Albright College, Getting Ponded, and I'm an Author

We're still in Reading, but we've moved :) We're in a hotel right down the street. It reminds me of the hotel we stayed at in Stowe, VT. Very old school.

This morning I did a radio interview over the phone with Eagle 101.5 in Gaylord, Mi. Were playing there Saturday night. The interview was really fun - Mike the dj was a fellow baby-crier!!! We had a baby-cry-off. It was a good time.
I can also add "author" to my resume. When I first called in, Mike had me confused with the author that he was interviewing later in the hour. He told me he Really enjoyed my book.

For a split second I thought, "How has he already read the children's book I haven't even written yet?"

But when I said "What?" He goes, "OOOOH!!! You're the singer!!! What I meant was, I love your VOICE!" :) It was so funny.

Tonight we played at Albright College. They were so much fun!!!

This group of students was there when we arrived to help us unload and stayed until the very end to help us reload the trailer! I <3 you guys.


Before we started the show, we got to talk to and hang out with Billy, our protector for the evening. He told us some pretty crazy stories about being on duty. Don't know if y'all realize this, but things can get pretty crazy here in Reading, PA. *wink wink*
He gave me his walkie to let me feel all official.


This is Zero and Hazel. I asked him if he'd seen Wolverine!!! Zero is one of the characters... So basically... I feel like I got to hang out with a Superhero tonight :)


At Albright there's a tradition. If it's your birthday - you get "ponded". Everyone grabs you and throws you in the pond on campus. And we got to witness a few "pondings," tonight. Tricia, one of the girls that helped us out all night, got ponded. It was pretty exciting.


This girl was pretty emotional when we talked. She lost her little brother a couple years ago and she told me that Angel meant a lot to her. It's never ceases to amaze me when someone is touched by one of my songs. It makes so thankful that I do this for a living.


So tonight was a really great night. The audience was so appreciative and made the show really fun for us. Plus, they had these amazing free cookies at the show for everyone. Yeah. That rocked.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Penn State Berks

Tonight was a bit different than most of our shows, and it was a really nice change of pace. The beautiful thing about colleges is that you NEVER know what kind of show it'll be. It really keeps you on your toes! And tonight was the rare "coffee house" setting.

We played at Penn State Berks and we were a part of their "Jitter Coffee House" series. They don't normally have bands - it's usually just a single singer/songwriter act. Oh... but tonight? They had a BAND! :) We didn't play quite as ALL OUT as we normally would. James didn't set up his full drum kit... but it was fun to do a bit of a stripped down set.

We debuted 3 new songs at this show. It was the PERFECT place to do some new ones because this show had such a "storytellers" vibe. I could hear the comments the audience was making between songs, and they could hear me even off the mic. They were sitting on couches and around tables with candles... I'm not always able to talk with the audience like that. But I LOVE it when I can. One kid walked onstage after one of Miguel's solos just to shake his hand. It was awesome :)

This is CAB - the group that put the show on and brought us to Penn State!


This girl was so sweet! She had rehearsal and ran over to the show afterwards... but she missed the whole thing. So she had to settle for buying a cd :)


These guys were REALLY excited about Miguel's playing. They loved the Zepplin. :)


Some of Hootie's friends came to see him, and then took him home after the show. We have a few days off, so he is flying to Nashville to see his woman. :) VERY sweet birthday surprise for her.

Miguel, James, and I headed to the Route 61 Diner after the show. It was the only place open, but I'm kinda glad - cause I'm not sure we wouldn't have ended up there if something closer had been open late. :) This dude sitting at the counter was AWESOME. He and this other guy were talking and the whole conversation was "If I ran this county...." But look at what he is wearing!!! It's a traditional Bobby hat.... I didn't know what that was. It just looked like a cop hat from the 1930's to me :) But it's like the hats the cops wear in England. But he wasn't British... So who knows why. Maybe he just likes it. :)


Miguel's girls came up here tonight, too!!! It is so fun! They are here to hang out with us on our few days off. Jenn and Ella were here at the hotel by the time we got back from the Diner. Poor Ella was sooooo tired. But she was being really sweet and was so happy to see her Daddy. We're all headed up to New York to hang out at my mother-in-law's tomorrow. EXCITING! :) I love New York.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie