Average Jane Is Not Famous

My 8-year-old niece and I went to the Weston, Missouri Applefest last Saturday. I picked her up from her soccer game (she's really good!) and we drove about an hour to get to Weston.

On the way, I thought she might enjoy hearing one of my cover band's demo songs. I happened to have a CD in the car with two of the songs on it. I could only play "Higher Ground" for her; the other song was "Lit Up" by Buckcherry [lyrics], which really isn't even appropriate for ME to listen to.

She liked the song so much that she had me play it three or four times. Then she had an interesting question: "Is your band famous enough to be on the radio?"

I thought it was a very astute and valid question for a pop culture-steeped kid to ask. It made me think of the interviews with celebrities where they're asked if their kids understand how famous they are and most of them say their kids don't seem to know or care.

I told her that the band was just a hobby and we concentrate on performing other people's songs live. I didn't muddy the waters with a discussion about my original band project, largely because the odds that it will ever be an exception to what I was saying are infinitesimal.

Then she gave me the best compliment I've ever gotten about my music, "Well, I think people would like to hear it."