FACrock: First of all, thanks for a great show in Portland! You seem to genuinely have fun and enjoy being on stage. Do you ever get nervous about shows or have bad experiences on stage?

Ali: Thank you! It was a wonderful night- such an awesome city, incredible audience. Being on stage is an amazing release, and being able to connect with a room full of people and float on that energy is pretty unparalleled in my book. I definitely get nervous before every show, some more than others. I think it's good though, nerves mean the show matters and give that extra bit of energy and spark that just doesn't come in rehearsals. We've definitely had some rotten moments on stage (which I think contributes to the nerves a bit, knowing what can happen out there), but I think for the most part, nothing is ever quite as bad as it feels in the moment. Or it is as bad as it feels, and then you just have to go, "Wow, that was horrendous. Let's not let that happen again!" and move forward.

Part of what made the show so great in my opinion, was all the little stories and comments you share during the show, plus the dancing around. Does that all come naturally and organically or is it something that you have to think about and work on?

Thanks! I think the way I am onstage is pretty much the way I am in real life (maybe with the volume turned up a bit), but it has taken a lot of work and experience to be able to be that in front of a lot of people. For a long time, I was terrified to leave the piano, but after we started touring a bit, I began to loosen up and get comfortable enough to make jokes and dance around. I think a good bit is losing the fear that people are going to think you're a dork. Fear makes you restrain yourself, and I think that hinders you as a performer. I'd rather give all of myself and risk doing something nerdy (and there's a fair chance I will) rather than hold back and leave people feeling like they've seen a shell of a person.

During the show, you covered Blondie's "Heart of Glass". What made you choose that song to cover during this tour?

We definitely tossed around a bunch of covers (from Patsy Cline to the Sex Pistols, we were all over the place), but no one could really agree on anything. Then "Heart of Glass" came up, and from the first time we tried it out, it was clear that it was the one. It is such a great song and ridiculously fun to play. It's definitely one of those songs I desperately wish I'd written, it's just so good. And Debbie Harry was (still is) a goddess.

Are there any other covers that you hope to perform in the future?

I don't know! We certainly love looking for them, but we never really know what we're going to do until we get there. It's always an adventure.

With your second album Bomb in a Birdcage coming out a few months ago, just releasing a Christmas album, and being on tour in support of them, you have been extremely busy recently. What do you do so that you don't get overwhelmed with all of it?

I get a lot of massages, go for walks and occasionally throw pillows and slippers here and there.

With passing through cities so quickly, have you gotten to do anything fun and/or touristy in any of your stops?

This particular tour hasn't really been a sight-seeing tour, but I try to visit antique stores wherever we go, and also cool old bookshops. There are so many treasures out there, and so much weird, random crap as well... haha. We tried on an awful lot of hats in Glendive, Montana and played frisbee in a parking lot in Dennison, TX. That was exciting!

What's the most essential item to have on tour?

Soy nog! Veggie booty!

You shared that "Happier" is the next single from your album. Can we expect to see a video for that soon?

You most certainly can, we're working on it as we speak. I'm very very excited about it, but can't say much more than that just yet...

"Almost Lover" seems to be the song of yours that resonates most with your fans. I know that song draws a lot from your personal life. Do all your songs have autobiographical pieces in them or do you get inspiration from outside sources as well?

I try to keep my eyes and ears open and observe as much as I can; one never knows what will spark a song, and I just try not to miss anything. Nature, the human spirit, a beautifully written passage in a book, a passing comment, love...

Ok, and now for some random bits: What is...
Currently playing on your iPod?

Wilco, Helios, Ray Lamontagne, Nick Drake, Fleet Foxes.

Your favourite band of all time?

Ooooh. I couldn't say- SIgur Ros? Death Cab?

The last movie you watched?

Royal Tenenbaums.

The last book you read?

The Code of the Woosters. Hilarious!

Your favourite thing about the Holidays?

The smells- cinnamon, pine, vanilla, pumpkin, burning firewood, cold air, snow... mmmmmm...

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Ali! Come visit us again soon!