Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros' Accordion Player Nora Kirkpatrick's Tour Diary: Part I

The multi-talented Nora Kirkpatrick -- whom you my recognize as the accordion-player for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros or from her turn as the uptight sorority sister Katherine on ABC Family's Greek, and has roles in a slew of upcoming movies, like the much-anticipated Jack Kerouac biopic Big Sur -- is really the definition of a jack of all trades (jill of all trades?). The musician-actress's currently on a U.S. tour with Edward Sharpe and co., in support of their newish album Here, and will be sending us dispatches (and photos) from the road. Here is her first installment.

12 musicians, 11 crew members, two babies, two buses, and a semi truck set out across the United States on tour a few days ago, and by the time we made it to our day off in Chico, we had already traversed the California coastline back and forth three times. Following a week of rehearsal in Los Angeles, we took off in support of our new album Here, and in anticipation of our forthcoming album, due out early 2013.
 

 
We began this tour in Ojai with a benefit for the Ojai Valley Community Nursury School. We also recorded most of our new album in a studio in Ojai, so this show held a certain amount of sentimental value. ESP opened this show using only glass bowls, vocals, and a floor tom. UFO followed with some synthy jams.
 
The Greek Theater in Berkeley, where we played on Sept. 7th, is a stunning venue. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah opened this show. I also got a chance to run to the Berkeley Art Museum to see the Barry McGee retrospective!
 
We got to play before our good friends The Flaming Lips at the Doheny Days Music Festival in Dana Point, CA, which is always a pleasure. They have one of the best visual shows around.