Love You (This is semi-epic, you were warned)

I've been meaning to write this post for months, but time always escapes me.

Somehow, it's not only the end of the year, but also the end of the decade. I graduated high school 10 years ago and at that point, just wanted to get out of Hartland, WI, with the goal of working in music. I wanted to work in music because I couldn't imagine the idea of doing anything else. I also wanted a job where I could listen to music all day, sleep in, and be required to go to loads of shows. I never could have imagined that ontop of touring the world numerous times, I'd live in Boston (well I guess I kind of knew that, I was headed to college there), New York, London, and Miami before semi-settling in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

I was pretty sure I could retire after Noel Gallagher dedicated "Don't Look Back in Anger" at The Hurricane Festival in Germany in 2005, but amazingly the work I kept doing kept leading to more and more fun, mind-expanding and eye-opening experiences.

When I look at our company and our roster, I have nothing but gratitude for the people whose energy was pooled for all of this to come together. I could not be more thankful and am nothing without the artists, team, and support of friends and family around me.

Three years ago, my best friend (Laura Keating aka Miss Merch) and I were working at Madison House and survived on smart interns who were able to help us with our infinite work loads. One in particular came highly recommended from Jim Anderson, one of my most respected music professors from Northeastern and her name was Lydia Berg-Hammond. Lydia was a lifesaver at Madison House for us and we also adored her infectious positive attitude and sense of humor. But alas, she had to return to school and Laura and I were terrified of getting another intern who we had to explain to who Radiohead was (not kidding). Lydia said she had a friend named Sydney Wayser who had just graduated from Berklee and needed to do an internship to finish her requirements. New intern who came recommended by LBH? Done. In walked Ms. Sydney, whose incredible spirit shone through from day one, even though she was having a hard time adjusting to New York, just like most 19 year olds. Sydney gave her my CD, and I was blown away by her vocals and musicianship. She was an incredible friend during a transitional time in my life and we've remained close ever since. 23-year old Sydney has really come into her own and I couldn't be more proud. When we first met, Sydney would ask me how I thought she could get a gig at The Living Room. Now she is a regular that packs the place out, toured nationally this summer, and is doing her first European tour this spring, while she sets ready to start working on her third album. Beyond that, Sydney has been an incredible friend and I cherish our relationship both professionally and personally. Thank you for everything, Syd!

One of my favorite jobs in college was ripping tickets at The Paradise. It paid me to see shows for free, AWESOME! One day in 2003, I was working at a Juliana Hatfield show and a band from Martha's Vineyard was opening called Unbusted. They were amazing! I remember a frontman that drew everyone in musically and a drummer going crazy (though was also musicially amazing), reminding me of one of my favorite drummers, Animal from The Muppets. After introducing myself to Joe and Sebastian Keefe multiple times over the early months of 2004 as they played around Boston, they finally started to remember who I was. :) I moved to New York in 2005 after graduation and would never miss an Unbusted show, whether it was in an illegal club in the basement of the city with Porsches on the Autobahn or at SXSW. They were amazing! But sadly, Joe and Seb moved away to Los Angeles and we stayed in touch, with them generally showing up when I'd put them on the guest list at LA shows when I was in town ;). On July 27th of this year, Sebastian sent me the following email (the subject is my favorite part):

Subject: Hi emily! Sebastian keefe

Hi emily!
How are you??!! It's been so long! I hope you are well!
I wanted to tell you about the new group that joe and I started. We're called bogie ogreton (myspace.com/bogieogreton). If you take a minute, I'm sure you will like the music.
We will be playing shows through the rest of the summer, the next one being this wednesday downtown (mountain bar). We've been busy with interviews and photoshoots, and there is beginning to be a bit of a buzz-- we haven even played out yet!
Please give the tunes a listen, any and all feedback Is greatly apreciated.
Thanks emily!
Sebastian keefe

Sent from my iPhone

Two days later, I was managing the band (without ever seeing them live!). That sounds insane, but I'd loved Unbusted live and if they were half as good live as their new recordings, I knew we'd be fine. The band's name was changed to Family of the Year and we quickly put together shows with anyone who would have us. Brian Viglione was gracious enough to have the band open for him and World/Inferno Friendship Society at The Great American Music Hall in San Fran as well as a show in San Luis Obisbo shortly after. Family bought a 1986 RV named Rosie and off we went on their first ever tour. Miracuously this has been documented (along with everything since!) by the great Chris Zampas. For me personally, that little trip was easily in my top 3 favorite tours ever. I don't know if I'd ever laughed harder. Beyond my old friends of Joe and Seb, I adored the new Family members: Brent, Christina, Vanessa and Jim and cherish every moment I get to spend with them personally as well as letting my inner-fan girl out everytime they play live. I'm oh so proud of the work these 6 have put in over the past few months and 2010 is only going to get better. :)

Top that off with Emilyn Brodsky and I couldn't have been happier with our music roster. I've known Emilyn for 6 years and she has gone from an annoying teenager that drove me crazy in the tour van to making one of my favorite albums of the year, Greatest Tits. My life wouldn't be complete without Emilyn stopping by my apartment in Williamsburg with various guests snapping secret pictures of me working, making tea, and more. She seems happier than ever and isn't that what we're all after?

As later as November of this year I was very content with all of the above. What more could I ask for? Well, a phone call from Jared Reynolds sure changed that. I'm honored to be managing the incredible Brendan Benson, one of my favorite artists of the past decade. Yes, you all know him from The Raconteurs, but his new album My Old, Familiar Friend is (not shockingly) AMAZING. I'm so excited for what we have planned for Brendan in 2010 and when he comes to your town, you'd be nuts to miss it. The show is a world-class rock n roll concert with stunning songwriting and musicianship. "Jet Lag" from 2002's Lapalco just came up on shuffle which is very appropriate for my life lately and is one of my favorite songs of all time. I am truly blessed.

However, I am nothing without our team and the support of those around me. Keri Smith inspires me daily with her unbelievable work on Margaret Cho, Selene Luna, Kevin Avery, Sara Benincasa, and Elon James White. Our posse of Sarah Martin, Lydia Berg-Hammond, Katrina Bleckley, Becca Rosenthal, Pickles, Shamisa Zvoma, Daniel Schiffer, Kelsey McLaughlin, Carl Carpenter, did incredible work this year and saved my ass daily. Everyone pray for Katrina as she battles through her last 3 law school finals of the semester. I'm truly in awe of her work ethic, dedication, and passion for life.

How do we get all of this amazing music to you? Various ways, but one is through Jesse Von Doom and CASH Music. I'm not sure if Jesse is human. He is possibly a celestial being that maybe only I can see, although he does have an equally as incredible wife and two of the most adorable little girls I have ever seen, so he's probably real. I am beyond honored to be on CASH's board and beyond the groundbreaking technical work that Jesse does, my spirits are lifted every time I speak to this man. He is one of the warmest souls I have ever met, and I'm truly honored to be associated with him.

And who are Whitesmith's biggest fans that help me to get through all of the work at the end of the day? Bob and Ann White are not only everything I could ever need as parents, but have been supporting the indie-rock community in oh so many ways this year. They hosted The Fiery Furnaces, The Wheel, and World/Infero as the bands rolled into Milwaukee and made the trek out to CMJ! So fun. CMJ was like Christmas and my birthday all wrapped into one. I was so excited that my parents were able to see basically our entire roster all in one night and see what my world is like a bit. Little brother Jesse graduates from the University of Minnesota this year and I hope to god he moves to Brooklyn. Thanks for always being there for me, Jesse!!!!!

I continue to feel beyond supported by amazing friends and mentors such as Joyce Dollinger, Elizabeth Freund, Nathan M Lew, BriAnna Olson, Michael Pope, Winifred Chane, Bill Smolen, Mike Luba, Bob Ezrin, Steve Ferguson, John and Frank Raso, and more. Turning up to our shows alone means the world to me.

I'm writing this on a plane coming home-ish from a 48 hour trip to London. I have shows in Nashville and LA before returning to Brooklyn, but I am so grateful for the past two days as well. The hospitality of others around the world continues to astound me. Thank you Ross for bringing me to Royal Albert Hall this week, truly an honor. Thank you Sulinna for putting me up and empathizing with everything that goes into management + inspiring me and encouraging me to keep it up. Thank you Elif and Emma for always making time to get together when I'm in London, love you girls!

I'm looking forward to Brendan's show in Nashville and spending time with Whitesmith West, Sydney, and Family of the Year in LA this week before headed home for one last weekend of yoga teacher training. I owe another blog post about how much yoga teacher training has (literally) changed my life. But the best part of the experience has been the wonderful community that has come out of the group doing the training. I have 30 new wonderful friends in Williamsburg and I can't wait to witness their continued growth.

So basically, I'm nothing without you all, am SO EXCITED for 2010 and hope you all will join us.

Much Love,

Em Wizzle