yes, this has been on you-tube for ages -but- now, here, without commercials!
If someone, maybe you, were to ask: when did y’all get the idea to do a podcast? The answer would be twofold. #1: Adelle thought we should do one when we got together in the winter of 2012, like, right off the bat. Our conversations were long and winding and full of laughter. Podcasting was in it’s early stages and, living in L.A., we knew plenty of people doing it. “Why not us?'“ asked Adelle, “Because I don’t have the time to do all the extra stuff I’d want to do to make it interesting” I responded. My ideas involved dressing our talks with music and goofy effects. At that point I was juggling Dinosaur Jr and Sebadoh, touring a lot and she and I had yet to settle. Within the next 2 years I’d tour constantly and we would move across the country.
#2: 8 years later, we were in Massachusetts, things were different. Then things got weird. You know what I’m talking about. We were all 7 months into the P-word. From the outset of that special, special time I knew I’d have to figure out some way, any way, to continue making music and performing. I did live shows on Instagram and Facebook. I was doing monthly releases of new and old material as a part of an Artist Enabler Series through Joyful Noise Records. I was staying busy and, between the generosity of our tipping live-stream audience and the State of Massachusetts, we were still floating.
In December I contributed a cover of Kacey Musgraves’ Glittery for a JNR Pandemic Holiday special. Glittery was part of Kacey’s brilliant 2019 Christmas variety show. Our daughter Izzy loved Kacey and so did we. After doing so many Live-to-Social-Media shows and Adelle being a consistent presence, I wanted her to step in front of the camera more. Encouraged by JNR to do a video for my cover, we devised an accompanying skit and got some crazy sweaters. Glittery, the video, was fun to do and another effective distraction from the P-word madness.
Adelle suggested the next logical step would be our own Holiday Special. Ideas came quick and soon I was recording versions of our holiday favorites and we were capturing scenes around the house. I came up with “Alliday” during one of in-between conversations. We worked off our general ideas and nothing was scripted. We involved some friends and family and it came together quickly. I edited it with iMovie, simple! My only regret is the jarring ‘swiping’ effect I used between edits. Yuck.
We followed with Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s and Easter specials, they are all, in our humble opinions, perfectly enjoyable. At the very least they got us through. As summer 2021 rolled around I was planning backyard tours and Dinosaur Jr was making tentative plans to get back on the road. We made it.
In 2022 I was approached by Ben Lee to consider doing a podcast for his fledgling podcast network, Weirder Together. The time was right for me to follow-through on Adelle’s decade-old idea. Having proven to ourselves that we could do shows, we are doing a show! Alliday 2020 was the beginning. Like Instacart and working from home, another decent result of a crappy time!
Merry Christmas!
Love, Lou and Adelle
Merry Christmas to all of you. And thanks for the many hours of podcasts getting me through my commute. Have a great New Year as well!
Merry Christmas, Barlows ❤️ Thanks for sharing your lives and enriching mine 💙