Katie Mariah's Blog

Andy Griffith

Hi guys,

Had a really great time at the Norman Music Festival last Saturday. Thanks to SWAN and Michaelangelos for having me out! It got crazy this year... there were people everywhere and Michaelangelos was packed completely full with people standing only and there were folks on the street everywhere down town. So cool. So much music in our own backyard.

And now for a 180....

I'm totally addicted to diet orange soda. It all started with an old Andy Griffith comedy record my dad had. We used to listen to his comedy records all the time, but our favorites were Bill Cosby (of course) and Andy Griffith. Now Andy had this bit about going to a small-town football game and watching and listening to what all the home town folks were saying. I about lose it every time I hear it... so funny. Anyway, everybody at the game had to have their "big orange." That is, their big orange soda pop. So at one of my recent stops to wet my whistle-- I could not make a decision and nothing brings back childhood like some orange cola and good ol' Andy Griffith. One thing lead to another and now I'm hooked on the "big orange."

I think my addiction changes with the season. This winter, it was green tea late's. (Actually, my usual became a "non-fat, venti, green tea late hold the syrup, add two splenda and whip cream-- I was ashamed every time I said it to the barista... I am one of those people.) At $4.28, I'm glad the seasons have finally changed and with it, my cheaper drink obsession. : )

I play in Perry Oklahoma this weekend at the Spring festival. Unveiling some new songs... "Door to Door" I think you are going to love, love, love! Can't wait to lay it down and put it up somewhere for you to hear!

Happy early birthday to my sister, Megan! She bought herself a house for her birthday-- talk about putting on your big girl hat!

We had fantastic field trip to the fine arts festival in Dover, Oklahoma today. Here's some of my students... they were fantastic!

 

Thanks for keeping up friends!

 

KM

Norman Music Festival

Hi guys,

So, I'm really excited right now because Will and I were just watching this week's episode of LOST that we dvr'd.  We were watching very intensely when all of a sudden... I see a girl I know from high school on the show. I say Will, that is Yvonne Midkiff. I played basketball with her in high school. I was trying to convince myself that it wasn't her, but a very impressive Yvonne clone when I remembered that I heard she went to Hawaii for grad school and that's where they film LOST! Sure enough, she was on the credits. Way to go Yvonne! (She is also and engineer and a very nice person. I guess she just does a little guest starring in her spare time...)

Anywho, I played at Oddfellow's in Chickasha again last weekend and had a great show. We finally have some sun back in our lives after a week of rain. I went on a five mile trek with my dog, Gus and wore him plum out. It was so beautiful outside though... just could not help myself. 

I've written some songs with the kids at school. We just finished up the sixth grade song a couple weeks ago and they've done such a good job. I played it last night at my songwriter's group and the folks loved it. I've got big plans to record them and upload it somehow. I'll have to test what the best way to do that is and get it up before school is out in a month.

I play at the "NM3" Norman Music Festival this weekend at the Michael Angelo stage. There's tons to do and many great bands and solo acts to hear. You can check it out here.

Here's who's playing with me.

Michelangelo's Coffee & Wine Bar Stage
207 East Main Street
Saturday, April 24th
10pm - Anvil Salute
9pm - Shane Henry
8:30pm - Mike "Walker Run" Giroux
8pm - Katie Mariah
7:30pm - Russell Kabir
7pm - Tracy Reed
6:30pm - Jim Madsen
6pm - John Houser
5:30pm - Tod J. Barrett
5pm - Farrel Droke

Thanks everyone!

KM

Patience

Hi guys,

The Swan songwriter group I've told you guys asked me to give them a short paragraph behind the song of mine that they are using for their compilation CD. I gave them "Patience" to use. I thought giving you the story behind each of the songs on "Hit the Ground Running" would be a great idea. I love the stories... it's the best part.

Here's the rhyme and reason for "Patience."

I was in the parking lot of a Gordman's in St. Charles, Missouri, right outside of St. Louis. Melodies often come to me with words, and the phrasing I choose for the lyrics often (especially when I first started writing songs) leads the way for the rhythm and melody to follow and finish up a cadence. This is how it happened here. I had just finished up some bargain shopping walking out with about $7 of stuff that I didn't need and couldn't really afford. I needed some time to myself and shopping is always one way to do it for me (that or some sort of manual labor usually does the trick-- I've sense learned that cleaning is a bit better way to work out my thoughts... and much cheaper.) At that time, my last living great-grandmother, Grandma Price, had recently died and I was thinking about her and how we had just gone back to rural west Texas for the funeral. We visited the old farm house we used to go to as a kid-- maybe for the last time. I have been fortunate enough to know all of my great-grandmothers. Grandma Price died right after I was married, she was the last to go. What always seemed insane to me, especially then, as a newlywed, was that each great grandmother I had, lived about 20 years longer than their husbands. None of them remarried. I was too young and caught up in my own world to ever think to ask what that was like for them. I wrote the song in their voice like they were telling me it was okay for them, because I never heard them say that it was or wasn't, but I wanted to believe that it was.  And, looking back and thinking of their faith in God and strength in character, I believe the song "Patience" is how they would have described somewhat of their time after my great grandfathers died. I finished most of it there in my car in the parking lot and sang it back into my voice mail so I wouldn't forget the melody. For more than a year I called the song "Won't Cry." It was my producer, Cary Pierce, that suggested the title "Patience" when we decided to put it on my first record. The song title turned out to be dubiously ironic because it took the most "patience" to record. I think we re did the mix 3 or 4 times. My hard headedness (thank you great-grandmother Ruth) even cut out a beautiful steel guitar track laid down by Lloyd Maines for the song, but I know my grandmothers would have loved how it turned out.

The song is one of my favorites so far. You can listen to it and buy it here.

Thanks for keeping in touch you guys!

KM

Taylor Swift, Ali Harter and Oddfellow's Music Hall

Hi guys!

How you been? I hope you had a wonderful Easter!

I wanted to let you know about some fun stuff coming up. SWAN the Songwriting Association of Norman that I have been part of for a while now is putting out a CD with a bunch of the member's original songs. My song, "Patience" from Hit the Ground Running will be on their CD. It is in production now and there are a bunch of great writers/players on the CD-- I'll let you know when it's available.

Also, I'm really pumped about a show I've got on April 17th with Ali Harter at Oddfellow'sin Chickasha, OK. She just released her second album, and if you haven't heard her live, she is simply great. A few of her songs were featured on Grey's Anatomy last month! I mean, don't get me wrong-- come to see me of course! (but Ali is superb...) : )

So, I randomly got to go to a Taylor Swift concert last week as a gift!  She put on a great show-- big production to be sure... you know what else it was for sure: LOUD! I'm talking 50,000 screaming 12-year-olds kind of loud. It was kind of incredible really-- she would just look at the audience for a few seconds longer than necessary and they would go bananas--  my head could only take so much of the novelty... but the painful ringing in my ears did not diminish my love for the dear Swift! Here's a few pics...

   
  
 
I've got some new songs and recordings in the works I can't wait to share with you guys! A little different, a little bit more rootsy (if that's a word). I think you are going to dig them!

Well, must hit the hay-- planning a talent show this week with the kiddo's!

Thanks for checking in friends!

KM

Zicam

Germy little stinkers... yes, I love them, but I will blame them. As a first year teacher, I would like to make a personal appeal to all parents if I may. Please, would you mind bathing your child in hand sanitizer before you send them to us? I feel like I've had a cold for about 3 months now. I just bought Zicam (I am very hard headed about taking medicine... drives the hubs CRAZY) I really hope it works. I feel like a little weakling with a Rudolph nose and a delicate disposition-- which I most certainly (usually) do not have.

This pic was posted by my good friend Brittany on facebook and it makes this sickly girl smile. Oh yes, I had the cold here too... but colds in the mountains (this was on our ski trip)  were more fun. : )

I started a great tune today. Hope to get it finished tomorrow.

Much love and aloe vera tissue,

KM

Red River

Just had the best trip ever! We went skiing in Red River, NM, with our pals Dusty and Brittany! The weather was phenomenal, the cabin we stayed in was right on the Red River and just a quick walk to the ski lift. Here's some pics...

The best part of the trip though... and the real reason we were there...

Yup, Dusty popped the big question as we were all coming down one of the runs. He had it all planned out. Will was snow boarding for the first time so we had to wait for him to come down at the bottom. (Snow boarding his very hard at first. Will was a very good sport... most of the time.) So Dusty has Brit pull out a map to figure out where we want to go next, but what she doesn't know is that there is a poem Dusty has written inside the map and while she's got this huge map spread out in front of her face, Dusty has plopped down on one knee. By then Will is there and I've got the camera ready. She reads the poem puts the map down sees Dusty and well, you know the rust. Can you believe the  view? I was taking pictures the whole time so she wasn't suspicious. Got some good ones too! What a way to start off your life together. It's all downhill from there I guess. : ) 

This was our cabin, the first one... we were on the bottom! Beautiful right?

Now it's back to beautiful Oklahoma. The weather is gorgeous here right now! It's supposed to snow this weekend, but I'm going to go out and try to enjoy it while I can! Working on some new tunes... think I'll write outside today!

Thanks for keeping up! You guys are the best.

KM

Just got back from Red River! Ah, Beautiful!

The Avett Brothers

Hi there!

Will and I just got back from seeing the Avett Brothers in OKC with my brother-in-law Wade and sister-in-law Bri. Wow. If you haven't heard their stuff check it out here. Although, I must say they sound better live-- that's really saying something because their albums are so good. Get this Dad... the only cover songs they played were Frankie Lane's "Wanted Man" and a Roger Miller tune! Enough said, right?

My Cowboys won last Saturday too! Will and I snapped a picture just as the student section stormed the floor. It was fantastic!

But alas, the roller-coaster ride continues-- tonight we lost to Texas A&M. Chin up though... can't wait for March madness! It always ends right around my birthday and it's one of the funnest times of year, in my humble opinion. : )

See you all very soon. Thanks for keeping up!

KM

The Avett Brothers rocked in OKC tonight. I've got to get my banjo back out!

Olympic Games

Hi guys,

Holy cow, have you seen these aerial ski jumpers in the Olympics this year. Sitting here thinking all of a sudden that I am a very wimpy person. Who are these people and when do they suddenly say; Yes, I believe I will start skiing off these fatalistic looking ski slopes to contort my body in all sorts of rigorous shapes, spins and flipperoos. (I really like that last word a lot.) Well, it's amazing in my book. I've only been catching the Olympics in spare fleeting moments of down time and occasional nightly clips of high lights, but I can't help but admire these athletes and the way America covers these nostalgic events. Bob Costas is the man.

Here is as high as I've gotten in my very dangerous and death defying daily activities. It was a dare... as in: "bet you can't fit into that miniature kiddy helicopter ride..." Well, I love a good dare and yes, oh yes I can!

 

I had a great show last weekend in the lovely Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Such a great audience! The people were so wonderful and it really reminded me of the church I grew up in in Enid, OK, just up the road a ways. Thank you Kingfisher!

It's school picture day tomorrow. Ha! I'm also giving a quiz about Beethoven-- aka: pure greatness.

Thanks for keeping in touch my friends. Stay warm-- I'll see you soon.

KM