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

It's a good Good Friday

I went to write with Gordon today and it was SOOOOOO good to see him. There's never enough hours in the day when we are writing together :) But today was great because it gave us a chance to reevaluate everything we worked on earlier this year. I still have so many unfinished songs with him.... that's not unusual for me though :) I usually have a whole stash of songs I am working on that I finish at the most random times. I can try and try with all my might to finish some songs.... but with certain pieces of work - I just have to wait for the inspiration to hit me.

That's how I wrote most of the songs for "Late Night Conversations" - I had an entire digital recorder filled with ideas. And over time I finished them one by one. And the strongest ones ended up making the record.

We finished one today that I am thrilled about! I can't really talk about it yet, but you'll hear it soon enough. :) And then we have 4 others with really great starts. I'm smiling so big right now cause I am hearing them all in my head at once. They are just little infants right now... I can tell what they will look like for the most part... they just haven't fully developed yet :)

SO I have a lot of work ahead of me.

I had to cut us off to catch the last train back into the city. Gordon and I were texting lyrical ideas of one of the songs to each other. But there was an inebriated Italian fella, Fabrizio, that really wanted to talk. His English was a bit broken... which he kept apologizing for... but his English wasn't really the reason he was hard to understand.... It was probably all the wine with dinner.... if I were to guess...

He came to this country to "have experience", which he explained ummm... a few times.... and then a few more...

I can't possibly attempt to explain what he was talking about (nor could he) but the one thing he was sure of..... I have "eyes like fox." He said that over and over again. He REALLY wanted me to know that. He wanted to make sure I go home tonight and look in the mirror to check and see if "Fabrizio is full of BS or Fabrizio tell truth". He nearly missed his stop because he kept putting his hands around his eyes to make the shape of glasses and was yelling "YOU. Eyes like fox!!! Like FOX! You see! Look in mirror!" And THEN once he got OFF the train he ran to the window where I was sitting and was screaming it from the outside... and putting his hands around his eyes again. And then making the shape of a pregnant belly. (That was a whole other story... he thinks I am smart like fox and won't have "The children" until I KNOW... cause I have eyes like fox... ) Yeah. I don't really get it either. The train attendants kept staying close by. And after he got off the train one came over to me and said "We should have put that on youtube." I actually recorded a bit of the conversation onto my iphone because it was cracking me up.

But apparently I have "eyes like fox" so I guess that means don't mess with me?

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie