Loeb balances music, motherhood

Parents of very young children know that when the opportunity comes to get out and do something fun on your own, you take it.

In singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb's case, that means getting up on stage and playing rock 'n' roll for a crowd.

Loeb will perform on Friday, June 3, at Lincolnshire's Viper Alley. She decided to do the show because she'll be in town anyway for a private benefit the next day in Chicago.

“I don't have as much time to play and tour right now,” said Loeb, who has an 18-month-old daughter at home. “So I figured, why not take advantage of the time I'll have in Chicago?”

Loeb said she'll play songs from throughout her career, which got started with a bang when her song “Stay (I Missed You)” appeared on the soundtrack to the 1994 movie, “Reality Bites.” She'll also preview songs from a new record she's working on with musician and producer Chad Gilbert.

“I'll probably even play some of the children's songs I've done,” she said. “It's funny, but audiences often ask for those.”

When Loeb got her song on the “Reality Bites” soundtrack, she was an unsigned artist in her mid-20s trying to make a name for herself in the New York music scene. She specialized in literate, catchy pop tunes that often were anchored by her acoustic guitar.

Then the “Stay (I Missed You)” single exploded. The telegenic Loeb (complete with stylish cat's-eye glasses) became a staple on MTV and landed a major-label record deal. Her debut album, “Trails,” came out in 1995 on Geffen Records.

“That was an incredibly exciting time,” she said, “and I'm very grateful because I was able to retain my independent approach to music while enjoying the support of a big label. That doesn't happen as much anymore. Labels still market and promote new artists, but it's very expensive to do that, and they've gotten much more selective.”

Since then, Loeb has released a series of pop albums and appeared in movies and television shows, including several animated programs for children. She's also taken a successful detour into children's music with her music partner from college, Elizabeth Mitchell.

Now in her early 40s, Loeb counts being a mother as one of her top priorities. But that doesn't mean she's slowed down. In addition to her continued musical pursuits, Loeb recently launched her own eyewear line and has a couple of children's book/CD projects on the horizon.

If that sounds like a lot to juggle — well, it is, Loeb said. But she doesn't do it alone.

“I'm lucky in that I have some great people in my life who help out, starting with my husband,” Loeb said. “And lots of the projects coming out now have had long timelines. The eyewear line, for instance, was something I started working on before I even got pregnant.

“And actually, having a baby has helped me focus a lot better. I say yes only to the really important things now. I love getting out and performing when I can, but I also love singing to my daughter at home. I do the ABCs. She's a huge fan of that one.”

Lisa Loeb

<b>When: </b>7 p.m. Friday, June 3

<b>Where: </b>Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire

<b>Tickets: </b>$15, $40; go to viper-alley.com or call (847) 499-5000