Four years ago I played Pitchfork Fest 2013 with M.I.A as her drummer. I learned about how much work it takes to bring a project to life, how to inspire an audience, how to manage tour logistics, how to take up space on a large stage, how to use in-ear monitors when playing with heavy electronics and how to be a professional musician. This year I returned to the festival with my own band, and brought an all-female team of 7 to join me in kicking off the entire festival at 1pm, Fri 7/14 on the Red Stage. I also hosted a panel of local entrepreneurs in Chicago and had them speak about infusing activism with their art, as well as played Kristen Kaza’s Slo-Mo Party on the Ace Hotel Rooftop during its opening night in Chicago.
It was an insanely emotional weekend because I felt the project reach new heights and I also felt that a vision I had a long time ago was finally coming to life. The ability to have two friends of mine help tour manage the project and to put 5 alpha women who are extremely good at their craft on one of the main stages at Pitchfork was a huge deal.
Thank you to:
Lara Anderson, tour mgmt
Noor Khan, tour mgmt
DJ Smiles Davis, turntables
Natalie Glover, dance
Tiaan Williams, vox
Savannah Harris, drums
Bob McGuire, driver
Carolina Sanchez, Photographer
Isabel Calixta Beaucanon, VJ
Jacob, Frazer, Videographer
without whom this Chicago tour would not have been possible.
Madame Gandhi | BLOG 