Barenaked Crockpot

A long, long time ago (summer of '98), in a bedroom far, far away (back home, 150 miles away) a youthful soon-to-be 10th grader (that's me) was up at an obscene hour one night. On a natural high from just watching Air Force One for the first time and realizing the greatness that is Harrison Ford, I sat at my desk drawing and listening to the radio. I was just about to go to bed when this new song I'd never heard came on. Honestly, I couldn't understand most of what was being said, but I did enjoy the song. I thought it was pretty catchy. Then I heard, "Harrison Ford." I didn't catch what they said about him that night. But the DJ said the song was "One Week," by Barenaked Ladies. As I wrote it down on a piece of paper, I thought the band name was kind of funny. The next morning I was sitting down listening to the radio. I happened to have a tape in my tape player, so when the song came on again, I taped it. I listened to it over and over trying to figure out the lyrics. I began to like the song more and more each time I listened to it. That afternoon, my family made our weekly trip to Wally World (that's Wal Mart folks). I perused the music section, as I always did. I happened upon the "B's" and saw a CD by Barenaked Ladies. I looked on the back and saw that it had One Week. So I bought, on impulse. Once back home, I sat down and read the lyrics first. I looked at the lyrics I had written down earlier that day, and realized how off I was. Some of what I thought was said was pretty funny (I wish I would have kept that piece of paper). I sat down and listened to the whole CD, enjoying every minute of it.

After that, I never left home without that CD. I listened to it all summer. Once school started, I listened to it on the bus, since I had an hour busride every morning. I did this for about two years I'd say. Not once ever thinking that these guys had other CDs that I'd probably like. No, I just roamed the streets with my precious Stunt. In the summer of '99, the Barenaked Summer's Night Pay-per-view aired. I tried to ask off work to watch it, but to no avail (gotta love bosses). So that night, after work, I watched it. I thought it was an awesome show, and I really enjoyed all of the songs. But, still it didn't occur to me to go out and buy any other CDs. Okay, so probably at this point you're thinking, Kelley, you're braindead. Why yes, yes I am.

Fast forward to September of '00. I finally get this cool new thing called the "Internet" (which I later found out doesn't exist). I decided to look up Barenaked Ladies. I found their official site and oddly enough, they were releasing a new CD the next day. Being the oh-so computer savvy person I was at that time, I couldn't get the audio clips to work. But, I decided I'd buy the new CD anyway.

One listen to Maroon, and I was hooked. It was that CD that drew me in. I didn't think it could get any better. THEN, I finally went and bought all of BNL's other CDs, and boy did it get better. I got the Shoebox EP next, because I thought an enhanced CD would be cool. That Christmast, my mom got me Born on a Pirate Ship. Then I bought Rock Spectacle, Gordon, and finally Maybe You Should Drive (which turned out to be my favorite of all of them).

Somewhere inbetween buying CD and listening to music constantly, I stumbled upon barenaked.net and its message board. I think I lurked there for quite a few months before posting anything. But once I began posting, I quickly grew to love the place. Now, I think I live on that board.

In March of 2001, I went to my first BNL concert (my second concert ever) in New Orleans. My mom went with me, since my friends are dorks and the only one willing to go had to work. Oh lordy, my mom and I both had the greatest time ever. First off, my mom is as cool as hell, and she's just an awesome person to hang with. Second, BNL just put on a great show. After that, I think I was promoted to "extremely dedicated fan" (obsessed is such a strong word, don't you think?). In the course of the next 8 months, I went to 3 more shows and made many friends along the way. And now, here I am. Spending my time on this little of piece of webspace. And to think, only two small words instigated this travel: Harrison Ford. God bless him. ;-)