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Moms raise kids, make music - without missing a beat
Posted: May 08, 2008 in Things to do, Music
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When Jenn Cristy talks about life as a mother and life as a musician, she says it's common for her worlds to collide.
"You have to be the sophisticated and responsible individual," Cristy says of her parenting persona. "Then you go on the road, and if you keep that up, it's a little confusing. You're supposed to be cool or a little bit irresponsible, and I don't always have that in me."
Since the birth of her daughter April, who turned 5 in January, Cristy has released two albums. The vocalist-pianist's plans for Mother's Day weekend include a show Saturday at the Players Pub in Bloomington.
Meet Cristy, Mia Kileen and Cleo Weaver -- three moms who will always make time for music:
From Mellencamp to motherhood
Vocalist-pianist Jenn Cristy considers her 5-year-old daughter, April, to be both an influence and a fan.
"I can play to hundreds of people, but my kid is singing the lyrics of my song in the back seat before I've even performed the song live," Cristy says. "I think I'm a better person and definitely a better songwriter because of her."
Formerly a Big Ten Conference champion swimmer at Indiana University, Cristy was recruited by John Mellencamp to join his band after she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at an IU men's basketball game.
The Tennessee native appeared on Mellencamp's 2001 album, "Cuttin' Heads." Cristy learned she was pregnant during rehearsals for a Mellencamp tour, and she left the band after a few dates on the road.
Husband Ben Strawn, daughter April and Cristy settled into a non-musical life in Bloomington until one of Cristy's friends invited her to perform as a solo act at Eagle Pointe golf resort. Cristy remembers that performance as being "horrible," but it also inspired her to write songs. Debut album "Becoming" was released in 2005, and its follow-up, "Jenn Cristy," arrived in stores 2006.
The 29-year-old has performed in Las Vegas, and she's planning an East Coast tour this year.
"The biggest challenge is being away from (April)," Cristy says.
When Cristy plays weekend shows in Indiana, she says, members of her husband's family provide "built-in babysitting."
And occasionally April gets to cheer for Mom in person.
"If it's an all-ages show, she's usually there dancing and totally stealing the spotlight, which I'm very cool about," Cristy says.
Jenn Cristy
When: 8.p.m. Saturday.
Where: Players Pub, Bloomington.
Info: www.myspace.com/jenncristy
Mothering to the beat of a different drum
Drummer Cleo Weaver acknowledges being skeptical when she and vocalist Jon-Michael Gioe -- parents of 4-year-old son Jace -- decided to form the rock band King Deuce.
"I thought, 'How are we going to do this?'." Weaver says. ".'How are we going to have practices? Will we get a sitter every time we do shows?'."
Logistically, things have worked out, thanks to Weaver's mother and Gioe's mother.
"We don't do shows unless (Jace) is at Grandma's house for the night," Weaver says.
Gioe and Weaver were members of high-profile Indianapolis bands Majhas (him) and Dirty Little Secrets (her) before the husband-and-wife team formed King Deuce.
Weaver now refers to herself as a full-time mother, and she calls music a pastime.
"The hours are a little different than if I played softball," the 32-year-old says. "If people are surprised, I don't want them to think, 'She might not be a good mother.' I've thought of that, but it doesn't bother me because I know I'm a good mother and my son is taken care of."
As a female drummer, Weaver knows what it's like when people don't understand what she does.
"I had trouble going into music stores and all that kind of stuff -- being treated like I don't belong in there," she says.
Giving Jace access to musical instruments is a priority, she says.
"He likes to pretend he's Marky Ramone," Weaver says of her pre-school drummer.
King Deuce
When: 8 p.m. May 30.
Where: Emerson Theater, 4634 E. 10th St.
Info: www.myspace.com/kingdeucerock
Two heads bang better than one
Mia Kileen says she didn't teach her 2-year-old sons, Xander and Xavier, to bang their heads when listening to rock music, but that's what the twins do while watching videos of her band, Vestiges of Ecstasy.
"They must have seen Mommy and Daddy doing it at some point," she says. "They bang their little heads and dance around. They're so excited about it."
Kileen and her husband, guitarist Gregg Jones, led the modern rock band Heaven and Hell before starting anew with Vestiges, which released its first album -- "Heaven and Hell" -- in 2007.
The arrival of Xander and Xavier slowed the pace of musical work, says Kileen, the band's vocalist. Five shows per month and three practices per week became one monthly show and one weekly rehearsal.
"I took a little break once the boys were born, just to focus on being Mommy," says Kileen. "Now Mommy has a little bit of time to do some things that she likes to do, too."
The 33-year-old says not everyone appreciates the effort to balance motherhood and music.
"I think there's a double standard," Kileen says. "There are a lot of people who have tried to make me feel guilty for the fact that I'm not just sitting at home: 'You mean you're out playing again?'."
Crediting family members and friends for being caregivers on nights of practices and performances, Kileen says parenting has made her music more emotional and mature.
"Obviously, if (music) ever got in the way of the kids, we would just go to songwriting and we probably wouldn't play out," she says. "I think songwriting will always be a part of (Gregg and me)."
Vestiges of Ecstasy
When: 8 tonight.
Where: Crash McClain's Pub, Crawfordsville.
Info: Visit www.myspace.com/vestigesofecstasy
I've had the pleasure of working with Jace on a few projects. Very professional and creative. His remix of the Incredible's theme song is amazing.