Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Review: Animal Liberation Orchestra at Higher Ground in S Burlington, VT 5/19
When I was checking out Higher Ground's calender I got so excited when I saw that Animal Liberation Orchestra was coming to town. My fiance Dan and I LOVE ALO and are constantly listening to their CD's on repeat. I was surprised to find out that they were playing the Showcase Lounge which is the smaller of the two rooms at Higher Ground. I was shocked because I thought for sure that they would be playing the big room to a sold out show. I did feel special getting to see such an intimate show though.
Everybody that attended was given a treat...a treat of not only fabulous music, but a treat of fabulous showmanship. ALO brings it and they don't hold back at all. One moment that sticks out to me was when they started to play one of my favorite songs "Girl I Want to Lay You Down." They didn't play it the normal, super sexy laid back way. They played it the polka way with Zach Gill on accordion! I mean seriously. It doesn't get much better than that! Well...until they encored with "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince.
I'm thinking that part of the reason that this band has so much fun on stage and that energy is exploding out of all their pores is that they live healthy lifestyles. Most of the time you see the bands drinking beer or whiskey on stage. Not ALO...at least not at this particular show. They were drinking GT's Kombucha and water.
The crowd was eating up every note they played and every word they sang. There were many sing-a-longs happening. This crowd was not the crowd I expected. I was expecting a lot of screaming, Jack Johnson fan, college girls that were under 21 to be at the show, but what happened was actually the opposite. Most of the people in attendance were in their 30's and were ready to rock out to a band they haven't seen play in Burlington for years.
My only complaint about the show was that I wish it was longer. It's not that they played a short show, it was that it was so good I wanted more!!!
Quotes from some fans:
Sara W from Waterbury, VT: "It rocked! I'm so glad I finally got to see these guys."
Live Music Beth from Burlington, VT: "So much fun! Happy to have these guys back in Burlington. I love Vince Gill. Haha." (Disclaimer...I accidentally called Zach Gill, Vince Gill and she was making fun of me)
Dan W from Burlington, VT: "Wow! Why did it have to end so early? It was so much fun. Play more Vince Gill."
By Taraleigh soon to be Weathers
http://www.alomusic.com
Everybody that attended was given a treat...a treat of not only fabulous music, but a treat of fabulous showmanship. ALO brings it and they don't hold back at all. One moment that sticks out to me was when they started to play one of my favorite songs "Girl I Want to Lay You Down." They didn't play it the normal, super sexy laid back way. They played it the polka way with Zach Gill on accordion! I mean seriously. It doesn't get much better than that! Well...until they encored with "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince.
I'm thinking that part of the reason that this band has so much fun on stage and that energy is exploding out of all their pores is that they live healthy lifestyles. Most of the time you see the bands drinking beer or whiskey on stage. Not ALO...at least not at this particular show. They were drinking GT's Kombucha and water.
The crowd was eating up every note they played and every word they sang. There were many sing-a-longs happening. This crowd was not the crowd I expected. I was expecting a lot of screaming, Jack Johnson fan, college girls that were under 21 to be at the show, but what happened was actually the opposite. Most of the people in attendance were in their 30's and were ready to rock out to a band they haven't seen play in Burlington for years.
My only complaint about the show was that I wish it was longer. It's not that they played a short show, it was that it was so good I wanted more!!!
Quotes from some fans:
Sara W from Waterbury, VT: "It rocked! I'm so glad I finally got to see these guys."
Live Music Beth from Burlington, VT: "So much fun! Happy to have these guys back in Burlington. I love Vince Gill. Haha." (Disclaimer...I accidentally called Zach Gill, Vince Gill and she was making fun of me)
Dan W from Burlington, VT: "Wow! Why did it have to end so early? It was so much fun. Play more Vince Gill."
By Taraleigh soon to be Weathers
http://www.alomusic.com
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Review: The Chocolate Conspiracy Goji Bar
Dan and I invited our friends Shannon and Sage over for dinner and I told them about the magic that is The Chocolate Conspiracy and they were intrigued and told me they had to taste it. I told them the only way they were allowed to experience something so awesome was to blog about it for the Healthy Hippie.
This is what we all thought about it....
Taraleigh: This was my favorite flavor of all the chocolate bars. I love goji berries and this one was delicious. I feel better and healthier from eating this bar. This kind of chocolate is more nourishment than something that will cure you chocolate craving. I highly recommend. Yum!!!
Shannon: Melted smoothly in my mouth, but I would have enjoyed a big glass of fresh milk with my vegan treat. Goji berries added added natural sweetness, but it could have used something creamy.
Sage: The chocolate had an immediate taste of cocao with a strong bitter flavor. The taste shifted quickly to salty - but was lacking substance in the center palette. I felt the chocolate could have benefited from a higher level of coconut milk.
Dan: mmmmm. That was good. I usually don't like dark raw chocolate but this was good. Not too bitter and had good flavor. Each bite I want more. I recommend giving it a try.
This is what we all thought about it....
Taraleigh: This was my favorite flavor of all the chocolate bars. I love goji berries and this one was delicious. I feel better and healthier from eating this bar. This kind of chocolate is more nourishment than something that will cure you chocolate craving. I highly recommend. Yum!!!
Shannon: Melted smoothly in my mouth, but I would have enjoyed a big glass of fresh milk with my vegan treat. Goji berries added added natural sweetness, but it could have used something creamy.
Sage: The chocolate had an immediate taste of cocao with a strong bitter flavor. The taste shifted quickly to salty - but was lacking substance in the center palette. I felt the chocolate could have benefited from a higher level of coconut milk.
Dan: mmmmm. That was good. I usually don't like dark raw chocolate but this was good. Not too bitter and had good flavor. Each bite I want more. I recommend giving it a try.
Interview: Matt Butler from Everyone Orchestra and Hot Buttered Rum By: Jonathan Blake
Our good friend and healthy hippie Jonathan Blake (aka Crazy Red Beard) had a conversation with the leader of the Everyone Orchestra and drummer from Hot Buttered Rum, the one and only Matt Butler. They discussed being healthy and more green on the road.
Don't miss you chance to see Matt Butler perform with Everyone Orchestra this spring and summer.
CRB: As a performer, I often find it difficult to make the healthiest eating choices when constantly on the go. How do you manage this when touring/performing?
MB: That is a very true statement and I do my best. My Iphone has been a god send. I can find health food stores near where I'm playing. Eating raw kale has been my way of balancing out the unhealthy foods I eat along the way like at airports. I have to say that airports are getting better with having choices other than hamburgers. Eating kale, carrots and fruits helps keep me in balance and grounded.
When I'm touring I have to say that my weakness is sweets. Sugar is my drug of choice in the way that I miss my family so I want something sweet.
CRB: Are there any must have travel foods for your and your crew?
MB: I like to have dried fruits and nuts at all times. If needed it can be a meal. With Hot Buttered Rum we say that when there are carrots, juice and pitas backstage the show is better. It's like you're home. I try to keep those things on hand.
CRB: Do you currently, or do you currently plan to try to lessen your carbon footprint when traveling? As a live painter that traverses many states in a given year, I often feel guilty about this...
MB: It is a conundrum for me right now. Obviously when doing Jam Cruise...we did a private show to make money to plant trees to offset the carbon footprint of Jam Cruise. Last year I did over 160 shows between Everyone Orchestra and Hot Buttered Rum and about fifteen of them were in my hometown of Portland. We might be one of the last generations to live like this. It's still affordable to fly to New York for a couple of shows. It might not always be like that. I always try to purchase carbon offsets for my traveling which is basically planting trees. I've gotta say that I take more than I give in that respect right now. I'm not turning down any gigs if I can support my family. It's a constant tradeoff. Currently I'm investigating ways to do more of what I do on a local and regional level so I don't have such a large carbon footprint.
CRB: Do you and your band mates make time for physical activity and fun on the road?
MB: When I travel with EO I mainly travel by myself and I play tennis and do yoga. I bring my racket and I have people I meet with in towns to play tennis with. With Hot Buttered Rum everyone in the band is a runner. We plan kickball games to get people moving their bodies. When you are deep into a 2 week tour it gets harder to get your ass up and going because of lack of sleep. It always helps to get up and do that stuff.
CRB: Any super delicious travel recipes you want to share?
MB: I love to wrap spicy Thai food in raw kale. It's my favorite. It is the perfect meal. Our garden is starting to grow and we haven't had to buy greens at the store. We plant mostly kale. Kale is the most nutritious food. The first recipe my wife made me was steamed kale with macaroni and cheese and it changed my life. I am so happy my kids love it too!
CRB: For me, one of the toughest things to do when on the road is maintaining a semblance of balance with personal health; spiritual/mental/physical. At least one area tends to be lacking for me. Do you put a lot of thought into this or do anything special to prepare for times when you won't have access to exercise, meditation or other mental activity, or spiritual practices?
MB: To be honest I approach those moments with apprehension and fear but I tried not to go into it like that. When things are crazy I do whatever I can to make sure my family is settled, well and happy. If I set up everything else in my life I can focus better and feel clear. I do simple breathing to feel grounded. Sometimes I drink coffee when I'm tired, but if I take some time to breath backstage I feel so much better, grounded and sane. I try to get a massage. Festival massage can really make or break a performance. It helps me be a vortexual facilitator for Everyone Orchestra so I can be in tune with where everyone is going and feel where there energy is at.
CRB: Any general advice on green and happy living for other bands/performers?
MB: Taking time between tours. In the 90's I was always on the road. All my stuff was in storage and I lived in a van. Our ability to project out the glory of music was marginalized because I wasn't grounded into any one community. There is so much to be said to be grounded into an intimate family and community and to go out into the world and project that. There are so many musicians that don't take time for their families. You have to keep the home fires growing to make everything feel worthwhile.
CRB: Weirdest road food?
MB: Meat fried lasagne. They breaded the lasagne and then deep fried it. It was really good but I regretted it. The whole band was like, "Woah" and we all couldnt' move on stage.
CRB: Ever get frustrated with the lack of healthy options at rest stops/travel plazas?
MB: Yes. I don't have too many high hopes for those places. The more you travel the more you learn about where the good places are. I have been using my IPhone more and more to find the good places. Sometimes it's hard to turn down the donut at 3am. You just want some joy somewhere even if it makes you sad later. That is why I carry dried nuts and fruit in my backpack to try to cut down on that. I'm guilty of eating hamburgers at fast rood restaurants now and then when there is a food emergency.
CRB: Do you guys manage to recycle while traveling? If so, how?
MB: HBR does on the bus. We have paper and cans and bottle recycling. We scramble to dump it at the right spots when we find it. At a large EO show we demanded that the theater recycle and we brought in our own crew. At the end of the night we saw that the theater had thrown all of our recycling bags into the regular trash. They didn't know what to do with it. We don't demand it at this point but we do encourage it. I travel with a water bottle. I limit to one paper coffee cup a day.
CRB: You are really making a difference to inspire other musicians and music fans to be a little healthier and more green. It was very inspiring that you were so honest. I know that our readers are going to relate to you and learn from you.
MB: Oh good!
Everyone Orchestra Tour Dates
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Hodi's Half Note
Fort Collins, CO
1. Matt Butler
2. Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band)
3. Kyle Hollingsworth (String Cheese Incident)
4. Jamie Janover (Zilla)
5. Steve Kimock
6. Garrett Sayers (The Motet)
7. Dave Watts (The Motet)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Quixotes True Blue
Denver, CO
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Quixotes True Blue
Denver, CO
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Early Acoustic Show
Quixotes True Blue
Denver, CO
Monday, May 31, 2010
Furthurmore
River Ranch Campground
Tuolumn, CA
1. Audio Angel
2. Dave Brogan (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
3. Jans Ingber (The Motet)
4. Nat Keefe (Hot Buttered Rum)
5. Steve Kimock
6. Dan Lebowitz (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
7. George Porter Jr.
8. Aaron Redner (Hot Buttered Rum)
9. Melvin Seals
Friday, July 09, 2010
All Good Music Festival
Masontown, West Virginia USA
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Summer Meltdown Festival 10
Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheater
Darrington, WA
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival
Suwannee Music Park
Live Oak, Florida
http://www.everyoneorchestra.com
Don't miss you chance to see Matt Butler perform with Everyone Orchestra this spring and summer.
CRB: As a performer, I often find it difficult to make the healthiest eating choices when constantly on the go. How do you manage this when touring/performing?
MB: That is a very true statement and I do my best. My Iphone has been a god send. I can find health food stores near where I'm playing. Eating raw kale has been my way of balancing out the unhealthy foods I eat along the way like at airports. I have to say that airports are getting better with having choices other than hamburgers. Eating kale, carrots and fruits helps keep me in balance and grounded.
When I'm touring I have to say that my weakness is sweets. Sugar is my drug of choice in the way that I miss my family so I want something sweet.
CRB: Are there any must have travel foods for your and your crew?
MB: I like to have dried fruits and nuts at all times. If needed it can be a meal. With Hot Buttered Rum we say that when there are carrots, juice and pitas backstage the show is better. It's like you're home. I try to keep those things on hand.
CRB: Do you currently, or do you currently plan to try to lessen your carbon footprint when traveling? As a live painter that traverses many states in a given year, I often feel guilty about this...
MB: It is a conundrum for me right now. Obviously when doing Jam Cruise...we did a private show to make money to plant trees to offset the carbon footprint of Jam Cruise. Last year I did over 160 shows between Everyone Orchestra and Hot Buttered Rum and about fifteen of them were in my hometown of Portland. We might be one of the last generations to live like this. It's still affordable to fly to New York for a couple of shows. It might not always be like that. I always try to purchase carbon offsets for my traveling which is basically planting trees. I've gotta say that I take more than I give in that respect right now. I'm not turning down any gigs if I can support my family. It's a constant tradeoff. Currently I'm investigating ways to do more of what I do on a local and regional level so I don't have such a large carbon footprint.
CRB: Do you and your band mates make time for physical activity and fun on the road?
MB: When I travel with EO I mainly travel by myself and I play tennis and do yoga. I bring my racket and I have people I meet with in towns to play tennis with. With Hot Buttered Rum everyone in the band is a runner. We plan kickball games to get people moving their bodies. When you are deep into a 2 week tour it gets harder to get your ass up and going because of lack of sleep. It always helps to get up and do that stuff.
CRB: Any super delicious travel recipes you want to share?
MB: I love to wrap spicy Thai food in raw kale. It's my favorite. It is the perfect meal. Our garden is starting to grow and we haven't had to buy greens at the store. We plant mostly kale. Kale is the most nutritious food. The first recipe my wife made me was steamed kale with macaroni and cheese and it changed my life. I am so happy my kids love it too!
CRB: For me, one of the toughest things to do when on the road is maintaining a semblance of balance with personal health; spiritual/mental/physical. At least one area tends to be lacking for me. Do you put a lot of thought into this or do anything special to prepare for times when you won't have access to exercise, meditation or other mental activity, or spiritual practices?
MB: To be honest I approach those moments with apprehension and fear but I tried not to go into it like that. When things are crazy I do whatever I can to make sure my family is settled, well and happy. If I set up everything else in my life I can focus better and feel clear. I do simple breathing to feel grounded. Sometimes I drink coffee when I'm tired, but if I take some time to breath backstage I feel so much better, grounded and sane. I try to get a massage. Festival massage can really make or break a performance. It helps me be a vortexual facilitator for Everyone Orchestra so I can be in tune with where everyone is going and feel where there energy is at.
CRB: Any general advice on green and happy living for other bands/performers?
MB: Taking time between tours. In the 90's I was always on the road. All my stuff was in storage and I lived in a van. Our ability to project out the glory of music was marginalized because I wasn't grounded into any one community. There is so much to be said to be grounded into an intimate family and community and to go out into the world and project that. There are so many musicians that don't take time for their families. You have to keep the home fires growing to make everything feel worthwhile.
CRB: Weirdest road food?
MB: Meat fried lasagne. They breaded the lasagne and then deep fried it. It was really good but I regretted it. The whole band was like, "Woah" and we all couldnt' move on stage.
CRB: Ever get frustrated with the lack of healthy options at rest stops/travel plazas?
MB: Yes. I don't have too many high hopes for those places. The more you travel the more you learn about where the good places are. I have been using my IPhone more and more to find the good places. Sometimes it's hard to turn down the donut at 3am. You just want some joy somewhere even if it makes you sad later. That is why I carry dried nuts and fruit in my backpack to try to cut down on that. I'm guilty of eating hamburgers at fast rood restaurants now and then when there is a food emergency.
CRB: Do you guys manage to recycle while traveling? If so, how?
MB: HBR does on the bus. We have paper and cans and bottle recycling. We scramble to dump it at the right spots when we find it. At a large EO show we demanded that the theater recycle and we brought in our own crew. At the end of the night we saw that the theater had thrown all of our recycling bags into the regular trash. They didn't know what to do with it. We don't demand it at this point but we do encourage it. I travel with a water bottle. I limit to one paper coffee cup a day.
CRB: You are really making a difference to inspire other musicians and music fans to be a little healthier and more green. It was very inspiring that you were so honest. I know that our readers are going to relate to you and learn from you.
MB: Oh good!
Everyone Orchestra Tour Dates
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Hodi's Half Note
Fort Collins, CO
1. Matt Butler
2. Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band)
3. Kyle Hollingsworth (String Cheese Incident)
4. Jamie Janover (Zilla)
5. Steve Kimock
6. Garrett Sayers (The Motet)
7. Dave Watts (The Motet)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Quixotes True Blue
Denver, CO
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Quixotes True Blue
Denver, CO
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Early Acoustic Show
Quixotes True Blue
Denver, CO
Monday, May 31, 2010
Furthurmore
River Ranch Campground
Tuolumn, CA
1. Audio Angel
2. Dave Brogan (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
3. Jans Ingber (The Motet)
4. Nat Keefe (Hot Buttered Rum)
5. Steve Kimock
6. Dan Lebowitz (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
7. George Porter Jr.
8. Aaron Redner (Hot Buttered Rum)
9. Melvin Seals
Friday, July 09, 2010
All Good Music Festival
Masontown, West Virginia USA
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Summer Meltdown Festival 10
Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheater
Darrington, WA
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival
Suwannee Music Park
Live Oak, Florida
http://www.everyoneorchestra.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Blog: Oil Pulling with Taraleigh
As I write to you I have a mouthful of cold-pressed sunflower oil in swishing around in my mouth. I am performing the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling. The point of oil pulling is to pull out toxins from you body and to heal your cells. Oil pulling has been known to cure many diseases and problems like leukemia, headaches, bloody gums, obesity, stiff joints, allergies, constipation, high blood sugar, bronchitis, chronic infections, and more!
To do this, you take one tablespoon of organic, cold-pressed sunflower or sesame oil and swish it around your mouth for 15-25 minutes making sure not to swallow it. It will pull out toxins from your body and form a white milky liquid in your mouth. That liquid is extremely toxic. When you spit it out after the time is over make sure to clean your sink. You want to perform this when you first wake up before you have eaten anything or brushed your teeth.
When I first put this in my mouth it was not pleasant. I thought, how can I do this for at least fifteen minutes? I kept myself busy by writing this blog and the time flew. When I spit out the oil it was thick and white! My teeth felt like I had just brushed them and my teeth looked whiter...and this is the first day I have tried this. Woah!
The first signs to know that this practice is helping you is you will notice that your teeth feel strong and white. You will also feel relaxed when you wake up, the dark circles under your eyes will start to disappear, your appetite will balance out, you will have more energy, you will have more energy, and sleep deeper. How awesome is that!?!?! I will keep you updated on my progress.
This practice has been known to cure a disease from anywhere from 2 days to a year...and all by swishing oil in your mouth. If you feel like this sounds crazy, which I have to admit it did to me, try it yourself.
Remember you are responsible for your own body and know what is good for it.
I can't wait to report back on what happens to me from oil pulling.
To do this, you take one tablespoon of organic, cold-pressed sunflower or sesame oil and swish it around your mouth for 15-25 minutes making sure not to swallow it. It will pull out toxins from your body and form a white milky liquid in your mouth. That liquid is extremely toxic. When you spit it out after the time is over make sure to clean your sink. You want to perform this when you first wake up before you have eaten anything or brushed your teeth.
When I first put this in my mouth it was not pleasant. I thought, how can I do this for at least fifteen minutes? I kept myself busy by writing this blog and the time flew. When I spit out the oil it was thick and white! My teeth felt like I had just brushed them and my teeth looked whiter...and this is the first day I have tried this. Woah!
The first signs to know that this practice is helping you is you will notice that your teeth feel strong and white. You will also feel relaxed when you wake up, the dark circles under your eyes will start to disappear, your appetite will balance out, you will have more energy, you will have more energy, and sleep deeper. How awesome is that!?!?! I will keep you updated on my progress.
This practice has been known to cure a disease from anywhere from 2 days to a year...and all by swishing oil in your mouth. If you feel like this sounds crazy, which I have to admit it did to me, try it yourself.
Remember you are responsible for your own body and know what is good for it.
I can't wait to report back on what happens to me from oil pulling.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Recipe: Cinco de Mayo Easy Bean Dip
This recipe came about because I was invited to a Cinco de Mayo potluck party and I didn't prepare or leave myself a lot of time to make something. This recipe is easy, healthy, delicious, and the crowd will love it!
Ingredients:
2 cans organic spicy refried beans
1/2 can water (use refried bean can)
1 jar salsa
2 cups shredded organic cheese (I used pepper jack)(Can substitute vegan cheese)
2 avocados mashed
1 can sweet corn drained
Directions:
Empty the refried beans into a serving casserole dish
Mix in water to thin out the beans
Mix in all other ingredients except for the avocado
Smear the mashed avocado on top
Bring to the party
Drink a real juice margarita (virgin if you don't drink or are under 21)
Ingredients:
2 cans organic spicy refried beans
1/2 can water (use refried bean can)
1 jar salsa
2 cups shredded organic cheese (I used pepper jack)(Can substitute vegan cheese)
2 avocados mashed
1 can sweet corn drained
Directions:
Empty the refried beans into a serving casserole dish
Mix in water to thin out the beans
Mix in all other ingredients except for the avocado
Smear the mashed avocado on top
Bring to the party
Drink a real juice margarita (virgin if you don't drink or are under 21)
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