My Cousin: The Rockstar

I love my family. I have been introduced to so many different passions and styles that my own is one big mash up of all of these influences.

Music has always been big in my family.

This is my dad. Circa the 80s.


He was lead singer and guitarist of One Plus Two - a local Chapel Hill band that toured the South East and was a regular at the Cradle.

So it is only inevitable that this would be my cousin.

Alex Ebert. A.k.a Edward Sharpe of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. A band that is picking up speed and is selling out shows left and right. They are on a nation-wide tour right now. They played at Bonnaroo and last night they played at the Cradle.

Before last night, I had never met him! He is technically my second cousin, the cousin of my dad, and has lived in L.A. my whole life. I thought it was enough that I got to jam out to the pulsing tones of his other band, IMA ROBOT, with its more erratic tones, and say that I was somehow related to this phenomenon.

What a different look, huh? Alex is the one in the white- sans beard.

He went through a dramatic change in his life, and came out with the amazingness that is Edward Sharpe- his alter ego- and his new band, formed with Jade Castrinos and eight others.


Last night I was working at Spanky's. So while my dad and Alex hung out before the show, I was showing people to their tables. Unfortunate.

Photo courtesy of Abby Nardo

BUT , I did get to meet him before the show and after the show. A little awkward, when he was so pressed for time. It went something like....

Alex: "Hi, it's great to meet you."
Me: "Hi, I guess I'm your second cousin. Cool."

Obviously there was more than that.

Photo courtesy of Abby Nardo

Besides that, I was on Alex's guest list at the show- and got to see it from BACKSTAGE! OHMYGOODNESS. so. cool.

Even getting to be backstage at the Cradle was so. awesome. So many bands that I love have come through there. My dad said the only other times he had been back there was when he played back in the 80s.

Needless to say, the show rocked! And I'm so glad I got to go- after a little bit of prodding my boss to let me off a little early. It felt so great, because I love that part of my family- the rocker side. The side that you probably can't tell from my exterior.

P.S. I went to the show in my hostess outfit last night. Jack Rogers and a dress with peacock feathers on it. Haha. Pretty much the opposite of hipster.

But it didn't matter. Because the show was awesome.

So obviously, either I or my children will have to continue this tradition of musician madness.
I have kind of always wanted to be in a band... hmmm. haha.

Who knows?

Until then,
Cara