Happy Merry December

So much happening for the holidays!

Save The Dates:  Much touring and shows happening the next few months. CALENDAR   Save the date for January 23 at Pappy & Harriets for my 2nd Annual 21st Birthday Party.  For Valentine's Day weekend, I'll be rockin' Havasu with Cash'd Out at the Rockabilly Reunion festival.

Vinyl fans : I've got 7" singles of "Kiss You Goodnight" ; pick one up at a show!  They are limited edition, recorded at Lost Ark Studios and include Alex Woodard's "Never Let You Go" on the flipside. (I'm singing backup vocals on it too)

Holiday bundle : Get both of my albums, award-nominated Beyond The Lights, acoustic Serenade, and a keychain, all gift wrapped and mailed for only $25 + shipping. Until Jan 2.

Shows of note: All of these shows are at my hometown (and favorite) stage at Belly Up Tavern ...hope to see you at one or all of these shows!
Dec 14 - For The Sender : Turning Your Letters into Songs. Our first show since 2011 that will include our entire For The Sender family: Alex Woodard, Sean & Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Molly Jenson, Jordan Pundik (New Found Glory), Nena Anderson, Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Jack Tempchin (Peaceful Easy Feeling), and Graham Nancarrow. Expect a one-of-a-kind music & multimedia experience, and maybe a few Christmas songs. This is a seated show and it will sell out, so get your tickets now.
Dec 17 - Brawley : A night of original honky-tonk!  We're on first at 7pm for all of you early-birds, happy hour drinkers and two-steppers. Stay later for Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and Nancarrow. I might have to make up a batch of whiskey cakes for this one...
Dec 26 - Cash'd Out : Our annual Christmas show DEC 26 at Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach CA) with special guest Rosie Flores!  AND Dead Rock West will be warming things up with originals and their gorgeous renditions of Everly Brothers songs, so get there early. This show always sells out, so sign yourself up for advanced tix at BellyUp.com.

And as always, I'll be at Ace Hotel, Palm Springs every second Friday of the month, and Solace, Encinitas, every first Sunday.  I am so grateful to all of you for making it possible for me to do what I love...play and write and sing. Looking forward to sharing more new music with you in 2015!

xo N

Dec 4 - Acoustic Alliance Show

Join me this week Thurs Dec 4 at The Acoustic Alliance 10 Year Anniversary Show.

Here's a clip from 5 years ago... I was just beginning to play solo with my guitar. Acoustic Alliance was an inspiring experience back then and I'm excited to be part of The Acoustic Alliance 10 Year Anniversary Show, this Thursday, December 4 at Brick By Brick!

(Hit me up for tix/ guest list)

my song starts at about 0:35 seconds in ... 

November Cash'd Out Dates

November dates w/ Cash'd Out :

11/8 - Ramona CA - Cheers of Ramona
11/14 - Las Vegas NV - Beauty Bar Las Vegas
11/15 - Tempe AZ - Marquee Theatre
11/26 - San Diego CA - Casbah San Diego
11/28 - Hermosa Beach CA - Saint Rocke

Show: Fri Oct 24 | San Diego

Fresh from touring with Cash'd Out, I've got a new song I finished about life on the road that I will debut this Friday at Java Joe's.

Frank Lee Drennen ( of Loam / Hatchet Brothers / Dead Rock West ) is an incredible songwriter and singer. His set of original songs will leave you wanting more!

If you haven't been to one of these shows at Java's...you don't know what you're missing! It's a small, intimate venue. Casual, all ages, and friendly. It's a rare occasion where you can really get a good listen and interact with the artists, all for a few measly bucks. AND : you never know what kind of magic might happen at Java Joe's, and it usually does! Special guests often pop...

Oct 2 - Nena Anderson at Pappy & Harriets

Two San Diego Music Award Nominations

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

I'm honored to have been nominated again for San Diego Music Awards!  If you are so inclined, please vote for me in the American catagory, as well as in the Cover Band catagory (Cash'd Out).
VOTE HERE 

The San Diego Music Awards show and Foundation directly benefit local school arts and provides them with guitars and other resources. If you would like to attend the awards show at Humphrey's By The Bay, purchase tickets HERE.

Java Joe's July 25 w/ Frank Lee Drennen

Looking for an intimate show where you can really hear the music and interact with the musicians?  Join us Friday JULY 25 at Java Joe's.  Starting at 8pm with a set by Frank Lee Drennen, the night will continue with a set by me and special guests. I might even make happy cakes...

"Java Joe loves music and he loves people and he has an enviable track record of successfully, memorably bringing the two together." ~ SD Troubadour (read the article here)

Hope to see you there!

FREE show June 28, Leucadia CA

Nena Anderson + The Mules will be rockin' the Leucadia Roadside Park 

(intersection of Coast Hwy 101 & Leucadia Blvd)

SAT JUNE 28 @3pm

 

FREE SHOW.   w/ Jack Tempchin & The Mattson2

more info at Summer Fun on the 101

A special For The Sender show July 18

 

Our last For The Sender show was such a huge success, we are performing again at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla CA on July 18.  This concert will sell out!  Get advanced tickets here: http://tinyurl.com/ftsmcasd

I Imagine Now For Ages

It

Happened 

Again last

Night:

Love

Popped the cork on itself --

Splattered my brains

Across the

Sky.

I imagine now for ages

Something of Hafiz

Will appear

To fall like

Stars.

~ Hafiz

"I Imagine Now For Ages"

I woke up this morning feeling like it was all a dream.  Love was in the air, in the room, in the music, in the words. Last night was our first For The Sender show in nearly a year.

To commemorate the release of Alex Woodard's second book of the book/album/concert series, For The Sender: Love is (Not a Feeling), we performed a ninety minute set of songs accompanied by readings of letters by the senders and stories of the artists. Lending their talents in voice and instrumentation were: Alex Woodard, Jordan Pundik, Molly Jenson, Jack Tempchin, Graham Nancarrow, Dean Cote, Keith Scott, Andy Powers, Patrick McClory, Brian Young, and myself.   

(For The Sender books are based on the writing of Alex Woodard...and a project that evolved over several "family dinners" in which he asked a few songwriter friends to collaborate with him in writing songs about letters that fans had written to him. The letters are all stories of overcoming tragedy, hope, or uplifting in helping others. The songs do the same.)

(L to R) Keith, Jack, Me, Jordan & Graham.  Photo by Susie Nancarrow

Working with such talented artists is a joy! With minimal rehearsal, yet the utmost professionalism and talent, this group assembled for what would be an unforgettable night punctuated by touching "thank yous" and piercing guitar leads. But why was it like a dream? Unlike any project I've ever been involved in, For The Sender truly connects people.  It ties us through sharing our life stories and bonds us through emotion only conveyed through music.  

I imagine now, that I will (for ages) be always striving to achieve that same connection every time I grace the stage, every time I pick up my guitar, every time I write a verse. That's Love.

My personal highlights from the show:  

• "THIS BAND ROCKS!!!" shouted joyously by Jack Tempchin during the final few bars of our encore song (his "Already Gone") .... or maybe he said "KILLER BAND!!" ...you get the idea
• A poignant reading by Dan, of his letter to his friend who lost his life to ALS, followed by an energetic version of "Breathe The Sky" by Jordan and Molly, voices soaring
• Alex Woodard zig-zagging across the stage like a pinball, tripping everyone up on stage with his guitar cable, while excitedly directing solos, laughing, singing, and playing guitar during Graham's song "We Aint Got The Time"
• Singing Jack's beautiful song, "Act of God" with him
• Smiling and laughing and singing until my face hurt with Molly, Jordan and Graham

Cash'd Out at Denver's Bluebird Theater

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"Tonight we're in #KansasCityMO @knuckleheads Nice photo by one of our fans from our show in Denver. @cashdoutband #cashdout #johnnycash #tribute #johnnyandjune"

Bluebird Marquee

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"I'll be singing tonight with @CashdOutBand here at The Bluebird. Beautiful theater... #denver #aeg"

New Merch! Keychains

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"New #NenaAnderson band merch! Pick one up this weekend at #RockabillyReunion2014 or next week online. #remembertobreathe #keytomyheart #makeyourluck #keyring #key #gettinfuity #retro #rockabilly #midcentury #modern"

Be My Valentine

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"Be My #Valentine -- Fri Feb 14 @AceHotel #PalmSprings -- show 8-midnight in the #AmigoRoom "

Upcoming Tour Dates with Cash'd Out, Award-winning Johnny Cash Tribute Band

Nena & Doug Benson at Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach CA.  Photo by Dennis Anderson

I'm joining Cash'd Out again for 2 tours this February 2014 in celebration of Johnny Cash's birthday! Come on out and see me sing all your Johnny & June favorite duets, as well as a few June Carter tunes.

Feb 15-16    Rockabilly Reunion  Havasu City AZ
Feb 21         State Room              Salt Lake City UT
Feb 22         Bluebird Theatre      Denver CO
Feb 24         Knuckleheads          Kansas City MO
Feb 26         River City Casino     St. Louis MO
Feb 28         Hotel Congress        Tucson AZ
Mar  1          Belly Up Tavern        Solana Beach CA

I'll have new merch on these dates too!

Rocking the Gretsch Black Phoenix

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"We had a great show last night with The Blasters...so much fun! Photo #regram by @otisserie #gretsch @gretschusa"

Upcoming show with The Blasters!

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"I'm playing with The Blasters this Thursday night JAN 30 at @sodabarsd #americanmusic #punk #rockabilly #rootsrock " 

killer strat illustration by Ellis Anderson