The endless array of words used to describe Devotchka may never quite define their sound unless you hear it for yourself: Gypsy-tango, indie-folk, Mariachi, cabaret, post-punk, Eastern European, Southwestern and sousaphone rock.

If you've ever seen Devotchka play, you've definitely seen Jeanie Schroder, the only gal in the band, playing her monstrous sousaphone adorned with red lights. For a while, this Denver/Boulder band was known as the "greatest band you've never heard of" but after they played their part in the Grammy-nominated score for Little Miss Sunshine, things began to pick up. Whether you've seen this fab quartet grace the stage or not, what you haven't seen is a personal interview with just Jeanie. And just as I assumed, Jeanie kicks some serious a** and should really be interviewed more often.

Brit Horvat: First off, is this your first solo interview?

Jeanie Schroder: Yes, it is my first solo interview.

BH: Where did you grow up? What did you love most about that area?

JS: I grew up in Colorado, not too far from Denver. I love the mountains and the history of the West.

BH: Let's go back to 2001. I read an article with Go Go Magazine that you not only played with Devotchka but with a jazz trio and two brass bands in town. Do you still work with them? What are/were they called? Are they still around?

JS: Devotchka is the only band I play with regularly now. I get invited to play with various groups between tours. The jazz trio mentioned in that article is called the Jason Justice Trio, and the brass bands are The 4th Artillery Regimental Brass Band (civil war reenactment band) and the Park Hill Brass Quintet (now defunct).

BH: It's pretty awesome that you play sousaphone, standing bass and cello. What made you want to start playing the sousaphone?

JS: I started out on flute, but got sick of the flute and all the flute players (30 of them at my high school). Another flutist and I decided we'd help out the only sousaphone player and so we switched. I was a senior at the time. The tuba player, Joe Exley, (now a hot tuba commodity in New York City), taught us both during the summer. Best move I ever made!!

BH: Almost every article mentions "Jeanie's sousaphone adorned with red lights." It's great. When did you first decorate it and is there a story behind it?

JS: The lights hide a lot of dents and road scars from tossing around in the band van. It started out at a Christmas/New Years show.

BH: When you go on tour, do you have to bring extra sets of lights along in case the bulbs break or short out?

JS: I usually forget and have to scrounge some up. I do have a small tin of extra bulbs, that are mostly the wrong size....

BH: I absolutely love burlesque music and think it's awesome that Devotchka started as a backing band for burlesque shows. Have you ever been to Forty Deuce in Las Vegas? (It's my absolute favorite burlesque bar.)

JS: No, but next time we are through Vegas, I will make a point of visiting.

BH: How was touring with the sultry Dita Von Teese back in the day? Were you touring with her when she was seeing/married to Marilyn Manson? Any crazy stories?

JS: There was her act with Catherine D'Lish where they both rolled around on a giant blow up black penis. I think Nick already mentioned that story!

BH: So you graduated with a Bachelor's of Music degree. From where?

JS: University of Colorado at Denver.

BH: What was your primary focus? Were you one of the only gals in that area of study?

JS: I went in for music engineering, but ended up with a performance degree. I was one of 6 girls in my department and the only tuba player male or female.

BH: Speaking of being the only gal, what is it really like being in Devotchka withthree other boys?

JS: Very enlightening. I understand the men in my life so much better now! Haha. Life on the road can be rough on everyone and I am lucky the Devotchka boys are all pretty easy to get along with. Everyone can be ornery when tired and hungover. That is when they morph in one atrociously annoying brother and I end up calling them all by each other's names.

BH: In regards to women and the music industry, do you think women have to work especially hard to make it in such a male-dominated environment?

JS: I think anyone, male or female, who wants to work in the music industry has to really want to be in music because it is not an easy industry to be in. I don't know any musicians who have been handed success on a silver platter. It's tough; there are a lot of disappointments (especially early on), and one must be entirely committed to their music and committed to seeing it through. Like any industry, there are people with old-fashioned ideas about who can do what or be in what position. Luckily, there are many other people available to work with/for who don't think this way. If it is your dream, desire, calling there are musicians out there who you will be able to play with. So much of keeping the band together is having the right chemistry of people who are committed to the band. From my own experience, I played with lots of talented, wonderful musicians before joining DeVotchKa. I had a couple of negative experiences with some of those bands that seemed to be about the fact that I am female and I thought, "Who needs that?" There are so many bands out there and at the time I was playing in about 5 or 6, so you see, it wasn't hard to decide to move on. In DeVotchka I am made to feel that, at least on stage, my being female is a big plus.

BH: Are there any specific ladies you know that are climbing the music ladder - whether it be business- or performance-related?

JS: Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond - she is a band leader, songwriter andamazing performer. Rachel of Norfolk and Western -- a drummer and songwriter and artist.

BH: What particular artists/bands continue to inspire you? And why?

JS: I get inspired by bands old and new that put on a good show and know how to reachout and interact with their audience. I enjoy seeing unusual/traditional instruments being used in new ways.

BH: What does your life entail when you're not playing music?

JS: I spend my time with my husband, and family and friends. I still like to travel despite the amount of time we spend on the road. I read a lot, knit, and spend time in my garden.

BH: How the hell was it going to The Grammys for the first time?

JS: What an experience! It is such a big production. I loved getting to see the Police live (my first time) and hearing Smokey Robinson and Lionel Ritchie. My mother came with us and I think she had the most fun of anyone!

BH: Did you meet anyone fun?

JS: We saw a lot of famous people, but our seats were a little far away to actually talk to them.

BH: I had the chance to interview Nick right before y'all ventured to LA for The Grammys. I asked him to tell me some crazy on-tour fiascos and he responded with the following:

There have been a lot. One of my favorites was when we got booked to play at an outdoor gig that turned out to be a gazebo. On the way there, Jeanie, the tuba player, had some food that she was allergic to and halfway through the first song she had to puke. I had to finish the gig solo. I hope she doesn't get mad at me for telling you.

What did you eat? Did you just run off stage?

JS: I am allergic to pork and I had a hot dog that had pork in it (They told me it was all beef). I know, hot dogs are gross anyway, but I didn't have a lot of choices. I puked behind my bass in a bag, and tried to finish the song, but it was pretty bad. I snuck off the side of the gazebo, maybe no one noticed!

BH: Now it's your turn to fire back with fiascos of your own. What funny things have the boys done on tour?

JS: I don't know how funny this is, but our last night in London, we couldn't fit all of us in a cab, and in our "very solid after many pints" judgement, Tom and Shawn decided to walk back to the hotel. They took a wrong turn and ended up stumbling upon a boarded up hotel with numerous Keep Out-type signs around. It appeared to be a meth lab or some sort of drug hideout. Before they knew it, they were being chased by 3 "zombies" and running for their lives across a highway. This is not the first time they had tried to get themselves killed by wandering around at night in strange cities.

BH: So Devotchka has a new album in the works? What can we expect from this one?

JS: Some lovely string arrangements by Tom Hagerman and hopefully a few guest artists (TBA).

BH: Y'all are playing at Red Rocks in August for the first time. Have you always dreamt of playing there? What other venues do you hope to play?

JS: Playing at Red Rocks is a total dream come true for me, of course because of living in Colorado.After Red Rocks, I think my dream venue list is done. I am sure the boys would say, however, that a private party at the Playboy Mansion would top RR.

BH: You're all returning to Europe to play in music festivals later this summer. How are those? Where is Devotchka most well-known?

JS: This will be our first festival tour in Europe. When we went last year we had the best responses in Paris, Toulouse, Manchester and London. People were actually singing our songs in Toulouse!!

BH: Besides Little Miss Sunshine, what other independent films are a MUST-see?

JS: The whole band loved Me and You and Everyone We Know and Borat. One of my personal favorites is The Road Home.

BH: Any other film scores in the works? Any hints?

JS: None that can be spoken of at this time, but watch for Nick's name as he is working on some film stuff.

BH: Did I leave anything out that you're dying to tell us?

JS: My sousaphone is not really that heavy, about 20 to 25 lbs., and yes, those shoes hurt my feet!

BH: Thanks so much, Jeanie. This is a real pleasure, considering I admire you tons. Best of luck with everything to come and be sure to tell the band hello!