I’ve lived here for a year now. Happy Anniversary! It’s been crazy, I know. And it all really wouldn’t have been possible without the gracious, generous, kind hearted, hilarious people that live here. They are the reason I came here in the first place and the reason I was able to stay here and the reason why I keep coming back every time I go other places.

Last October, after I played Reverbfest in Ballard, I met Shenandoah Davis backstage while the Maldives were playing at the Tractor. I decided that night that I would move to Seattle and began hatching plans as I headed down the coast to spend a month working on my new record/finding myself or something. After Thanksgiving I got a job at Northgate mall slanging sterling silver jewels and moved into my friend and former room mate Kevin…Into his brother’s garage in Mapleleaf. For the next month and a half I made friends at the mall, ate crispy bean burritos from Taco Time and slept next to a hot water heater and a keg-a-rator and some old snowboarding gear on a futon. I’d like to thank Kevin, his brother Patty and his girlfriend Breanne and that weird Finnish dude Mikael for being the first of many folks to host me.

Then I went on tour with Shenandoah. We stayed with lots of nice folks every night we were on tour (except when we were in Logan, Utah where we stayed at an Econ-o-lodge and I lost my favorite pillow). When I got back to Seattle from that tour I moved in with my cousin Janie’s friend from grad school, Andy. Andy and his room mate’s Kris and Aaron live on Capitol Hill and had a spare office bedroom with a murphy bed (!!!) and all the seasons of the OC which was perfect because I had lent my collection of OC DVD’s to Breanne in Mapleleaf…phew! For the next month and a half I kept selling sterling silver at the mall and also started slanging burgers and tall boys of Rainier at King’s Hardware in Ballard. I was thankful for Andy, Kris and Aaron and their nice hardwood floor, their bathtub, their endless collection of kitchenware and their passion for making yummy food.

Then I went on tour with Shenandoah again. This time I left my very special blankets in Nevada City, California (luckily a nice boy looked after them for six months and they are now in my possession). Again we stayed with some really excellent people. Then when we returned I lived in Shenandoah’s bedroom for a month and then I moved upstairs and lived in the closet for another month. It was actually a pretty decent sized closet and it’s amazing how hard you can sleep when no light can get in…I am thankful for Shenandoah. My first friend when I moved to Seattle, my pal and confidant, my tour guide and one of the hardest working and most talented people in the Seattle music community.

After that, I moved in with my brother from another mother, the talented Dane Ueland. I lived in a room in his house in White Center. Which at times was a bit scary but most of the time was just lots of fun. I am always thankful for Dane. He has been a good friend to me when times were tough in Spokane, when times were tough for me in Seattle and whenever I need him on stage. One day he will most likely be my real brother since our brother and sister are totes magotes in love with each other and have some weird plans to live together in what they call a “brain castle”…

Then I went on a trip/tour/vacation to Iceland, Sweden and Norway. I stayed with some really crazy awesome people on that trip as well. Some I was related to, some whose music I really appreciate and sometimes I stayed in a tent. And while this year has been a life changer, I think it was this trip especially that changed me. I’m still figuring it all out really but I also can’t wait to go back.

Then I moved into a magical basement with a wonderful friend Robynne and her two lovely and talented children. That is where I am currently. Sleeping in their basement on their big leather couch in between tours. Reading books from Robynne’s endless library and writing songs in their kitchen table where the light and the mood are really just perfect for that sort of thing. I am constantly thankful for Robynne. For her companionship, advice, poems and delicious homemade bread. Her kids are hilarious and sweet and pretty much the most fun people I know (and I know a lot of fun people since doing the most “fun” thing is how I usually prioritize my days.)

If it weren’t for all these people and for a very special man I know (no, I’m not talking about Jesus) I wouldn’t be living in Seattle. These are the people I am the most thankful for. And when I finally move into an apartment like a real girl every single one of you are invited to come over and I will feed you and hug you and we will recount all the times I drank your milk and maybe forgot to do my dishes, stole your clothes and books, took long baths and then showers afterwards, showed up and then disappeared for weeks on end but still through it all remained your friend (somehow)… I feel incredibly lucky to know such giving people. Thank you for being understanding and patient with me. For supporting me and my crazy dreams during these crazy times. It’s only going to get crazier but hopefully in a better sort of way. And I of course will continue to cherish you and think of you and maybe come over to your house because I can let myself in because I still have keys to all of your houses. But I plan on making them into some sort of art piece or necklace or something. So don’t be worried.

Over a year ago, I left Spokane uncertain of what the future would bring and I am happier than I have ever been and it’s because of you, my sweet Seattle.

Here is to a happy holiday season that is full of treats, shows with friends at coffee shops, shows with choirs and cellos, work, work, work, friends, love, shows for great causes and hopefully the finishing up of an album that has long been in the works…

xoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo,

For the very bottom of my big ass heart,

Kaylee

Thanks again to-

My mom and my dad and my sister, Ryan McMackin, Kevin Ross, Patty, Breanne and Mikael, Shenandoah Davis, Andy, Kris and Aaron, Dane Ueland, Na-na, Robynne, Ethan and Stella, my buds at King’s Hardware, Anneka, Amber and Paul at Silverworks, Aja, Dawn, Kimmie, Jenna, Nick and Katherine, Hannah Levine, Kevin Large, Leah and Kevin Barrens, Zooch, Jason Dodson and the Maldives, Jojo and the H & the H, the Sunset, the Tractor, the Triple Door, Conor Byrne, Caffe Fiore, Hazlewood and miss Sara Fischer, Honore Bakery, every person that has listened to me sing this year, bought my old CD, clapped and/or hugged me after a song or a show and to SEATTLE…duh!

One of the very special things about Doe Bay Fest (and anything that the magic people at Artist Home seem to have their hands in) is how well artists are treated. There was an “artist’s den” at the festival where performers could shower, nap, veg, practice and pack their faces. There was even a magical family who stayed there to cook food and generally help make everyone performing more comfortable. I bonded with that family the first day I was at Doe Bay and then even more the second day when all sorts of crazy started to happen. This is how I met with Hannah Williams. We bonded over the weekend while she and her family watched me drink box wine, sang show tunes with me and kept putting treats in front of me to eat.

I left Doe Bay earlier than most and went on the biggest journey of my life (so far) to Iceland, Sweden and Norway. (WHICH WAS AMAZING!)

Then when I came back Hannah and I decided to be friends and hang out. That day I told her a lot of things. We shared new music with each other, packed our faces with pizza and at some point I told her about my dream to have a children’s choir sing with me and the Portland Cello Project.

That’s when Hannah’s said (more or less)… “I’m a middle school choir teacher and I think my choir would melt everyone’s hearts and make your songs sound really great. Let’s make your dreams come true…”

So now, I am happy to announce that the Aki Karose Middle School choir will be singing with me and the Portland Cello Project on December 19th!!!

I went to the school yesterday to see them perform at their Veteran’s Day Assembly which was their first performance as a choir. I was pretty nervous and hoped that they thought I was cool and prayed that they liked my music… I surprised them later in the day during choir and introduced myself, asked them if they’d play with me (to which they excitedly agreed), worked on some parts and then let them ask me some questions. Mostly they just wanted to know if I was famous. And if my eye lashes were real.

In the coming weeks I’ll be heading back to the school with Doug Jenkins to practice with them and talk with them some more. I can’t really believe that it’s all coming together. It’s sure to be a crazy amazing experience and I’m looking forward to it unfolding in the next few weeks.

If you live near by and are free on December 19th, I suggest you purchase tickets for the show very soon. You can do that HERE. And if you do purchase tickets and come to the show I suggest you come EARLY or at least on time because we will be opening.

Then later in the night time, I’ll be playing a show at the High Dive with Lemolo and John Heart Jackie. I love both of these bands. As bands and as people. So it will be a pretty great night. Here is a nice poster my talented friend Nick Tibbetts designed-

If you can’t make it to the show but you still have a strong, burning desire to see me play OR if you love magic and happiness and lots and lots of cellos – you could come see me play at the Triple Door on Sunday, December 19th backed by the Portland Cello Project (with Golden Bear, Typhoon and Corin Tucker Band)…. Special announcements about that show to follow….I mean, really special. Like SURPRISE special.

Anyhow, I spent the last days of the cleanse and the holiday weekend at my parent’s house writing new songs. I went camping and attended a party in Anacortes which happened to be a music video shoot for The Lonely Forest boys. Fireworks and waves and beach fires and sweet cameras. It’s going to be a rad music video for sure.

I’m going to maybe try out some or one of the new songs I wrote this weekend  this Friday at the Comet Tavern if I’m feeling bold enough.  I am happy to announce that Wolfgang my favorite Spokane musicians and often times my backing band are making the drive across the state to play with me. Ryan McMackin of the Maldives will also be joining me playing drums. It should be a pretty rocking set for me. The most rock n’ roll show I’ve ever played in Seattle, that’s for suresies.

Me and Wolfgang above in Sandpoint, Idaho. Photo taken by the lovely Caitlyn Mirete.

Well that’s about that. If you living Seattle and you want to have your mind melted off tomorrow night you should be like me and go see Shenandoah Davis and the Portland Cello Project at Neumos. There will be some seriously sweet collaborations and you would be silly to miss it.

So now I’ve got this brand new computer and I’ve got some stuff I thought I’d share with the you all in the interweb world and I’m just going to get back on the sharing saddle and do some… sharing.

Here’s what I’ve been doing for the last seven or so months…

-Living in Seattle! And by living I mean…floating around from place to place in between touring. I’ve lived in a garage in Mapleleaf, an office turned bedroom on Capitol Hill, Shenandoah Davis’ bed and most currently… her closet.

-Working in Seattle! For starters, I worked at a sterling silver jewelry kiosk in the mall during the holidays and then beyond. Recently, I gave up polishing jewels (but not my love of mystical crystals…) and  have been working at King’s Hardware in beautiful Ballard (where I spend most of my time anyhow). Both the silver shop and King’s have been gracious enough to let me tour.

-Touring! I’ve been on two tours with my good friend Shenandoah Davis. We visited all sorts of hilarious places in Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California and Oregon. I peed my pants on both tours accidentally (once while visiting ‘Drive thru Tree’ in the Redwoods and the other time while I was jumping a little too high on a trampoline in Nevada City, CA)… We had the most fun, consumed many nacho cheese doritos, I may have drug a dead porpoise a few hundred yards across a San Francisco beach to  put its dead body back in the ocean, we took some pictures and had some pictures taken of us, made new homes and new families everywhere we went and lots of other fun/neat things. I miss the road.

PS. The picture below was taken after said peeing incident. Baby wipes on tour are KEY!

PPS. The picture below this picture was taken before and or a little bit during the second incident. HEY! Trampolines are scary!

-Sasquatch! I was invited to sing some of my most favorite Arcade Fire songs with the Seattle Rock Orchestra at Sasquatch this year. It was incredible to perform for so many people (many of whom were singing along making the set seem like a giant karaoke jam). It was also an important show for me because it was the first time in my three years of playing that I’ve performed without a piano. I lost it on stage (you can tell from most of the pictures on flickr. Just search for Seattle Rock Orchestra…) I went crazy and jumped around and broke things and screamed and sweated and danced. As I make the shift to a more space-y, fat beat driven, psychedelic sound it was really good for me to figure out that I can MOVE and make people MOVE and that I don’t need to always make people sad while sitting behind the piano. I can make people SAD while they shake their sad little asses. At least that’s my dream. A combo of sad, piano, dance, dance, jump, sweat, laugh, cry, robots having sex in space, etc. etc. etc. Maybe it doesn’t quite make sense but you’ll see…soon.

-I’m still working away on my next record. And I can’t wait for the day (soon!) when I can share the songs I’ve created with Dave Sitek. I’ve never been more excited about my music and am looking forward to this next part of my musical journey (I know musical journey sounds cheesy but I couldn’t think of anything else). In the meantime you should check out his new project Maximum Balloon. I’ve heard some of the tracks and I haven’t been able to get them out of my head since my last time in LA. This is a record that I can’t wait to be released.

Here are some pretty crazy things coming up…

-July 9th – I’m playing at the Comet Tavern in Seattle (my first show on Capitol Hill in quite some time) with my sweet peeps the Head and the Heart, SLC buddies The Devil Whale and the my new favorite girls Lemolo. I may or may not be joined by some of the Wolfgang and I may also be joined by a Maldive or two. We’ll see.. but either way its going to be an amazing show.

-July 20th – I’m playing at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard with Jesca Hoop whose mentor was Tom Waits. I’m not sure if I’ll play my cover of Green Grass at this show. It might be weird? Maybe? Right? We’ll see. This will be my first show at the Tractor and I’m excited to open for someone so magical.

-DOE BAY FESTIVAL! August 13th and 14th. I had the chance to go to Doe Bay earlier this Fall with Shenandoah Davis and Tomo Nakayama (Grand Hallway) and I loved every minute of being there. It is beautiful part of Orcas Island and I’m crazy excited to play with some of my favorite people and bands (Shenandoah Davis, The Maldives, Grand Hallway, The Head and the Heart, Portland Cello Project and more more more). The tickets are already sold out but I’ll take some sweet pics and will write some sweet shit about it before I hop on a plane and go to ICELAND.

-ICELAND/SWEDEN/NORWAY TOUR + HERITAGE JOURNEY = HOLY SHIT. The day after Doe Bay Fest ends I’ll pack up my few belongings and hop on an airplane and wake up in Reykjavik, Iceland. I plan on road tripping a bit through the Icelandic countryside and coast, soaking in some hot springs, playing a show or two and then I’ll fly to Oslo and from there drive to Sweden to play at the Dragonfly Festival with my sweet friends Little Dragon and some other amazing artists (including Jose Gonzales!?!) Then I’ll go on a Norwegian road trip/heritage journey/discover my roots and shit, head back to Sweden play some more shows and then fly back to Seattle just in time to hop over to Spokane and play at…

-Pig Out in the Park!

So that’s that. I plan to write more and take some pictures and maybe some videos. Maybe you will read the things I post and look at the pictures. I hope so.

Ben Blood, my dear friend and magical photographer companion, recently shot some sweet pics of me in downtown Seattle. Here are a few. You can go to my myspace, my facebook or Ben’s website to see all of the photos from the shoot.

I’m back from my journey to LA. It was pretty magical. I spent an awful lot of time in Seattle with this clown and went to a magical island. I’m headed back to LA in February to finish up the album and in between I’ll be playing in Spokane (Nov. 27 & 29), playing in Seattle (Dec. 4), and playing in Portland (Dec. 18). Then I’m planning a bit of a tour towards the end of January/early February and will be traipsing through Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah and Idaho. I’ll let you know more about that very soon.

Eeeep!

I rolled into Portland on Saturday without many of my important belongings (but I had a dress on and my keyboard, I mean really what else does one need?) and played a show with Dane at Backspace. I headed quickly to the Woods (a seriously magical venue in Portland that is in an old funeral home) and was able to catch the last part of Nick Jaina’s set. That night I stayed up singing old, creepy folk songs round the piano until late into the night. I saw A Serious Man (my second movie on the trip, living it up!) and ate a crepe, made friends with dogs and sang once more around the piano. Yesterday my  new friend Sara and I visited it some crazy vintagey stores, I resisted my urge to buy a typewriter but it was difficult, we rented a movie and carved pumpkins while Nick mixed his record downstairs. His new record is absolutely magical. I can’t even believe it. It’s like heaven. It made me cry (which isn’t really saying much, those damn Sylvan Learning Center commercials make me cry and any preview no matter how cheesy…) But still, it’s a masterpiece and you will want to have it once it’s available and then you will cherish it for all the days of your life.

I ended up recording some vocals for another project Nick is working on. He had left over songs that didn’t quite make it onto this new record. So he’s solicited the help of ladies to sing the songs instead. What it will become will be an amazing treat for your ears. Ladies like Laura Gibson and Corrina Rep (and me!) singing Nick’s songs. The songs I have hard so far are absolutely magnificent. It’s a treat to hear Nick’s songs re-imagined by magical female voices. I’m extremely flattered and excited to be included in this project and will of course keep you updated on it. Of course. Duh.

Last night, I saw the Band of Annuals play in Portland with Brothers Young and Run on Sentence. I haven’t heard Dustin Hamman/Run on Sentence perform ever, except for two years ago when I first met him and Nick in Spokane. Where they stayed with me (because there were no hotel rooms in town available and because I raised my hand really high in the audience when they asked if anyone had a place they could stay…) Dustin sang for me in my living room that weekend. Seeing him up on stage backed by some of my favorite Portland musicians was a serious treat. He is amazing and if you ever get the chance to see him play live…Do it! Raise your hand high!

Welp, now it’s today. All my days have been incredibly full so far. Full of new friends, old friends, pets, music, wine, treats and excitement. I feel tired and my voice is a bit sore. I haven’t gotten out of my pajamas and I’ve watched a few episodes of the Office. I’m not sure what is next. Well next, next. Like the next few hours. But I do know I’ll be back in Seattle soon (maybe even tonight) and then I’ll be heading to Orcas Island/Doe Bay with my new, magical friend Shenandoah Davis and Tomo of the band Grand Hallway. I’m not sure what Doe Bay will bring. Magical memories by the sea is what I’m hoping for.

And then onward, upward and LA bound. Show at Hotel Cafe on Tuesday, October 20th (playing on a real live piano, tell your friends!) and then recording and more recording and maybe an interview on the best radio show ever and then another show on Halloween at the Steve Allen Theatre (I’m open to costume suggestions for this show)….

That’s all I have for you now. I will leave you with a few things I have learned in my travels.

1. Always pack extras. Extra phone chargers, extra toothbrushes, extra underwear, extra pants.

2. Pack your extras in sneaky places. So when you get drunk and leave things behind you’ll still have your extras sneakily tucked away and won’t end up showing up in a town with no pants, no toiletries and no dignity.

3. Always take a shower. If you can. Even if you don’t think you are that dirty. You never know when you’ll get the chance to take another shower. You just never know!

4. Nut up or shut up.

xoxo.

Sorry for neglecting you a bit this last month. I’ve been wandering a bit and visiting my home and building a pond (kind of) and going on a hike (once) and not using the computer often. But I’m back. I swear!!

Firstly, I would like to tell you a bit about this last weekend. Saturday specifically when I played at the magical Reverbfest put on by the Seattle Weekly. Lots of venues in Ballard had shows going on all day and in to the night. The Conor Byrne pub where I played was packed out (so much so they had to not let people in at the door! It seemed like that everywhere in Ballard that night! Magic!) and the crowd was very kind and clappy. The show was great and it was so amazing to be surrounded by friends and fans and new faces and strangers and to be joined on stage by my peepees Dane Ueland and Kim Wescott.

It was so special to be a part of Reverbfest which is a local Seattle extrvaganza. For the nice people at Seattle Weekly to ask me to play meant a lot being a Spokane musician/Skagit Valley native. So wonderful. And such good energy all throughout the evening. The Maldives at the Tractor finished up the evening and rocked the shit out of the Tractor Tavern.

I would especially like to thank Dane and Kim and my dear friends Michelle and Chrisy (who own Empyrean!) and Aja (who owns my heart!), Seattle Weekly, Sound on the Sound, Three Imaginary Girls, all of Ballard, the Maldives, Kory Kruckenberg and the wonderful people of Seattle who clap and laugh and always make my time there so wonderful.

Secondly, I’m heading out on a little journey down to LA to work more with Dave Sitek on my new album project. Eeee! I’ve decided to drive and play in Centralia, Portland and LA on the way. Here are the show deets-

Thursday-October 8th- Centralia, WA 7pm  at Santa Lucia Coffee with Dane Ueland and Lower Lights Burning

Saturday-October 10th- Portland, OR 9 pm at Backspace with Annie Bethancort and Ryanhood

Tuesday-October 20th- Los Angeles, CA 7 pm at Hotel Cafe

So if you live in one of those nice places or have friends there please tell them, spread the word, invite them to my show! I would greatly appreciate it.

Lastly, I hope to update a bit more often and use more links and photos as promised in earlier blogs.

Oh but here is a link to a video from this year’s Pig Out in the Park. Not quite sure about playing with sunglasses. It seems too mysterious. The photo is courtesy of Som Jordan (www.thesomshow.com) Enjoy!

xoxo,

Kaylee Cole

If you don’t make it to Pig Out, I will be playing at Baby Bar (Spokane’s finest bar + best nachos ever) on Saturday, September 12th at 10 pm. This will be my last show in Spokane for a while. It’s free. And Miss Patty and Cori will be working so you know it will be a magical night. And did I mention that it’s my last show in Spokane for a while? SO…

Oh yeah, this Sunday at Empyrean is going to be pretty amazing. You should definitely come. And come early. I have a feeling it will be packed.

So that’s Sunday. And beyond that is a show at Pig Out in the Park on Saturday, September 5th at 3:30 pm on the Clock tower stage.

I’ve been booking a West Coast tour (first time playing in California…eee!) these past few days and am excited to journey down the coast, play shows and end up in LA to record more. More to come on that…

In the meantime, I am headed to San Francisco next week for a quick weekend vacation. I decided to go a few months ago after watching this video on youtube and after hearing how great San Francisco is for, like, my whole life. I decided it was time to make a trip and visit. I also plan to go to this exhibit. I’ve always enjoyed Richard Avedon photographs in the pages of Vogue and am very excited to see his photographs up close and in person. Other than that I mostly plan to eat well and walk around and explore. Yay! If you know of any delicious, cheaper-ish restaurants or places I should visit, do comment and let me know! I would greatly appreciate suggestions.

That’s all I have for you today. I will leave you with this photo I found. I’m maybe 4 here. The look on my face is what my mom would call “happysad”. Oddly enough, my little kid fingernails are longer and bigger in this photo then they are now.