We Played a Metal Club Tonight: Scout Bar

We could not have played two more different venues in the last two nights.


Last night - an old KY barn... where Crystal Gayle and Clint Black play shows... dinner crowd... James played with hot rods... we played with our amps WAY down... had to adjust the set list to a more "low key" show.

Tonight?? We played a metal bar that has Hoobastank, Hinder, HUGE stage, lights, amps rattling, mohawks in the crowd.

I LOVE how we never know what we are walking into. I was a little concerned that I was a bit too "country" for this venue, but the club has been trying something different on Thursdays. They have a house band called Obsolete August that plays the first and third set... and they have a guest touring band (of all different styles) on the second set.

The crowd was SOOOOO great!!!! We had a really awesome show. So much fun to play and the crowd was really electric. They were so excited that I had 2 t-shirts stolen. As frustrating as that is... I guess if people wanted them THAT bad... that they swiped them right off my table while I went to the ladies room.. well... I just hope they WEAR them! Spread the Peace. Love. Fiddle!!!

Here's some of our new friends :)
I LOVE the Thumbs up guy!






The guy on the left is "Laser Rocket Chapman" He had me sign his cd that way. And he bought a t-shirt for his friend and he had me sign it: To: Laser Rocket Chapman's Friend




Obsolete August - They got me up to sing backgrounds on some Stevie Ray Vaughn and Radiohead.
 

By the way. We were 2 blocks away from NASA. CRAZY.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

The Chileans Are Coming!!!

Dorky fact about me right now:
We played the University of Akron in Ohio yesterday, and we played this same event last year for them. Last night I wore my event t-shirt from yesterday. Tonight I unintentionally am wearing the t-shirt from this event LAST year.

At our show yesterday, I learned that the flowers in my hair are NOT a good idea when bees are looming! Even though they are fake... they seemed to attract the buzzy little creatures :) I mean, they were hanging around everyone and buzzing around the stage quite a bit, but they definitely liked my hair region... Although.... that's quite a LARGE region... it is kind of hard to miss...

Last year we had to drive OVERNIGHT from a show in Chicago. So this year, the flight and a half of stairs to load up was not NEARLY as daunting as it had seemed last year! :)

However... the rain seemed to follow us yet again to an outdoor event. :( We had a covered stage, so the rain wasn't an issue for us per say, but the poor audience was just getting soaked. I had to call a song that Chris could sing, actually because my cds and t-shirts were getting drenched. I ran and grabbed everything and threw it under the tent for safe-keeping.

Mark and Janice are some of our good friends that have just been incredibly supportive over the years. YOU KNOW they are supportive when they sit under umbrellas for half your show just to watch you play! Thanks, Mark for selling that cd and t-shirt for me ;)


We had some of the most wonderful and inspiring group show up for this show. Viola, was one of them. It was her birthday, and I first saw her burst out from behind the line of students waiting for t-shirts. She was very excitedly running toward the stage because she heard music. It wouldn't have mattered who or what type of music was playing. She began to dance with the most beautiful smile on her face. And she didn't stop until her class had to leave! Happy Birthday Viola! I am so glad you and your friends had such a good time! (Thanks for the pic, Mark!)


Our awesome sound crew - Greg and Tony! They were our sound guys last year, too. :) And they quized me on what my name means. Whew. Good thing I knew! "Born on Christmas Day" (But I wasn't)


We've had a car-full of Chileans following us for a week now!!! Miguel's Dad, 2 of his brothers, and his Dad's wife are all visiting from Chile. And they are getting a FULL experience of life on the road! They came to the Rathskeller in Indy, then took a road trip to Chicago, came to our shows in PA and OH, and now they are headed to Nebraska for a wedding! Ella is going to be a flower girl this weekend :)


Love this life on the road. And happy to be home with my puppy for a few days. We have FIVE DAYS OFF!!! MOST in a LOOOONG time!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

HOORAH

The hotel we are staying in smells really musty. MMmmmmmm.

We are right outside our destination for this weekend - we alternate bases in MD, VA, MD, & VA!

Before we start playing again tomorrow, I better post some of my favorite pics from this last weekend! And I can't wait to get Mamma's pics from the audience perspective!

Halsey. Best model EVER for the pink tees. HOO RAH!

He was also responsible for much of the dancing, beach ball throwing and hand clapping during the show. He was the main instigator - I need him on the road with me to be my Hype-man. My very own Flava Flav :)

Don't worry - I would only sign the t-shirts! No defacing of government property!!!


There were over 200 soldiers rocking out at the front of the stage by the end of the show. It was incredible.


Postcard!


More of America's Finest.







Sunday was amazing, too. In true Gulfport Mississippi form - it was a big ole shrimp boil - complete with a watermelon eating contest. I wanted to get in on the fun... but the contest was RIGHT before show time. I don't think that would have been good for anyone involved.

Grace had to escort our butts around the whole time. We went to ihop after the show, and she even came BACK from her house to drive us back to our hotel on base. Thank goodness. The base was HUGE and we definitely would have gotten lost.


Here's some of the Seabees I met!

I love the expression of the guy on the right:







FRONT ROW!


Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

What a Whirlwind of a Week

Man. Texas was a blast. I am now home in Tennessee for a few hours. But this whole last week feels like a blur. We were working at such a fast pace and it never stopped! We got home tonight around 11 and leave tomorrow for PA :) It is so great to get to do laundry and sleep in our own beds for a night!

I can't believe how allergic to Texas I was this week! And that's coming from a Tennessee girl!!! (The Tennessean's understand to what I am referring) But almost as soon as we crossed the state line... my eyes started to clear up. Whew. Something in the water or the pollen did NOT like me there. And it makes me sad because I love Texas. It won't stop me from going back.... Probably the fact that we did 6 outdoor shows didn't help the whole "pollen" thing. But yeah, that was crazy.

You know something that is funny? We sold less merchandise (cd's t-shirts, posters, etc..) in all 7 shows than we sold at almost every single show the last few weeks. It's not something I am upset about - just an observation. As an artist - the cd's and t-shirts we sell are our lifeline. So naturally, it is something we pay attention to. The enthusiasm of the audiences weren't down a bit. And I signed just as many or more t-shirts, cups, and scraps of paper this week than I usually do. But not nearly as much was purchased. It's so intriguing how things like that can be drastically different from show to show. But that's the fun of it :) If it were easy, everyone would do it!

Time sure is flying. I can't believe we only have 2 weeks left on this tour. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were putting the Tour posters together and gearing up for Winter driving! Now we're all sunburnt and the suburban is back to full on AC mode.

It sure is fun to look at this tour poster and think about where all we've been and how far we've traveled together!


Hope everyone is having a happy Monday! See you somewhere on the road.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie