Jan 9 w/ Gregg Allman

go here for details : 

https://www.facebook.com/events/261090280684251/?ref=ts&fref=ts

My song "Kiss You Goodnight" is a finalist on Yobi.tv -- Check it out, comment, repost, and/or vote!

Today's Inspiration

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"Today's inspiration #stuffonmywall #rockphotography #b/w"
(taken at Dungbeetle HQ)

Cd Gift Package

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"Give a Nena Anderson CD! Signed with bonus decal in a handmade felt package. $15. Pick one up tonight at @sodabarsd"

Happy Halloween!

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Keep smiling!

NBC San Diego interviews Nena Anderson

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

Nena Anderson + The Mules at Casbah, San Diego

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"Bang Bang "

Live at The Casbah, Oct 12, 2012

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"Me + The Mules rockin' @casbahsandiego last night! 

 @patrickmcclory @gretsch @gretschusa"

September News

 Great venues at a great price this month + next...
check my tour calendar for dates!

Did you know Adams Avenue Street Fair
is one of the largest FREE music street fairs in California?
Over 90 live music acts on 7 stages,4 beer gardens,
rides and 300 craft & food vendors.
Catch Nena Anderson + The Mules
at "Rosie's Roots Rock Stage"
at 34th & Adams  @ 2:45pm
Special Mules lineup for this show with
Adrian Demain on guitar and Nucci on drums!

Other news...
For The Sender was officially released
this week via Hay House Publishers!
I'm so proud to be a contributing songwriter and
vocalist for this incredible book, cd and concert series
by my friend, Alex Woodard. The project includes collaborations
by San Diego songwriter Molly Jenson,
Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin,
New Found Glory vocalist Jordan Pundik,
Nickel Creek's Sara & Sean Watkins,
and Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman.
The cd of songs is only available with the book
...get it at your favorite bookseller.

**TIP: The digital book version includes
interactive bonus material, like videos, voiceovers of the letters
and the songs for listening while you read each part of the story.***

Greg Willis Benefit at Humphrey's Tonight

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"I'm on at 5:50pm tonight. 

Come, help Greg, 

listen to great music, 

win a MerchMover case!" 

 Full schedule and info at:

http://www.facebook.com/events/339950312745782/?ref=ts

Harmony & Gretsch

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"Come see me play these tonight 

@thegriffinsd 9pm sharp!

#gretsch #harmony #guitar" 

Farm Serenades

This week I have two shows at Flora Farms in San Jose Del Cabo, Baja California Mexico.  

It's a beautiful organic farm, restaurant & bar with amazing gardens, casitas and even an art gallery.  

I get to sing on a little stage under the stars, overlooking it all. I can't wait!

Songs From The Space

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"At #SongsFromTheSpace with my sparkly Phoenix

by @gretschUSA   - pic by Dennis Andersen "
(taken at 3rdSpace)

KPBS-FM Interviews Nena Anderson

Via KPBS.org site: "KPBS Midday Edition speaks with Nena Anderson about her creative process, her first record and the challenges of being a musician today. 

Whether she's playing solo shows or fronting her band, The Mules, Anderson is known around town for her lush, bluesy country-and-jazz-tinged vocals (think Neko Case meets Billie Holiday) and commanding stage presence. Last fall, Anderson released her debut record, "Beyond The Lights," which showcases her infectious blend of the blues, jazz, country and Americana. It's thoroughly modern music with lots of vintage charm."

Thanks to Host, Maureen Cavanaugh and Production Asst. extraordinaire, Claire Caraska for a great interview! 

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE or read the transcript

 TAKE A LISTEN TO "KISS YOU GOODNIGHT"  

a new single by Nena Anderson, brought to you by Kalinda Record Co. & The Lost Ark Studio.

This is the 2nd single to be produced by Lost Ark and Mike Butler, which will be compiled and released later this year along with some of San Diego's most talented bands.

Honky-tonk Heaven

Nena Anderson & Jim Austin w/Brawley 4/21/12 at Griffin San Diego. photo by O

There are some things that just make me smile. 

A few years ago my friend, bassist Jim Austin, put together a band. 

The formula was...good friends and good music = a good time!

So Jim, drummer John Kuhlken, pedal steel player David Berzansky,

guitarist Adrian Demain and I all got together to play music dear to our hearts:

honky-tonk!  Party music, sweet shuffles and swingin' two-steps 

by our favorite artists. Faron Young, George Jones, Buck Owens, 

Charlie Rich, Don Gibson, Patsy Cline, etc. etc. etc. Within a few rehearsals

we had added original tunes by Adrian and myself as well,

and within a year, we had an award nominated country band, Brawley.

(Named after the California "cattle call" rodeo town just east of San Diego.)

Five friends laughing, playing, enjoying the music, audience and each other.

Every show is about that.

Last May, in an unforeseen tragedy, we lost our drummer John.

We lost not only a bandmate, but more importantly, a good friend.

 Since then Brawley has played only a few shows. It's not difficult to find a drummer.

It is difficult to feel like you're replacing a friend...who can never be 'replaced.'

Last Saturday Brawley played our first show in many months.

Our friend Dale Daniel from Los Angeles joined us on drums.

While stumbling through a few tunes, the laughter and friendships

and unbelievable musicianship of the band made me feel sure John was with us

that night, having a beer and laughing with us from the heavens. 

Brawley rocked the set just as we always have...

What a great night! Maybe a little too many whiskeys, but a few turns

on the dance floor to the music of Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons

and such a fun night of making music with friends...

well, it's honky-tonk heaven.

Promises & Daggers Featured in Americana Rock Mix

Go HERE to download and listen to this week's Episode 137 of Americana Rock Mix.

This week's mix includes my songs Daggers and Promises. (towards the end of the show)  I'm thrilled to have a couple of songs in this killer mix that also features artists Jack White, Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers and more!

James Harman & Girl Group Harmonies

I spent a few hours this week singing backups in Nathan James' cozy Sacred Cat Studio for my friend, the amazing, talented, hilarious Mr. James Harman.  Get yourself ready for some rockin' witty blues tunes as only James can write and deliver! Backed by fantastic girl group harmonies by Candye Kane, Whitney Shay and myself...James' next record is going to blow your mind. Amazing that we managed to lay it all down with so many stories and laughter during the session. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by such talented folks!

Nathan took this photo while James was telling us about how he always compliments women on their shoes...he's a charmer that one...

Happy Cakes from Nena's Cocina

Did you know I have a food blog?  

Recipes, reviews, random postings...

check out my latest post: Happy Cakes!  

These are the whiskey cupcakes we had at

Bar Pink Mar 29 for Mike Butler's birthday.

Yum...

http://nenascocina.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-cakes.html

April 22 - Adams Ave Unplugged

Join me

Sunday April 22 at Adams Ave Unplugged

(formerly the Adams Ave. Roots Fest)

I'll be performing solo from 

noon to 2pm on the Demille's Stage

at 35th and Adams Ave.

along with Jeff Berkley and Tomcat Courtney.

Festival time has started! 

Get yourself ready...

rumors goin' round that Me + The Mules

will be rockin' Gator by The Bay

AND Fiesta Del Sol this spring!

Casbah show with Anya Marina 2/22

Kiss You Goodnight

A new song is born at Lost Ark Studio in San Diego... "Kiss You Goodnight" will appear on a compilation album being produced by the studio. I can't wait to share it with you!

Here's T-bone & Turtle laying down the rhythm tracks

SD Troubadour Reviews "Beyond The Lights"

March 2012 

 

NENA ANDERSON: Beyond the Lights

By Frank Kocher 

 

 

 

Nena Anderson has been part of San Diego’s music scene since the early 1990s, singing in blues bands, jazz combos, rock and country bands – a partial list includes Brawley, 47Combo, Billy Watson, Blue Largo, and her own band the Mules. Anderson has been the rare Americana singer/songwriter with the versatility to sing on award-nominated local jazz projects with local performers like Johnny Viau and Gilbert Castellanos, while also doing shows singing June Carter’s parts with the Johnny Cash tribute band Cash’d Out.
Beyond the Lights is her debut solo CD, and her ten originals draw from this depth of styles and experience while highlighting a warm, bright voice capable of digging deep and bouncing high. Anderson is backed on the disc by Mule members, including guitarist Mike Butler, who produced and did the sharp work on the boards to create an ace alt-country/pop shimmer on tune after tune. He also takes a lot of solos, but is good enough that these add to rather than distract from the songs.
Anderson starts with “I Fall In Love Too Fast,” locking in her easy vocal authority on a slick pop melody, a good song that sets high expectations for what is to follow. “Daggers” doesn’t disappoint. A bluesy gloom drives the standout cut as Anderson sings a soaring tale about the betraying lover who has driven her away with his evil stare, with a killer lap steel solo by Butler adding a crowning touch. Slowing things down, “Sink or Swim” stays with minor chords and heartbreak. “I smile to keep from crying/Lest I drown in my own tears,” a catchy mid-tempo country tune with haunting pedal steel by David Berzansky (Hacienda Brothers).
The message on “Roses and Kisses” is clear, “They can’t take the place/Of a love that’s gone again.” Anderson is again right in the pocket on a brisk honkey-tonk rocker, and another Butler solo break catches the ear. There is a lot of blues guitar bottom for “Promises” and Anderson’s days belting out jazz and hard blues help her match the band’s intensity; the result is a disc highlight. “One More” is one of those tunes that comes close to being filler, except for an undeniable hook that lifts it.
There are several country ballads on the album, the best being “Hush,” a mother’s lullaby to her child about life and regrets. It is simple, catchy, and lays its story out in three minutes of layered guitars. The title tune wraps the disc, a blues song that has all the smoke and soul of a live performance. Anderson is telling the listener that all she cares about is immersing herself in her music, escaping her life and responsibilities to one that doesn’t extend past the “first few rows.” It’s another winner.
Beyond the Lights gives the listener a rich glimpse of Nena Anderson, songwriter and singer. It’s good, solid Americana music, no clunkers, and a satisfying look at someone who has been on the scene for so long.

Pappy & Harriet's Show with Candye Kane

Whew...from "For The Sender" Thursday night to NAMM on Friday. A rockin' show at Pappy and Harriets Saturday to bloody mary's and good friends on Sunday. What a memorable birthday weekend!

Me + The Mules playing to a full house!

Candye Kane and band finished the night out with amazing guitar work by Laura Chavez...the perfect compliment to Candye's lush, powerful vocals. "The Toughest Girl Alive" is fighting cancer again, and it is a joy to watch her do what she loves...perform. We laughed and sang and had a wonderful time!

Me and Candye singin' Buck Owens

Laura Chavez schralping!

NAMM 2012

Fun at NAMM 2012, Anaheim in the Fender booth. Lynda Kay and I posed here for a photo with these gorgeous custom green Telecasters. Photo by O.

"Beyond The Lights" : Best Album of 2011

I'm honored and grateful to be included in this list of the Top 5 records of 2011 (by SD RockNRoll) alongside Roy Ruiz Clayton, Blackout Party, Low Volts and  Little Hurricane. Here is an excerpt of the article. You can read the whole thing HERE

"Beyond The Lights by Nena Anderson -- A complete, well-rounded ear full of Americana music that features the sultry, understated vocals and songwriting ability of Nena Anderson. Anderson uses her soulful approach to pull you into her world of lost love laments with delightful ease. The songs are so well crafted, and with the help of her solid backing band, make up a gorgeous collection of material. It’s a record that I seem to keep going back to over the course of last year and I am sure, because of its depth and staying power, I will be spinning it for years to come."

It's no mystery that my guitarist, Mike Butler, also produced and engineered three of the albums on this list as well. Top notch!