Why My Family Rocks (+ How You Can Win a Trip to the Grammys and a Custom Hyundai Santa Fe!)

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai. Think your family rocks? Show us by uploading a photo of your family rocking out. Enter now for a chance to win great prizes.

1. shot from behind the stage at umphrey's mcgee red rocks, 2012 // 2. robbie serenading bubby dog, 2008 // 3. our nephew hunter practicing at sound check in austin, 2011 // 4. robbie on the tour bus (literally), 2010 // 5. signing the wall backstage at red rocks amphitheater, 2012 // 6. my sister rocking out side stage in indianapolis, 2012 // 7. a shot from the stage in alabama, 2010 // 8. our niece elli warming up the drums in austin, 2011 // 9. bringing in the new year in at a show in st. louis with teri // 10. 4th of july at the bouder theatre, 2010 // 11. wandering the tunnel backstage at red rocks, 2012 // 12. guitars + a bass ready to hit the stage in indianapolis, 2012


When the fine folks at Hyundai asked me to post about why my family rocks, I have to admit I got pretty excited.  Those of you who are regular readers know that a huge part of my life revolves around music.  My husband works full time as the Stage Manager for a band and tours the world six months out of the year.  And although it's tough to have him gone so much, I have the privilege of being able to accompany him to some pretty amazing places and experience the behind-the-scenes of the music industry.  I've been able to meet some of my rock n' roll heroes, get tours of my favorite venues (the tunnel backstage at Red Rocks = incredible), and dance until I can't stand up.  My clothing line also began by packing up my old RV with my goods and vending at music festivals all over the country, every summer, for years. It wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for music.

But even when we're off the road, music is a big part of our day-to-day, and has been since we were both young children.  My sister and I grew up dancing in our living room to the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and the Grateful Dead on vinyl, thanks to parents who were (and continue to be) avid music fans.  My husband's father took him and his brother to see Neil Young when they were barely old enough to walk - and then they returned the favor last month by taking him to see Neil Young in Austin for his birthday.  (A couple of years ago, Robbie also treated his dad to an AC/DC show in Denver.)  Our nieces and nephew (ages 3-10) are huge music fans too, and their favorite thing in the whole world is to accompany Uncle Robbie to his band's shows, where they practice their skills at sound check and then rock out on the side of the stage for hours.  When you walk into our house today, you'll likely hear any of the above mentioned bands blasting from the speakers, mixed with Fleet Foxes, First Aid Kit, Ween, Edward Sharpe, Johnny Cash, Feist, Phoenix, Guns N' Roses, and a good 50 other bands.  Robbie and I even met at a show he was working for a side project band.  When we moved in together and combined our vinyl collections, we had over 500 records. Yep. We love music.


If your family rocks too, Hyundai and Rolling Stone magazine want to know about it!  You don't have to work in the music industry or go to concerts every weekend, but if you love music and your family values include kindness, sharing, hard work, loud singing, mud, practical jokes and mischief in general, you could win a photo shoot in Rolling Stone shot by an industry photographer, airfare, hotel and transportation to the 55th Grammy Awards, and a fully tricked-out Hyundai Santa Fe custom rock 'n' roller. That's pretty major.  Watch the video below for more details, and then take a photo of your family rocking out and enter it here. Contest ends December 14th, 2012.



I want to know how you and your family rock too!  Who are you favorite bands?  What was your favorite concert of all time?  Do you listen to music on a daily basis?  Spill it!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.