I just had a Skype session with the Head of the NIH. Why? And why... me?

Well, Dr. Collins is one of the keynote speakers at TEDMED this year -TEDMED is the  medical and healthcare related offshoot of TED. And I am the MD (Music Director) of TEDMED.

The good doctor not only does things like...discover the human genome and cure diseases, but he also is an amateur folk singer-songwritter.  My job was to work with him on a song. 

I had two weeks to come up with some great ideas. I had none. But yesterday, the doctor sent me a whole lyric and melody. I love how I procrastinated while he found time to come up with a great song- at the same time as battling bird flu.

As "MD", my job is to also suggest other musical acts. It was a tough job as almost all the ones I came up with at first were already booked months ahead of time - Coachella. However, I can't believe that my favorite pianist, Fred Hersch is coming, as well as John Wesley Harding, and my new discovery, Chris Price. Chris  just finished his new record, which was completely recorded on his iPhone. It sounds so incredible and rich. I think he used the 4-track App for $4.99. Now that is a budget.

TEDMED, this year, is at the Kennedy Center. It will be exciting and interesting to see how it goes.

So...the next day after being all TED fancy, I will go down to Malcom X Park in DC for Occufest (April 14-15) . Pass the info.

Wlell  I hope to see any of you good folk either at a conference of eggheads and health policy wonks, or in the park with fist in the air.  

Oh, just learned that the Occupy event has been cancelled. I have to find out why.

Good Health to you all!

Hits from the Culture Wars - only 500 made!!

Featuring:

1. Under the Bridge: from the Jill and John Doe record - A Day at the Pass. Its a call to arms for all my unemployed and uninsured friends to band together, fight for our rights, and make hobo stew.

2. Manhattan in January: was written for a TED conference a few years ago. Here is a video of Chris Anderson holding up my lyrics. If you wait until the end, you can see All Gore giving me a standing O. The marvelous string quartet, Ethel, helped out. This is the first time it has been on a record. 

3. Under the Disco Ball : about the evils of the gay agenda.

4. The Rapture: more evils. A fan favorite that's available for the very first time on disc.

5. Texas: just another song about the Lone Star State and the death penalty. Steve Earle added his two cents.

6. When They Say We Want Our America Back, What The F#¥k do They Mean? : a demo of the song I wrote for the Freedom From Fear Awards.

The Pinko Record Junior Executive EP

1/500 

Get it Now!

Jill was on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED this weekend, talking about her work with the Asolo Rep Theatre on the new show YENTL.

To listen to the interview go to http://www.npr.org/2012/02/05/146431727/new-staging-of-yentl-tells-a-transgender-girls-story

And to learn more about YENTL go to http://www.asolorep.org/

xoxo

jules, Team Jill

Shows Shows Shows!

Off Off Off Broadway and a new record!

Guys,

I am starting a small but packed tour that takes me from the Red Wood forest (SF tonight! Who's coming?), to the Gulf stream waters, with lots of places in between. I will be co-billing a few of them with my pal, Lisa Loeb.

Check out my site for a venue near you: Jillsobule.com/shows

And, I will buy beer, or bad-music-bar-wine, for the 1st 20 folks that email me back.

For those that happen to be nearby or visiting the Florida West Coast, come see...YENTL. I wrote the songs. Just to let you know, the short story and play is a different beast from the movie. Last Friday was the opening - my first opening ever. And it was a big success, I think, although I did overhear an older woman say to her husband, " I don't remember any of the songs. There is no Papa Can You Hear Me ". I will post some songs soon. 

You can find out more about YENTL here: http://www.asolorep.org/shows/yentl/2011-2012

Finally, after working on two musicals, it is time to do a " Jill" record. What would you all like to hear? What kind of record? I've got a lot of new stories to tell. You are welcome to write me back at Jill@jillsobule.com

Cheers, jill

Happy 2012!

May the New Year bring you peace, happiness and Jill Sobule live!

Jill has tour dates a gogo in January and February. Check out the SHOWS tab for links to the venues and where to buy tickets!

Hope to see your shining faces there!

xo, jules

Team Jill

JILL'S WINTER TOUR DATES

JANUARY 2012

Jan 24, 2012 (Tue) @ 8 PM
1330 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA
at Yoshi's San Francisco 

Jan 25, 2012 (Wed) @ 9 PM
856 10th St., Arcata, CA
at Humboldt Brews

Jan 26, 2012 (Thu) @ 8 PM
726 Drummond Ave, Davis, CA
at Palms Playhouse 

Jan 27, 2012 (Fri) @ 8 PM
1101 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
at Kuumbwa Jazz Center 

Jan 28, 2012 (Sat) @ 7 PM
28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills, CA
at The Canyon Club With Lisa Loeb

FEBRUARY 2012

Feb 02, 2012 (Thu) @ 7 PM
100 "J" Fisherman's Wharf, Redondo Beach, CA
at Brixton With Lisa Loeb

Feb 03, 2012 (Fri) @ 7 PM
1337 India Street, San Diego, CA
at Anthology TWO shows with Lisa Loeb!

Feb 04, 2012 (Sat) @ 8 PM
33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA
at The Coach House With Lisa Loeb

Feb 11, 2012 (Sat) @ 8 PM
6123 Lower York Road, New Hope, PA
at New Hope Winery

Feb 14, 2012 (Tue) @ 8 PM
56-58 South 12th Street, Pittsburgh, PA
at Club Cafe

Feb 16, 2012 (Thu) @ 7 PM
316 South Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
at The Ark

Feb 17, 2012 (Fri) @ 7 PM
1245 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL
at Space

Feb 18, 2012 (Sat) @ 9 PM
6504 Delmar Blvd, St Louis, MO
at Blueberry Hill 

Feb 22, 2012 (Wed) @ 8 PM
155 Varick Street, New York, NY
at City Winery

Feb 23, 2012 (Thu) @ 8 PM
405 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY
at Club Helsinki 

Feb 24, 2012 (Fri) @ 7 PM
70 Sanford Street, Fairfield, CT
at StageOne, Fairfield Theatre 

Feb 25, 2012 (Sat) @ 8 PM
2 Young Road, Londonderry, NH
at Tupelo Music Hall
 

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Actually Spring and my Birthday are, but it's good times at my website store! I am offering unique and personal gifts, as well as that classic staple, My Xmas CD:

Signed Xmas CD/Dreidel:  It includes the Hanukah favorite, " Jesus Was a Dreidel Spinner"  my cover of Robert Earl Keen's, "Merry Christmas to the Family", and Christmas is The Saddest Day of the Year (which was voted number 10 on Entertainment Weekly's "100 Great Christmas Bummers"). Since I (again) waited a wee bit too long to order more CDs, you will get a copy that I, Jill Sobule, personally burned along with a signed Dreidel. 

Get Your Signed Holiday CD and Dreidel Now!

A Handwritten Lyric: I will write out the lyrics of your favorite song in a limited edition, old-school-composition notebook. I have really awful penmenship due to a slight essential tremor (shaky hands), so it will either look very artful or very drunk. There will only be 50 of these available, so don't miss out!

Get Your Handwritten Lyric Notebook Now!

My Signature Travel Guitar: Yes, I have a signature model. It's like the basic one, yet has my...logo. This is the best gift you could give a beginner (it's small and easy to play). Or for the traveller as it fits so easy on the plane and the mean flight attendents won't give you shit about it.

My great T-shirts: So I went into Barney's and saw t-shirts for $200. First I thought, "this is bullshit" and then I said to my friend, "mine are so much better, and way cheaper". The Underdog Shirt is back, as well as the famous "most dangerous places in the world (plus The Epcot Center)" Heavy Metal Tour shirt

Music: New music will be out in the Spring, but in the meantime, why not turn your friends on to some of my older records?

Wanna window shop? Check out the STORE tab on my site or peruse the goods at My Topspin Shop at http://jillsobule.spinshop.com/.

Oh! And if you are one of the beautiful and amazing people who live near Lake Michigan (my WI-born assistant, Jules, may have told me to write that part... she's pushy) and want to spend NEW YEAR'S EVE with me and Julia Sweeney, come join us at SPACE in Evanston, IL for a festive JILL AND JULIA SHOW. Check out the SHOWS section for more info AND all of my upcoming winter tour dates! Hope to see your faces!

Happy Holidays!

xo, jill

Lets keep in touch!

Join my mailing list and get a free download from A DAY AT THE PASS!

Take your pick between BABY DOE

or SHAKY HANDS!

I just noticed that I haven't updated here in almost a month. I think that always looks so sad, like the person went into the hospital or a big depreesion, or worse...has nothing going on.

Well, first of all, I have been semi-successful on staying off "the internets" in hope of paying more attention to things like...song writing. I've got two musicals and the next record to write. I have been declared "musical director" of TEDMED (the medical and science offshoot of the TED conference). It has demanded that  bring out my organizational skills. I have none.

But here are a few things that I can declare:

The Jill and John Doe record , A Day at the Pass, is now on itunes! If you go there, will you leave a nice comment, even if you don't buy it?

The Jill and Julia (Sweeney) Evanston New Years Eve 6:00 PM show  is back by popular demand. 

Also requested was a new order of my Underdog Powerfist shirts. They are the perfect choice for OWS fashion.

That's it for today.