Guerrilla Marketing

The drive to our show today was SCARY. REALLY SCARY.

Jeeves decided that it was a good idea to take us on a little tiny dirt road. It wasn't even a gravel road. It was a muddy, winding, narrow HORSE TRAIL. Seriously. It felt more like a horse trail than a road. And we were scared. James was so stressed out, I think everyone was scared to talk to him. But we went around one curve, and he thought it *might* be just wide enough to turn around.

THANK GOODNESS IT WAS!!!! Miguel jumped out and helped us turn around, Tim found the best route according to google maps on his phone, James drove and maneuvered like a champion, and I held on for dear life.

Jeeves, our GPS, had good intentions. I am sure according to a map... it was the shorter route... but ummm NOT cool, Jeeves. NOT cool.

The show, however? WELL worth the 20 hour drive! The students in charge of the show asked me if I would go through the dorm rooms with them and try to drum up some more excitement for the show. I've never felt more like a moving billboard. :) The guys walked through the hallways, BANGED on the doors, asked guys if they were coming to the show, and then pointed at me :) It was funny.

Whatever the reason... the free food.... the fact that they put my picture on all the napkin dispensers in the cafeteria... our guerrilla style marketing.... I don't care what it was! It worked!! The show was AWESOME. They were up and clapping and dancing at the front of the stage from EARLY on in the set. And it felt like old times at Sam Hill's when they started asking for "Sweet Child of Mine" Plus, after the show, one of the guys really wanted to hear "Amazing Grace" on the fiddle. So we had an "after concert" :) I played Amazing Grace as students gathered around, and then they asked for an Irish Jig. I don't think I have played the "Irish Washerwoman" since St. Patrick's Day my freshman year of high school. But it was revisited tonight!

The river next to the school is a popular white water rafting area. It was BEAUTIFUL. This is where we stopped to get gas on the way... just sayin...


YAY!!! I <3 WVU Tech!


The Jamaicans at WVU Tech


Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

I Miss Conan's Chuck Norris Lever

I posted the following status today on facebook and twitter:



Here's the comments so far!







Peace. Love. Fiddle.

Dalton Rockin'

I now have a new association with Dalton, GA other than carpets!!! :)

We played at Dalton State University and were supposed to be their first concert in front of their new bell tower, which is beautiful. But the dark clouds were hovering above, and with our luck lately, we all decided not to take any chances. We set up at the indoor location, which was pretty awesome, too!

I even had my own personal cheerleader in the front row! Diego!


CAB who booked us to play!

As always, there's tons more pictures up on facebook!

And I have already been sent an article from the school's newspaper about today's show!!! So COOL! (And timely :) )

DSC students enjoy Stovall's music during "Week of Welcome"

Rachel Brown

Natalie Stovall hadn’t been to Dalton before Thursday, but she drew a packed student center when she performed during lunch at Dalton State College.

The violinist-singer-songwriter from Nashville was invited as part of the “Week of Welcome” events the school’s Campus Activities Board organized for the first week of fall classes.

Stovall performed on the Grand Ole Opry as a member of the Opryland Kids Club when she was 12, graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and has performed on the Oprah Winfrey Show and at the White House for George W. Bush.

Stovall said she began playing violin at age 4, auditioned for and was accepted to the Opryland Kids Club when she was 10, and has been performing in various venues ever since. She said she used to “obsess over Michael Jackson” growing up and has always been drawn to the energy of live performances.

“I guess my goal now is to be on the Grand Ole Opry again but with one of my original songs,” she said.

The 27-year-old’s band members are drummer James Bavendam of Seattle, guitarist Miguel Cancino of Santiago, Chile, and bass guitar and vocalist Tim Denbo of Indianapolis. Stovall and her band perform at colleges, clubs, performing arts centers and military bases among other venues.

Charles McKay, a student event volunteer, said he was pleased with the turnout. Organizers first learned of Stovall at a recent convention of the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities in Atlanta, he said.

Amber Hollifield, a second-year history major from Dalton, compared Stovall to pop country star Miranda Lambert and said she believes Stovall has what it takes to make a big name for herself.

“I like this kind of music,” Hollifield said. “She’s really good.”

Sophomore drafting and design major Alex Mendez said he hadn’t made plans to attend the concert, but Stovall’s energetic music and good looks made him decide to stick around for an autograph after the show.

“I got a hug from her, she signed my CD, and I was real happy,” he said.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.

~natalie

Quantico Article About Our Show

I just saw this article online and had to share...

It's the first time anyone has ever said that I have "The charm of a southern belle with the grit of a trucker" Not sure how to feel about that trucker part, but you know... I AM pretty hardcore. ; )~

For the original:
Quantico Natalie Stovall Article

Or you can read it here:

Peace, Love, Fiddle

By: Cpl. Sean P. Cummins

MCB QUANTICO, Va. (July 26) -- A mob of concert goers pressed against the stage shouting lyrics and pumping their fists in time with the music during a free concert Sunday night.
Armed with the charm of southern belle and grit of a trucker, rising country songwriter and musician Natalie Stovall brought the crowd at Barnett Field to their feet.

‘‘She definitely gets the crowd going,” said Sgt. Mark E. Dean, 27, from Owasso, Okla. ‘‘She’s up there dancing, having a good time. She was awesome.”

Members of the Single Marine Program chose Stovall after attending a conference featuring numerous comedians, magicians and bands. Her ability to get the crowd on its feet set her apart from the rest, said Cpl. Hiram M. Hernandez, vice president of the Single Marine Program.

‘‘She’s a great entertainer. Not only was her music good, but she was also a real good entertainer over all. She got the crowd lively,” said Hernandez, 22, from Jacksonville, Fla. ‘‘[She’s the] cute, girl-next-door country girl and a good entertainer; that’s why we picked her.”

Stovall treated the crowd to a variety of songs from her first album, ‘‘Late Night Conversations” and her still-unreleased sophomore album. She and her band also put their own twist on a few classic songs such as ‘‘Pour Some Sugar on Me,” and one of her own self-declared favorites, ‘‘Devil Went Down to Georgia,” by The Charlie Daniel’s Band.

‘‘The military is always one of the best audiences. They’re so appreciative; it’s an honor for us to play for people who are doing so much for the country,” Stovall said.

Her outspoken appreciation for the Marine Corps raked in some hoots and hollers, but her penchant for mixing it up with the crowd may have earned her a couple of fans. Stovall joked with the crowd between shows and shared the microphone with Marines who knew the words to her songs.

‘‘My favorite part was when I sang with her, with my hand on the microphone with her hand,” said Pvt. Taylor J. Kihn, Miamisburg, Ohio. ‘‘I would go see her again today, tomorrow, yesterday, next week. It’s all good.”

Members of the Single Marine Program plan to continue bringing bigger acts to the Marines at Quantico in the upcoming year.

‘‘Our goal coming into this was to shoot for the stars and take it from there. This is one of the first big concerts we’ve done and it was a good turn out,” Hernandez said. ‘‘Hopefully, next year we can do an even bigger concert.”

Tim's USB Cable 'Stache.

My Boys!!

Tim and James jammin out with Anothony Orio at Tootsie's in PCB!



Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie