Since its release in the spring,
Volume One, the first album from
She & Him, has been something
of an under-the-radar surprise.
While some may have wanted to
dismiss this folksy collaboration
between indie troubadour M.
voice has dwindled to a sad husky shadow,
and I tuck myself into bed for 36 hours.
H im

APRIL 19, NEW YORK

Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel—who met in
2006 on the set of the comedy The Go-Getter (he
also composed the soundtrack)—as yet another
movie star’s vanity project, the album’s mounting

The little band I put together to back up Zooey couldn’t be better. Mike Coykendall, whom I’ve been working with forever now, is playing acoustic guitar and singing backing vocals. Stefanie Drootin flew in from L.A.—she normally plays in the Omaha band the Good Life. We are very lucky to have her on bass and to have Scott McPherson fly in from Mexico to play drums. It’s an honor beyond honors to have Yo La Tengo join us—they took me on tour with them in Europe years ago. For those of you who don’t already own it, I highly recommend I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One.

buzz, along with well-received sets at South by
Southwest, led to a proper national tour. The
She

APRIL 20, NEW YORK

early shows, however, didn’t necessarily go off as
Still in bed. The band rehearses without
me. I watch some episodes of Lost. I eat
cookies. I feel extremely stupid.
planned. Here—let them tell you themselves.
H im

APRIL 20, NEW YORK

She
APRIL 15, LOS ANGELES
Playing live is less precious when you know
you’re going to be doing it again—there’s
something a little sad about doing a show
and not knowing when you’ll get to do
another. I always thought it’d be fun to tour
and we both thought it’d be important, but
I didn’t want to half-do it. This takes a lot of
passion and energy. It was just a matter of
how busy we both were.

H im

APRIL 15, LOS ANGELES

Today we are playing a fancy opening at
Barneys New York in Beverly Hills for the
Sundance Channel. They put me up at
a very swanky hotel with chandeliers in
the driveway and electric heat lamps on
full buzz in 65-degree weather. The party
performance goes well—just five songs.
Get your picture taken with the reps and
good night.

She

APRIL 16, LOS ANGELES

I’m supposed to fly to New York today, but
I wake up feeling under the weather, so I
postpone my flight to Friday.
H im

APRIL 18, NEW YORK

Due to Zooey’s illness, I have a surprise day off in New York City, so I spend the day with some friends at the New Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s a hard life. There are only a couple floors open, and they charge me $21 for a premade sandwich and a spaceship salad that comes out of a silver bag. I can, however, highly recommend the Cai Guo-Qiang exhibit at the Guggenheim, and I hope everyone who lives in the area or is passing through gets a chance to witness this in person. I walk around Central Park for a while, dodging the visiting pope’s police escort. Central Park is one of my favorite places on earth—it’s like an eye in a storm. I have dinner with Jim James and some friends. For those of you who don’t already own it, I strongly recommend Z by My Morning Jacket.

She

APRIL 19, NEW YORK

I briefly meet with Mr. Ward, our band, and the amazing Yo La Tengo, who have kindly agreed to play “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” with us on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, but I start feeling worse, so I go back to my friend’s house where I am staying. My

Zooey has laryngitis from a sinus infection, so all the NYC shows might be canceled. Another great rehearsal with Mike and me filling in for Zooey’s parts, but in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “This could be the most expensive rehearsal in the history of music.” We run into Gillian Welch and David Rawlings for dessert at an incredible Japanese place that’s connected to the Maritime Hotel in Chelsea. For those of you who don’t own it, I highly recommend Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch.

She

APRIL 21, NEW YORK

Go to the doctor, cancel our show at Hiro Ballroom. I feel even more stupid than yesterday, which hardly seems possible, because yesterday I felt pretty darn stupid. The notebook I had designated for my tour diary has now become my only means of communication as I keep my mouth shut for two whole days. It’s filled with nonsense: greetings, dinner orders, one-sided conversations, and requests for various remedies.

H im

APRIL 22, NEW YORK

Miraculously, Zooey’s feeling better
and up for trying out a performance.