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"The True Life Series”Here at True Lemon we encourage people to 'Live True’. We love helping people live their healthiest, fullest life. That's why we were excited to team up with Kelley McRae, an independent musician who in 2011 decided to risk everything in order to step out into her true life. She quit her job, sold everything, left her Brooklyn apartment, and with her husband (who is also her guitarist) she bought a VW Camper Van. They have been touring America playing music and during Summer 2011, we followed her story! Kelley’s Story
Over the years, when people have asked me what my goal is for my music career, I've always responded that my goal is to make a living as a musician. In my mind, this vaguely meant some kind of 'big break' that would allow me to quit my day job and play music full time. It wasn't until this past summer that I started to think about it more simply. What if I stopped waiting for something to 'happen to me' and instead made something happen? What if I didn't have the expense of an apartment? What if I put it all on the line in order to play music every night? What would that look like? With the help of my husband Matt (who also happens to be an incredible guitarist), I came to think it might look a little something like this: We'll quit our day jobs. We'll sell everything we own. We'll buy a VW Camper Van. We'll travel America booking and playing shows anywhere and everywhere we can. We'll play as much as possible. We'll travel and see as much of the world as possible. We'll try to make a living as musicians. So, at the beginning of March, Matt and I left Brooklyn to begin what I'm calling "The Great VW Camper Van Tour of 2011." Over the last two months we've driven 7500 miles and played 37 shows, everywhere from Boston, MA to Austin, TX to Starkville, MS (my hometown). We've slept in the comfort of the homes of friends and family and we've spent many nights sleeping in our van in Wal-Mart parking lots. We've showered in truck-stop bathrooms (which are surprisingly clean). We've played incredible shows where it's packed and everyone leaves excited and inspired and we played a show in Florida to one person. It has been a total roller coaster ride - with all the highs and lows and excitement of not knowing what's coming next. But even in the lowest moments (when I think "Oh my gosh, I live in a VAN. What are we doing?"), I still know, without a doubt, that I am living my true life. I am going outside of my comfort zone in a hundred ways. I am getting better as a musician and I am, so far, making a living. It's humbling and thrilling. And I'm so excited to be teaming up with True Lemon to tell you my true story and hopefully encourage you to live your own!" |
Videos of KelleyMore Information about Kelley McRaeThe Great VW Camper Van “Live True” Tour: Kelley's Website: Read her Blog: Follow her on Twitter: Become a Fan on Facebook: Listen & Buy Kelley's Music: |
Kelley's "Live True" blog:
"When Matt and I began this adventure, we weren't sure if we were going to be able to pull it off. It was a hugely ambitious dream, to try and tour the entire country and make our living as professional musicians! We could not have done it without the support and encouragement of our friends at True Lemon. We are hugely grateful to have been chosen for this summer's 'Live True' Series. I hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as I've enjoyed sharing this journey with you.
 As you can see from the map above, we've covered a lot of ground in our little VW Camper Van! I'm proud to say that we'll have played over one hundred shows this year on our 'True Life Tour!' Here's where we've been and where we're headed. Thanks again to True Lemon and to all of you who've been following our story these past few months. Feb. 27th - Philadelphia, PA - The Tin Angel Feb. 28th - Boston, MA - Precinct March 1st - New York City - The Living Room March 2nd - Philadelphia, PA - House show March 3rd - Baltimore, MA - House Show March 4th - Washington, DC - House Show March 5th - Charlottesville, VA - The Garage March 6th - Durham, NC - The Pinhook March 8th - Charlotte, NC - House Show March 9th - Athens, GA - Terrapin Brewery March 9th - Athens, GA - Rye Bar March 11th - Pascagoula, MS - The Celtic March 15th - Austin, TX - SXSW March 20th - Austin, TX - House Show March 22nd - Ft. Worth, TX - House Show March 23rd - San Antonio, TX - House Show March 24th - Dallas, TX - Opening Bell Coffee March 26th - Starkville, MS - House Show March 27th - New Orleans - House Show March 29th - Birmingham, AL - Urban Standard March 31st - Tallahassee, FL - House Show April 2nd - Gainesville, FL - House Show April 3rd - Tampa, FL - WMNF Festival April 5th - Keystone Heights, FL - House Show April 7th - Winter Park, FL - House Show April 8th - Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds April 9th - Deland, FL - House Show April 10th - Ormond Beach, FL - Birthplace of Speed Pavilion April 14th - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - House Show April 15th - Orlando, FL - Downtown Creedo April 16th - Quincy, FL - House Show April 19th - Memphis, TN - House Show April 20th - Nashville, TN - House Show April 21st - Knoxville, TN - House Show April 22nd - Chattanooga, TN - St. Elmo Fire Hall April 23rd - Starkville, MS - Cotton District Arts Festival May 5th - Wilmington, NC - House Show May 7th - Lynchburg, VA - The White Hart Cafe May 7th - Lynchburg, VA - House Show May 8th - LaVale, MD - House Show May 12th - Baltimore, MD - House Show May 13th - Olney, MD - House Show May 14th - McLean, VA - House Show May 15th - Harrisburg, PA - House Show May 18th - Lancaster, PA - House Show May 20th - New York City - The Living Room May 29th - State College, PA - House Show May 31st - Pittsburgh, PA - The Map Room June 2nd - Livonia, MI - House Show June 9th - Macomb, IL - House Show June 10th - Bluegrass, IA - House Show June 11th - Madison, WI - House Show June 15th - Minneapolis, MN - House Show June 16th - Minneapolis, MN - House Show June 18th - Westfield, WI - House Show June 20th - Detroit, MI - House Show June 22nd - Brownsburg, IN - House Show June 24th - Columbus, OH - House Show June 25th - Cincinnati, OH - The Speckled Bird Cooperative June 29th - Detroit, MI - House Show June 30th - Chicago, IL - Martyrs' July 1st - Mokena, IL - House Show July 5th - Indianapolis, IN - House Show July 8th - Knoxville, TN - WDVX Blue Plate Special, Radio Show July 9th - Knoxville, TN - The Cove at Concord Park July 12th - Asheville, NC - Firestorm Cafe July 14th - Lexington, KY - Al's Bar July 15th - Louisville, KY - Green Building Gallery July 22nd - Chattanooga, TN - St. Elmo Firehall July 28th - St. Louis, MO - Pop's Blue Moon July 30th - Kansas City, MO - House Show Aug. 3rd - Lincoln, NE - House Show Aug. 6th - Sioux Falls, SD - House Show Aug. 7th - Cambridge, MN - Block Party Aug. 8th - Cambridge, MN - House Show Aug. 11th - Denver, CO - The Walnut Room Pizzeria Aug. 12th - Broomfield, CO - House Show Aug. 14th - Salida, CO - Salida Cafe Aug. 19th - Boise, ID - The District Coffee House Aug. 20th - Boise, ID - House Show Aug. 21st - Enterprise, OR - Terminal Gravity Brewery Aug. 24th - Joseph, OR - Caldera’s Aug. 25th - Portland, OR - House Show Aug. 26th - Seattle, WA - House Show Aug. 27th - Seattle, WA - Laughing Ladies Cafe Aug. 31st - Langley, BC - House Show Sept. 2nd - Seattle, WA - Pegasus Coffee House Sept. 3rd - Seattle, WA - Pegasus Coffee House Sept. 8th - Tacoma, WA - Mandolin Cafe Sept. 13th - Portland, WA - Alberta Street Pub Sept. 10th - Seattle, WA - The Gypsy Cafe Sept. 15th - Eugene, OR - Luckey’s Bar Sept. 16th - Hillsboro, OR - Insomnia Coffee Company Sept. 17th - Lebanon, OR - House Show Sept. 23rd - Sacramento, CA - House Show Sept. 24th - Auburn, CA - House Show Oct. 5th - San Francisco, CA - Bazaar Cafe Oct. 7th - Oakland, CA - House Show Oct. 8th - Fresno, CA - House Show Oct. 15th - Los Angeles, CA - House Show Oct. 16th - Corona, CA - House Show Oct. 18th - San Luis Obispo, CA - Kreuzberg Oct. 20th - Santa Margarita, CA - The Porch (Guest Spot) Oct. 21st - Los Angeles, CA - House Show Oct. 22nd - Los Angeles, CA - House Show Oct. 23rd - Paso Robles, CA - Sculpterra Winery Oct. 28th - San Diego, CA - TBD Nov. 12th - Flagstaff, AZ - Vino Loco Nov. 26th - Flagstaff, AZ - Vino Loco"  "This past week we got to spend some time in Northeast Oregon. It was absolutely, ridiculously beautiful. We had two great shows in the area, one at Terminal Gravity Brewery in Enterprise and one at Calderas in Joseph.  In Joseph, we got to stay on a farm in a converted 100 year old granary (thank you Nancy!). While we were there, we were exploring the farm and ended up doing an impromptu photo and music video shoot (for a new song called ‘When the Evening Comes’) in the barn in the picture above. They had just had a barn dance there, so the lights were still up - It was too perfect to pass up!  Matt hanging out at Wallowa Lake.  A stop on our drive from Joseph to Portland, OR. I can’t tell you how excited I am for the next two months. Thanks to our friends in Boise, Enterprise, Joseph, Portland and Seattle for making the first week of our West Coast tour so friggin’ amazing (especially our friend Sarah in La Grande!)."
"We are making our way West and it feels so good! Here’s a picture of me LIVING TRUE in Utah. I am super friggin’ excited about the next two and a half months and I have two requests for you:
The Great VW Camper Van - LIVE TRUE - Tour!  Aug. 20th - Boise, ID - House Show Aug. 21st - Enterprise, OR - Terminal Gravity Brewery Aug. 24th - Joseph, OR - Caldera’s Aug. 25th - Portland, OR - House Show Aug. 26th - Seattle, WA - House Show Aug. 27th - Seattle, WA - Laughing Ladies Cafe Aug. 31st - Langley, BC - House Show Sept. 2nd - Seattle, WA - Pegasus Coffee House Sept. 3rd - Seattle, WA - Pegasus Coffee House Sept. 8th - Tacoma, WA - Mandolin Cafe Sept. 13th - Portland, WA - Venue TBD Sept. 10th - Seattle, WA - The Gypsy Cafe Sept. 15th - Eugene, OR - Luckey’s Bar Sept. 16th - Hillsboro, OR - Insomnia Coffee Company Sept. 17th - Lebanon, OR - House Show Sept. 23rd - Sacramento, CA - House Show Sept. 24th - Auburn, CA - House Show Oct. 5th - San Francisco, CA - Bazaar Cafe Oct. 7th - Oakland, CA - House Show Oct. 15th - Los Angeles, CA - House Show Oct. 16th - Corona, CA - House Show Oct. 18th - San Luis Obispo, CA - Kreuzberg Oct. 20th - Santa Margarita, CA - The Porch (Guest Spot) Oct. 21st - Los Angeles, CA - House Show Oct. 22nd - Los Angeles, CA - House Show Oct. 23rd - Paso Robles, CA - Sculpterra Winery Oct. 28th - San Diego, CA - TBD And it’s not to late to request a HOUSE SHOW!"
"These past few weeks have been a BLUR! Here are some fun highlights:
I promised you pics from our photo shoot with the amazing DuckDuck Collective in Lynchburg, VA. HERE they are!  In Knoxville, TN we got to play one of my favorite shows, the Blue Plate Special on WDVX. Six days a week in downtown Knoxville, they have a live lunch show that is open to the public, broadcast live on WDVX and streamed live on the website. How awesome is that? We got to play with the Dovekins, a rad band out of Colorado, whose song ‘Riverweeds’ I’ve been listening to obsessively. You can hear it HERE from their Daytrotter session.  Our time in Knoxville also happened to coincide with Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chamber’s performance at the beautiful Bijou Theater. It was an awesome show. Her Dad, Bill Chambers, plays guitar with her and is a great songwriter in his own right. I got to know him when I was first writing songs and he’s been a great listening board and a loyal encouragement all these years. We’ve really been enjoying his latest album, Drifting South, check it out HERE.  A couple Friday’s ago we got to return to one of our favorite spots on the tour, The St. Elmo Fire Hall in Chattanooga, TN. So many lovely people came out, including Tianna from Color Cloud Hammocks. Before the show, she gave me a ‘True Lemon colored’ hammock so that I can blissfully nap my way across the Western half of this country over the next 3 months! I am PUMPED. And last but not least, a HUGE thanks to Emerson, who promoted the show and provided wine and a gorgeous spread of food.  We also played a house show while in Kansas City and Aaron, our host, has written a great blog post about it! Check it out HERE. Thanks, Aaron!"
"Back in April, we had a show in DeLand, FL that turned out to be one of my favorites of the tour. It was a warm spring night, there was delicious free BBQ, great musicians on the bill, little hippy children dancing around a fire and a cool community of folks having a good time.
After the show, I was selling CD's and talking to the people who had come out to the show. One of the guys asked about our VW Van and I told him our story of selling everything, letting go of our home and hitting the road. He got this big smile on his face and said "Oh! You're a cut-away!" To which I replied something to the effect of "Whaa??" He explained that he was a professional skydiver and that they call people who decide to step out into a new way of life 'cut-aways.' The reason they call them cut-aways is because when you're skydiving and your main parachute malfunctions, you 'cutaway,' releasing it in preparation for using your backup parachute. He said that people who stepped out of their comfort zones and took the risk to live a truer life were cutting away an old way of living that didn't work anymore. I have thought about that conversation so much since then. I love the idea of these parachutes. The "broken parachute," which for me was a life that had become stuck in a rut of false security and fear, and the "backup parachute," which for me is this scrappy, patchwork parachute made up of all these different pieces: the fans that have generously opened their homes to host shows, the friends who have fed and sheltered us, the woman in Cincinnati who gave us a hundred dollar bill in an envelope along with a note that said "the world will be saved by beauty," our families who have offered endless encouragement, the people who have come out to shows and given generously...the list goes on and on. It's a crazy looking parachute, and it probably shouldn't even work, but somehow it does. We have been on the road now for five months. We have driven 17,000 miles and played 73 shows. And if I've learned anything about what it means to be a cut-away it is this: If you have a dream, don't wait for anyone to hand it to you. Be bold to make all the little choices along the way that will bring you closer to that dream - the hundreds and thousands of little choices and sacrifices. And then when the moment comes and you know you're supposed to cut-away, have faith that a crazy looking parachute, one that you probably would never have imagined or designed or even wished for, is going to come and is going to work beautifully."
"(Especially when you’ve put 16,000 miles on the poor van in about four months!) About two weeks ago, we woke up in Cincinnati and the van wouldn’t move at all. Thankfully, we happened to be staying with friends who had a driveway and tools we could borrow. We also happened to be hanging out with Kevin, Matt’s shop-mate from Brooklyn who, like Matt, can fix pretty much anything. Here’s a video of them getting the tour back on the road!!"
"Before we left Brooklyn, my friend Ed gave me a flip cam (thank you, ED!) and made me promise to record our adventures on the road. I’ve been recording over the last four months (wow, I’ve been living in a van for four months!) and I hope to keep it up through the next few months as we make our way out to the west coast. Matt took some of what we have so far and created this awesome tour video!!
One note about the video: Before we left on this adventure back in February , we christened the van with all our friends in Brooklyn. We named the van Proč Ne, which is Czech for “Why not?” — as in ‘why not sell everything and live in a van so we can play music all the time, travel the country and meet amazing people!!’ So when you hear people toasting 'Proč Ne' in the video, it will make a lot more sense now! I hope you enjoy the video."  "The heart of ‘The Great VW Camper Van Tour’ is the house show. We will probably end up doing around 150 shows this year, and 100 of those shows will be in the living rooms, backyards, front porches, back porches, decks, carports and sun rooms of people all over the US - from Philadelphia to San Diego. And most of these shows will be hosted by (and attended by!) brave folks who have never done anything like it before and are taking a chance by opening up their homes and inviting their friends over for a totally new experience. I love that. I love that people are willing to take a risk for live music and for community. And without fail, these are very special nights. We leave having met incredible people and the feedback we get is overwhelmingly positive and generous. I love my job. But the thing is, it’s not always easy to explain a house show - why it works, why it’s different and what the spirit of the night is. Thankfully, the talented photographer Danica Myers has just made that job a little easier. She hosted a show for us last week in Minneapolis and ended up taking some gorgeous pictures of the whole night: before the show hanging out, during the show - shots of Matt and I and people in the audience - and shots of hanging out after the show getting to know people. I love these pictures because they capture the spirit of joy, intimacy, and community that can happen during these nights. So now I’ll shut up and let the photos speak for themselves."    
"We’re excited to be spending the next month in the Midwest, playing shows in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Check out our schedule at www.kelleymcrae.com/shows. If you’re interested in coming to one of the house shows, please email me at kelley@kelleymcrae.com and I can check availability.
   “We had an incredible time Friday night in New York City at one of our favorite venues, The Living Room. The venue was absolutely packed and full of love! We’ve played 50 shows and driven 11,000 miles since we were last in New York and it’s been a joy to come home to such a warm reception and total encouragement. We played two new songs, which is always fun. We haven’t had as much time to write on the road as I had hoped, but one of the songs is completely born from this new adventure and I hope there are more where it came from!
The lovely Sarah Gregory joined us for the song ‘Ain’t Got Much Time.’ We were roommates for years, along with the beautiful actress Virginia Kull (check her out in ‘Boardwalk Empire’!) and I so miss being able to sing with them all the time. There’s nothing like killer three part harmony!
On Saturday we drove to Dover, New Hampshire for a show at the Barley Pub that turned out to be a freakin’ talent-fest thanks to musicians Dan Blakeslee and Heather Maloney. We met Dan back in February when we got the chance to share the stage with him in Boston. He has a super tight show thanks to years of touring and hundreds of hours playing in the Boston subway. We got a copy of his brand new album, ‘Tatnic Tales’ and played the crap out of it for the past three months in the van! The album was recorded in a barn and there’s a great ‘making of ’ video here. You can buy it here. It was so refreshing to hear Heather Maloney perform because she is freakin’ fierce and has the vocal chops and the songwriting skills to back it up. Whenever I see someone who is so at home on stage and is so clearly free and enjoying what they’re doing, it inspires me to do the same! She was also inspiring because she quit her job two years ago and has been touring and playing music full time ever since, which gives me hope that we can keep this dream going! Check out Heather’s site here. And HERE is a video of one of my favorite songs in her set, ‘Be Satisfied.’ (the video is a little shaky, but don’t worry about that - just listen. It’s awesome.) And last but not least, the captain of the van and guitarist extraordinaire Matt Castelein who isn’t in nearly enough of these blog post pics, cause he’s always the one taking them! This is a picture from New Hampshire where we finally ended our search for the perfect hat after 11,000 miles of looking! The captain is currently doing some brake work on the van in the streets of Brooklyn and deserves a medal.” |
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I went to college to study acting, but after taking an elective guitar class my junior year, I knew that my true passion was songwriting. So when I graduated, I ended up in New York City not to pursue acting, but to be a musician. It's not something I expected, but I am so thankful that it turned out that way. I've lived for the last 7 years in Brooklyn playing shows, recording two albums, meeting incredible people, learning a ton and, maybe most of all, working day jobs to pay my rent. Because living in New York City comes at a high price - literally.
