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Transcript

Gin Chocolate and Bottle Rockets interview and performance on Max Ink Radio

Max Ink Radio · Sat Mar 15, 2025

Brought brandy cow chips and great local music. This is Max in

Radio. We are local music. Jimmy, we are in for a special

treat tonight. Madison Supergroup and Indie Pop singer, songwriter, trio,

Jen Choclin, bottle rockets. They share a bond in spirit and genuine

passion for performance. Each and artist in her own right, Jen Farley, Beth

Killie and Chondelle Mars come together and unite their powerful

harmonies with clever music that sometimes includes a kazoo.

Jen, Beth and Chondelle, welcome back to Max in Radio.

Thanks for having us.

As our Paul, just you have an adjure spent with you all or

not that we know of. Okay, that we know of.

Describe that special like spirit that bonds you together.

Well, we, well, you know, as adult women, we have found something special.

We have a special sauce between the three of us and, you know, it's really

hard to find friends when you're an adult and when it is, this is a true

phenomenon, like to, you know, find good friends because you're not,

you're doing your own thing. You're, you know, separated and raising families

and stuff. And to be able to find three people, or me being finding two

people that are genuine and amazing and together, we just have the best,

best time. So it's not work. It's just fun and being with your sisters.

So that's, that's our spirit together. It's just, we've also been through a lot

together. That is very true. Yeah. Like we have been through hair color

changes. Yes. We all know we're glasses. Relationship status changes.

Yes, eyesight changes. I say changes almost 11 years. We're going on.

Yeah. Yeah.

Well, for our listeners who may not be familiar with gin chocolate and bottle

rockets, tell us just a little bit about your band.

Well, we have two albums.

We're working on a third album. Yeah.

And we play around the Madison area. We love to do neighborhood festivals.

We also go on tour. Our music is heartfelt.

And we also do some favorite covers. Yeah.

Well, now who plays Kazoo?

That would be me. I'm Jen. I have a doctor and because doctorate and

kazoozology from kazoo you. And that's great. It's, it's true. Yeah.

It's very true. Um, said on Google. Yeah.

Kazoo you. Kazoo you.

And then it has been said that I am the Aretha Franklin of kazoo playing.

Wow. That's a great quote. It is. Jen said it. I said, yes, I said it.

But it has still a great quote.

Now, um, Mama cares gin chocolate and bottle rockets have signed up to play the

Mama cares 10 year anniversary party. The high noon slune on March 30th,

along with the Jimmy's and Sam Ness. That's from three to 8 p.m.

What does Mama cares mean for you? And why do you think it's a good cause to

play for? Well, Mama cares is an organization or it's an offshoot of the

Mama Madison Area Music Association. Uh, that specifically helps musicians

in need. So if someone has a health crisis or has a house fire or something

along those lines and that musician needs financial support, Mama cares

steps in and provides financial support. So it's a really important thing

for working musicians like ourselves who, you know, if your source of income

is gone because you can't use your arm because you just had shoulder surgery.

I know, you know, recently Mama cares gave funds to a musician who had

shoulder surgery and couldn't play as keyboard. So things like that that the

Mama cares organization has helped fund. And so it's just nice for musicians

to know that they have support. And it's a lot of times musicians like us who

are doing events like this that support them. So it's, it all comes around.

We're one big happy family. And it's hard to have health insurance when maybe

you're like a full time musician, right? So musicians are historically under

insured. Yes, exactly. In health in this country. For sure. It goes a long

way. We talk about it all the time. You know, go to the mamas.org, click on

the Mama cares tag. You know, Beth, you, you, you, uh, you worked with the

Mama's for a while. You did some great stuff with them. Yes. And you, you

have all people know that the one thing that the Mama's need are volunteers.

Absolutely. Yes. I, um, worked with the Mama's for, for about a decade.

Love the organization. Um, just kind of ran out of bandwidth and, uh, you

know, happily parted ways with them, but still support them 100%. Dana Perry has

stepped in as a new executive producer, just an incredible person. Lots of great

people in there. They're, it's all for charity. They're putting instruments

in kids hands. So it's a great organization. Love them. Now, um, excuse me,

let's get to some my music in the layer with gin chocolate and bottle

rockets. Hold on. Somebody's going to have to talk about this song. Cause you

and this presented by the Aaron Weber group, you have two songs to play for us

tonight. And the first one is called I have love for you. And it was released

on Valentine's Day. Um, are there a few blushing husbands out there?

Okay, we only two of us actually have husbands. But the one that doesn't

may have caused some blushing as well. I see. Very good. Very good. I understand.

But honestly, it's not, it's not necessarily about our blushing spouses or

partners. It's love that we have for each other. And, uh, you know, it could

be friendship and it could be family related. But, but it was really

starting Valentine's day. Yes. Ironically, yes. And that,

ironically, okay, that event was great because we invited our fans to write

love poems. Oh, wow. And then that night at the show, we put music to their

words. Really? Just improvised improvised it in this awesome. Wow, that sounds

so fun.

Well, let's check it out right now. Gin chocolate and bottle rockets. They're in

the, in the layer presented by the Aaron Weber group, eight, four, four, nine, six,

seven, two, seven, eight, nine, or call or text us from the civic media app. If you

had a question, it's gin, chocolate, and bottle rockets on maxing radio.

Hey, one, two, one, two, three, four.

Oh,

when you're feeling down and on what to do.

I'm there for you. Everybody's sure I'm there.

Feel like a heart attack. Oh, honey, wherever you're at. I'm there for you.

I have a love for you.

When you're on his orbit, spend his time to pay the rent.

Oh, I'm there for you.

When you're back, he can't stay long. Yeah, you're right, I'm the home.

Baby, give me a call. I'm there for you.

I have a love for you.

When times are tough and I was down, you were there.

You came around, leaving me when I couldn't see.

You proved to me, I'm not alone on your door.

You found that call, at least I could too.

It's to breathe in for you.

I have a love for you.

You so do you so do you so do you.

I have a love for you.

I have a love I have a love for you.

I have a love for you.

Very nice.

Jen Chauvin and Bottle Rock is live in the mini-layer.

You're on Maxine Cradio.

Pretty awesome.

You've actually made the mini-layer awesome.

It's mini.

It's just a half hour.

Hey, 844-967-2789.

Call our Texas Pacific Media app if you want to say something.

I'm going to ask you about songwriting.

And in particular, the songwriting workshop teams.

This sounds like a lot of fun.

Tell me about this.

Yeah, we have gone to conferences and companies

and have done some team building where we are with groups of people

and we write a song together as a group.

So it really is an opportunity to connect with each other,

create a safe space, find creativity,

and end up with a product at the end.

Yeah.

So it's been a lot of fun.

We've done it with Girl Scouts.

We've done it with conferences.

Treats.

Get rich at our retreat.

So I can only imagine the three of you write a lot of songs.

Right?

I mean, on average, how many songs do you write in like a year?

You know, a couple?

Well, together or I mean,

we don't do a ton of writing collectively.

But we have and we're just all kind of going in different directions

at different times sometimes.

But you know, we are all creative people

and we do a lot of fun writing.

I did February album writing month, last month,

and wrote 15 songs in a month.

So that was fun.

But I guess what I was trying to say is

you all write a lot of songs.

And how it has to be difficult to say,

hmm, that's a really cool song that's bringing it into this project

or this project and so on like that.

Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, it's tricky sometimes to know what's going to land

with what group when we're,

but we'd like to write together.

And when we brainstorm like that last song,

we wrote just having fun.

Well, that last song, I was going to ask you about that

because you know, for writing that separately,

if you're not all together,

I noticed that the vocals alternate

between all three of you take like different parts.

Like how does that evolve?

We just take turns and like who wants first verse?

Like emailing or chatting back and forth

and then it turns into music.

Well, this song in particular, we we were all in the same place.

It doesn't always happen, but oh,

and we were.

Because this is a new song, right?

This is a new song, yes.

And what was cool is when we started writing it,

Beth and I, she usually plays guitar,

and I play keyboard, but she jumped on keyboard.

And I picked up a bass, so it was,

it was a different writing process,

and it kind of evolved in a different way,

which was really fun.

Wow, that's pretty cool.

That's a, that's a, that's a, that's a great way.

Oh, and our next song,

Jen is going to play ukulele.

Oh, well, not tonight,

but the next time the next song we write.

Could you play the air ukulele?

I could definitely play the air ukulele.

Yes.

I'm the master of the most annoying instruments in this band.

Kazoo, ukulele.

Cowbell.

That's not annoying at all.

Not at all.

I mean, I was expecting a whoopie question.

Yeah.

Oh, don't do that.

Rocker.

Strike that from the record.

Well, tell us about

Jen chocolate and bottle rockets going to Scotland.

And I mean, can fans actually go with you?

Well, this particular Scotland trip that we're taking in September,

end of September, beginning of October,

is Fall.

We filled the bus.

There's one left, actually.

Oh, there's one.

There's one left.

Wow.

One person can, can join us.

But this is the first time we're doing this.

And if all goes well, we'll definitely do it again.

We have a tour in 2026, too, that we need a filibus.

So yes, people can come with us.

Oh, wow.

Yeah, wow.

Like, what happens on this tour?

You have to get on the bus and find out.

That's exactly what that's our plan.

But it's like, we get to tour Scotland and look at castles

and look at the moors.

And we'll actually play some music at some point.

I like jamming on the bus.

Anything could happen.

Okay.

Jen's got a Kazoo.

I mean, have Kazooville travel

internationally?

How many people are on this bus?

25.

Wow.

That's a big group.

Yeah.

That's going to be a lot of fun.

There's going to be a lot of arguing

about where you're going to eat.

I think it's all planned.

It's all planned.

It's not like we're going to stop at McDonald's

and do a drive-through.

But there's this wonderful organization

called Scottish Folk Tours.

They organize everything.

And we are hosting that week

and we get to bring our fans with us

that want to come.

So in 2026, we'll have that also available in April.

And if you are the one person

that wants to come on this tour,

you can jump on our website,

gin chocolate bottle rockets.com.

Yeah.

And go to our show's link.

Yeah.

Rocker, we get a, we get a...

I usually ask people to call or text.

Yeah.

Well, someone just kind of walked

in off the street here.

Oh, okay.

What?

I have a question for you guys.

What's your name?

My name's Gordy.

Gordy.

I live on State Street.

I'm just wondering,

how did you guys first meet each other

and get together?

Oh, that's a great question.

Who met who first?

Beth and Shawnee met first.

Okay.

And then what happened?

So, yeah, Beth and I were in a duo

and Beth and I were also part of a project

called Chick Singer Night at that point.

And Jen was one of the chicks

that got up and saying

and Beth and I were part of the band.

That was like at the Brink Lounge.

That was at the Brink Lounge, yes.

And Beth, you got to tell the next part.

Well, so when Shawnee and I used to play

as a duo, we jokingly called ourselves

Jen and chocolate after the two things

that Shawnee keeps in her purse

in the month of February to survive winter.

Really?

It's like, yep.

So, when we met Jen and she performed with us,

she did Bobby McGee and was dancing so vigorously

that she accidentally punched me in the head.

While dancing, and I started seeing stars

and I was like, I love her.

And then I said to Shawnee in a text message,

we should ask Jen to be in our duo,

but then it'll be a trio.

And we can't just be Jen and chocolate.

So we asked Jen, she said yes.

And Shawnee's like, well, what about Jen

chocolate and bottle rockets?

I'm like, well, that makes sense

because I was seeing stars.

That's right.

So it was.

And the rest is history.

That's amazing.

That's what we got here.

Wow.

That's great.

That was how, what year was that?

That was, well, we have our 11th anniversary

of our first show in April.

Yeah.

That's wild.

Okay.

I'll go back on the street now.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, kinds.

Thanks for coming in, Gordon.

All right, see you.

That's me.

That's all.

Oh, that's so fun.

You know, you, you got to hear, uh,

I'm always on Fridays on John and Gordy in the morning here

on 92 7 FM in Madison.

And we do preview of tonight's show.

So it was great.

We were talking about you guys Friday and Gordy's like,

oh, man, I want to come in.

Oh,

Jen chocolate bottle rockets.

Well, I first got to see them at, uh,

kind of Michi in, in Barabu.

Oh, yeah.

And that was probably six years ago.

Seven years.

I mean, it was quite a while, but, uh,

what amazed me was Beth got up on, on the tables and started dancing

while she was singing while the band was going to start, uh,

I can neither confirm nor deny you don't remember that to you.

Of course, of course I remember.

Sure.

Well, it happens so often.

It's hard to know.

Okay.

Well, Jen chocolate and bottle rockets often

tribute to trio of famous singers, um, that you love.

Amy Lou Harris, Stolly Parton and Linda Ronstat.

And you're going to play your version of a Ronstat hit.

It's so easy.

Tell us about your passion for these stars and what's special

about the song you're about to sing.

Well, they were all individual artists.

They are all, are all individual artists that are amazing themselves.

And they also came together and formed a trio

and did a couple of records.

So we just love their music and we love their harmonies too.

All right.

Well, let's check it out.

Let's get into it right now.

We got about six minutes before the break here.

Jen chocolate bottle rockets live in the layer on max ink radio.

Two, three, four.

It's so easy to fall in love.

Two, three, four.

It's so easy to fall in love.

People tell they love four fools.

Here I go, breaking down the rules.

It's so easy.

So cool.

It's it.

Too easy.

So, we're hard hard hard hard.

But.

It's so easy to fall in love.

Look into your heart and see.

What's your love book instead of sad?

For me it's so easy.

Too easy.

Whoa, whoa, suit all on easy.

Yeah, yeah, it's so easy.

Oh boy, our door's on the start.

No hard to learn from it.

So easy to fall in love.

It's so easy to fall in love.

Too easy.

Whoa, whoa, suit all on easy.

Yeah, yeah, it's so easy.

It's so easy to fall in love.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's so easy to fall in love.

Yes, gin chocolate bottle rockets live in a layer here on Maxine Creole,

presented by the Aaron Weber group.

Could we have, I think we have time for, well, a little bit.

We have time for one more song.

And while you think that if you want to be able to perform one for us,

it would be awesome.

But gin chocolate and bottle rockets are performing at the Locksley venue

in Madison, where the old drive being used to be on April 12th.

How can our listeners keep up with your social calendar?

Well, we are on the social media's of the Facebook and Instagram varieties.

But we also list all of our shows on our website ginchocolate and bottle rockets.com.

You can also sign up on our mailing list there at the website.

And we send out emails and information about all the different shows that we're doing.

And what's coming up in the future for gin chocolate and bottle rockets?

Say any album maybe?

I know this was a new song we heard tonight.

Yeah, we're working on that slowly, but surely.

You know, and just also trying to get out there doing our songwriting workshops

and performing out for lots of fun people.

And we're always happy to do it.

And Beth, we were talking about engineering earlier last hour with M. Shay's.

Yeah.

You're an engineer too.

What kind of projects are you working on these days?

You had my friend Kathy Couture on her.

She actually is still fighting cancer.

She's kicking ass and she is cutting her third album.

I see how that's right.

It's going to be released May 10th.

Actually, we just scheduled that for her.

Oh boy.

So very exciting.

Yeah.

She's doing great.

And putting the finishing touches on her album right now.

That's awesome.

Yeah.

So do you guys think you have one more song?

Oh, yeah.

Sure.

But is there a kazoo solo in the song?

Yeah, we don't have all the equipment for that song.

But we're going to do our title track off.

And she pulls the kazoo out of her pocket.

As we mentioned earlier, Jen does not need any encouragement.

So just ironically, I only play kazoo on one of the Gin Chocolate and Bottle Rockets.

Well, we need to remedy that.

But no, we're going to do the title track off of our album.

It's called Lean.

Awesome.

Well, thank you so much for coming in tonight.

It's been a pleasure as always.

Gin Chocolate and Bottle Rockets live on Maxing Gritiel.

You've been giving them the upper hand

And they saw your moment of weakness.

You brought their clothes faithfully to part.

Part to let them see you when you're back.

And catch your head when you're worried about your heart.

What about your heart?

You've got to lean into it.

All the crime and the clutter in your head.

All the fear and longing left unsaid.

Don't shut them out.

You've got to say you would shoot me.

All the joy, all the pain, the index, me.

Don't be afraid of what you're feeling.

You've got to lean.

Lean into it.

All the years have swallowed time.

And it's lonely on your throne.

The crown is heavy on your head.

And your walls are made of stone.

All the cries you held inside.

They go off the empty wall.

Parting out your shin.

It's taken its toll.

You don't have to live the night.

Take my hand and get your pride.

Let go and escape your hair.

Just listen to your heart.

Listen to your heart.

You've got to lean into it.

All the crime and the clutter in your head.

All the fear and longing left unsaid.

Don't shut them out.

You've got to say you would shoot me.

All the joy, all the pain, the index, me.

Don't be afraid of what you're feeling.

You've got to lean.

Lean into it.

Don't apologize.

Be right to those judgements to lies that fall on you.

Don't, don't deny.

You're truthfulness, you're humaneness.

You're humaneness the way you are.

You've got to lean into it.

The crime and the clutter in your head.

The fear and longing left unsaid.

You've got to say you would shoot me.

All the joy, all the pain, the index, me.

Don't be afraid of what you're feeling.

You've got to lean.

You've got to lean into it.

All the crime and the clutter in your head.

All the fear and longing left unsaid.

Don't shut them out.

You've got to say you would shoot me.

All the joy, all the pain, the index, me.

Don't be afraid of what you're feeling.

You've got to lean.

Lean into it.

Yes, Jin Chocolate and Butter Rockets live in the layer.

You all are so awesome.

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your evening

to come share your music with us on Saturday night.

Thanks for having us.

We love you guys always.

You guys, you're also, I just remembered,

you're also going to be playing on May 8th

at the Canopy Center fundraiser.

Yes, we are.

Canopy Center.

You guys play a lot of fundraisers for good causes.

You know, we're all about supporting other organizations

that support others.

So yes, the answer is yes.

Nice.

And also playing at Mama Care's 10th anniversary

ball at the high noon saloon March 30th.

Sam Ness is going to be there.

The Jimmy's are going to be there.

Of course, Jin Chocolate and Butter Rockets.

That's a suggested donation.

I think of $10.

You probably want to bring 20, maybe 30 bucks.

Throw in the bucket.

You know, help out some musicians here.

Absolutely.

And the Laxley April 12th.

That's going to be our tribute show to Legends and Harmony.

Oh, really?

So you'll get lots of the Deli Parton, Linda Ronsett,

Emile Harris, type songs and throw in some other legends.

That's awesome.

I did not know that.

It'll be a good time.

So go to Laxley's website.

You can buy tickets.

And it's going to be, it's a really cool new venue.

I mean, it's the old drag bean.

But they've remodeled it.

And it looks really great in there.

It's very classy.

They are a sponsor of the show.

No way.

Yeah, I heard that earlier.

Yeah, they're really trying to get things off the ground there.

And I think they're doing it right.

They're doing some cool things.

That's great to have.

They got you guys.

Yeah.

Live music.

If you got on the west side, that's awesome.

Once again, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Happy St. Paddy's Day.

Hey, we got a double dip of Amelia Ford coming up.

We have Terry Barchecking in.

Telling us all about the Bami's.

Up in Green Bay.

That's pretty cool.

Thank you, Jen Chocolate and Butterock.

This is Maxine on Civic Media.

We are local music.

A little gin and chocolate.

What makes you happy?

Hey, what makes you happy?