Strung Out Episode 253: MOMMA'S IN THE KITCHEN. THE CREATIVE CORE OF KELLI OWENS HUTTON

Kelli Owens Hutton has had it all--and has had it as well.  A musician, once signed to Atlantic Records, Owens Hutton found herself: midlife, middle class, midwestern and in crisis.  Raising a family and wondering what to do with her rock n' roll, she founded MomCore--an exploration of the famous saying "all men lead lives of quiet desperation" but from the perspective of the 21st century, holding-it-all together woman.  Real life and real issues come to roost on the soccer field, the playground, the house and the job.  Owens Hutton has crafted songs that are punk, angry, frustrated and can elicit a knowing wry smile perhaps in the simplicity her take on everyday reality.  And that reality is a battleground for relevance and sanity.  She knows her way around a guitar and is masterful in her lyric writing as well.  For any aspiring musician who thinks that cool can't drive a minivan, study what Owens Hutton is all about.  Her website is www.kelliowenshutton.com.

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:14:44
Unknown
Welcome to Strung Out, the podcast that looks at life through the lens of an artist. Your host is the artist, writer and musician Martin Lawrence McCormack. Now here's Marty.

00:00:14:44 - 00:00:55:29
Unknown
Hey everybody, welcome back to Strung Out. And this is the second part of my interview with Kelly Owens Houghton. And, she is the, torchbearer of mom core and, and, very, And if you've got to watch the last podcast to find out about her life, how she got into music and, and has managed to have a successful career, which is what this podcast is all about, is the idea that, you know, you there's a lot of people out there that are, you know, really the true journeyman musicians.

00:00:55:40 - 00:01:23:08
Unknown
I'll get off my soapbox. I'll turn to you and say, good to have you here. Give us a song right off the get go and I'll. What do you got? Let's do, this is a song called Car Seat. Hot sun. It's another one that I wrote for Jenny. Sentiment's. Haiku. Haiku? So.

00:01:23:19 - 00:01:25:30
Unknown
Yeah. All right. That song,

00:01:31:28 - 00:02:06:53
Unknown
I feel it doesn't tell us. Even had a clue. Others makes its way to the nightmare. And that's what. And it's a band I can't win. You can't get to try to tune what? Don't try to turn. And you screws. I want to stop and you won't stop. I'm behind me. I'm on the back up my hands trying to get.

00:02:06:57 - 00:02:31:39
Unknown
I'll take what I like the smell be like a car seat. Have some some water on me. Got some short term memory. Right. Cars and hot sun and then.

00:02:31:44 - 00:02:39:25
Unknown
They.

00:02:45:59 - 00:03:28:04
Unknown
I feel a free kick in the. No, no relief rise from in here. Get down. You in a try? Me? I can't get no relief burning. It's not me. Check. What am I if you show me car seat, hop some some water. If you got some, short term memory. Oh. Like cars in hot sun. Cars, hot summers.

00:03:28:09 - 00:03:51:34
Unknown
You got some short term memory. You might see. Yeah, I don't, I don't, I don't I mind don't I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, don't I do.

00:03:51:39 - 00:03:57:30
Unknown
I don't, I don't, I do.

00:03:57:35 - 00:04:00:53
Unknown
You don't, I don't, you.

00:04:02:55 - 00:04:29:52
Unknown
Very cool. Thank, a lot of thoughts going through my mind when I'm listening to it. I'm thinking this. This woman is able to do the whole, Jack white kind of thing. You know, you're a one woman band. I like it in the way that, you know, I guess, maybe I'm old fashioned in that way, but I like the idea that, you know, you're.

00:04:29:57 - 00:04:48:20
Unknown
You got the rhythm. I can hear everything in that. You know, I can hear the drums. And tonight. And I like, how you use your voice, you know, as an instrument to. So you're not just. You know, I think that's so important. I mean, you know, it's one thing to sing lyrics, but the other thing is, God, you got a voice, you know, turn it into the guitar.

00:04:48:23 - 00:05:13:56
Unknown
Yeah. Sing the solos. Yeah. I think the things that are in my head, I think. I think that it's great. And, I did a song in which, I actually made my voice sound like was coming through a radio. Oh, well. And I wrote it because my when my daughter was born, it was the polar vortex. And, you know, I kept saying, Papa, Papa has got to pull on his old, you know, pants.

00:05:13:56 - 00:05:34:14
Unknown
Here, honey, you're walking around at 3:00 in the morning, and I thought, I love that, but I'm gonna put on that. That was the thing that came out, and I just remember this, musician saved me. Why? Why do you. Why are you using that voice? And I said, well, that's what your voice is. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:05:34:28 - 00:05:58:53
Unknown
So this, again, you talk about, you know, this thing that anybody can, identify with that's a parent. That car seat in the hot sun. But, dissect this a little bit for me. Is this about a relationship? Is this, what where are we going with this process? You know, I think it's about a few things.

00:05:58:57 - 00:06:21:31
Unknown
One, which is rage. Yeah, a little bit. It's also about menopause. So all the things that, I kind of always wanted to write a song about, that's sure. Because it and, and, and sort of like talk about it. That's why I say like don't talk about it. Yeah. Like I want to talk about it, but it's always like don't about it.

00:06:21:31 - 00:06:45:32
Unknown
Right. Like so I actually re I, I, I've been recording this with Liam and I, when I was recording it, I had this image of this woman named Tracy who is, who went viral for being at a football game called. And she was having a hot flash and her head was literally steaming, like, literally smoking. Wow.

00:06:45:44 - 00:07:00:36
Unknown
And so I put the quote, I, I wasn't I the song is not yet, I'm just going to put it out, but I just, I don't like I have this image of your head that I mean like it went viral. She went on like, Good Morning America was all about it because, like, it's just like somebody's clowning around this video.

00:07:00:47 - 00:07:26:26
Unknown
I'm like, man. So I'm like, I always imagine the chorus of my song with your head on fire. Can I are you cool if I'm if I do this and she's like, yes. So I just make it recently and it's like Car seat hot song, you know that? Yes. And then her head's just like steaming. But it's also honestly about rage and anger and just, you know, you know, those are those obviously are related, but it's also, you know, just anger in general.

00:07:26:26 - 00:07:49:50
Unknown
It can be related to when you're really, you know, you you learn, I think the extremes of your temper should really become apparent. Right? You learn the expression of everything, of love, of all of it. Right. Your partner. Oh. You know. Oh, yeah. And, rage is a, difficult kind of thing to write, and it's, you know, that anybody.

00:07:49:55 - 00:08:14:14
Unknown
Oh, here we go again. Anybody can write a sad song. And it was interesting talking on the, because he, he he said that he felt like, western society, the society we're in is a little more predisposed toward the idea of writing in the melancholy. And that's why you don't hear too many people, you know, singing, or writing good upbeat songs.

00:08:14:18 - 00:08:46:21
Unknown
Yeah, but you don't hear a lot of people writing good rage songs where they're tapping into that right of real anger. And that doesn't mean, like scream, you know? Right, exactly. So in speaking to something and feeling it and the depth beyond just rage are you is is rage your primary muse? And I mean, that rage, like, you know, with a little lover, you know, you don't strike me as the kind of person that goes around breaking furniture, you know?

00:08:46:22 - 00:09:12:11
Unknown
But, you know, I might apply to, you know, but, you know, we all have rage to some degree. Yeah. Especially living in, you know, in this world. I'll just leave it at that. But there's rage. Yeah. And maybe we're more here triggered than ever before. So. Yeah. Yeah. For somebody that wants to write about rage, how do you how do you go about it?

00:09:12:16 - 00:09:39:15
Unknown
Well, I mean, for me, I had, the idea initially of the hot flash, which it's not just like, that's just that's the surface thing. It's the thing underneath. Right? And then, when I read the haiku in it, and I pulled those words together, I just think that, it's also you have to, like, find the vibe.

00:09:39:19 - 00:10:04:14
Unknown
That's the thing. Like what you're saying. Like which white or whatever it is. Like, you have to find the musical muse and kind of go with that and not judge it, not get in the way of it. If it's sound light, like at first that was, this is how my writing has changed is before, if I wrote started something and it sounded like it reminded me of something, I would just go, oh no, I can't, you know, it was like so like, sure.

00:10:04:14 - 00:10:35:26
Unknown
Now I'm like, no, you know what? It will always it morphs. If I stick with it, it will actually morph into something. So for rage, for me, like I, you have to come from that visceral point of view of rock or whatever. It's like that thing you have to, like, find that and then go from there. And, you know, the last interview, as I was kind of saying, you know, there's that, you know, I, I sense the rebel in you, you know, the, the rebelliousness is strong in this room.

00:10:35:31 - 00:11:05:03
Unknown
But that, that, you know, tapping into that, and writing that out, are you are you like, okay. Let's just go with this car seat one. I'm going into menopause or kale and I, I, you know, these things are happening to me. Are you jotting down, these ideas first, or are you like, go into.

00:11:05:08 - 00:11:32:23
Unknown
Yeah, almost. Sounds like, you know, like that groove that you came up with. I that's an angry groove, too, in a way. Yeah. You know, it's not like, Yeah, it's it's like the, it's. I had this image of a person in a grocery store with people in their way, you know? You know, they're like, you know, you know, and you could just say, yeah, you know, I don't know, I just got that kind of, that image and the imagery of,

00:11:32:28 - 00:11:52:21
Unknown
Yes, exactly. You know, I mean, yeah, when the music meets the lyric, it's like, thank you. Right? Otherwise it's contrived. And, and this is, I don't I don't even know how I don't this is, I've been thinking about this lately. Like, when I look at the songs I've written, because, like, that was not in the record I've already written, like a follow up.

00:11:52:27 - 00:12:11:34
Unknown
I've got like ten more songs. I just started one thanks to you, because I was like, oh my God, I have to practice. I just start I started something, you know, the other day, I know, yeah. But I'm like, I don't there's something happening where it's like, I don't know where this is coming from. It's it's just bizarre.

00:12:11:34 - 00:12:35:33
Unknown
I'm just. I guess I'm just so open to it. And, being I am not editing in any way, it's really important to edit what, what comes through because it always transforms, you know? Always transforms. Are you, are you of the, school of. I write everything down by hand. Are you first or or. Okay. It's to be I used to.

00:12:35:44 - 00:13:01:29
Unknown
You mean like literally. Literally like. Yeah, I used to. I have notebooks and notebooks and notebooks now, the I when things come to me, it's like I need it. I need to get to it right away. So I have, notes in my cell. I have titles I really like to come from a title like, and just have you, and because that was a lot of times leading to the hook.

00:13:01:34 - 00:13:22:54
Unknown
And it's also good for recall. I mean, yeah, you're looking and I just got through and I'm like, so how does this how do you that's that's fascinating because I mean, I usually think the title is the last. Yeah. You know, the star you put on top of the Christmas tree, a national influence I really don't see unless one of you I said, you do everything backwards and now you're doing it backwards again.

00:13:23:08 - 00:13:47:56
Unknown
So you. Yeah, I used to do that. It's a lot with the type. I mean. So you kind of have a is a type of concept title. Okay I like that. But the titles if the title is lot like for me, titles, I don't know, they're it's not the concept, you know. So like I'm working on a song called back in the basement, you know, and it's like, I, it's it to me.

00:13:48:08 - 00:14:07:51
Unknown
I mean, I've written it. I was still a little frustrated with the song because this is like, like inevitably all of these songs, there's a moment where I'm like, oh, okay. Yeah. And I have to trust that it's going to be okay. But again, in the past, my my younger self would have been like, I'm, I've hit a wall and it's done.

00:14:07:51 - 00:14:31:07
Unknown
Now I'm like, I hit a wall. I'm like, I got this and I'm going to get I gotta trust, I'm going to trust. I've gotten through this before. And it's literally like, the more you push through that hard part, the better it is. You're bringing out a lot of good advice. The other side of it is so worth it if you just push through, and you just have to remember that there's always there's always something there.

00:14:31:07 - 00:14:55:11
Unknown
There will always be something there. And it's something I learned from. Is it hitting the wall or is it like hitting a sense of, self-doubt and fear? Well, the that's that's what I'm speaking to that with the way that I right now, the self-doubt and fear is not invited to the party, okay? You're not allowed to get out like you're not allowed into this party.

00:14:55:16 - 00:15:16:08
Unknown
You have to be able to say all the stupid things and do all that, you know what I mean? You have to work around all the crap, so to speak, to get to the good stuff. Sometimes. Sometimes you have great stuff off of that, whatever. But you cannot judge or be doubtful of that. All of that goes around of creating something.

00:15:16:13 - 00:15:43:03
Unknown
Those that is ego. You have to leave that at the door. When you say you, you, you know, you don't edit anything. Is there a point where and I get that like everything out? Yeah, right. But at some point you're, you're start want to wind down because you're, you're crafting like 2 to 3 minute songs, which are difficult, especially if you want to try to get your point across.

00:15:43:08 - 00:16:14:49
Unknown
You know, that's, so that's, that's amazing right there. So, and stop me if I'm wrong in your process. Okay. Kelly goes in and she has a working title, right? Everything out, you know, without editing. So you're getting your your your vibe, your feeling. Yeah. And then music comes along at some point and then does the windowing of the words begin where you supposed to kind of go together?

00:16:14:54 - 00:16:38:15
Unknown
The melody, the lyric and the music kind of usually like the obviously the title comes first. That's the lyric. And sometimes I'll have, I'll have four lines that I will have written, but the music will not have been written yet. You know what I mean? So, but eventually then it kind of comes together. What I mean by like, not editing is that, like, if I, I, I won't if I think I don't really say no.

00:16:38:26 - 00:17:06:45
Unknown
So it's like if I start a thing and if I the second that I feel like, like I'm judging, I just push that to the side and I just sort of allow whatever musically to happen. And lyrically, more than ever is where I really just say anything, everything, write it all out. I mean, I have like I have literally paragraphs for the mother involved because I could not figure out how, like I was like doing this when it ended up.

00:17:06:45 - 00:17:27:44
Unknown
And then I went back to the old school, repeat the verse because I was like, I've said everything. Yeah, but to get to that point, I had to say everything, you know, right? I had to like, just do like, of all the ideas. So that's a that's a good point for anybody. You know, song songwriting is, you know, don't limit yourself, you know.

00:17:27:44 - 00:17:52:24
Unknown
Yeah. It's thinking, so you might, you know, you might surprise yourself because, you know, it's way down the pipe where you might find that kernel of truth. Yeah. So, I mean, I just I still think the repetition of that there's a special place. Yeah. And you know, which. Yeah, it's also humorous. Yeah. Which, you know, you feel the last interview with Kelly?

00:17:52:24 - 00:18:19:33
Unknown
We're talking about how she, you know, trained with improv, which really helps because that spontaneity is, you know, that's all like stream of consciousness kind of stuff to. Right? Yeah. Some degree. So, so, let me ask you this and then let's have you play another song. When do you get the feeling that it is complete?

00:18:19:38 - 00:18:41:16
Unknown
Okay. So for me, this is what's also changed about my writing is that before I feel like free mom core not so much right before, but, you know, younger readers, right? I feel like I got a verse, a chorus. Good, maybe a bridge. I didn't always, I didn't try to better at. So like I will have the most of it written and there's always a thing, right.

00:18:41:16 - 00:18:57:53
Unknown
There's always a little nag where it's like, this line could be better. That's where I'm at with this other song. Like, there's something that is not I could. Yes. Could I present this song as this? Yes. But there's something in me that goes. There's something here that could be better. So it's like I'm always trying to make it better.

00:18:57:58 - 00:19:22:51
Unknown
Always, always trying to elevate it. Could this line be better? Because this. And you have to wait for me. I have to let it sit. So I need like a week to two weeks, whereas before I'd be like, don't do, because when you let it sit and then you go back and then you're like, you know, and then you play to your phone, listen to it back on the phone, go, oh, this lyric isn't you're not hearing this lyric the way that I'm hearing in my head, whatever.

00:19:22:56 - 00:19:41:20
Unknown
So it's done when I feel like all those things have been checked. Right. I don't have that inner feeling of, this can be better, or I and I have listened back and I can I can hear it. And this is after a break because you have to have that break from it a little bit. Sure. You know, but, it will eat at me.

00:19:41:20 - 00:20:07:38
Unknown
I mean, they're, you know, they will they won't let me go. So it's like, I'll start one. It will not let me go until I get to that point. How cool is that? I mean, I get that, and, I was going to ask you this, and then and then we will have you play. So, do you ever look back at some of the songs that you've written and you say, oh, man, I could have used Going outside.

00:20:07:51 - 00:20:27:30
Unknown
Yeah. And that changed it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. Why didn't I think of that? Now I have a voice teacher a long time ago that said to me, you know, and it kind of helped me with recording and, and for what it's worth, is, she said that is you at that point in time. Right. Just let it go.

00:20:27:35 - 00:20:49:35
Unknown
But do you think it's it's let's just say you, you know, we let's let's use the car seat time and, you know, three years from now, you come across a lyric, you know, like, oh, I should put that in there. Yeah, just Kelly sort put it in. No, I think because the work that I'm doing now is 100%.

00:20:49:40 - 00:21:19:22
Unknown
I mean, I'm going to what I feel is 100% of the same. So if a piece is done, it's it's done for me. And if I look back and I may have that, I mean, I probably will, I'll probably make sure I did. I swear on that one. Right. Whatever. Whatever it is, you know, but I won't, I will, given where I'm at now, I think I'll give myself the grace in the future to say like, no, like that's where I was to your teacher.

00:21:19:22 - 00:21:42:09
Unknown
I feel like, you know. Yeah. When you know that you've given it 100, you know, then it's like, then you. Then you just act like, as they say, once you put it out there, it's not your it's is true. And then it's nice. You're burning your own bridges behind you. You musically move forward. Right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Which is I always feel bad for those artists that have to go back and play all their hits, you know?

00:21:42:09 - 00:22:05:41
Unknown
I know, because that's like purgatory. Yes. And, but, give us a song. And then when we come back from the break, I want to talk about your set up. And now I want to talk a little more. It just about not only songcraft, but, you know, just advice for, people, especially, women.

00:22:05:46 - 00:22:30:56
Unknown
And I'm not going to say young women. I think, I think, you know, moms, I think you're, you're, you're you might be young, you might be starting the school for moms, you know, school of Rock for moms. I mean, it's it's, I mean, I think you're tapping into something that, you know, I'm not going to be surprised if I see you on, like, CBS Sunday Morning and three years, you know, talking about this mom thing because.

00:22:30:56 - 00:22:56:15
Unknown
Yeah, I think it's a very legitimate journey. You know, women and men to some degree. But men are different. And I won't go into that. But, you know, that idea of of getting out that emotional. Yeah. That, that, yeah. Through music especially because I think the accusation usually is that women will sit with each other and, and they're able to diffuse that way.

00:22:56:15 - 00:23:23:07
Unknown
But, you know, I know so much for therapeutic God. So, so give us a town and, what's this one called? Okay. So I'll do this. This song is called debt. So this is another one where I had a title called dip. And this is actually, this is a case of where I got this guitar, and then it was the very first thing that I played, and then I just ended up writing a song.

00:23:23:12 - 00:23:29:45
Unknown
You know, the first line is, what I had written down, underneath the title. And

00:23:29:45 - 00:23:37:25
Unknown
then.

00:23:37:30 - 00:23:51:54
Unknown
Right now, it took me from you. I love, know.

00:23:51:58 - 00:23:58:17
Unknown
How to.

00:23:58:21 - 00:24:06:08
Unknown
You know.

00:24:06:12 - 00:24:21:46
Unknown
It's kind good. It's ready for song. And there's no way. Let me see if I can talk you up. But I had to get it to.

00:24:21:51 - 00:24:50:18
Unknown
You that you guys, you have a lot to wrap up, but I got, like, a top down. At the bottom, like, I want to hear from you. I kind.

00:24:50:23 - 00:25:04:44
Unknown
I want to make. You wanna blow me?

00:25:04:49 - 00:25:19:31
Unknown
Any.

00:25:19:36 - 00:25:26:29
Unknown
Money. Since.

00:25:26:33 - 00:25:29:06
Unknown
You getting up? Get.

00:25:29:06 - 00:25:35:31
Unknown
Back! Kelly on. So strung out

00:25:36:29 - 00:26:13:55
Unknown
Hello subscribers, and welcome to Inside Views of Mardi Fine Art, where people are talking about their collected works by artist Martin Al McCormick. Like this planar watercolor titled River Bower, Donegal, Ireland, recently purchased by Cindy Roby. Her trip to Ireland was such a gift. Even more so is the forever reminder of the trip we had to. Marty's painting was a Bower Donegal.

00:26:14:00 - 00:26:42:29
Unknown
It is a beautiful rendition of a path we actually had the pleasure of walking. Marty masterfully captured the light through the trees, the gentle breeze and the brilliance of the soft colored leaves. It truly embodies the peace and tranquility of Ireland. We all remember it always, along with the friendships made and the memories that this unforgettable painting inspires.

00:26:42:34 - 00:27:00:27
Unknown
Thank you for supporting Marty Fine Art, Cindy. Additional originals and prints and merchandise of all of Marty's art can be purchased at Martin mccormick.com.

00:27:00:27 - 00:27:21:54
Unknown
We're back. And, the song dip is great. And Neil Young would be happy with that. One note guitar. Yes. That cinnamon girl was like, you know. Nan. Amy. Oh, yeah. That's a genius. Those are the only solos you know how to do. I like that. I like it a lot.

00:27:21:56 - 00:27:48:59
Unknown
I just think that, For the obvious reason that you can, you can walk into anything with your guitar and sing and present, and it's the satisfying. Yeah. To me, as a listener for the aspiring rock guitarist. Tell us a little bit. Why do you have this, Fender Mustang? How did you get it? And, you know, a Fender m that looks like an old arm.

00:27:49:05 - 00:28:01:14
Unknown
This morning I've had for ever since my. I lived in New York. Is that two bears? Electric? It's two. It's, It's the light.

00:28:01:18 - 00:28:20:33
Unknown
Yeah. So, I love it. It's. I mean, it's great. Just a little lamp. You know, it's great for clothes. Sleeping good, you know? But anything bigger, you're gonna want a bigger. But you bring that on stage with you. Do you have a mic? I do, you got my good? Yeah. For sure. Yeah. And then what kind of strings are you using?

00:28:20:33 - 00:28:43:06
Unknown
Are using like gauge or just like, for medium. Medium, you know. Doesn't matter. I actually only just started to really play, I mean, I've been playing guitar for, you know, long time, but the electric, I only pulled up, honestly, the last few years were I really like. Because with mom for I was like, I'm not going to.

00:28:43:18 - 00:29:03:32
Unknown
It's got to be electric. You better have electric. I mean, if you're writing songs about rage. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like, there's no. Yeah, you could do it, but it wouldn't be the same. No. So. But this guitar, I got so I was using I was borrowing my neighbor's guitar. We did a swap because I had a tally, which is like an 88 tally, but the intonation is so whack.

00:29:03:32 - 00:29:22:07
Unknown
I'm telling you, I wish it wasn't, but it is. And he had a Strat, so I'm like, here in the slots. And I was initially playing this Strat, which is not like my favorite thing, but and then, this guy that has been a really great mom for sort of like a cheerleader named Stan Carlucci, who is in Detroit.

00:29:22:07 - 00:29:38:39
Unknown
And he texted me, he was like, I'm in an estate sale for this guy. You know, it's all these guitars, all this stuff. They've never been played. Most of it was like, bought and and so this was on there, and I was actually in the studio with Leo, and it's crafted in Japan. It's, I think it's in 93 or 94.

00:29:38:39 - 00:29:58:30
Unknown
It's never it was never played a lot. I used, you know, I love the racing stuff. Yeah. I mean, I at first I was like, oh. And then I'm like, you know what? If I think it's kind of cool. So this is your instrument of choice? Yeah. Yeah. It's well right now and it and it does. And we're using, just the various.

00:29:58:35 - 00:30:20:55
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Usually it's like, you know, nursing home level. Yeah. But yet it's still, it's still the presence of it is, you know, really satisfying again with that that punchiness. Yeah. This is like Kurt. So I guess this is what Kurt Cobain way to like. Has he had that whole, like that, whatever that, you know. And then what would you say to me.

00:30:21:00 - 00:30:43:54
Unknown
Yeah. So he so he did it like out of everything like that. Who gives us that punch? Yeah. Whatever. That punch, that, that, we don't that's, I love that with the grunge. Yeah. Because, you know, just again, it was like, you know, it's moving walls. It felt like, you know, that kind of sound.

00:30:43:59 - 00:31:12:32
Unknown
Well, let's let's, let's go back a little bit about your songwriting. But also like, you know, your stage presence. Do you like to do you like to have a band around you? Oh, yeah. So tell us a little bit about that. Well, I have, right now, Liam Davis, who I, who I made record was the Prince's at work with.

00:31:12:36 - 00:31:38:34
Unknown
I work with, stuff right now. Is I've corralled him to play with me, so only on the big gigs, you know? So he's playing bass, and then, although we all kind of our multi-instrumentalist. So we can kind of swap and do stuff, and then I've got Gerald out on drums. He does this cool stand up cocktail kind of kit thing, which works for this right now.

00:31:38:39 - 00:31:59:14
Unknown
We'll bring out the Van Halen kit for the bigger gigs. And then Leslie Buchanan has been playing keyboards and guitar and very mom for because she, like, picked up the guitar, like, two weeks before one of our gigs and, like, you're good, you're fine. You know, like, it's all, like, just. I'll play bass on some stuff, I'll do some beatboxing, you know, for some grooves sometimes.

00:31:59:14 - 00:32:17:35
Unknown
And, like, we just sort of, play all the things and it's really, really fun. And, and harmony is key because I've got a lot of backgrounds on my stuff in, like, parts. So, like the school parts. Are you a natural there with Harmony and that? Yeah, I am let's makes everything that we do. That's what I'm able to do.

00:32:17:43 - 00:32:42:54
Unknown
Yeah. It's fun. Yeah. It's a bass. Are you using, exclusively your own songs? Yeah. So I know back in the day when you were in your Nashville years, you did a little bit of collaboration and stuff like that. Well, how do you, how do you like to run a band? With a lot of bands.

00:32:42:59 - 00:33:02:23
Unknown
Stretching out? Oh, no. Well, it's funny because I just, you know, I, I've had a zillion bands. And then to your point of, like, I got to the point where I'm like, I need to rely on myself because these people are unreliable. Like, this is like, back in the day, you know, like, sometimes they show up, sometimes they would usually they would.

00:33:02:23 - 00:33:21:54
Unknown
You know, I work with really great people. But think in general it's just give them the thing, give them the music. And then we, we just laugh. We have a lot of time. We work in, Gerald's murder basement. In other words, it's a very scary basement. And and we just, you know, play the songs. There's they're all pros, so.

00:33:21:59 - 00:33:42:54
Unknown
Like, it really should just be light and fun and I, you know, I, I don't take it like I take the writing and all that obviously very seriously. But when I'm in the thing I just wanna have fun, you know a lot of fun. And when you're working with people that are incredible, then you can have, you know, and that translates well on stage, of course, because you have that.

00:33:43:05 - 00:34:02:05
Unknown
Yeah. It's really that force with you and you just like it's so important to be able to like, know that they've got you. You know what I mean? Like you can rely on them and you know, to, to to do the thing. And then even if they and whatever, it's like we're not saving lives here, we're not performing surgery.

00:34:02:05 - 00:34:35:41
Unknown
So if anyone makes a mistake, you know, make it harder. Yeah. Or repeat it. I think that was, three more times. Yeah. We should be giving out your website right now for those that are listening. And, it's been, throughout the, the, YouTube version of this podcast, but it's Kelly with and I owns houghton.com, and, if you go there you're going to see everything that she is doing and just all the things.

00:34:35:41 - 00:35:03:58
Unknown
Yeah. And you know, is there, any gigs on the horizon in the next six months that we should be aware of? Yeah. I've checked the calendar, but we're playing Fitzgerald's in September. I'm doing the haiku. Haiku New Year's show, and, Johnny. Yeah. And then I'm planning my next mom for a show. You know, where I've got stand up comedy, in France and the band and all that.

00:35:03:58 - 00:35:24:50
Unknown
That'll be, like, more in the fall and winter. The mom, of course. Songs are. They translate well when you're just up there fronting a band. Well, that's what that's what. So this gig in, Fitzgerald's that I got asked to open for this band, and I was like, dude, you know what I do, right? Like, how old is your audience?

00:35:24:50 - 00:35:40:05
Unknown
Because if they're like 20 somethings, I don't know if this is going to work like, you know, I don't care. I'll do it, you know? And there's like, oh, no, they're all they're like probably 30s, 40s. They've, they've got kids, you know, like whatever. And again, it doesn't matter. But this will be our first time not doing improv with it.

00:35:40:05 - 00:36:02:36
Unknown
But and I'm really looking forward to it. I've done it obviously like by myself doing shows and stuff, without any improv going on with it. But, yeah, it's going to be great. I think it's been awesome. That translates well, though, into like theaters. I mean, yeah, that's only going well. That's what I want to do, you know, like combining rock and comedy is to me like, such a natural.

00:36:02:41 - 00:36:31:12
Unknown
I feel like it's so natural. But comedy clubs inherently sound like crap, and then you might not necessarily have the stage. So it's like you have to find the right stage to do this show. And it exists for sure. Well, we get we're getting to the point where we have to have you play one more song, and we're also getting to that point where you offer sage advice to people, okay, so put on your best sage.

00:36:31:17 - 00:37:02:05
Unknown
What what advice do you have, for people that, want to be like you, writing songs, performing, you know, you, your, your life, the trajectory of your music career, of course, took you to all the the meccas of the music business. Yeah. Here you are in the Windy City, and, but the Windy City is so amazing for the depth of music and musicianship that's here.

00:37:02:12 - 00:37:27:32
Unknown
Yeah. But, you know, anybody, trying to get into this? What's your advice? I mean, you just have to do it like you just said. If you're going to write a song, you want to be a songwriter, be the songwriter. Just write. I think that the the biggest thing that I always found helpful, especially when I moved to a new city, was, like I said, I would find an open mic.

00:37:27:37 - 00:37:59:18
Unknown
When I was in New York, I, I did it, and it's not like you want to find a good one. So it's helpful if you can ask a musician like what's, what's a good one or what have you. To just to, just to start playing like this is if you're like, really know, you know, like just go out there and put yourself in front of people right away and then collaborate, try, find, try, find people and learn how to collaborate and understand that when you collaborate, think of the other person that you're working with as having the better idea, so their ideas are better than yours.

00:37:59:27 - 00:38:25:12
Unknown
I feel like if you come from that perspective, then you're always going to be elevating each other, right? And you want to just be open, and not don't say no. Yes. And say no. It's really good advice there. I like that too. Yes. And but I like that idea of like to collaborate, you know, just assume that the other person has a better idea to sort of shoot him down.

00:38:25:19 - 00:38:44:30
Unknown
Yeah. And then you're whirling out of control. Nothing worse than being in a, you know, like that kind of vibe. It's like, no, go in, open and elevate each other. One less thing since you know you are married, you have two kids. You know, your husband, is he still in the music business or is he kind of.

00:38:44:31 - 00:39:05:38
Unknown
I mean, I know he has the dad band, you know? Yeah. No. He is. He's still in the biz. It's funny, because he's in the in the business, business side of it. So, the artist side of it, right? The business, he learned. He's learned a lot from me. I give him that perspective of, like, you know, like, oh, my God, don't be silly.

00:39:05:43 - 00:39:31:55
Unknown
You know? And then he learned, you know, I'm like, I teach him how to handle artists and, you know, in a way. And then he gives me the perspective of, we are absolutely replaceable as artists, as business people. You are. There's another one. There's another one. There's another one. You you know, they actually are around a lot longer than the artists, right?

00:39:32:00 - 00:40:00:07
Unknown
The ones that are in the biz, you know, so they're on the run and they see and know everyone in terms of artists. So don't be a pain in the ass. Oh, no. Oh, that's good advice. Yeah. You know, I mean, to to go into it with a sense of joy, but also, you know, understand that you're in a you're in a business, you're in the top 1 or 1 of the toughest businesses out there because, just as you said, there's there's always somebody else.

00:40:00:07 - 00:40:21:03
Unknown
And, you know, the business end of things are not looking like, oh, this person is so creative. Yeah. Let's hang on to that. Yeah. It's like, how many units can we sold? Yeah. Can we do this tour? And, you know, so that's that's tough. That's tough. Yeah. I always say like, don't be so awesome. Don't take don't be precious about your instincts.

00:40:21:03 - 00:40:43:58
Unknown
So, like, you know, always be willing to like, pivot and and move and don't be precious here and write another great song and be okay. And maybe don't take yourself too seriously. Right. Kind of find the humor in all of it. I mean, I think that's I think so at the end of the day, I think, as I like to say, nobody's keeping score at the end, you know, live your life.

00:40:44:03 - 00:41:03:14
Unknown
Yeah. And don't worry about maybe, you know, whether you're going to have a legacy or not, because I like to say 200 years from now, nobody has a legacy. That's true, you know? And that's going to die. Yeah, well, I'm going to die. Have a nice day.

00:41:03:19 - 00:41:25:01
Unknown
Little showing up. Thank you for showing up on this podcast. That seems very appropriate with you, Kelly. Over the top. Rock us out with one more. I want to thank you, one of July. And thank you for having so much fun. I hope we can have you back. And, just the best of everything with your career and your family.

00:41:25:01 - 00:41:50:14
Unknown
And, thank you for your tying it all together, you know? So. So what have we got? Okay, so this song, I will dare to play it. But it's called man flu. This is another one that I got a title from a friend who was like, about man, I didn't. I knew what it was, but I didn't know there was an actual name for it.

00:41:50:19 - 00:42:12:06
Unknown
Yeah. So this is called, manslaughter. And by the way, I played this the first time I played this was, friendly, I think, with, like, a songwriter thing. Just, just tested it out, and it was hilarious because I was, you know, here. And the venom is pretty long, so I'm, like, playing it. And all the men are like.

00:42:12:11 - 00:42:23:41
Unknown
And all the women are like, I got it. And I told my husband he's like, that's so punk. I'm like, yeah, they were. Now they're gonna get me. So this is Nashville, man.

00:42:26:42 - 00:42:36:03
Unknown
He's.

00:42:36:08 - 00:43:24:40
Unknown
You call the doctor. Let's go. Come on. Diagnosis. You're gonna live. And all that money. So. Yeah. Hurry. Keep quiet. It's not that deep. You see the difference between us and you? We got to suck it up. Please stop the music start. You know, Mr. Party, love me. Try and drink. Right. We're gonna make it. You're gonna be.

00:43:24:45 - 00:44:06:55
Unknown
You're not. I'm just gonna be the. It's just. It's. Time to get the man's. Just empty. So drunk and. It's just a it's like a I'm. You kind.

00:44:07:00 - 00:44:41:36
Unknown
You know, it's to go to drink, I do. You got something I never to try to take. You should I continue to keep. Hold me down. Yeah. You know, that's right. Do you wanna take a vacation from your vacation? Take your place. You can, you can you feel better? Take the reflection from your vacation. You feel better. Take a vacation from your vacation.

00:44:41:41 - 00:45:19:35
Unknown
You're not dying. You go be. It's just a little on you got. You got the man you just now empty so many. It's just a year to go. And you got to go empty. You got, you got to make you feel better. You got. You got to be better. You got it.

00:45:21:47 - 00:45:49:28
Unknown
All love come. Kelly, hold it up and deliver it with, Just great energy and, and and the words. You nailed it. I love it. And as a man who's had many, can relate, you know, I feel better. I feel better now that I heard that. And, I bet you guys feel better, too.

00:45:49:30 - 00:46:14:25
Unknown
And, don't forget to look her up. Check out the website. And, Kelly Owens houghton.com. Check out where she's going to be performing with mom or with her band with, the famous Gerald Dowd who plays in everybody's band tonight. Yep. There's more than one Gerald. I everything. Gerald, if you're listening, you've been cloned, I think.

00:46:14:30 - 00:46:27:07
Unknown
But, again, thank you so much. Thank you. And, thank you guys for listening and supporting and let's keep this, this Chicago music thing rolling. Okay. Until next time. We'll see you later. Bye bye.

00:46:27:07 - 00:46:44:50
Unknown
Thank you for listening. For more information about this show or a transcript, visit Martin mccormack.com while there. Sign up for our newsletter. See you next time on Strung Out.

00:46:44:55 - 00:46:57:42
Unknown
It's so strong. Spain, we feel, makes no sense at all. The swan song wasn't part of the deal, was no good. All giving no choice. Giving us a.