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

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

Toronto with For The Sender

view full image

"@AlexWoodard & I signing @ForTheSender books at I Can Do It! Toronto #icditor13 #4sender @hayhouseinc "
(taken at Roy Thomson Hall)

Vancouver BC ~ APR 21

Looking forward to this show in Vancouver BC. 

That same day we will also present For The Sender 

at Hay House's "I Can Do It!" conference.

Buy Tickets Here: http://naaw-vancouver.eventbrite.com

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.***

Written For The Sender

For as long as I can remember I've written notes and letters to express my feelings...anger, worry, sadness, hope, and love. And for nearly as long, I have stashed them away in books, boxes, drawers and journals. Rarely did one of those letters ever get sent to whom it was written for. They were written for me. Written to let go. Written to accept. Written to process the emotions of the moment. Writing that would eventually evolve into my craft as a songwriter...without even knowing it.
Letters written (sent or not) became the spark for a roaring fire that has become For The Sender, a project created by singer-songwriter, Alex Woodard. It consists of a book, a twelve song album and a concert event, all benefiting several charities. Tuesday, this two-year project was released to the public (website form only) to promote the concert to be held January 19, 2012. Plans for the book/album release are for Spring 2012.
Almost exactly two years ago I met Alex Woodard: singer-songwriter and neighbor. I had reached out to him to pick his brain about music business and more importantly songwriting. I had never considered myself a songwriter and in working on my debut album, I was hungry for skills, advice and inspiration. Over that first cup of coffee he challenged me to write a song.
Alex had been receiving letters from fans telling him about their life stories, tragedies and hopes. Their stories inspired him...not only to write...but to help them. He had a plan to take several of these letters and collaborate with local musician friends to write songs about them. He hoped that we could then play and record the songs for each letter author as a gift. Within the week, Alex had forwarded me one of those letters.
Over the two years that followed, Alex wrote a book about his story, his own letter, and how the For The Sender project became a part of it. The songs (and especially playing them for the authors) are as touching as the letters, capturing the incredible emotions and stories...moments never to be forgotten.
Alex Woodard and I co-wrote "Hush" for Katelyn, widow of a police officer, fallen in the line of duty, who had written Alex her story in a letter. At the time she had a newborn baby...Wyatt...now three years old. The letter is about loss, hope and love. So is the song. read it here
I can't express how honored I am to be a part of this project...everyone involved is incredibly talented, generous, genuine and open...from the musicians to the authors of each letter. I have truly experienced how music can heal and touch people and how powerful our gifts are as musicians. Watch the videos, read the letters, listen to the music clips and become a part of it. We're all wearing our hearts on our sleeves.
For concert tickets and to watch the videos, go to: ForTheSender.com
Join For The Sender on Facebook and follow on Twitter
For The Sender features the voices of Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Sara & Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), Jack Tempchin, Molly Jenson, Jordon Pundik (New Found Glory), Nena Anderson and Alex Woodard.