We Opened For Gloriana Tonight

And it was AWESOME!!!! They put on a GREAT show. And we had a blast warming up the crowd for them! The stage and lights were really impressive, and it is always fun to be a part of such a big show.

I have to give a shout out to Big Country 103.1 out of Burlington Iowa for having us on today!!! We did an acoustic version of "Standing My Ground" and talked for a bit. And then I got ready for the show! The last two nights I have been using my wireless in ear monitors... WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT'S MAKING! I still don't have them perfect... but oh wow. I can hear my voice! IT'S AWESOME.

The show was so much fun. Huge stage. Electric crowd - they were loud, rowdy, and giving us soooo much love! Exactly what you want from a crowd! So of course, we made lots of new friends! Here's just a few...





A little arm signage :)






Cell phone Signage!!!
















Plus, Ari, may agent, came!!! He flew in for the show and is already heading back to New Jersey. It's fun when he shows up :) I think this may actually be the first FULL set of ours he's ever seen!



Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Atlanta-Bound

So I'm wrapping up another few days at home to head back out on the road. Tomorrow, however... is very different!

I am driving to Atlanta, picking up James at the Atlanta airport, and then we are headed to the APCA National Conference. But not to perform!!! :)

I was invited to the awards banquet that is taking place tomorrow night because well... the awesome nominations we received this year!!! We are nominated for Best Band and Best Performer. I still can't believe it. And I can't believe that we are actually able to attend. I have been nominated in other categories in previous years, but I have never been able to attend the awards banquet because of our schedule on the road. We just happened to have this week blocked off for me to write!!! I am pretty excited about going to see everyone that I have worked with over the last year that attends APCA. It becomes such a big family; the agents, the students, the artists... And these conferences are actually some of the only times I get to spend time with my own agent, Ari. That's always a good time. :) Oh, Ari.

And Ari was actually nominated for Best Agency!!! So really, we are all just stoked about the recognition. The students and people involved in campus activities are the ones that vote on these awards.

I also found out that I am nominated in the other college association I work closely with... NACA. I am nominated for Best Female Performer and Best Music in that one. CRAZINESS!!!

Wish me luck!!!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Nick Motil / Natalie Stovall Simpson College Year 2

Final Road Show of The Year!!!!!

I say it. But I don't believe it. It's like a birthday. There's a part of me that thinks I should "feel" different. But I don't.

This is our last night in a hotel for the year, too!!!

Ok. I'm done freaking out for just long enough to tell you about the show. I've really been looking forward to this show for all KINDS of reasons:

Simpson treats us SO well. They really do a great job putting on the shows, and they are the FIRST school ever to set up a Wii in our Green Room!!! That's never happened before. They had a sandwich tray, and tons of snacks. I can't tell you how much I LOVED making my own sandwich today from a loaf of bread. I haven't gotten to do that in MONTHS. Plain and simple. Bread, Cheese, ham, turkey, and a little mayo. Mmmmm. SO great.

They turn their Student Center into a pretty awesome live music venue - they have moving lights, and a huge sound system set up. And there was a whole group of guys that I met before the show that pulled a couch up to the front of the stage and watched the whole show sitting RIGHT up front!!!
They had me sign... ehh emmm.. their nipples before the show :)


And this dude PICKED ME UP. I was surprised :)


Nick Motil is another artsit on my agent's roster. He was actually the guy at my first showcase that introduced me to Ari. He's incredible to watch. It's just him and his guitar, and he knows how to work a crowd. We've both been so lucky in the college world. He's been the most booked singer-songwriter in the college market the last couple of years. And we've somehow become the top booked band in the college market. (And again.... I say that.... but I don't know how that's real)
We've been cooking up some ideas for the future ;) Y'all may see more Nick/Natalie shows down the road.


And another reason I love this show is because it's in IOWA!!!! Most of James' family (my in-laws) is here, and Lord do they know how to pack out a room! We feel spoiled because we got to see SO MUCH of the family tonight. And then we'll get to see them all again next week for Thanksgiving, too!! It really makes the show immediately more meaningful when family can be there.


But yeah... I'm still fighting these allergies... I thought I was allergic to Kentucky... but I'm in Iowa and it's not better yet. Oh well. I get to rest now. Thank the Lord I don't have sing anymore. But you know what? I don't have to stress because I don't have to sing again until Dec 12. :) YAY! Now I just have to worry about getting well so I don't breathe germs on the rolls I make for Thanksgiving.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Happy Halloween NACA Style!!!

First of all... let me introduce my agent Ari to the world with the following video.



Ari and Wiggs. 'Nough said.


Look at this sweet Sugar Glider!!!


Getting into trouble with Laura's booth next door. I love me some Laura. And look!!! MIchael Kent, who showed us some awesome magic tricks when we played at E Ct State University!!! :) the chicken costume where you don't really have to commit.


The Heyday! What a BRILLIANT idea, carving their band logo into a pumpkin! These guys are great. They are from Denver and it was their first NACA with Ari. They were a hit!



Signing off from another great NACA conference! We had a great showcase and even had schools fighting over dates in the booth. There are currently 5 different holds for April 24. I wish we could do them all!!!!! Leaving Kentucky and headed up to APCA Northeast in Verona NY. I'm really excited about catching that extra hour tonight. WOO HOO!

Peace. Love. Fiddle. Pippi Style.
~natalie

Stevenson University and Monmouth University

Ahhh. Days off are great. We have been going non-stop for so long, that today has seemed well... way too easy! We slept in, ate at an awesome diner in New Jersey, ran some errands, drove 3 1/2 hours to Reading PA, checked in, and went to dinner and to the Wolverine movie. I have been looking forward to that movie for so long - it was really good. Had to hide my eyes a bit :) But that's pretty normal.

I am SO glad that I have a chance to catch up on the last 2 shows. It feels really weird to be behind!


Saturday was awesome because we woke up in PA, played a show in Maryland, and slept in New Jersey :)

We played at Stevenson University in Maryland. And yet again, they had to move the event indoors. The rain has really put a damper on the Spring Festivals this year. But it never stops the shows! We don't care where we rock out - indoors or out. It's always a good time.

It wasn't raining when we got there, though. That always helps with unloading :) They had a HUGE inflatable obstacle course and then they had something I have never seen before - an inflatable boxing ring!!! The "gloves" you wore - they were GINORMOUS!!! I was bummed I didn't get to put them on and get a picture. But we usually don't have a lot of time to participate in the activities between set up and show time.

They also had a station where you could "build your own stuffed animal" - kind of like "Build a Bear" only with rhino's, mustangs, all kinds of interesting things.

One of the Dean's of students and her daughter came to the show. That always makes me feel cool!


My merch girl!!! She was such a big help!


And the girls who worked tirelessly for us and the entire event!
Carrie and Abbe


Sunday we played at Monmouth University.

I have passed by Monmouth so may times!!! My friend and co-writer, Gordon, lives in Long Branch. We pass by Monmouth to get to his house :) Well... when we go to get Quiznos, that is. So I was really looking forward to this one because I felt like I had been there before.

But alas, the rain caused Monmouth to have to go to the indoors as well. They had inflatables upstairs in the student center - TONS of different stations, and then the stage with all the bands was in the cafeteria area where all the free food was. Free food is a GREAT way to get students to the show! They had Pulled Pork BBQ, deep fried oreos, home-made lemonade... well... I could go on an on about the food. But on to the show!

Gordon and Jess, his girlfriend came to the show. It was the first time Gordon has seen the band play live! It was so great to see him and Jess, and I was REALLY excited they came to the show.

Stealing Jane and the Josh Cramoy Band also played at the show. They were SOOO good. I knew some of the guys in Stealing Jane, and Josh Cramoy and I are booked by the same agent. I was asked numerous times if the trombone player from Stealing Jane was Miguel... they had the same hair :)

The students at Monmouth were unbelievably helpful with loading and unloading our equipment.

And these girls - the twins - were a huge reason that we were brought to Monmouth!


My front row girls singing along the whole show:


So were these girls!


And Ari, my agent, showed up RIGHT after we finished the show. He and his wife Stacy came by. I feel like I have so much family up here in Long Branch - between my agent and Gordon. :) It's awesome.

Tomorrow we play in Reading, PA. We're already here, so that automatically makes tomorrow seem like a breeze!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie