Thursday 13

13 Things

About

Hormone

Replacement

Therapy

While we're on the subject of women in rock, I had the loveliest email from Tammy and Marlane of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), a rock band out of the greater Boston area.  Below is the 13-question interview they so kindly granted She Lives.    Carol's Commentary included, natch.
Tammy & Marlane, welcome to She-Lives!  So good of y'all to visit with us for a bit.

1. She Lives:  First of all, Tell us a little about your off-stage lives.  I know Marian works at a dentist office,  Emily works . . . ?   Most of you are moms?  Are any of you homemakers without the day job thing? Tammy: Thanks so much for taking the time to interview us!!  We love connecting with other women and Moms through our music!  Emily works part time at a venue where she also performs her solo projects...Lisa also writes and performs jazz music.  Tammy teaches spinning.  Marlane practices her instrument more than anyone else.
CC:  Isn't she friendly?  And she can spin!  I wonder if she uses the yarn to knit her own sweaters.  I should have asked.

2. SL: I really can't go any further without addressing the name:  HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)!  Those of us in need of same, completely get it and we love it!  Why do you think that is? Why is what you're doing with your music "therapeutic" at this stage in your lives and how do your fans relate?
Tammy:  When we first formed, we focused on being funny and the name matched.  We are having a lot of fun with making music and performing at rock venues.  Our fan base is VERY proud to be connected to our belief that “it is never too late to be what you always were”.   HRT is proof that age is irrelevant when pursuing a dream.
CC:  "...Never too late to be what you always were."  I like that!  I'm not exactly sure I've always been, but I'm glad I'm not too late!  For a change.

3. SL: Marlane and Tammy, before HRT got together, the other members of the band were already, to varying degrees, musically accomplished.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but the two of you had never been in a band before and didn't even know how to play your respective instruments.  (Did I get that right?)  Tell us what you went through to get up to speed with your band mates, musically speaking.
Tammy: Yes both of us picked up our instruments for the first time in December 2004.  Marian is also new to the bass.  She played guitar recreationally with other bands in the past.  We worked VERY hard with lessons and LONG practices 4 days a week.  Marlane and I were blessed with band mates that are very positive and patient.
CC:  Oh, I'm so proud of these gals!  Especially that Marian, picking up the bass like that.  Way to go, fellow bass-ette.   Wait!  Rehearsing four days a week?!??!  Wholly guacamole!  That's....a lot.

4. SL:  Life is a busy endeavor.  Motherhood is a very busy endeavor.  Some of y''all have day jobs, for the love of chocolate!   Put all that together and, I'm sorry, but life gets as nutty as a Snicker's bar.  Add a band to that and...Well, what happens there?  Any tips for those of us struggling to juggle all that while also keeping up with practice, rehearsals, and gigs?
Marlane:  The most important thing you can do is LIKE THE PEOPLE YOU ARE WITH.  Life is hectic so when we all scramble for time to write and rehearse, we look forward to being together and that make a huge difference as we continue to conquer the impossible.
CC:  Not so impossible if you're rehearsing four days a week, is what I'm thinking.  Hard work and all that, right?

5. SL:  I first heard about your band a couple years ago when you played SxSW (South-by-Southwest), down here in Texas.  Since then, HRT has enjoyed a significant amount of popularity, including your own reality TV show, "Rocker Moms."  You're not just a jam band anymore, ladies.  Think back to when you first toyed with the notion of being in a band.  Was this the goal?  What's the next step?
Tammy:  We always had big goals and dreams.  We keep evolving to reach those goals.   HRT wants to be a smooth blend of rock and jam band music and still maintain our sense of humor.
CC:  Judging by their vlogs, I'd say they've got the sense of humor thing down.  Judging by their MP3's they got the music thing down, too!

6. SL:  How has HRT affected your families? 
Tammy:  Our husbands are 100% behind us and are thrilled to help out.  In fact, there are times they are having more fun than us!!  Our kids think it is the coolest thing and many of them play instruments themselves.
CC:  Yessss!!!  Get 'em started early!  Around my house the rules are, kiss your mama, practice your music, do your chores.  In that order.

7. SL: One of the things I like best about your band is that everyone seems so very real.  You don''t take yourselves too seriously.  It's so sad to me that so many young musicians go to such incredible extremes to make us feel their pain and to shock us into noticing them.  With HRT, I can't help wondering, where's the schtick?  There's no bizarre hairdos or dripping blood or outrageous outfits.   What makes HRT stand out from among your counterparts?
Marlane:  One of our goals is to open for a Rolling Stones or Tom Petty or Sheryl Crow.  The shtick only goes so far.  Songs about Motherhood are funny to hear only once.  We want to be on the radio, get our songs on TV and in major motion pictures.
CC:  Tom Petty?  Sheryl Crow?  That would be very cool.  The Stones?  That would be a gas, gas, gas!

8. SL:  When we think back to the days of Classic Rock,  (Waaaaaaayyyy before my time, right?) very few bands come to mind that had women in them, even fewer that were comprised entirely of women.  (Like, zero, right?)   Are there simply more women musicians these days, or do you think the recent surge of women in rock has anything to do with changes in cultural perspectives regarding women/wives/mothers pursuing careers that take them out of the traditional milieus?
Tammy:  As a result of the “60 is the new 40” and “40 is the new 20”, there certainly has been some breaking of that glass ceiling in the areas of music and everyplace else.  Also since we are living longer and healthier, starting something at 50 – where it is very conceivable to live for another 30 years – there is no fear of taking risks and trying something new – time is not an issue!
CC:  Oooo..... I like that a LOT!   Sing it, Sistah!  I like that "40 is the new 20" thing.  If that's true, then I'm the new...uh...let's see.  I know there's a calculator around here somewhere.  Uh....

9. SL:  HRT is scheduled to play a fund raiser for Autism this coming August.  My 3y/o nephew was just diagnosed with Autism, so it's a condition that hits close to home with me.  Is the same true for members of your band?   Or do y'all just spread the altruism around evenly?
Tammy:  Emily’s nephew has Aspergers and Marlane and I know families in town with Autistic children and the uphill battle they have.  The 2 local organizations that we will be donating the proceeds to are thrilled to be part of a fundraising event that THEY DON’T HAVE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES for.  Most of the fundraising events they have require a tremendous amount of work from the volunteers where their time is so limited.  A fun rockin’ night out where they just show up to be entertained while the organizations they work so hard for make money is awesome.
CC:   That right there gets a She Lives standing ovation, y'all!  Bravo!!

10. SL:  And what's the story with your television series, "Rocker Moms?"   I mean, I watched the clips available on UTube and I would totally TiVo that show!  What's changed for HRT since that was filmed?
Tammy:  Rocker Moms is still airing prime time in Canada and has been for over a year and has received a great response.  We have been told that it is being pitched to American networks now and hope to hear something soon!  We have received a lot of great emails from the viewers and we learned a lot from the experience.
CC:  Well, I better go clear out some space in my TiVo, then.  I know!  I'll delete all my Dog Whisperer episodes.  That should do it.  I mean, I adore that Cesar Milan, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

11. SL:  In past interviews, you've alluded to there being more joking around in your lyrics back when HRT first started, but now your song-writing seems more serious.  To what do you attribute the transition?
Tammy:  We have kept a couple of the funny songs from when we first started.  We did not enjoy being just a gimmick.   All of us wanted to be more than a band that jokes around.  Marian has been an important part of keeping the balance – if we get “too soft” – or “too serous” – she lets us know.  As said earlier in this interview, we want to be a balance blend of rock, jam and fun!
CC: I like that Marian more and more.  It just doesn't do to take ourselves too seriously. 

12. SL:  According to HRT's vlog, - which is quite entertaining, may I say -  you've been busy in the studio lately and have an EP due out soon.  I loved listening to the cuts on MySpace.   What can you tell us about the writing of those songs?
Marlane:  Thanks so much for taking the time to listen to the songs and watch our vlogs!   First of all, we have never worked to hard at anything as we have for those songs.  Lisa put a lot of time into the engineering of those songs and Emily worked tirelessly at producing them.  This is the part where Tammy and I sat around and LEARNED from the experienced members of the band!!!
CC:  They recorded, engineered and produced the songs THEMSELVES!?!?!   Well knock me over with a feather!  I can not wait to get ahold of one of those CD's!

13. SL:  I saved my best question for last, girls.  But I'm tellin' ya...the answer has to be 'yes!'    Are you coming back to Austin to play SxSW again?  (Just say, "YES!")   My sister (and my aforementioned nephew) live there and I would so drive down to see y'all.  So!  That's settled then, right?   (Yes, yes, yes!) 
"We're headin' to Austin in 2009
   Playin' SxSW is so very fine!"
Okay, I never said I was a song writer, but you got a new fan, HRT!    So, Austin, right?  (Hint:  "Y-E-S!")
Tammy & Marlane:  WE WOULD LOVE TO BE INVITED BACK!!!!!  We hope to finish our demo cd by the end of the summer.  We want to have a perfect blend of songs that truly represents the band as we are today!
CC:  Great!  So, I'll call my peeps in Austin and lay the groove.  Done!

Ladies, it was so good of you to take time away from the studio, the business and the busy-ness  to give She Lives readers a little Hormone Replacement Therapy!  See you in Austin!

• HRT's new album is scheduled for release at the end of the summer, so you'll definitely want to watch for it!
• If you're in the Boston area on August 9th, you can catch HRT at the Hard Rock Cafe's "Rocks for Autism" benefit concert.
• Be sure to visit HRT's website.
• Of course, they have a MySpace as well.

BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE!

One person will be randomly selected from today's comments to receive a free Hormone Replacement Therapy t-shirt, compliments of HRT!

Give it up for HRT, everybody!

Comments

[SJ Reidhead]

I love it!

SJR
The Pink Flamingo

[Chelle Y.]

What a fun job to be able to interview people like this.

[Jenny]

Very cool lead in from the TT13 description, of course it made me want to come and read your 13! The band sounds like a fun group, I will have to keep my eyes open for a gig near me in NH.

[Sue]

At first I saw the photo and thought no way, they are all too young for hormone replacements...d'uh...which really is telling of my own age...yikes!!!

They sound great though, and I would soooo wear the t-shirt :)

Happy TT and thank you for stopping by!

[Allison]

Great interview! I have to say, though, I thought you were going to talk about hormone replacement therapy...as in...the hormones...that you put in your body! Haha!

Happy TT!

[On a Limb with Claudia]

ahahahahaha... I was certain you were talking about... well you know!

What an awesome way to do a TT - and I bet the band loves it!

Happy TT

[SandyCarlson]

Great read! God bless.

[Jan]

Great interview! I'll drive down to Austin with ya, sistah!!

[Kelsey]

Happy TT thanks for a great post!

[Angie]

Great interview. Thanks for sharing it.

[Nicole Austin]

Great TT! The sound like a fun group.

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

Carol, this was another great interview. I so love what you're doing here. When my books come out (or something else noteworthy happens), we'll have to hook up.

[Di]

I love what you are doing too...but it sounds exhausting!

[Jen]

So fun! They really do not look old enough to need HRT.

[Amy]

I'm with Allison, I thought we were talking real hormones at first. LOL!

So glad you are posting so often!

[Peter Plum]

Thanks for dropping by my TT-- way to go getting more interviews!

[Summer McLaughlin]

Hello !!! When ever I see a women(s) band out there it reminds me that there is a certain spirit still there. Still from the eighties you can pick us out of a crowd
I am happy to be a part of
happy to participate in
happy to help
any women in music
that are good
but you girls are exceptional
and raising a family as well
Good luck with your fund august 9th
good cause
worked with kids for 22 years!!!
Summer

[colleen]

Thanks for the introduction. They all look to young for HRT! I watched the whole Today Show video on their myspace and was very inspired. They come from my hometown city too.

[Tempest Knight]

An all-girl band? Coolness! I gotta check them out. Great interview btw! :D

[KC]

Cool interview, what a great T13 post, Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

[Robin]

They sound fun. Good for them for following their dream.

[Bernie]

Interesting 13. Mine is Eat, Drink and be Merry - 13 Last Words, Excerpt: Judaism instructs us to enjoy the simple gifts that God gives in the present world. Eat, drink and be merry. Enjoy this life, on this Earth, in this time. I have collected for your enjoyment the last words of some of our more famous fellow human beings involving food or drink before they died.

[michael wong]

Hi I'm looking to build up my incoming links for my blog.
Would you like to exchange blogroll links with me?
If yes, please visit: http://bigmoneylist.blogspot.com/
and leave your URL for your blog there. I'll link to you within

hours. Thanks.

[Matthew James Didier]

What a great interview... and interesting subjects! Will check out the vlogs and MP3s post-haste!

[Celticlibrarian]

I am just loving your interviews with lady bands. All this new music I'm learning about!

Thank you kindly.

[Joy Renee]

i'd never heard of HRT so this was way cool to see. i have to admit tho that having come straight here from susan helene's blog it took me a few moments to be sure we were talking about a real live band.

[Linda R. Moore]

Great TT. :) Thanks for visiting mine last week, too!

[Shaunesay]

I love all of your comments after they answer the questions too! Fun!

Happy TT (I'm a little late from last week and catching up!)

[bellezza]

What an interesting name for a band, as well as interview. It's good to keep current with things, so thanks for posting this or I'd have remained with the artists I know.