That's a Lot of Presents

First of all, I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who came and participated in the Have A Blues Christmas Benefit Concert this past weekend. We raised $11,000 for the kids!!! That's a LOT of Christmas presents for children who wouldn't otherwise have them on Christmas morning. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! The event keeps getting bigger and better. :)

Jenn Bostic and I wrote together today. It was so much fun getting to catch up with her and start creating with her. It was our first write... which is in many ways like a first date. It is a sort of getting-to-know-you period. You start to figure out stylistically what the other writer leans towards and where their tendencies are. It helps with the next time, so you have a better idea of what you're getting into! We got a really good start on a song. But of course, Jenn is going on the road until the day that we leave again in January. So we scheduled our next co-write for February. hehe :)

Tonight we watched Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Tour: 30 Days in 30 Nights. I hadn't heard about it, but one of our friends recommended it, and it was awesome. It doesn't just show the comedians performing... it focuses a lot more on the behind the scenes, their stories and backgrounds, and then integrates it their acts. It is a really great look into the world of comedians and how they deal with the same things that bands deal with - audiences that react strangely, personal feelings about performance - it's fun to see the parallels. :)

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Have Some Pics of A Blues Christmas

I left my camera in the car last night among the craziness, so I had to wait until today to get the pics up online. (Sorry, Bay!)

I was SOOOOO excited because my awesome, rockstar of a niece, Bailey, got to come. She brought her friend, Blair, and they were there to support me during the show.
I have to brag on Bay for a sec. She just started taking guitar and after only 3 lessons, she can sing and play all of "Our Song" (by Taylor Swift) among other songs that she is teaching herself!!! It is so awesome!!! She's a natural. I can't wait to get her up on stage to play with me!
Bailey, Me, Blair, and my sister, Stephanie


We had so much fun last night!!! The bar gave the whole band some fancy, schmancy, rummy drinks. MMMMmmm. I didn't get very far with mine, but I think the boys made up for my lack of thirst. ;)


And Jenn got to come!!! Yay!!! Miguel and Jenn got a sitter so that she could come enjoy in the fun. AND my good friend, Jessie got to come, too. WOO HOO!


Last night was quite an event. It was SOOO good to play at home. We got to see some of our favorite people in the world!!


And Jessie got some pics of the jam that took place at the end of the night. It's become a staple of the "Have A Blues Christmas" Scott gets us up on stage to play with him and his band - here's a bunch of us just singing whatever he throws at us! It is so much fun to have to think on your feet and not know what's coming next (and make up lyrics if you don't know the song! HA!)


And here's Scott's beautiful wife, Buffy (in the middle)! And my beautiful sister-in-law, Tracy.


YAY!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Whether On This Earth Or From Heaven Above

What an incredible night.

Tonight we played our annual Christmas benefit in Columbia. I haven't played in my hometown since last year at this same event. That's pretty hard to believe. We have had such a good, hard, crazy year. And being away from home so much was not fun. But it's what we needed to get us where we're going.

There was something different about playing on stage tonight. There was a new confidence. A new maturity. I could feel how far we've come during the show. And I was so proud that we have made it this far.

I cried on stage tonight for the first time in my life. Before I started "Angel" I told the audience how much this holiday season has pointed out what family means. And just mentioned how we need to spend as much time as possible with those we love. And then I introduced Granny and why I wrote the song.

During the last verse... when I came to the lines "Whether on this earth or from heaven above, you're my Angel, my Angel, you're my Angel, my Angel" I couldn't sing. I began to cry and I couldn't control it. I could see Grandpa's face watching over me , and the emotion just overtook me. It was pretty incredible. And even though I lost "the words"... that song has even more meaning now than when I wrote it.... which is saying a lot. I didn't actually think that was possible. But I've sung it for Miguel and his grandparents after they died. And then tonight, for the first time... Grandpa was hearing it from heaven. And I know that he's one of my Angels now.

So Merry Christmas everyone. Tonight I got to see so many wonderful friends and family. And tomorrow I will talk about it some more complete with pictures. :)

Go tell someone you love that you love them.

peace. love. fiddle.
~natalie

5th Annual Blues Benefit Concert!!!

Tomorrow night!!!

Scott Holt and I in association with the Xtreme 4x4 Club in Columbia TN are Playing the "Have a Blues Christmas" Benefit for the 5th year in a row tomorrow night!!!

This year we have moved to a bigger location. Tix have always been sold out by now, but there are still some available cause we can fit so many more people!!!

Location: Sports Page

TIX:
Downstairs "Reserve" are $50

General Admission Upstairs is $25

Call Keith Throneberry @ 931-446-3945 for Tix

All proceeds go to buy Christmas presents for underprivileged children. It has been such a successful event every year, and it just keeps growing!

Doors open at 5:30
Dishwater Blonde 6:00pm - 7:00
Natalie Stovall 7:30 - 8:45
Scott Holt 9:15 - 10:45
11:00 - til Jam!

If you've never seen Scott Holt before, you are in for QUITE a treat. He was on the road for years with Buddy Guy. And he is an incredible artist. He puts on a very high energy show that will NOT disappoint!!! So come rock out with us, do something good for the kids, and celebrate Christmas time!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Jenkin's Auto: The Hub of Columbia's Tour Support

How to make an upside down cookie:

Put oven on "broil" instead of "bake". Cookie will be burnt on top and gooey on the bottom. Ummm.... What? I TOTALLY meant to do that tonight ;)

My sister, Stephanie, is a personal trainer and today is the first day I have been able to work out with her in a long time. OH MY LORD. She kicked my boootay, in the best possible way of course :) I am already sore.... actually I was sore before I left her house! How's THAT for a workout? I'm pretty excited , though. I feel like I need to work really hard on keeping up with everything she showed me today, so I can be a good example of one of her clients. :)

James and I were really hoping to get in bed early tonight.... NOT happening :) But what fun would that be? We are heading down to Columbia to get the trailer and it is 3am - our primetime. But we got a LOT accomplished tonight. Miguel and I recorded acoustic demos of all the songs for my session on Monday. Miguel is going home to Chile, so he won't be there with us to play the songs live for the studio guys.

So I guess, I am basically saying that we recorded a bunch of songs so that we can go in and record those same songs. Did ya catch that? :)

(And of course, we squeezed in plenty of hang out/dinner time with Jenn, Ella, and Miguel!!! MMmmmm spaghetti and meatballs. And Ella figured out that if she takes the cushions off the couch, she has a trampoline. Hours of fun right there!)

When James and I got back to our apartment to pack and load up, Ben was hanging out on the porch. Of course, we all started scheming and planning for the upcoming session. We've got a good idea for what the marathon week of recording should look like!! So that was good.

AND THEN... out of nowhere... at 3 am... the BEST THING EVER happened. We have the greatest friends in the entire world. I am still beaming and in a bit of shock right now. I had left the Suburban at my friend, Keith's place. We had a few things that needed to get checked out... and just overall maintenance since she is over 115,000 miles! Keith has a great shop in Columbia - Jenkin's Auto. And I always take the 'Burb to him to get some doctorin up. Keith is basically the reason that Columbia's touring bands can stay on the road so safely!!! He keeps Scott Holt and I going... and going... and passing each other.... and going...

Not only did Keith get all the maintenance done and fix the AC... HE DETAILED THE ENTIRE SUBURBAN. She was as shiny as the day we bought her... actually, probably shinier. And the inside... oh the inside... shampooed carpets, organized, Armor Alled.
Our trip to Augusta and back tomorrow is going to be so FRESH! (and that's not new lingo. I mean, literally. I'm not cool enough to come up with "lingo")

It was one of the more ridiculous things he's ever done for me, and he's done a LOT. He's probably one of the most "on-call" mechanics. I can call him any time with ridiculous questions about "What to do". Keith Throneberry rocks my world. Now the only problem is... it's gonna take me even longer to fall asleep because I need to think of a great way to repay him for this fantastic surprise.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Weird Signage

A few weeks ago someone asked at a show, "What is the strangest thing you have ever signed?"

I found myself puzzled... and laughing :)

I rattled off a few of the stranger ones I could think of... but I kept thinking of more things later. So I went through a bunch of photos and was reminded of quite a few moments and shows that made me laugh all over again. So I wanted to share!

The nipple signing at Coast Guard Day will forever go down as one of my favs


This may not have been nipple... but it was pretty dang close!


Ahhh... The skoal can


This kid was so cool. I have signed plenty of hats... foreheads... shirts... even jeans.... but NEVER sunglasses before!


Hard Hat - THAT came out of no where


And it was followed by an inflatable hammer... because... why wouldn't it be?


The biology notes have GOT to be one of the most creative and adorable things so far :)




Ah! Cowboy boots!! This made me feel WAAAAAY cool.


Let me interject something I just remembered. There were 2 guys at the Matterhorn that had me sign little wallet sized photos of their own kids. Hmmm. Not sure why... They didn't want me to address them TO the kids... just wanted my signature on the back.

Speaking of kids - the kids at the ski resort all had some creative ones.
Palms of the hands


Ski helmets and ski boots




The most recent and probably one of the coolest was the iphone:


And then there was the time when a guy at a show REALLY wanted Bridget to sign the cd... Bridget is a good friend of mine and Hootie's girlfriend.... she didn't sing or play on the cd, but dude was adamant that she sign it! Classic!


And Kelly Bell signing a Peace Love Fiddle t-shirt


Buckeye fans are CRAZY y'all. He had us sign an OSU flag and then INSISTED that we take it with us. Not sure why we needed to sign it if we were the ones who were gonna look at it. That thing stayed in the Suburban until it was driving Hootie nuts. We finally had to take it out because Hootie couldn't take the pressure anymore. "Hang on Sloopy" was on permanent repeat in his head...


I had to sign the shirt for a "bachelor" who was in Panama City beach at our show. I had to sign it and give him instructions for something to do during the evening - I ended up writing "pick up a fiddle player"


And he did!


And I'll close with this one cause it made me feel like a rockstar... Scott Holt, the guys from Gov't Mule, and well... just a whole lot of really cool people + me signed this guitar. I don't remember how much it was auctioned off for - but it was to raise money to buy Christmas presents for children in Maury County. So it was really cool.


My job is so fun.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie