Move
over Neil Young, the Ditty Bops Found a Better Way!
Added by: Gary Isse May 4, 2006. Photograph provided
by Warner Records
 With
us all concerned about global warming, carbon emissions
and big oil's rampage on the earth, it is no surprise that
bands are
looking for a better, more earth-friendly way of touring
across the country to promote their music. And a better way
has been
found. Los Angeles-based pop duo The
Ditty Bops will be departing
on May 25th, 2006 from Los Angeles on a cross-country tour
solely by bicycle. Move over Neil Young, these girls are my
new heroes.
The
Ditty Bops, made up of Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald, are
not your regular pop duo. They started playing in Los Angeles
back in 2003 and have been seen using shadow puppets, interpretive
dance, sword fighting, and jugglers to charm their audiences.
But where did this bicycle tour idea come from? “We decided
to do the tour this way to promote not only our album, but
also cycling and cleaner air,” says DeWald. “If
we can ride our bikes across the country and play music, we
hope others will be inspired to ride their bikes more often.”
Their
plans are to play their retro-flavored style of their music,
which incorporates elements of Western swing, ragtime,
gypsy-jazz, pop, and vaudeville-era musical theater, at numerous
venues throughout the country between Los Angeles and Seattle,
all the way to New York City. As of today, they have three
confirmed appearances here in Los Angeles, where they plan
to kick off their tour with a FREE show on May 23rd at
Amoeba
Music in Hollywood at 7:00 pm. They then play live
at 11:45 am on KCRW's
Morning Becomes Eclectic
on May 24th, followed by their record release party at the
Derby later
that night at 8 pm.
On
their way to New York City, Amanda and Abby plan to stop
in both big cities and small towns and perform at theaters,
music halls, bike stores, and farms to promote their new album
Moon Over the Freeway, available for purchase at the shows.
And in case you’re wondering, no, they were not professional
bike riders or Tour de France contestants prior to this; in
fact, neither of them had ever ridden more than 50 miles at
one time until just recently. To prepare, however, they have
started riding between 150 to 200 miles a week in the Hollywood
Hills and Santa Monica Mountains, rain or shine!
For
a list of current gigs, check out their web site at www.DittyBops.com.
You can also read more about them, listen to their music, and
get day-to-day information and updates about their journey
while you’re there.
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