Author Archives: Paula

All good things must come to an end, even Girlyman mini-tours. The band, their 7 string-instruments, drum kit, hardware, cymbals, tambourine, djembe, and pimped-out accordion are well on their way back to Atlanta by now. Just a quick post to thank everyone who followed the online tour diary through Ohio and Kentucky! For those of us not lucky enough to be catching Girlyman at their next gig, in Colorado, at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, or to end up with … Continue reading →

As they wrap up the tour and head home to start work on their new album, Girlyman answers your questions on touring, the song they love playing most, and more. Q: How many instruments do you bring on tour? According to sound tech and instrument wrangler Ary, Girlyman goes on the road with a total of: 7 string-instruments, drum kit, hardware, and cymbals, 1 accordion, 1 djembe, and 1 tambourine.

Q: … Continue reading →

Ty took these on Friday night at the Cain Park show in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

So we’re three days in, and I’m learning pretty quickly that touring is 15% rockstar, 85% driving. I’ve been driving in my car behind the van, sort of Mama duck/duckling style…let me tell you, these guys do a lot of driving. Today’s route was 6 hours – from Cleveland, Ohio, to the show in Louisville, Kentucky. This morning when the van got ready to leave the hotel, Nate called shotgun in my car. I drove the whole way — a … Continue reading →

Back in its heyday, Van Halen insisted the venues they played at provided a bowl of M&M’s – no brown ones. But all Girlyman really wants is a good mirror. Doris told me yesterday: “A mirror. That’s all we ask for, really — a mirror!” Ideally, they really need a few mirrors. It’s like a bunch of siblings — and their friends (Coyote Grace – they also have to get ready to go on stage). They’re all getting ready to … Continue reading →

Met up with the band at Adelphia Music Hall in Marietta, Ohio, two hours before tonight’s show. At the two-hour mark, Girlyman’s minds are on dinner and soundchecking. Not necessarily in that order of importance. Though dinner came first: in the green room, Ty, Doris, and JJ passed what became several communal plates around the table. “Try this.” “What did you get?” “Can I have half?” “Here, finish this.” Doris tried what Ty ordered. JJ polished off a quarter of … Continue reading →

How do you pack for a Girlyman tour? Jack Kerouac had a dream of a certain kind of road trip, and all he needed to bring it to life was three weeks and a roll of teletype paper. And those kids in the Grapes of Wrath lit out for California with not much more than their dust.

In the spirit of those … Continue reading →