Posted up new cover of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's, 'Up Above My Head', live in Austin. It's pitchy and awesome. You should be able to download it too.

Well now that the turkey comas have let up..

So gang, its getting close. So close I can feel it. We are wrapping the recording, (I keep being picky and want to change things), but thats finished. And the artwork is being wrapped up as we speak. Im taking forever! Im sorry..

Hanging out in a little coffee shop in Lincoln Nebraska. I've been on a little Midwest jaunt for about 5 days now. It's a short one, just long enough for me to get used to being on the road again, get it in my blood, then get dissapointed because it's over so soon. 

So, I'm still getting ready for DFEST, and I can barely wait! I'm lookin' forward to seein' all my friends who are playing and just hanging out, as well as some other bands like Gogol Bordello(!), Cake, The Cool Kids, to name a few. Here's the info for my show..

I havent written in awhile. Ive been a little busy, sorry! And now I have something that looks like the flu.. In the middle of July! GaA

Well, if you havent noticed, the CD release show has been removed from the calendar. Dont worry! Its only being postponed, until when? No idea. Like Ive been telling you guys, we are having alot of awesome Oklahoma musicians playing on this record.. In order to pack in a few more, we have alot of schedules to work around, SO.. We are going to move it back so we can have some more friends involved. Im solo! I need the help! GEEZ! But just trust me.. Its going to be good. You are either really really going to like this record.. Or not understand.. HA HA. Im so excited. We are kicking around two sweet titles also. But Im not telling what! Guess.

Anyways, no worries! That is all. Keep an eye out for some sweet shows in your area.

Peace out!
Ali

...WAS A FREAKIN BLAST. I cant even begin to explain it. But I saw alot of familiar faces down there, so you all know what Im talking about.

This'll be a short one.

Ive been playing ALOT the last few weeks. The France tour was amazing, Ive posted up more pictures. SXSW ruled, Ill have pics up soon..(Oh if you have any, send them my way! I dont have alot.) Then Ive played almost everyday this week.

Monday was at Sauced with The Woes(New York), do yourself a favor and go check them out. They are SICK live. Then Tuesday and Wednesday was the Ali Harter & Evan Felker mini tour. That was a blast. My favorite parts of all of these, are when close friends show up and you talk them into playing some songs, John Moreland. It becomes a big family jam. Oh and Evan made me play harmonica, that was embarrassing. Ha ha.

And the show last night at Galileo's didnt happen. We went, and there was NO ONE there. So we sat around with some friends and shared a few laughs and adult beverages. We will be rescheduling that one. Dont worry.

And Id just like to say that Gary England, (whichever) Ogle, AND Mike Morgan are all liars. Wheres the snow guys?!


Here is a little interview from Jennifer Chancellor at Tulsa World, which is also at Http://...com/TheBeat . Thanks Jennifer!

20 Questions: Ali Harter

Deer Creek/Choctaw

7 p.m. March 18, Stephen F’s Bar.

Hear: www.myspace.com/aliharter

Meet Ali Harter.

The Singer-songwriter is from Deer Creek, but she tells everyone she’s from Choctaw. She’s proud to be from Oklahoma, and still wears the state seal-emblazoned jean jacket she wore as a teen.

After spending months on the road across the nation and in Europe, her fans convinced her to try out for the monster music industry conference and festival. Her first year at the South by Southwest music festival is a big one: She’s showcasing with names like Devo and Ben Harper.

Here’s what you need to know:
1. Band name: Ali Harter

2. Band members (and ages): Ali Harter, 24

3. Official Web site: www.myspace.com/aliharter

4. Person filling out Q&A: Ali Harter, ha ha ha. ** I can’t spell.

5. Where is the band from?: Originally Deer Creek Oklahoma. Someone told me that isn’t ACTUALLY a town though, so I just say Choctaw now.

6. What does your band name mean?: It’s what my dad and momma picked out for me. First name means “Of noble birth,” last name is German, not sure for what.

7. How would you describe your music?: I like to play everything. I always wanted to play everything. Somedays its folk, sometimes jazz, or blues, or soul. Even a little country. I just came to call it roots music. I think you can stifle the music, whether a person knows it or not, by puttin names on it. Just play what you know how to play, it’ll work itself out.

8. How many showcases are you playing at SxSW? And when/where/time?: One so far, at Stephen’s F Bar on S. Congress. Waitin on some more.

9. What is your strongest Oklahoma tie/story?: This is a tough one. I was born and raised here, my family is here, my friends too. Ill die here I’m sure of it. And I’m okay with that. I have a huge Oklahoma patch sewn onto the back of my jean jacket I’ve been wearin for about 9 years or something. People make fun of me because I advertise where I’m from. I played in Corsica and the local cartoonists drew caracatures of me as a cowboy/redneck for the local paper. That was funny, I still have them. I’m proud of it though.

10. What is the most quirky aspect of your band?: Maybe the fact that I stopped taking myself seriously a long time ago. That’s about it. I’m a chick with a guitar, obviously, but I’m not aimin to be anyone’s background break up music. I want to get down with the best of em.. Not sure if that’s quirky. Wait... Maybe the fact that I love cheesy Nashville tracks and infectious pop music, despite what I used to play a lot, and I’m not afraid to use it nowadays. That can be quirky I suppose. You just wait for the next record. Ha ha ha.

11. What do you hope to gain from the exposure of the SxSW festival?: Sell some CDs, make some friends and fans, have a really good time. Some local cats from the city are putting together a compilation of local Oklahoma bands, I aim to hand out as many of those as possible, maybe draw a little more attention to our scene. Eric Pennel and Daniel Waltcher are responsible for that CD. I can get you their info if you are interested.

12. What is the most important aspect of the SxSW festival to your band?: Seeing Ben Harper and The Relentless 7 play. I saw the Innocent Criminals when I was a junior in high school and I cried. I can’t wait to see these guys.

13.Have you showcased at SxSW before? If so, when?: First year for me. I never thought I could get in so I never tried. Some friends told me to try, so I did, and I got in. I owe them one for sure.

14. Are there other bands you’re hoping to see at SxSW? If so, which ones?: Ben Harper. Devo is playing this year?!?! Playing in Europe a lot these last two years I’ve developed a taste for really diverse ethnic music, they are really into that in Europe. I’m excited to check out the Colombian music showcase. There are more I cant think of right now, I love seeing baby bands like me, they are always really fun.

15. Do you have a current album out? What’s the title and where was it recorded?: I have out a record called “Worry The Bone” it’s on Little Mafia Records(USA)/Paradigme Prod.(France), it was released in 2007. Recorded in Norman at Atomic Sound Studios.

We are recording the new one, (yet to be named), it will be out on May 30, on Little Mafia(USA)/TBA(France) ha ha. The company is changing its name.. Its being recorded here in Choctaw in our house.

16. Do you have any tour stops planned for Tulsa in the near future? If so, where/when?: Oh all the time. March 24th at the Mercury Lounge for my good buddy Evan Felker of the Turnpike Troubadors birthday. Maybe a gig on the 26th too.. Then some stuff in June. I’ll be booking in the meantime, keep and eye out.

17. What is the funniest story from any live show you’ve played, and how does it “define” your musical style? (or does it?): This may not be the funniest but... My first tour I EVER went on was with Riley Jantzen from Mayola, when we were both baby musicians and we had NO idea what we were doing touring. This was years and years ago. We played at a bar in, Omaha, I think it was. (Cuz we kept calling it the Omaha Chainsaw Massacre, seems like everyone was out to get us). It was an old Mexican food restaurant converted by new owners into a “venue.” It was not a venue. Anyways, after we had to clear a space to play, and set up this sad excuse for a PA, we got to playin some music. It wasn’t so bad after all, people dug it, or at least pretended to listen to us. Anyhow, toward the last part of my set I decided to play a reworked cover of the song “When I See an Elephant Fly” from Disney’s “Dumbo,” ( I learned it for my baby niece). Since everyone was drunk and probably wouldn’t listen anyway, I figured why not. Anyhow, I told the crowd, “Okay, if you can guess which Disney movie this is from, I’ll give you a free CD.” And I of course figured since everyone WAS drunk and probably wasn’t listening anyways, I wouldnt have to give anything away.. I was right. I shit you not, the dude-bro bartender yells out... FANTASIA!! I think I slapped my forehead and stood there in awe for like 15 seconds. He didn’t even get how wrong he was when we explained to him that there are no words in Fantasia. It was interesting. After that, somewhere around 2 a.m., the owner of the “venue,” who we ended up naming “Dan the Mad Man Hoolihan,” started slamming cordless phones onto the bars tables asking people if his club was a candy store. We still have no idea what that means.
Ask Riley about this, he’ll tell you.

...Oh, and one time I met the REAL Jack Sparrow in Le Puy En Vuley, France. Johnny Depp is an identity thief. This guy didn’t even know what “Pirates of The Caribbean” was. Thats a whole other story.

Another time I was touring with Samantha Crain and The Midnight Shivers. I was just driving them around really. We told the venue owner in Dallas that I was their bus driver but I liked to play music. So he let me play a little in the middle of their set. He heard me sing, called me a liar, told me I was full of sh*t and not a bus driver at all, made me play 4 more songs, and I’ve had a steady gig there ever since. I still have the Polaroid of that night on my desk. This was two-three years ago.

..The time I went on the road with Sam before the Shivers, and we stayed the night at her stalkers house, who printed out her poetry from the internet, and read it to her. The next morning him and some buddies took us to a senior citizens buffet for breakfast. On the way they told us they were vampires. ... We lied about a prior engagement in the next town and high tailed it out of there. They came to the next town too.

Lots of good times. MAN there are so many I have more...

18. What’s your favorite part of the Oklahoma music community?: Oklahoman’s, especially the artists from around here, have a lot of pride in where they are from. There is also a built in comradere around here for whatever reason. Since there are so many good acts right now, and we all seem to be so proud of the scene and of our friends, and we all “grew each other up.” I don’t think a one of us would hesitate to help anyone else out, and I’ve seem it time and time again. We really have something special around here, and you can’t really know unless you are in it.

19. As a music fan, what are you most looking forward to at this year’s SxSW music festival and conference?: Havin a good time. I want to hear some good music, see some old friends down there, pick up some salsa at Tears of Joy, go walkin at The Creek, and enjoy the best bloody Mary on sixth street at the Dirty Dog bar. And if I’m lucky, I’ll get a little sun, ha ha.

20. Write yourself a question (is there something you’d love to share with your fans?), and answer it! Ooooh, good one! Ive never had this question before... What is your number one fear? Aliens. Please don’t send me any more stickers or fan artwork with aliens on it. Its not funny, and it makes my eyes water. Thank you.

Thursday February 5th 2009

Rennes, FR




30 hours of traveling, two airports, a handful of peanuts and a five hour car ride later.. We are at the venue. No jet lag day this tour. Its killing me. But not really.. Its that feeling you get when you are like 11 and you stay up all night at a lock-in, and you cant talk the next day, and everything is fuzzy, but you are so hyper. Its like that. C'est ca.. (I dont have a French keyboard, but you get the idea.)




We've soundchecked and now we are hanging out backstage. We are playing with this band called Jil Is Lucky, and they are really good.. From what I could tell at the check, plus the lead singer looks like Bob Dylan.. You know the pic with the black suit jacket, sunglasses, and fro.. That era. I think one of them looks like Fabrizio Moretti, but I didnt have my glasses on.




I dont have anything interesting to say. Im only here for 4 days, so Ill update you on the whirlwind mini-tour, as interesting things happen.




Peace out

Ali











Thursday March 5th, 2009

On a plane..




So it looks like I havent been keeping up with this tour diary.. Sorry about that. Since the last entry, I finished that tour, have been home for a month, and have just about finished the new record. Im on a plane now to head back to France, for a short tour.. Its going to be almost two weeks long. After that, I head home, sleep for an entire day, and then head straight down to SXSW. Its my first year. Im pretty excited. I dont have much to tell you right now, other than, I am going to write a book about which airlines suck and why. That way I can be an author, if this music thing doesnt work out.. And maybe the airlines will try and buy me off with gifts, so Ill say good things about them in my book. That would rule. Ok, I am going to NOT watch a movie now, because Delta doesnt have monitors in the backs of the seats.. Im also NOT going to read, because I didnt buy a book at the airport, anticipating that I would be watching movies the whole way. So I dont know what Ill do.. But I gotta stop typing.



Talk soon, I swear

Ali












Sunday March 8th, 2009

Paris, FR



AHH I failed at writing AGAIN.. I suck at tour diaries.. Im sorry. I did take some pictures though, and so did Gilou. Ill put up some of the fun pictures right now, and then put up the show pictures which Gil has, as soon as we have our picture swapping party.




Things are good. We woke up at like 4pm today, haha, after the show at Le Soubock in Cauville, near Caen. The show ruled, and the venue was like a smaller Wormy Dog, they played country music and everything and had barrels for tables, it ruled. I played for two hours, I was the only one.



Today is the French national holiday “Le Jour du Femme”, or “Day of the Woman”. The presenter gave me a pink rose, it was really nice. But then these dudes kept saying things like, “Woman get one whole day just for them! But the other 364 days.. Are for the men!!” Same joke, all night.. Not funny.





That morning we woke up in Plougonveline, which is in the west of France on the Atlantic ocean. We drove about 5 minutes to the beach, which was awesome. But the cool thing is, is that this particular beach is the farthest west France goes.. So everyone kept calling it “the end of France”. So, we went to the end of France! It was neat. There was a light house and this old church with no roof, and grass for the floor, and it was turning green from all the sea air. It was beautiful. It was also neat to think, that from the beach, if I just started swimming, the first thing I would reach would be the USA. That was cool.



The night before was the actual show in Plougonveline at Espace Keraudy, with Carmen Vega. She is really good! And her and her whole band are really cool and funny. That doesnt happen a lot, so its nice to run into cool people on the road. We all stayed up way to late..



That morning was the morning I flew in. So all we did was pick up Gilou and drive drive drive.



I guess thats all I have for now. Ill post some pics.



OH HEY, my time at SXSW switched from 7pm to 8pm. So, yah!



Ill write soon.. When I have internet.



Ou est l'briquet s'il vous plait?

Ali