Got a call the other day from Dan Stricklin of the Texas Country Reporter TV show (on air all over Texas for 27 years – GREAT show) and they want to do a segment about the Mood Swings. Hey! Cool! I LOVE Texas Country Reporter! I’ve always had a fondness for feature stories, and these guys are really, really good at it. So hey!

Here is the first of three installments about what it’s like when Texas Country Reporter comes calling. Today, a list about taping at the house; next, a piece about shooting at the “faux gig” set up just for them and third…well, I haven’t figured that out yet; we’re not quite done taping. But in the meanwhile, let’s dish!:

1. Home from work, they’ll be here at 7:

• put dog in back bedroom, close door
• clean toilet, they might want to use the restroom
• vacuum living room – does the rug still smell funny from when the dog threw up?
• open windows
• what if they wander down the hall & peek in the kid’s bedrooms? Close doors.
• make black bean salad, set out on Texas-shaped cutting board
• go over set list at the kitchen table with the ‘Swings
• act nonchalant when the doorbell rings
• nab escaped dog and haul back to bedroom while another ‘Swing opens the door

2. The shoot at house is really fun, but we’re nervous at first. At first they stand out in the front yard and shoot through the front windows. I feel the neighbor-vibes creeping across the lawns: “What now?”

3. When they come inside the house, we’re running through “Busy Body.” Talk about a close-up: Dan’s camera lens is two inches from Mary H.’s face the whole time. If she turned her head she’d hit the lens with her nose. Mary’s good, though, she’s channeling her inner theater major.

4. Now Ryan (producer-camerman guy) is doing closeups of Lucy, our “shy” ‘Swing who usually pulls in like a turtle when TV is around. She seems to be weathering this pretty well though, and she looks rela---heyy there’s a smile! These guys are good. Yeah, Lucy jus’ hangin’ out….

5. Martha is smooth on the drums during her closeups, keeps her sticks cool; Diane absolutely smokes on the sax & flute. Atta girls. When the camera turns to me I bang my teeth into the microphone and hope for merciful editing.

6. Time for the interview. They have Mary H. sit on the ottoman, the rest of us on the edge of the couch, scrunched closer than we would ever sit in real life – ewww we’re TOUCHing…camera’s rolling, act like this is the way we sit together all the time.

7. Host Bob Phillips is a pro*, he warms us up with “where are you from” throwaway lines, and then we’re off and gabbing. I wonder what parts they’ll use? When asked what our original songs were about, we should have had sparkling answers ready instead of everyone just kinda sitting there for a few….long…seconds… trying to explain, um, what, in fact, we sing about.

8. All the cool answers come to me later, about ten o’clock, long after they’re gone.

9. Bob & crew tape “Sarah,” “Busy Body,” and “Instructional World.” Do they really like our music, or were they just being polite? What is this going to look like when it’s all cut together? I know we’re in excellent hands – ALL their work is absolutely top-notch. But what will it turn out to be for the ‘Swings??

10. I drop big, clattering hints for an invitation to play at the next Texas Country Reporter Festival in Waxahachie in October – MEGA gig, they shut down downtown Waxahachie for 50,000 people, LOADS of fun – I hope we get invited. How cool would that be?!

11. Pack up, do gear count, big “faux” gig tomorrow night at Opening Bell Southside where they’ll record while we perform in front of an audience. We’ve invited some friends & family to be the audience – and we are going to PARRRR-TAY! Well, as much as one can par-tay between 7-8 p.m. on a Wednesday night – we’ve all got to get up & go to work the next day.

12. Let dog out of bedroom, set the alarm for 5:30 a.m. Tomorrow’s gonna be a big day.

* I want his job. He has the PERFECT job: Figure out what interests you, then go do a story about it, and get paid for it. Years ago I did magazine-style stories for radio and absolutely loved it and have always daydreamed about returning to those roots somehow, someday. Maybe after I win the Lotto.


Next: Texas Country Reporter, Part Two

Band website: www.merryandthemoodswings.com
Hear the Mood Swings: www.myspace.com/merrythemoodswings

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