THEBAKERFAMILY

See you this Friday

2012-01-16T19:13:00.000-08:00

Lost my mind somewhere close to Waco. I pulled over to the side of the road to pull my thoughts together. The night was empty of light and the dry air of Texas felt foreign. Winter in Texas is a dead, dead place. Well, not all of Texas, as I’ve never been to San Antonio, and I hear that’s a lovely town if you stay close to the main drag. I wanted something violent to happen. I wanted my car to explode just to give me a break from the radio. I wanted to leave the world and enter another world. Just then, a cop pulled up and asked me if I was feeling okay. I shooed him away after he checked the car for bombs and drugs. I don’t do either. I switched on the engine and heard on the radio that the Baker Family is playing at Lamberts this Friday at 9:30pm. Austin was just a mere three hours away. Might as well. Won’t you?

Free Week is Happening!!!

2011-12-31T14:56:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate the New Year with us!

We are so excited about Free Week 2012!

We're kicking it off Sunday, Jan 1 at CLUB DEVILLE (900 Red River)
w/ Seth Sherman. 10pm

Thursday, Jan 5th: BEAUTY BAR (617 E. 7th St)
w/ The Mole People, The Couch, The Nouns, The NYC Queens. 10pm

Friday, Jan 6th: FRANK (4th & Colorado)
w/ The Soldier Thread, Stereo is a lie, December Boys. 10pm

Saturday, Jan 7th: ND at 501 Studios (E. 5th & Brushy)
w/ Salesman, Whalers, The Saddle. 10pm

Guess how much it cost? NO MONIES!! All shows are FREE y'all, get it?

It will be a panda-lovin, rice krispy treat-filled week of fancy fun!

See what Morgan Freeman says...

We love you and can't wait to see you next week!

The Baker Family

Ready for some exciting news?

2011-12-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

The Baker Family and mr. Gnome are joining together for 3 nights of mind-blowing awesomeness, and you're invited!

Our friends from Cleveland, mr. Gnome, are on tour for their new album, Madness in Miniature, which was just reviewed on Rolling Stone! The album is amazing, but their live performance is even more amazing. You won't want to miss it!

We get the wiggle-pants just thinking about how fun this will be.

FUN NIGHT #1:
Wednesday, Dec 7th @ Lola's in Fort Worth
Doors: 8pm. Show: 9pm. ALL AGES!
$7 advance tix, $10 door

FUN NIGHT #2:
Thursday, Dec 8th @ Emo's in downtown Austin
Doors: 9pm. Show: 10pm. ALL AGES!
$8

FUN NIGHT #3:
Friday, Dec 9th @ Rudyard's in Houston
21+

Okay wait, we have MORE exciting news!

In celebration of these shows (and because we love you):
We are releasing some NEW TRACKS on a fancy little compact disc especially for your listening pleasure! But you have to come to a show to get one!

DANG! Super sexy news, I know.

See you guys next week!
Hugs and Kisses,
The Baker Family

Let's Keep This Party Going Forever

2011-11-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Thanks for making our residency at Hole in the Wall SO AWESOME THAT IT CONTINUES INTO NOVEMBER! Yes. That's real. Come down to Hole in the Wall every Thursday in November for those whiskey specials and special songs.

If SOMEHOW, you've missed the last month, here is a little taste of what you're missing out on:

The Baker Family from James Goulden on Vimeo.

On Friday, we're playing at FRANK! We can't wait to get crazy on some hot dogs!!!!!

We love you and we can't wait to see you but don't jaywalk to our shows because you never know when a cop is going to pull you over and write you a 97 dollar ticket for it.

Holla!
Baker Family

Our Love For You Grows Deeper Each Moment

2011-10-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

Lovers,
Obviously, we love you. And we're happy to announce our October Residency at Hole In The Wall! Thanks to everyone who came out for the first one w/ Mobley and SuperLiteBike. What a hoot of a night!
Don't miss the next one!

Thursday, Oct 20th:
9pm: This Holy House
10pm: The Blackwells
11pm: Baker Family
12am: Conquistador Inc.

Thursday, Oct 27th:
10pm: Hello Wheels
11pm: Baker Family
12am: Dark Water Hymnal

Shows are $3
Hole In The Wall: 2538 Guadalupe St

Check out the flyer designed by our friend, Josh! (joshrow.com)

All our love,
The Bakers

DITCH THE FEST FEST

2011-09-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to The Parish on the 3rd benefitting $2 shows! We are filled with joy when we see your lovely faces and your dancin' feet!
Check out some fun photos from the evening!

We are playing Ditch the Fest Fest tomorrow for all you non-ACL goers! Here's a plus: It's only $2!
That's $183 less than $185!!
We play at Scoot Inn at 7:40pm.
Watch a little sneak peak video below of the special night!

We'll see you tomorrow!
We love you,
The Baker Family

ENDLESS SUMMER

2011-08-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Whew! It has been a super fun hot sweaty beautiful endless summer, and we are so glad we decided to stay at home here in Austin, drinking (water) and playing (music.)

This week we have two great shows lined up: Tuesday 8/30 at Scoot Inn for The Whiskey Shivers' CD release. You should check out the video for their new single. It's pretty creepy! Come at 9pm; we play at 10!

On Saturday 9/3 come to The Parish for a WHOLE DAY OF MUSIC benefitting $2 Shows. The festival starts at 1pm, but be sure to save your energy because we play at 8:45!

See you toms!

The Baker Family

Bananniversary Weekend!

2011-06-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend is Stu and Liz's 5 year wedding anniversary! In the spirit of unity, we have 3 special shows to celebrate the occasion:

FRIDAY: at Mohawk (912 Red River) w/ Dark Water Hymnal, My Golden Calf, and Paris Falls. All Ages. 10pm. $6. We will have some Family friends on stage playing a few songs with us!
Facebook event

SATURDAY: Texas Roller Derby! Holy Rollers vs. Hellcats vs. Baker Family! We won't be skating, but we'll be playing! Doors at 6, bout at 7. Palmer Events Center. Come watch the legendary Lonestar Rollergirls get in a fight with Nathan! It could happen.
Info and Tickets

SUNDAY: at Beauty Bar (617 E 7th St) w/ A House A Home. It's their monthly Sunday's Best which means not only bands, but a DJ, vintage vendors, artists, etc. and drink specials! 10pm. FREE!

So you know what this means, right? Lots of dancing! James Brown knew we all need help in this area, so here is an instructional video to help you all get ready for the weekend of fun and adventure:

Get down with James Brown!

We love you,
Baker Family

Johnnie Cochran

2011-05-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

DONT LET IT HAPPEN TWICE!

My Johnnie killed
His brainwaves stilled-
Silenced in the night

A verse sewn shut by the ring of a bell
It's done, it's finished

MR FEST

2011-04-20T09:53:00.001-07:00

Baker Family is performing in Mr Fest on April 30 at Tantra (217 West Hopkins Street, San Marcos, TX) at 12pm (that's in the day kiddos).
Maybe we can all carpool and float the river afterwards.

Recording is coming along. New single to be released asap.

NXNC TODAY!

2011-03-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Today, Saturday March 12:
FREE BEER, free show @ 7612 Northcrest Blvd. Austin TX 78752

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

I post it up just like a player do

2011-02-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

After 20 hours on the road, we arrived back in Austin with nourished hearts and weary bodies... 2 more bodies than before, actually; We kidnapped Page and Zach to come swim in our pool and play some Settlers of Catan.

Our 3 shows in North Carolina were wonderful. We feel very loved.

Click here for some fun photos from our Grey Eagle show in Asheville:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fsamuels/sets/72157626099515878/with/5464025866/
(photos by Forrest Samuels)

Thank you everybody for coming out and dancing with us!

Coming to NC THIS WEEK!

2011-02-13T23:48:00.001-08:00

Show in Asheville this Sat. Feb. 19!!!

We'll be coming back home to North Carolina this week.

1) Raleigh this Thursday, Feb. 17 @ Deep South w/ I Was Totally Destroying It and J Kutchma (From Red Collar)

2) Winston Salem this Friday, Feb. 18 @ The Werehouse w/ some kind of Old Folk(s) and J Kutchma (From Red Collar)

3) Asheville: Saturday Feb 19 @ Grey Eagle w/ Jonh Wilkes Boothe and the BlackToothe, and Doc Aquatic
myspace.com/johnwilkesbootheandtheblacktoothe
myspace.com/docaquatic

All our friends and family and loved ones, we impatiently await it you know. Something to watch in the meantime:

Emmylou!

2011-01-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Emmylou and Mr. Baker share the morning over a song and some timothy hay

2011-01-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

click for Facebook event for Baker Family's show at Emos this Monday

2010-12-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Chrimbus Everybody!

We'll be seeing you soon.

N

easy with that gun

2010-12-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

nine stories

1 two magnanimous shows with mr. Gnome the other week. had a great time with all them who came out in Dallas and Austin.

2 Zechariah sing sing sing. mr. Baker lost his voice in Dallas, didn't speak all day in Austin, couldn't sing during the soundcheck at Ace's, and was given enough of his voice back to belt a set of songs in preparation for mr. Gnome.

3 and that cookout in Dallas...thanks Joey for hosting, grilling, and burning in the backyard. thanks John for the beer. thanks Michael for the bed.

4 John Digital's play at TCC Northwest campus , "The Nerd," a hit man, a hit. Brother can act, brother plays the Nerd too. running through the weekend too yall in Panther City.

5 Baker shows in Austin Dec. & Jan.

6 mr. Baker working on tour documentary (tbReleased in the [ ] future)

7 mr. and mrs. Baker moving to a new place Jan. 1

8 trying harder to listen to the wiser the older the truer at heart

9 coming to Asheville in February

*photos by Joe Haubert http://www.facebook.com/#!/joseph.haubert

Legion is Pregnant

2010-11-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

We have some interesting new developments
Horse & Whales is comin' back home with some new boots, and Legion has some kind of growth... not sure yet if it's a fetus or a tumor. Can we show you?
After you get your annual fill of Tryptophan, come on out to Emo's for a birthday show!
Friday, Nov 26th: Northern Paradox birthday bash
w/ Muchos Backflips!
The Baker Family
Northern Paradox
Whalers
9pm @ Emo's (603 Red River) Huzzzah!

Here's a little tasty somethin from tour:
Hallelujah in NJ

And LOOK! We made album of the month thanks to Dr. Elliot and Mosquitohead!
You can even get a special gift from the Doctor himself!

We are so thankful for friends like you,
Mama Baker

Dec 2 in Dallas w/ mr Gnome

2010-11-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

The Baker Family has 12 open spaces to shuttle folks for free to Dallas for mr Gnome and Baker Family show at Doublewide! There will be a pre-show grillout with free food and beer, and we'll return after the show that night (so you can make it to work on Fri!).

The show is 21+
We leave Austin at 2pm
Pre-show party around 5pm or 6pm

The ride, food, and beer are all free! Space is limited, so lock your spot in quick...

Contact thebakerfamilyband@gmail.com to secure a spot

	mrgnome.com bakerfamilymusic.com double-wide.com

I Choose You!

2010-10-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks!

The Baker Family is on the listening station at Waterloo Records for this month!
And a short description of Old Civilizations Put To The Sword was featured in the Austin Chronicle last week!
CLICK HERE TO SEE

We had some lovely shows these two weeks past! Thanks to everyone who came out and loved on us in Fort Worth and San Antonio!

Check it out:
thebakerfamily.bandcamp.com
You can listen to our stuff for $free.99

Hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween! Pikachu and Bulbasaur did!

new direction

2010-10-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

A miss is as good as a mile

2010-09-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

where are my shoes friends?

2010-07-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

Liz, Ben, and I swam in a shady lagoon surrounded by trees with faces, who's roots were the ground and who's roots were heads and mouths and arms
the roots were in the water and as I floated on my back every time I blinked I was reset
I kicked and pulled slowly on my back and every time I blinked the tree branches above me darted back a few feet and I wasn't moving across the water
the water was cold and the heat in the air was killing us
we sat on white rocks that looked and moved and were elephants in Dumbo
the sky was almost solid light from stars
coyotes or dogs sang to the moon
a raccoon greeted Liz
without a computer, Liz and I had chat roulette and said hello to some others who we knew knew us and who knew we were waving
I spilled beer from my mouth and drank with the ground. Liz spilled beer from her mouth onto the star patched on her shirt and we all drank and sang
We were overheating in the dark and started the car which was a spaceship when we stared at the dashboard and sat with Tom Waits as he told us jokes
then the car was a car and we laid in the tent but didn't sleep
we called Nathan and he found a waffle house online and we packed up camp at two am and put out the fire and drove to waffle house and met Nathan and he's going to live with me and Liz in our house that has a washing machine now and a clothesline but no trees or dirt hills or white rocks or raccoons

2010-07-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

We stayed in New Orleans a couple days. The kind folks from Giant Cloud put us up and hooked up a show at the Circle Bar. Hunter S Thompson used to drink there.
Tonight we're in Lafayette.

But a few days ago we were in North Carolina. Thanks all yall for coming out to the shows in Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Winston Salem, and Asheville. And thanks to all yall at the Grey Eagle, Werehouse, Soapbox, and Local 506--bands and venues.

Got written up about in the Mountain Xpress :
its like we're playing a ouija board

And back in Austin tomorrow, where we have a show on Saturday at the Hole in the Wall.
myspace.com/thebakersnc

I'm Ben, he's Ben, we're all Ben.

2010-07-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

We camped in Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham Alabama after our show was canceled.
I woke up to a rustling sound just outside the tent and quietly peered out the screen window. A squirrel was sitting by our campfire, munching away at Darryl's bag of barbecue potato chips.

Ben met his doppelganger at the Longbranch Saloon in Knoxville, TN.

The lovely and hospitable folks from Giant Cloud found us a show here in New Orleans at the Circle Bar tonight!

We will be home in two days.

Liz

Rivet Braille

2010-06-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

Detroit wheel-snatch:

1. Loosen all the lugnuts. Let them drop to the sidewalk.
2. Walk away. If you have to run, do not go on to step #3.
3. Two of your friends pull up in their truck. They put a jack under the lug-lacking frame.
4. Throw the wheels in the car.
5. Drive away.
6. Call your friend with the crack cocaine

Jack White once had his nuts removed outside the bar we played, the Lager House. He went out to his car sometime between steps 2 and 3, missed the twenty shimmering signs telling him not to drive, and sank right to the ground.

The GM building is creepy. The Mordor of urban America. We all saw Canada for the first time, about a mile across a straight. The band after us at the Lager House had a banjo, fiddle, double bass, guitar, and saw. They played an acoustic show standing in a semi-circle on the floor. It rocked harder than anything I've seen on this tour. The crowd completed their circle, and everyone in the band sang. I should write their band name here...don't think I ever knew it.

Detroit gave way to Cleveland, which gave way to Mr. Gnome's country home. Sam and Nicole let us make some half-drunken noise in their practice space, then shared Youtube videos with us.

The Cleveland show was a blast. Pat's in the Flats was, as it turns out, in the Flats. It seemed to be the only populated building in sight...but a surprising number of people knew where it was. It has a long (one of the longest) histories with punk rock in Cleveland.

In Pittsburgh I got to see my best friend from college. We sat by the river for a few hours, just like we used to in Chicago. The Lava Lounge show was awesome, and we stayed with Nicole and Morgan who live above their pet grooming shop.

Jersey was the 12th show of our 13-night run. The next night, we lugged all our gear down a narrow staircase in the lower east side of Manhattan. We were beat before the show even started. Somehow we still played a good show (we're told). Owen gave us some vital energy.

We relaxed in New York City for two more days, thanks to Andrew and his roomates who let us stay for three nights. Now we descend the East Coast. Our show in Red Bank (NJ) last night was, as crowd response goes, our most successful yet. Spirits are high, and Ben is putting us up yet again in his beach-side apartment. See you in Philly

-Ben

Find the Family

2010-06-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

Where's the Bakers?

Darryl sighs in satisfaction after a meal in Chinatown

CPD recruits lions.

in a Milwaukee park by the woods by the lake

by the lake

In Madison
we met a young man named Cory,
who--with us--experienced listening to Radiohead,
and eating a tamale for the first time.
he chose a pokemon card from Darryl

at the venue, the trailer got stuck in a narrow alley,
but Ben worked it out with his trailer wizardry.
And all the people danced...
It was a cold night

Liz asked me before the show if I could grab the box of shirts.
they wouldn't be there
Ben and I checked
they weren't
Saint Louis mailed them to Cleveland today - - where we will meet the shirts on Wednesday

Madison and Chicago were awesome. Way beyond our expectations. A girl we met in Chicago, Ki, recorded our show at the Dark Room. The recordings actually didn't bum us out...so we're posting a few of them soon.

The Melody Inn is tonight, a venue we've played and look forward to re-playing.

poison ivy arms

2010-06-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

while shuffling 40 ft. off the ground,
we contracted the oils
that birthed the itching boils
that plague us

yall,
We just completed the first week of our Summer tour
7 shows already past

We started it off with Dallas and Denton and had a ball and a biscuit hanging out with the Sneed clan

Darryl spent his first day ever out of the great state of Texas in Little Rock, Arkansas, where we played White Water Tavern - - food, drinks, and poison ivy. Ben, Stuart, and Darryl climbed an abandoned bridge right outside the venue and rubbed up against some nasty nasty and spread it to the rest of the band.

then to Kansas City where we stayed with Jared, Heather, and Sprocket. thanks for the hospitality yall.

then St. Louis

then Milwaukee. packed show at the Y Not III. Nathan wants to move here.

Madison tonight.

Thanks everyone who's put us up so far - - friends and new friends

2010-05-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

We reached our goal on Kickstarter! Thanks so much too all those who donated. We couldn't be doing what we're doing without the support of all of our friends and family, and your support is overwhelming.

Check out our tour dates and come see us play!

We love you all.

N

kickstarter

2010-03-24T07:48:00.002-07:00

Our new video...

http://kck.st/dwCQlz

Thanks for everyone who's helped out so far!

You're Important to the World,

Mamma Liz Baker

GZA Bill Murray PCP

2010-03-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

Liz's Kill

I found my body on your bedroom floor
knowing that no one looks there anymore
you don't go to sleep
without me at your feet

I found a body underneath your bed
i heard it speak and he became my friend
he said my reputation's bleak
still you comfort me

Now I'm hiding here the sweat runs hot
i collect my enemies but you are not
we'll lead them into song
the gas will fill their lungs

A quiet darkness ashamed our hearts
leading us into the silent parts
of all your memories
will leave you in your sleep

bbb

2010-03-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

want to know what WE'VE been reading?????????????????????????

2010-02-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

Salem lake was frozen when Ben, Liz, and I got there. We found a shaded area and walked out. The three of us stood in the same place and jumped and stomped as hard as we could. The ice cracked but didn't break. A few seconds later we heard the crazy sound of ice shifting all across the lake. We stood on frozen lakes in Asheville and in Kernersville. Liz and I visited my parent's new house in Wilmington, NC and drove to spend some time in our old towns too. Yum Yums.
It only serves hotdogs and icecream.
The dogs melt in your mouth (I order one ketchup, chili, and slaw,
and one ketchup, chili, slaw, and cheese),
and so does the ice cream.
It's in Greensboro.
My dad would take Sam and me there after music lessons

ham on rye

2010-01-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

A new decade on planet earth for The Baker Family.
2009 was a good year:
1)Released our newest album, Old Civilizations Put To The Sword
2)Embarked on our first tour. 6 weeks on the road - seeing new places, meeting new people, knitting our hearts together through music.
3)Escaped the mountains, took shelter in the desert with the bats - The Family now living in Austin, TX.
4)Expanding The Family - met our new drummer, Darryl Baker.

Our good friends from Asheville, John Wilkes Boothe and the Black Toothe came to Austin and played a show with us at Hole In The Wall. We love you Myles and Ben!

We also had a wonderful show in San Antonio last month at Limelight with The Blowing Trees and Tongue Tied Lightning. We hope to play many more shows in San Antonio. ***Thanks to Sarah Gonzalez for all the awesome photos!

Make a joyful noise,
Mama Baker

2009-10-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

There's a bear at the tent looking for something to eat

thing to eat thing to eat

He will lay next to you tell you lots of dirty things

dirty things dirty things dirty things

You woke up next to him not knowing what had happened

had happened had happened

Here's a church here's a mall here's a fire for them all

for them all for them all for them all

in the fire in the dirt hold it here and make it hurt

make it hurt make it hurt make it hurt make it hurt

here drummer drummer drummer

we arranged the pixies "gigantic" on drum machine and keyboards. liz will sing it at our show this Friday (oct. 30th)

we'll debut another new song: "bear bear"

at back alley social 303 w 5th st austin tx baker family at 10pm mobley at 11pm

also putting a show together in asheville in january with john wilkes boothe and the black toothe and now you see them

2009-07-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

Stu and I are living in Austin, TX now and we love it here. I am eager for The Baker Family to start playing shows again. Nathan will join us in Austin in a few weeks.

Our last show of the tour was at The Werehouse in Winston Salem on June 27th. Old Folks opened the show up, followed by us, then Joe Next Door played last. We had a great turn out of over 120 people.

More to write soon,

Liz Baker

Back in the South

2009-06-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

two more shows on this tour. i'm at the beach with Liz, my father, my mother, and my brother. Nathan is in Chapel Hill, David is in Asheville, and Ben's in Kernersville.

Friday: show in Chapel Hill at Nightlight. 9:30pm
Saturday: our final show of the tour: winston salem, at the Werehouse, 8pm.
mum
thank you everyone who supported us during the tour. We plan on touring again as soon as we can. west coast. mid west. east coast.
Liz and I have a house with two housemates in Austin to rent we'll have a band room, and bedroom, and another room for guests, Liz's art, etc. about 4 miles from UT Liz says she wants to study biology at UT I say I want to score films we both want to tour and be on the road as much as possible over the next few years so we will no. 9 no. 9 no. 9 no. 9 no. 9 no. 9
-
-
(
(

Velvet Crayon

2009-06-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

We're on the road now from Asbury Park NJ to Philadelphia. NYC: The Lit Lounge last Thursday, Sidewalk Cafe on Friday - - both downtown Manhattan - - fun shows with responsive crowds. After the shows, Liz, Ben, and I went camping in Farmingdale NJ, near Owen Thomas' and Mike Ackley's old stomping grounds. We camped for two nights, playing with music and fire. While David was brushing his teeth at his brother's apartment in Manhattan, and Nathan slept soundly at his aunt's house in Queens, we emptied a large container of lighter fluid on an already-blazing fire that lit up the 3 am woods and sky like a big hunk-uh-burning-love.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
We all met up in Red Bank NJ on Tuesday at the Fixx to play a show. There, we met the booker who had put us on the bill (Ben), and ended up staying at his place by the ocean after mention of bountiful tequila. The apartment was roomy, comfortable, and cozy, and had a pristine view of the NJ shoreline from a large balcony. As the booze overflowed from our mouths, 4 am trips to the black ocean were made. I stood on the sand with the ocean knocking at my knees. I battled the idea of jumping into the dark sea to bodysurf a wave back to shore; with drowning being more likely, death was saved for a later time.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
We spent Wednesday with Ben (NJ Ben) and went to a punk show at Asbury lanes, right accross from the Stone Pony. As we pulled up to the show, a fireworks display started right in front of us on the beach, so we walked closer until the smoke from the launching pad was in our nostrils. After the grand finale we went to the punk/metal show until midnight when we left for Ben's friend's apartment, also by the ocean (less than a block from Ben's place). Another tequila night ensued as Tracy and Ben refused to stop pouring shots. Another trip to the black ocean. Another "the sun is a'risin'" bedtime. I woke up at 2:15 pm, David looked at me and said do you want to go get chinese food and I said yes so we walked five blocks to main street and did.

And go to myspace.com/velvetcrayon
We played a show with this guy in Ewing NJ. Eric he said his name was so I believed him and I hope he believed my name was Stuart because my parents gave me that name as I trust his did likewise.

Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer

2009-06-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I should have been walking the streets of New York City, but instead I found myself riding in a pick-up truck down a bumpy gravel road in the middle of Pennsylvania hill country. How did I get here? I'll tell you how:

Sunday afternoon: The Baker Family minus Ben hit the road from State College, PA, where we were staying with Alex Sell, a friend from Asheville now attending Penn State. Our plan was to meet up with Ben and his Dad, Chip, in Hazleton, PA, for Ben to join us back on the road for the rest of the tour. Then we would only be a few hours away from our destination, NYC. I'm driving, going about 65mph on Highway 80. I hear the words, "Deer" "Liz" and then silence. A deer jumps right in front of the car. I immediately know I am about to hit this deer straight on. My instincts kick in: apply brakes, hold the car steady. BAM. The deer goes flying into the other lane, another car hits it, swerves, almost flips. I pull over, hands shaking, hyperventilating. THE SECOND TIME WE ALMOST DIED.

The suburban and trailer had to be towed to the nearest town, Danville, PA (Population: 4,897), where we would be stuck until the car was repaired. After staying the night at the Quality Inn, we got up early to meet the guys at the Chevy dealership right when they opened, not knowing if this would take a few hours, or a week to fix. A couple parts were ordered, and Thank the Lord! it would be fixed by the next morning. Thankfully, Chip Dehart is a friendly guy, and he hit it off with one of the guys who worked there, Doug. Doug was a really nice guy, and he offered his cabin next to his house for us to rent for the night. So there I was, riding in Doug's pick-up truck down a bumpy gravel road in the middle of Pennsylvania hill country. We pulled up to the cabin just outside Danville in Mayberry, PA. Oh my Stars, what a place! Green hills all around us and a beautiful trout stream running right outside the screen porch. This turned out to be our best day
off. We relaxed, played music out by the water, ate spaghetti on the porch, and sat in a field nearby where I saw 2 red foxes with bushy tails scamper away in the distance.

Back on the Road,

Liz Baker

Grant Hill

2009-06-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Check out:
Stephen Tribou and the Vancant Sea
myspace.com/thevacantsea
(
)
After the show at the Lava Lounge in Pittsburgh on Thursday, one of two without Ben, we stayed with Stephen, who grilled burgers for us at 3am. Liz destroyed his head of lettuce.

We're leaving State College today to pick Ben back up. He had to leave to Kernersville for a couple days to finish up his high school exams. New York is next week. We're looking forward to spending time with our great late friend, Owen Thomas. I haven't seen him in a year ::: myspace.com/wylietoms
Let your NYC and Brooklyn friends know we're playing on June 11 at the Lit Lounge, and June 12 at Sidewalk Cafe.
,Stuart

In a state of gluttony

2009-06-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today finds the baker family in State College, PA on one of too many days off in a row. For those of you that don't know Alex Sell, let me tell you - he is quite an asshole. He cooks succulent meals that I often dream of for months after, he always has a seemingly endless supply of any sort of drink one would ever want, and he is accommodating to the point of absurdity.

Basically, I don't want to leave this place.

Cici's pizza was much preferable. At least with Cici's, you're ready to leave after ten minutes or less. I've known Alex for a few years now, and it almost seems like he's getting more and more generous all the time.

Alex(ander) and his girlfriend Jess(ica) have hosted your baker family for the better part of two days now, and I'm getting just a little too comfortable here. Sorry Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Philly, Chapel Hill, and Winston - I don't think I'm ever going to make it out of State College. We're probably eating better than you are at this point. I don't mean to belittle everyone else who has given us amazing food on the tour, but you'd have to pay a lot of money at a restaurant to eat this good.

- David Barrett

Calatrava

2009-06-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

We are on our way to Toledo, OH right now, bellies full of CiCi's All You Can Eat Pizza Buffet. We have been to Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee since the last time we blogged. 2 of our laptops were stolen in Chicago, which is a big fat bummer.

We loved Milwaukee and Milwaukee seemed to love us. We played at Points East Pub and were very well received. It was wonderful to hang out with my Aunt Becky and to see Lake Michigan. I highly recommend visiting this city.

Our show at The Dark Room in Chicago was really cool. We played with a band called Mr. Gnome from Cleveland. Excellent! www.myspace.com/mrgnome

Life on the road is tough at times, but we are having a total blast! We already have some great memories in Waffle Houses and city parks. We have met some incredible individuals and I am amazed at how welcoming and generous people have been to us.

Lots of Love,

Liz Baker

Reds

2009-05-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Baker Family in Cincinnati, OH

Bjork Yorke vs Michel Lotito (and how we almost got shot)

2009-05-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a Story For the Kids

by C.S. Baker

A family of five [or five thousand] goes out for a dinner picnic on Memorial Day weekend, the fourth Sabbath of May, 2009. As they eat in the fenced-in field, Mr. and Mrs. Baker and their three children consider and meditate on the events of the previous week. Night falls and the fields surrounding the family begin to glow by the rear portions of thousands of lightning night creatures. After reflecting on the beauty of the situation, the satisfied-by-decadization group of five reclimb the gate and return to their van. Feeling pleasant and ready to return to their chambers for a much needed nights sleep, they drive back to their Motel six to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.

They parked in their old space - - - - - taking up 5 spots with the trailor and Chevy Suburban **under the lights**, at the front of the motel, as Mr. Baker was especially worried about the van getting broken into. Having this parking space gave the family comfort and calmed the nerves of the patriarch. The van doors opened.

POP! POP!!

gunshots

50 feet away.

Close enough to see. Close enough for their ears to ring.

And then the curses came down. They came from the mouths of the family, from the mouths of people a hundred yards away, from the mouths of dark clouds surrounding the cheap motel.

A gray cadillac with 20 inch rims and blacked-out windows screamed out: 8 feet, 7 feet, 6 feet, 5 feet away from the family.

GET ON THE GROUND

Ben was on top of it. Stuart was frozen. Liz was frozen. Dave was already out of the car face-down behind the bunker-like hill beside the van. Nathan follwed the orders of his new brother.

4 feet, 3 feet away.

The shooter's car was there. Radiating death and threatening the five with the six, the seven, the eight rounds left in the gun. And Mr. and Mrs. Baker were kissing the asphault and the Suburban tires just in time.

STAY ON THE GROUND

The words tore and dripped like fire and Myhrr with a serious cool collectedness from Ben's throat.

Seconds after the dark car and pursuing motorcyle had passed the family, the five stood. After cursing the situation, they walked in a cool panic to the McDonalds across the street. Another group. Ten girls, probably a volleyball or softball team, passed by the family--guessing at the shots. The five's morbidly abridged testimony quickend the pace of the softball team and hieghtened their sensitivity to their surroundings. Turning around and walking backwards, family eyes saw a group of rough men gathering around the Suburban.

Were they the shooters? Did they need to eliminate the five whitnesses to the shots? Did they think the family had shot? Either way, McDonalds promised the safety of an INTERPOL headquaters. Walked turned to run as fearful assumptions terrorized the five's brains.

CALL 911

The McDonalds cashier did it for them. Ben, with a calming wisdom, suggested Nathan, Liz, and David stay at the fast food haven while he and Stuart walk around to calm his friends nerves.

I NEED A CIGARETTE

It was deserved.

The cops arrived. The Firetruck arrived. The family reconviened. The parking lot at the motel accross the street was full of police cars. It seemed safe. They walked back. Talked to the policemen. Nathan and Stuart got a refund at the front desk then went back to the room to pack up.

A man in a biker gang had shot another biker's Harley. Twice. Trying to blow up the gas tank. Right next to room 138, where the Baker Family was staying. If the family had arrived as little as 10 seconds earlier, the five could have been right between the shooter and his target.

FREE MOTEL ROOM

They stayed the night at Motel 6. Right next to the society of bikers.

His Majesty, The Skull

2009-05-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

This concludes the first week of the tour///a week that was one of the most encouraging and exciting of my life///Ben's presence is therapeutic and inspiring///Homelessness and joblessness left me pockets-full and more satisfied than ever before///We're treating ourselves to a hotel tonight///showers, clean clothes, pool, cable, wi-fi, beds, possibly a weight room///
Stuart

Proof that Ben is part Wizard

2009-05-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

SHAWning

2009-05-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Last night (Thursday), The Baker Family Band performed simultaneously with about 100 other bands in Nashville, TN. Our venue happened to be called The Basement (not in a basement). We opened for the other two bands on the bill (Madi Diaz and The Champion and his Burning Flame). A few points of interest:

-An old woman born somewhere in the Far East was standing outside her house beside the empty lot in which we parked our trailer. She had cultivated every square foot of her yard that was not occupied by sidewalk. She was burning a pile of wood when we arrived, and was spreading out the ashes as we were preparing to play.

-After setting up the stage, Stu, Liz, Nathan, and Dave went upstairs to a (reportedly) awesome record store. I ate a lot of bread and played hackey sack. We convened around 9:30 for the opening ceremonies.

-The show was probably our most emotional so far. We donned fake moustaches on entering the stage- we wanted to take the music seriously, but not so much ourselves. It's not walking away with a bunch of fans impressed at Stu's guitar playing and Liz's singing. It's simply playing with no fear, filling up the venue (for 40 minutes, at least) with a warm love. We’ve posted the audio thanks to Dave’s portable recorder. Those songs are, for me and Stu, the first live recordings we have listened to without cringing at the difference between how we thought we sounded and how it actually sounded. The entire band blasted the two songs in the car and was happy for everything: the mistakes, the noise, but especially the energy and improvisation. We’re excited and more than ready for the rest of the tour.

LIVE IN NASHVILLE:
www.soundclick.com/thebakerfamily

-Ben

the man upstairs

2009-05-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Liz left out some pretty crucial information about Chattanooga the other night. We have already met lots of very interesting people, but the top of the list has to go to a guy we met from Chattanooga.
I don't know his name, but he was very touchy-feely. He shook our hands and gave us hugs, and at one point punched each of us (other than Liz) on the shoulder pretty hard.
He was really drunk when we got to the bar, and after just a few minutes came over and talked to us. I told him we're from out of town and wanted to know where we should go with our time, and all the sudden he was offering to let us stay in an apartment he owned right above the bar.
He took us up and gave us a tour. There was no doorknob - only a deadbolt on the door, and it was really tight against the floor, so after he unlocked it, he had to kick the door real hard to get in. There was junk all over the place - open paint cans, pieces of wood, and some bikes that hadn't been ridden in years.
He was really particular about flushing the toilet. It would break if you flushed it all the way, so you had to kind of ease into the flush. The water has to trickle for a while before you can really let loose with the handle and let the water flood in. He kept going on about this for quite a while.
After the tour, he had to get the door locked back up. You have to grab on to a spot on the door and yank it back closed, but he tried about five times without any luck. Finally he spit on the ground, and somehow that actually worked.
I was really looking forward to staying there that night but luckily Liz and Nathan were really creeped out by this guy. We ended up finding another place to stay that was much less exciting, but I'm pretty glad we met that guy.

- David Baker

Oh, Memphis

2009-05-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last night at The Buccaneer Lounge in Memphis, TN, we played our best show yet. Ben spilled 2 beers (mine and Nathan's), broke 2 E strings (and re-stringed them), got his guitar unplugged 5 times in one song, lost power to his pedal board once, and played the most beautiful set he's ever played as a part of this Family. We are so proud of him and overjoyed at his creative input. Stuart learned how to play the violin during the car ride to Memphis, then threw down some raw electric violin during Clouds of Fire, while Ben added all kinds of effects and distortion. It was epic. After the show, we headed over to the Poor & Hungry, another bar in Memphis. This really cool band, called The Warbles, was playing. They were brilliant: drum machine, saxophone, violin, face paint, and a song about Cicadas. It was refreshing and inspiring. Check 'em out www.myspace.com/thewarbles

Many thanks to Jensel and the whole Garcia family for taking us in, feeding us, and being wonderful, giving people. I can't tell you how nice it was to swim in their pool and relax in their hot tub after our show. We are soaking up Tennessee like a sponge. Here we come, Nashville. What will you show us?

Alive and Well,

Liz Baker

Chattanooga

2009-05-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

First of all:

Here's a link to a nice little article written about us for our Knoxville show.

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20090514/ENT/305149957

Chattanooga is a cool place. Ben, Dave, and I took a long stroll through the city, chased down a shuttle bus, and walked across one of the main bridges. The Tennessee River water was dark and sparkly, the riverboats were beautifully lit up, and the weather was perfect. We enjoyed playing for some Chattanoogs at JJ's Bohemia last night. Friendly people. Cheap beer. Loud music. Good times.

Living the Dream,

Liz Baker

Brother Son Mother Father

2009-05-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the official Baker Family "We're Going To Make So Much Money" 2009 Summer Tour! It's the whole family: Mr. Baker, Mrs. Baker, David, Nathan, and our newest addition to the family, Ben.

It's Day 2 of our 6 week tour through the Midwest and East Coast of this beautiful country. We had our first show last night at the Preservation Pub in Knoxville, TN. Stu's Aunt Becky, Uncle Bud, and Cousin Ryan came out to see us, and even let the 5 of us crash at their place for the night.

Ryan took us to the Norris Damn and we took a little hike to see some waterfalls and butterflies before we hit the road for Chattanooga.

Ben and Stu did a West Andersonville Squirrel Broadcast, announcing some missing walnuts were found last night uner a bush next to the big oak tree, and to please call in immediately to claim your missing walnuts. Updates on the Nutball game between The Nut-Gathering Nutters and rival team Sqirrely Squirel-Face were given. What a close game, folks.

Until Later,

Liz Baker