All-Access

The Final Post

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:10:03 GMT

Dear Future Curator of the Dixie Chicks Museum: Call me!

This, my friends, is my final post.

I snapped the photo above shortly before packing away all the various press badges, tour itineraries, photos, magazines, newspaper clippings, posters, mementos, and Mentos. What you see above represents a small fraction of the souvenirs I've collected in my two years of serving as the Man Ass (a.k.a. Management Assistant) and exclusive blogger to the Dixie Chicks.

But what's not packed away into that giant time capsule are all the mad crazy memories that I've accumulated and attempted to convey over the course of over 75,000 words. I will cherish the time I spent with those of you whom I met on this crazy journey. As I've said before, you really did make me feel like a rock star, even though the only underwear ever thrown at me was by a homeless man in Oakland.

I cannot begin to fully express my deep gratitude for the support of you, the fans (the Chickheads?) and the readers of this blog. It has been a great pleasure and the greatest of privileges.

Here is a link to my final article, which attempts to encapsulate two years of life, behind-the-scenes, with the Dixie Chicks.

One day, I hope we will meet again. Until then, may all the best be yours.

My Favorite Photos #1 - 25

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:28:38 GMT

In case you missed the previous posts, I went through all my photos from the last two years with the Dixie Chicks, ranked my 75 favorite (approved) pics, and added brief commentary. I've already posted # 51 - 75 and #26 - 50. Here below, at last, are my Top 25.

#1: I love this photo, as a photo, and I love remembering the exact moment I took the photo. Martie was practicing “Landslide” backstage in New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center before the Time 100 event. This was one of the rare moments where I heard Martie sing and play an instrument, all by herself. (I’ve heard Natalie sing a cappella and practice the acoustic guitar plenty of times. I’ve also heard Emily pick up the banjo a few times before a show to warm up.) It was one of those moments were I realized the full extent of the privilege of following the Dixie Chicks.

#2: Dirty Sexy Money! I told Natalie I wanted a photo of her with her $100 winnings, which she received from Emily for saying “Borgata” ten times during the show at the Borgata Hotel & Casino. She obliged and gave me a stunning pose with five portraits of Alexander Hamilton.

#3: I have an entire collection of photos of Emily making ridiculous poses and faces like this one. Her self-deprecation is one of her greatest assets. Her ability to wear a tiger print dress is another.

#4: In the arcade of a bowling alley in Albany, New York, Natalie was playing a shooting game. When I walked up to snap a pic, she turned to me and made this pose for half a second, right when I snapped the photo, and then went back to her game. After I posted this, fans used it as their avatars and altered it to make all kinds of crazy spin-offs. Too bad this photo couldn’t have been sold as tour merchandise. If I got rid of the background, enlarged it, and added the tagline “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” I’m pretty sure the resulting poster would’ve been one of the biggest selling items on the tour. By the way, that's bass player Sebastian Steinberg in the background looking like a loony grandmother.

#5: When it comes to photos triggering an emotional response, this picture is #1 in my book. I took this picture in the Chicks’ dressing room at the Grammy Awards at the exact moment when the Chicks won the "Record of the Year" Grammy. All their handlers and assistants were watching the TV screen with pure joy on their face. Many of the people involved in show business are jaded and rarely moved, but this was a clear exception. It was probably the first time that I asborbed how much love everyone had for the chicks. By the way, that's publicist Cindi Berger in the middle who looks like her child had just won the national spelling bee.

#6: This is not a posed picture. Cory, the Tour Assistant, has the job of doing a million tasks, including whatever the Dixie Chicks request/ask/demand. One of the few moments where she gets to relax is when the Chicks are on stage. In Las Vegas, I captured this photo of her, utterly exhausted, while "Taking The Long Way" was being performed.

#7: After Natalie saw this photo of her doing sudoku on stage in London, she said something to me along the lines of, “Hey, your photography skills are getting better. Too bad Chad seems to be picking his nose.”

#8: There’s not many people who can pull off a pink guitar ... but here’s one.

#9: Martie will apparently use any means to get rid of the things stuck between her teeth.

#10: I can tell that two years have passed when I look back at this – we look so young! This is the first one the four of us took together. I had a few friends who didn’t believe that I was actually spending my time with the Dixie Chicks; for them, this photo served as the photographic evidence that silenced their accusations of lies. My thanks to Mindi Pelletier for taking this photo and giving me the best souvenier from the experience.

#11: Natalie and Dean wanted to take a picture for Trent who runs the excellent blog, “Pink is the New Blog” (http://pinkisthenewblog.com). We took this backstage in Austin City Limits. Trent put the photo on his main page and gave me photo credit. I approve! LOLOLOL!

#12: I could be the most aggressive macho juiced-up defensive tackle and I would still have to acknowledge that this photo is pretty damn adorable.

#13: Like many other hardcore DCX fans, these two girls were having the time of their lives during the show. When I handed them a pick that Natalie’s tech gave me, they were thrilled beyond measure. Here's hoping they've used this pick to learn guitar and become the next great singer-songwriters. I'm going to be mighty disappointed if I find it, in a few years, at a garage sale underneath their torn Hannah Montana charms.

#14: Emily gets the credit for the idea behind this photograph. However, that won’t stop me from taking home the blue ribbon in my county fair’s color photography contest.

#15: This photo – a sign at Shepherd’s Bush in London – is enlarged and framed on my wall. When Martie saw it, she suggested that it would be a great addition to the tourbook. Sadly, that tourbook never actually ended up being produced.

#16: Emily really loves performing on stage ... even to an entirely empty arena during rehearsals.

#17: I’m still waiting, US Weekly, for your call, asking my permission to reprint this photo of Martie in a tight wetsuit on the Australian waves.

#18: Oh, the rock and roll lifestyle may sound glamorous, but we had some very long days during the tour. This is Larry Knechtel, the keyboard legend, catching 40 winks.

#19: There were moments when I would forget that the Dixie Chicks have millions of fans. The moment when I took this photo at the top level of a packed hockey arena in Winnipeg ... was not one of them. Look how many people are standing!

#20: This is the first moment when the Dixie Chicks actually held five Grammy Awards in their hands. Most of the time I see them pose for press photos, they rarely smile. (And when they do smile, it’s usually manufactured.) But in this photo, those smiles are nothing but genuine.

#21: Here are Emily’s twins, Henry and Juliana. During the tour, each of the seven peeps had headphones with their names on it. I like this pic because of Juliana's deep stare, which often makes me think that she has the gentle soul of an older poet.

#22: I took this photo of Martie in a dressing room in a rehearsal space. I credit Emily (the budding photographer) for giving me the idea to take this picture.

#23: I don’t know what Martie is staring at, but whatever it is, it’s obviously disgusting to Martie. I like that you can see both sides of Martie's profile.

#24: It’s one thing to have a great Streisand costume. It’s another thing to embody Babs, right down to the hand poses.

#25: Plenty of fans wore custom-designed shirts to the shows. But not many were tough-looking, middle-aged, balding Brits with ale in their hands. These guys remind me that Dixie Chicks fans come in all shapes and sizes and that I should never refer to myself as Earl.

Unanswered Questions

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Big Pimple

After sending out a request for any last-minute questions, I ended up receiving an avalanche of queries. I tried packing lots of replies into the final article, but some subjects ended up on the cutting room floor.

Unfortunately, most of the questions were unanswerable -- e.g., "When will the next album come out?", "Will the Chicks perform in ___?", "What happened to the extended edition of Shut Up and Sing?", "When are the Chicks going to release another video?", "Why hasn't Natalie responded to my love letters?". Not even the Dixie Chicks know the answer to some of those questions. There were also lots of questions directed at the Chicks that I didn't have the opportunity to have answered. And there were some I just want to ignore. ("What does Emily smell like?" -- really?)

But there were some questions directed at me that I have attempted to answer below:

Q: What was the most surreal experience of the whole time you were with The Chicks?

A: I mentioned a few of the more bizarre experiences in the farewell article. Surfing with Emily and Natalie comes to mind. Carrying Emily's bra. Singing a karaoke duet with Natalie. Seeing fans with signs at concerts with my name on it. But the no-boundaries nature of our conversations stick out the most.

One odd topic involved my hypothetical future son’s samurai sword. During the last day of the tour, the Chicks and I were discussing parenthood and somehow landed on the subject of whether I think boys should be circumcised for non-religious reasons. (My wife wants to snip, but I wanted to leave my son intact, especially because of the high risk of infections.) Natalie, who sympathized with my opinion, talked to me about how to avoid the risks – go to a urologist’s well-lit office the next day! – and shared her research on the ultimate health benefits of circumcision. I left the conversation converted.

(Dear future son of mine: If you resent the loss of your foreskin, blame the Dixie Chicks!)

Q: What are the chances we'll see a video of Natalie singing "Rehab" at her Halloween party?

A: I filmed a lot of video that MSN didn't end up using for various reasons. I think I filmed Natalie singing "Rehab" at the Halloween party but the video quality probably isn't great since I was too busy laughing. I'd have to ask Natalie's permission to share the video, however, so we'll see.

Q: Where is the best place to sit during a Dixie Chicks concert?

A: Most audio experts will tell you that the front row in a concert hall is not the best place to be; you should be at least a few rows back to receive the ideal auditory experience. That said, Martie is wonderful about acknowledging people who are waving to her, dancing, or holding up signs -- mainly because she's most likely to have the time and free hands to say hi. So if you want one of the Chicks to acknowledge your "Voice Inside My Head" tattoo on your face, I'd sit as close as possible to Martie.

Q: Did you ever get to play another game with Natalie (after the Yahtzee incident)?

A: No. But I don't think that was because Natalie banned me from playing Yahtzee with her. (Or so I would like to believe.)

Q: What was the funniest moment?

A: The "Fresh Air" experience: http://dixiechicks.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=595836. After I saw Martie giggling, I couldn't keep a straight face if my life had depended on it. I will never forget that moment when Martie and I had tears in our eyes.

Q: Do you think you will maintain contact with the Chicks after this all ends?

A: I'm sure we might email each other. But they have a million friends, so I doubt I'll get an invite to their next Bat Mitzvah. You have to keep in mind that while they might have enjoyed my company, I represented a huge invasion on their privacy and was a minor nuisance, what with my constant flashing camera and persistent questions. I think some people get the impression that I am best friends with the Dixie Chicks and that we have slumber parties and drink milk and cookies while watching John Hughes films. But it's not true - we have hot cocoa and cupcakes, not milk and cookies.

Q: Was it hard being away from your wife as a newlywed?

A: Always.

Q: Is there anything that you were hoping would happen but didn't?

A: Gareth, Martie's husband, and I spent a lot of time talking smack about our respective Scrabble skills. Initially, we vowed to play $100 a game. Over time, that number escalated. But we never ended up playing a game. (Perhaps we were both scared of losing hundreds of dollars.)

Q: Is there a distinct moment when your respect for the Chicks rose?

A: There were plenty of moments. Here's one: during the rehearsals for the Accidents and Accusations Tour, the Chicks were thinking of a new song to cover for the tour. I suggested Prince's "Raspberry Beret." I thought it was a good idea. I've never heard anybody cover it. Plus, it has string parts that Martie could play. But Martie asked me if the lyrics were meaningful. I said no. She then rejected the idea. That made me appreciate the idea that the Chicks do not pick their cover songs lightly.

Q: Why don't you write a book about your experiences?

A. I'd love to. Know any interested publishers?

Q: Do you have a favorite Dixie Chick?

A: No. I was prepared to. But I honestly don't, even though I have different bonds with all three. Emily's sense of humor is probably the most similar to mine. (Only Emily would think of posing with a bottle of Vaseline after winning five Grammy awards.) Natalie and I probably have the most to talk about, mainly because we both listen to Howard Stern and have strong opinions about random subjects. And Martie is probably the most open and friendliest. But choosing my favorite Dixie Chick would be like choosing my favorite child or my favorite body part.

Q: Would you entertain the idea of blogging for the Chicks again?

A: Because I feel a deep loyalty to the Chicks, I would seriously consider anything they wanted. But if the Chicks ever had the need for another blogger, I think maybe it would be better to have somebody else do it, so the world can get to know the Chicks through a different sent of eyes.

I tried to get as many questions as possible. For those that I didn't have a chance to answer, I will send you a reply through a Ouija board or a Magic 8-Ball.

The Penultimate Articles

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:27:50 GMT

Mother and Daughter Worry About the Hamster in the Oven?

There are two new articles on the main DCX page!

Before my time ran out, I had the chance to interview three women who have had a profound impact on the Dixie Chicks, and especially, Natalie Maines.

The first article is an interview with Natalie's charming mother, Tina Maines, and her lovely sister, Kim Maguire. Tina and Kim, who are both excellent photographers, proved to be very difficult to photograph, as the above picture indicates. Whenever they saw my camera pointed at them, they'd quickly look away. (I had a better chance of capturing Bigfoot!) Thankfully, they were willing to talk. Even better, they let loose some hilarious trivia about Natalie.

http://dixiechicks.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5877225

The second article is the result of an interview with Andrea, the woman discussed in "Not Ready To Make Nice." Andrea once attended an anti-Dixie Chicks protest; the footage of her was subsequently broadcast across the country and ended up in Shut Up and Sing. She was the one who told her young child to say "Screw the Dixie Chicks!" You'll be amazed to read what she has to say today.

http://dixiechicks.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5817958

With these two articles published, there remains only one.

My Favorite Photos #26 - 50

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:41:36 GMT

In case you missed the previous post, I went through all my photos from the last two years with the Dixie Chicks, ranked my 75 favorite (approved) pics, and added brief commentary. I've already posted # 51 - 75. Here below is #26 - 50.

For the Top 25, you'll just have to wait until Kwanzaa when I return from a much-needed vacation! Happy Holidays, everyone!

#26: Martie and Katie rode the Dumbo ride together at Disneyland. They both waved to me as their elephant flew by. However, Katie was too short to be seen from this angle. Thus, this photo makes it appear as if Martie really likes going on kids' rollercoasters by herself... which is why I love this photo so.

#27: Natalie was very generous to approve this ridiculous pic of her bowling like a granny. Of course, she had to make doubly sure that her butt did not look big before approving said photo.

#28: The view from front row in Madison Square Garden. One of my favorite nights of the tour.

#29: Here is elegant Juliana walking on the sandy beaches of Australia. Amazingly, the photo was taken without having to ask anybody to get out the way.

#30: Here is another in the series of Emily making ridonculous faces for the camera. I've never loved being told to "talk to the hand" more.

#31: Has any other photographer taken a picture of Natalie Maines kissing George W. Bush? No.

#32: Every now and then, when I would bring Fred (the drummer) beers on stage, I would sneak a photo while the band was performing. I like how dramatic this shot of Sebastian, John, and J'anna appears.

#33: Martie teaches Eva how to wink.

#34: This navy officer was so enthused to take a picture with Natalie. And vice versa. Unfortunately, the officer was later discharged for treason. ;)

#35: As I snapped a photo of Richard and Emily eating at the Shut Up and Sing world premiere party, Cory happened to walk into my shot, behind a black screen, and stopped to pose for a fraction of a second. Emily and Richard had no idea she was there.

#36: All I have to say is that it would be very distracting for me, as a performer, to focus with these two standing in the front row. Much respect to the Chicks for making it through the set list.

#37: Here is the trio making their way to the stage. Their strut down the hallway was so perfectly synchronized that I felt like there should have been some dramatic theme music playing.

#38: This is Cindi Berger, the Chicks' splendiferous publicist, in the green room at the Howard Stern show. As you might imagine, she was a nervous wreck listening to the interview. I might have converted the photo into black and white because she broke out in hives.

#39: Beckett, the goat whisperer.

#40: The Chicks seemed to have different personalities when posing for Polaroids. Here is one of the more family-friendly photos.

#41: I took this panoramic shot while the Chicks were practicing for the Grammy Awards. I don't have many shots where the girls are facing the band -- especially not with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith on drums.

#42: I think this is a cool photo of someone else taking a photo. Also, it doesn't hurt that Hayden Panetierre is in it.

#43: A return to the scene of the crime! This is Shepherd's Bush, the site of the famous "Incident." I felt bad for the homeless man, who was eventually ushered away to make ways for long lines of fans.

#44: This is what it would like if Martie gave a violin recital to a solar eclipse.

#45: When I am senile and suffering from memory loss, I will probably still remember that Emily gets the blue straw, Nat gets green, and Martie gets pink. By the way, the Chicks stopped drinking from water bottles for environmental reasons, so you probably won't see these Fiji bottles anymore. From now on, the straws go in mugs. I like this photo because you can clearly see the straw colors ... and a mysterious bottle of urine nearby. (Not mine!)

#46: J'Anna Jacoby was one of my favorite people to hang out with on tour. She normally plays strings, but I dig this photo of her playing accordion.

#47: Damn, we are feeling that song!

#48: Emily looks stunning, no?

#49: Here's what I remember: Emily found a mysterious bottle of lube on her way to the stage and grabbed it. When she saw that I was about to take a photo of her and Dave Grissom, she asked Dave to hold it. By the time I took the picture, Dave Grissom was unknowingly posing with a bottle of lube in his hands. Emily is brilliant like that.

#50: On their way to the Shut Up and Sing premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, Natalie decided to orchestrate this scene of her being excluded by the two sisters. Ridiculous faces, all around.

My Favorite Photos # 51 - 75

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:54:48 GMT

One of the many privileges of having served as the Dixie Chicks' blogger was the opportunity to take some -- and be in some -- great photos.

I am not a professional photographer. But through the approval process for photos, the Chicks essentially trained me to be a better photographer.

I went through all my photos from the last two years, ranked my 75 favorite ones, and added some brief commentary. (Unfortunately, you'll only see my 75 favorite approved photos.) #51-75 are below. #1-50 will come soon.

#51: This photo should obviously be titled "Sisters."   I felt I caught a glimpse of 1992 when the two of them must have helped each other with their outfits (because they couldn't afford any assistants).

#52: This is drummer Victor Indrizzo during rehearsals at the Nokia Theatre. I used absolutely no effects or digital alteration here. The gray arena and the blue stage lighting just make it seem as if the drummer was colorized in a black and white photo.

#53: Nat is testing out what her Amy Winehouse makeup and hair should look like on Dean (the Chicks' makeup artist).

#54: This photo captures the DCX crew goofing on me at the American Music Awards. I had to constantly invade the crew's space and flash photos, so it was only fair that they at least have an opportunity to mock my shoes. I believe House Engineer Fern Alvarez took this photo.

#55: The Dixie Chicks rarely look enamored or honored to be in another celebrity's presence. But Emily really looked taken with musical legend Harry Belafonte, backstage in New York City.

#56: I love this photo of Natalie and Chi-Chi, the racist monkey. They both have the same big, round eyes.

#57: All I know is that Mindi, the Road Manager, would place these toy soldiers on the traveling cases whenever things got tense.

#58: A genuinely sweet, quiet moment after a long press conference to promote Shut Up and Sing at the Toronto Film Festival.

#59: I captured this pic (pick?) while the Chicks were recording "The Neighbor."

#60: Backstage in New York City, Lindsey Sherman made Emily genuinely happy with her shirt. Especially because Natalie and Martie actually seemed jealous. Lindsey was overjoyed to take a photo with not only Emily, but Rosie O'Donnell, as well.

#61: One of the most beautiful things I witnessed on tour was an ASL interpreter "singing" the Dixie Chicks' songs in Washington, D.C. It was so spectacular that I thought the Dixie Chicks should have hired her to perform on stage.

#62: It's hard to get good photos from front row since the Chicks heads are ten feet directly above you. (It's great for nostril shots.) But I managed to get a good shot of Emily's smile here.

#63: I intended to capture a cutout of the Chicks in a downtown London record store. But I got more than I bargained for. I not only captured the cardboard Chicks, but I coincidentally caught a reflection of the iconic double-decker London buses and a photo of myself.

#64: This photo illustrates how quickly the Chicks have to move back stage. Red and Cory are standing still, while Emily is quickly shuffling around. As a result, and because of the shutter speed I used, Emily appears to be teleporting.

#65: There are so many cords and wires backstage, it's scary. I have a newfound appreciation for all the touring crew that builds and tears down a complicated sonic landscape, night after night. I can barely set up my home stereo system.

#66: During the tour, these were the signs that we'd see at every arena, directing us where to go.

#67: Especially with those boots, Martie looks badass on stage at VH1's Storytellers. It's hard to believe that somebody who looks so confident would later forget her solo in "Cowboy Take Me Away," a song that she wrote.

#68: I normally don't let people pound on my laptop. I made an exception for Henry and Juliana.

#69: I took this photo on stage during the tour rehearsals. The side spotlights created this cool, inintended effect.

#70: This is one fan I'll never forget. He drove hundreds of miles, by himself, to attend the opening night Detroit show. His vanity plate and his personalized DCX shirt are only the beginning to his devotion to the Chicks.

#71: The banner. I saw the "Chicks Rock Chicks Rule" fans bust out with this sign about a dozen times in different parts of the world. It became a comforting icon, almost like a home-cooked meal.

#72: I can't remember if I asked Martie if I could photograph her shoe or if she asked me to take the picture. Regardless, I got to capture her golden footwear (which is probably worth more than my camera) and her Chick feet tattoo, all without using a zoom lens. Everyone at the InStyle soiree at NYC's Koi Lounge must have thought I had a serious foot fetish.

#73: This is the disturbingly small Austin City Limits set, the last stop of the 2006 tour.  Martie's expression somehow reminds me of how exhausted everyone was.

#74: If you've seen Shut Up and Sing, you know that this is the Lipton Tea guy.

#75: I quickly learned that the Chicks could handle only so many questions per month. Here, Emily is goofing off, but her expression captures a clear signal I received that I needed to be less bothersome if I was going to continue to be allowed into their living room.

A Focus on the Nest: "Three Chicks and Seven Peeps"

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:50:43 GMT

Merry Maguires: Show Me The Mickey!

I devoted an entire article to the Chicks' children. You can read it by clicking here.

Hopefully, when they grow up and read this article, they won't sue me or beat me up.

Leave your comments or punch recipes below.

If These Are Life's Lessons, She'll Take This Test

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 03:38:12 GMT

When asked how much distance a driver should have between her and the car in front,
Natalie wrote "she needs wide open spaces."

As you can see, Natalie took the written DMV exam to get a California driver's license.

I was disappointed that when she drove away, her dad was not there to yell, "Check the oil!"

As you can see from the photo below, Natalie passed the test and now has Cali credentials. Those of us in the Golden State should be extra careful when taking the roads ... or sidewalks.

Last Minute Questions?

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:48:47 GMT

After hearing a funny blonde joke backstage, Emily can't stop smirking.

Sadly, my tour of duty with the Dixie Chicks is rapidly coming to an end. This blog and the main MSN/DCX web page will no longer be updated after December 31, 2007.

I'm in the midst of writing my final essays and thought I should ask you, the fans, whether there is anything you'd like me to address or discuss in my farewell reflections.

Feel free to leave comments here or email me privately at junichi @ junichisemitsu.com (without the spaces, of course). There are some questions I don't know the answer to (e.g., When will the next Dixie Chicks CD come out?) and some questions I won't answer (e.g., What is Emily's ATM card password?). But otherwise, I will try to address as much as I can. No question is too trivial.

Songwriting with the Dixie Chicks

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:15:11 GMT

Dan in Real Life

On the main DCX page, you can read my in-depth interview with songwriter extraordinaire Dan Wilson, who co-wrote six tracks on Taking The Long Way and just released his debut solo album, Free Life.

Among other things, Dan discusses his decision to cover "Easily Silence," the origin of "Lullaby," and why he's been listening to the Dixie Chicks discography for the past few years.

I'm quite thrilled to share a transcript of my conversation with Dan, who is incredibly thoughtful and engaging. Before my tenure here ended, I really wanted to obtain and provide insight into the Dixie Chicks' songwriting process; needless to say, this interview opportunity turned out to be a beautiful thing.

Leave comments below!

Two New Articles!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:39:06 GMT

Holy Adrian Pasdar in Lederhosen, Batman! I'm flying!

Great news! There are two new articles on the main MSN/DCX page:

The Least Hard-Working Band in Show Business: One-City World Tour?

and

A Dixie Chicks Halloween: So Amy Winehouse, Barbra Streisand and Ringo Starr walk into a bar ...

On the right, you should see over three dozen dozen excellent Halloween party photos that I uploaded to this blog. For now, let me spotlight two pics:

One photo to help you appreciate the freaking outrageousness of the party and ...

... another photo to help you appreciate the outrageous freaks at the party.

Leave comments below!

The Chaos Backstage

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:22:17 GMT

Emily stretches before preparing to kick nearby photographers.

At last, there's a new article linked from the main MSN page.

In this article, you can read about Emily's new hobby, Martie's invisible boyfriend, and Natalie's justified dance moves. You can also learn who felt like an amazon around a desperate housewife and who won the Ding! contest.

For those who must know the results immediately ...

Leave your comments below!

Love Is In The Air

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:34:42 GMT

Scary Halloween Photo

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:35:13 GMT

She bangs!

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the actual junior high school photo of Natalie Maines.

Yes, she actually gave me her consent to share this picture with the world, shocking nearly everyone around her.

There are Halloween party stories and photos coming soon. But no trick or treat is better than this portrait.

Ding! The Home Stretch

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:31:33 GMT

With only one show left, Natalie and Emily are tied, with Martie still able to force a three-way tie.

(For those trying to figure out the scoring, the Chicks decided that the only thing that should matter is who finishes first the most often.)

After the third night, Emily was looking like the favorite to win. She even got cocky and drew a portrait of a middle finger to rub it in. (Kids, don't try this at home.)

But Martie made sure to spell MEN on Wednesday. And yesterday, Natalie's competitive spirit took over and she made damn sure that she would ring that bell first.

It all comes down to tonight.

Who would you rather ...?

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:54:34 GMT

Natalie and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) are cooling off backstage using the latest in low-tech gadgets: the iFan.

Somehow, the fanning turned into a modeling session, which morphed into a demand for a side-by-side comparison of my photos to determine who would serve as a better product model.

By the way, Ms. Maines suggested the title of this blog entry. I'm too classy for innuendo.

I'm not too classy, however, to work out a deal with the makers of the iFan to sell these photos. (Call me!)

For another iFan photo with Natalie and the Dixie Chicks' makeup artist Dean Bryant, click here.

Leave your opinions below!

Chicks Fans Rock and Chicks Fans Rule

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:40:59 GMT

There's a new article on the main page about our friend, Nancy Atkins, and the gold milestone she'll be achieving while attending this Saturday's Eagles/Dixie Chicks show.

Here's the link: http://dixiechicks.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5621630&GT1=10472

Leave your comments below!

DING!

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:37:49 GMT

On the last tour, the first Chick to be ready to take the stage would say "Ding!"

None of the Chicks wanted to be known for being last, so the Ding!-ing became an increasingly competitive affair.

During these Nokia shows, the Ding! contest has become an official affair. Cory, the Tour Assistant, bought an actual bell and a little dry erase board to keep score.

Martie, Natalie, and Emily must finish makeup, hair, get dressed, and then put on their sound packs before they're allowed to hit the bell.

On the first night, Emily was first to ding. Martie was second and wrote "Loser" in the third place box.

On the second night, Natalie had her revenge and the scores are essentially even.

Any predictions for the ultimate winner?

Photos from Opening Night

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:19:10 GMT

Oh, don't worry, there's much more coming once I get those approvals.

Two Hours Until Show Time

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:21:27 GMT

Let's hope the paint dries in time.

Photo Album: Junichi's Favorite 75 Photos

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:38:18 GMT

Junichi's Favorite 75 Photos

#75

#74

#73

#72

#71

#70

#69

#68

#67

#66

More Photos...

Photo Album: The World of the Dixie Chicks

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:06:38 GMT

The World of the Dixie Chicks

Indian Larry

Tuning chart

Decisions, decisions...

Dixie Cups

Words to live by

Cables coiled at the rehearsal studio.

Would you like some candy with your candy?

Instruments at the ready.

Audley Freed

The Band, March 2, 2006

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Photo Album: Last Batch of Fan Pics

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:57:38 GMT

Last Batch of Fan Pics

I wonder if she'll have a "It's My Birthday #49" forty years from now.

Let's hope the fans behind them aren't loyal fans of the 2nd Amendment.

Is that sign on the state of Wyoming?

Yes, he is.

No, thank you!

Somehow the two men in this photo probably aren't the ones having the baby together.

These women want to ban the movie "Shut Up and Sing," I think.

Keep Talkin & Singin!

No feet were severed to make this sign.

Those who attended the show in Oakland know the saga of Jefferson's wife.

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Photo Album: Blog Pics

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:49:52 GMT

Blog Pics

Early Show taping

The Chicks with Junichi, their Management Assistant

Time 100 Event

Early Show Cameras

London billboard

Dean does Martie's makeup

A quiet moment on stage in London

AOL Sessions recording break

Marjan's Polaroids

Camera window on Emily at AOL Sessions taping

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Photo Album: Backstage: Behind the Scenes

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:23:57 GMT

Backstage: Behind the Scenes

Chicks approach the stage

Chi-Chi scores some loot

Backstage sign

Local crew shirt (front)

Local crew shirt (back)

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Chi-Chi, the artist?

Skott from Helping Heads gets groomed

Bob Schneider and ?

Backstage case

More Photos...