1. Open this on one tab
2. Open this on a seperate tab
3. On a third tab, open this and press "play"


You can thank me later ;)

aka the song you're NOT ALLOWED TO FUCK UP.

This video here reminded me of the time Kate and I fucked up the national anthem in front of 3,000+ people...

We were asked by a friend to sing at our local AAA baseball division's game. I figured "shit, little girls all of the fucking world do this all the time, why can't I?"

Our slip wasn't as obvious. Actually, I don't think anyone noticed, but then again, I don't remember it at all. For weeks, Kate and I practice the harmonies, trying it in different keys (we settled on A, which is the most common key for the anthem). We had agreed that for the parts Katie wasn't singing, she would be mouthing the words JUST INCASE The day started with a FUCKING 6am SOUND CHECK. Guess what the Lancaster Barnstormers don't have? Wireless microphones and common sense. I arrived at 6am, waited in the press booth (which WAS nifty) and by 8:30, I had to leave.

We started out with two originals...which are easy. We're allowed to fuck up our originals. If I sing the words wrong to "Lucy" it won't show up on youtube with 2.5 million hits. Besides, performing to 3,000 people is easy when only 2990 are listening....and then...they put the fucking camera in our faces....we were on the fucking jumbo-tron. The guy holding the camera was an old friend of mine. We worked on a movie set a few years back, and I found slight comfort in the fact that my old chum Eddie was the one putting us onto a 15 foot television screen.

The plan was to start out by strumming an A-chord, so that Kate and I had the pitches correct...the rest would be acapella. Well, I didn't strum the A, although I suspect we were still close. By now Kate and I had both figuratively pooped our pants, I'm two lines in, Katie gives her shot at a harmony and bails out after a line, she also forgets to mime the words...my safety net has disappeared. About this point I pretty much black out. I can't remember anything, I think instinct took over because there WERE words coming out of my mouth, but I wasn't sure if then next word was going to be "twilight's" or "blehamahejahblahblahblah." I do however remember mumbling at least a few words with a feeling that a shotgun might go off if I didn't say the correct word.

At the end of everything, what always happens happend. They shouted "play ball," people clapped and the amatuer Randy Jacksons in the audience leaned over to their friends and said "eh...a little pitchy"

Kate and I left immediately. If I was asked tomorrow to sing the national anthem at the super bowl, I would, without a doubt, say no. I've spent countless....minutes? on youtube watching these "National Anthem Fails" and it makes me cringe...so painful...three octaves of pain...

-a.
p.s. fuck Christina Aguilera
p.s.s. Rosie O'Donnell's rendition of the National Anthem is horribly disgraceful, but probably one of the ballsiest things ever. I give her giant props for her...unique protest...

I sat down with a friend today; he's booking a new venue, wanted to see if we wanted to play some shows there. Somewhere towards the end of the conversation we got to talking about a subject near and dear to me -- the difference between being a "singer/songwriter" and being a "band"

I started this all when I was 15, I didn't have the hindsight I have now. If I did, I would've given my "project" a name, or used a stage name. I didn't realize the pitfalls in using my own name. I've caught a LOT of flack in the past. People telling me "Using your own name is egotistical" "The music shouldn't be about YOU" and etc. For that, I give them this illustration...

You walk into a pizza shop, it's called Tony's. It's almost ludicrous to scoff "Why is the pizza shop named Tony's? Tony is an egotist. Tony wants the pizza to be about him. Why doesn't Tony credit the chefs or the employees too?" Not true. It's simply Tony's pizza shop. I didn't call my musical endeavors "Adam Taylor" because I'm a narcissist. I called it Adam Taylor because it all started with me and my guitar in a bedroom...and the name my parents give me...when I was nearly a BABY. You wouldn't crucify Tony for following his dreams. Why is it any different to scoff at my "band name" ? We are both businesses aren't we?

The other paradigm shift is really HOW people perceive your music when it's given a name. I think "Bright Eyes" vs "Conor Oberst" is a good example to give. When you pay 15 dollars to see a band, you're going to see a CONCEPT. When you pay 15 dollars to see a singer/songwriter, you're paying 15 dollars to see a person...and one doesn't feel the same as the other (at least on the independent level that I'm on).

I guess what I'm trying to say is...when I was a 15 year old kid in my bedroom. I didn't realize how bold of a decision it was to use my own name...how much it would actually subject me to personal criticism. If you say..."I HATE Bright Eyes" you are saying "I HATE their music," but when you say..."I HATE Conor Oberst," well...you get the idea. I never expect ANYONE to like my music.

I think there is an idea floating around Lancaster that I'm not the person I really am, and that sometimes saddens me, but I find comfort in this quote, which I'm sure I'm misquoting...

"Have a personality. If no one hates you for what you're doing, you're probably doing something wrong" -Seth Godin.

Thank you for taking this risk with me.
-a.

1.) How has Dr. Dre influenced you?

Dre. has a knack for putting things in their right place, I really admire his simplicity. His work ethic is also amazing...the vocal doubles on a lot of his stuff are incredibly tight. Chronic 2001 is a record that never leaves my car. What I like about that record is that...it's...an adventure. It's entertaining beyond just "songs" you know? There's "scenes" and "sketches" that help make the record more entertaining...and it IS the entertainment business

2.) How do you prepare yourself for a show?

It's always a cycle of "I don't want to do this" "okay, I have to do this" "I'm doing this" "I'm so glad I did this" "I don't want to do it tomorrow" and I don't know why....it's not NERVES, I don't get NERVOUS, I think it's maybe just pressure, but I'm working on that...putting less pressure on myself and...having more fun. I like a jump around back stage, I feel like it calms my mind. Oh, also....Jameson.

3.) What are you currently listening to?

Morphine "The Night"
Girl Talk "All Day"
Tom Waits "Blood Money"
Gorillaz "Gorillaz"

to name a few...

4.) What junk food do you crave on the road?

McDonalds, 1/4 pounder, only cheese, root beer to drink...first window....have a nice day...

5.) Have you noticed any positives or negatives to having an eclectic style?

Positives- our FANS are eclectic. Negatives- we turn off a lot of people with closed minds....wait, that's a positive too...

6.) What influences your songwriting?

Other great songs! And driving!

There is a proper way to bum a cigarette--scientific, if you will. I know many of you smoke, and, don't start, but in case you ever do, I'm going to teach how not to be that jackass.

A.) Greet the person and awknowledge that you're temporarily going to be a jackass. No one will want to give you a cigarette if you act entitled to it. Say "Hey [dude] I'm really sorry but..." They know what's coming, but it's best to be kind. Remember, you don't want them to feel bad, you want them to feel good for the generous act of charity they just made.