Tim Baker arrived home from a road trip with a suitcase full of poems and melodies. Hey Rosetta! formed soon after with the addition of a string section (cellist Romesh Thavanathan and violinist Kinley Dowling) and rhythm section (bassist Josh Ward, drummer Phil Maloney and guitarist Adam Hogan). Since then, they’ve blossomed into a powerful group whose explosive live shows have earned them a devoted following.
The band’s new album, Seeds, was produced by Tony Doogan (Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai, Wintersleep) and reveals a maturing lyrical depth and an adventurous musical atmosphere rooted to the band’s passion for epic musical experiences. Seeds was initially released in Canada last year to widespread critical acclaim. Hey Rosetta! has recently signed to ATO Records, who will be releasing a deluxe edition of Seeds in the US on May 1, 2012.
The band recently recorded several selections from the album while on tour in Australia at the famed Sing Sing Studios for exclusive bonus content on the LP. The four acoustic tracks capture intimate performances that feature lush arrangements, which showcase Baker's exception songwriting and vocal talents.
It was while recording 2008’s breakthrough album Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood) that Tim Baker began to fully realize his remarkable vocal and lyrical abilities, and the band made a huge creative leap forward. They spent nearly three years on the road, touring in support of Into Your Lungs and were named one of Billboard's Top 5 Canadian acts to watch. The album garnered a slew of awards and critical accolades, and was again short-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.
While touring in support of Into Your Lungs, the concept of Seeds was born. “The title track, 'Seeds,' came about while out on the highway a few years ago,” muses Baker. “In a way, it's about what our lives had become, and how we’re like seeds that float around into different fields and cities, bringing something and trying to build something for the people that come to see us.”
The group spent time developing the sonic landscapes found on Seeds, while maintaining a very full touring schedule that took them to Australia, China, Europe, the US and on numerous tours of Canada (including a tour of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut). The band holed up in Newfoundland to work on the songs before traveling to Halifax, Nova Scotia to record with Tony Doogan at The Sonic Temple (where they had tracked Into Your Lungs).
“Tony was really incredible at getting all the sounds and tones we'd dreamt up. He’s an amazing engineer and for all his Scottish bluster and pop-rock dogma, he is very sensitive, patient, and a gifted producer,” says Baker (who wrote all of the songs except “Downstairs”, “Young Glass”, and “Seeds” which he co-wrote with guitarist Adam Hogan).
Thematically, Seeds touches on themes ranging from depression to procreation. “Young Glass” was written after reading J.D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey. Baker explains: “It’s sort of directed at the novel’s main character, Franny. It describes a sleepwalking scene that didn't actually occur in the book, but one that I imagined. We spent a lot of time flying and sleeping on planes and in airports, and I was always finding myself in half-waking states, feeling, as one does, all alone somewhere between dream and reality. When I’d wake up, I was always surrounded by people going about their business. I like that; a sort of evidence that even when we think we are completely alone, we are not. So I wrote Franny, a character who is plagued by such thoughts, a song about it… but it's really about everyone.”
Not surprisingly, a few of the songs on Seeds were inspired by the band’s itinerant lifestyle. Baker offers further reflection on the album’s title track: “Appropriately, it’s about the power of the road trip; escape, rebirth through movement…and the rare moments of escape and empowerment you get while highwaying yourself from town to town.”
“Seventeen” takes its title from “the never-ending, wild, woody highway 17 that runs across northern Ontario,” but the lyrics reveal something much more personal: “It's a song about being between childhood and adulthood, between the east and west coasts of the country, and just being caught between things in general…but it's not really a song of despair. It's also about being at a crossroads, not missing the past or stressing about the future, just being present, in the in-between, and the freedom of that.”
Hope is another of the album’s recurring themes: the first single “Welcome” was written for some close friends of Baker’s who were about to become parents. “I wrote a song for the little soon-to-be, who is now an 18 month old girl named Madeleine; healthy and beautiful, just like her parents. I was just sitting with them, talking to the unborn baby in a sort of cynical, joking way. You know, like ‘stay in there as long as you can, kid. Sorry, but it's a mess out here...’ and so on. Later, alone, I was thinking about what it means to bring new life into the world: how it's sort of sad, but also so hopeful and kind of religious.
The album closes on a sweetly optimistic note, with “Bandages” reminding us that even when things seem hopeless, “the winter always ends.”
