A year of processing I have undergone, through music and writing, relationships and connecting my own dots from childhood to this place called now. Old beliefs patterns that are unserviceable I have been identifying for myself to inevitably experience freedom. Freedom from the automatic processing, automatic reactions. I want to live NOW, fully in the passionate moment. So many seconds tic away as we go from one thing to the next.
I wish to be mindful, yes of others, but now, after so long, of myself. It’s a different place for me to ever come from. I thank my “teachers” along the way! They have taught me through the agony of their hard lessons how to care for myself. And isn’t that all we really need to do?
Paying attention to the “Little Voice” inside and asking what you or perhaps your “little girl/boy” needs. That phrase has been made so cliche but it holds true. What did that child not get and how are you displaying your life to try to fill that void? Something to ponder as I sit…finally, still. As I sit looking out over the water from a long memory of yesterday. How many lives have I lived?
I share this not for you to creep into my head, nor my psyche. There have been too many that have done that in the past wanting to gain from me what they couldn’t get from themselves. I share this, because I am strong enough to share it.
The music starts from these thoughts and aren’t we all alike? We all have our work to do. I am unafraid to do mine, even though it sets my body in a fever. The veil of fear comes away and I stand clearly, regardless of the outcome.
How many ledges I have fallen from? How many times I have thrown my heart into the flames or have been tumbled from a disillusion? Countless it seems, but what hasn’t broken me, does make me stronger, and the things that have had made me learn how to heal over.

Well,  happy Friday!  It’s been a little while since I’ve written and life rolls along rather quickly.  The sun is starting to shower us with more day light and getting up earlier has been a bit easier.

For those of you that want to know the skinny (shows) and move on, we are playing at:

The Piper Pub 3/9 -8:30-11:30 right downtown Boise

Season’s Bistro 3/10  @   7-9:30  in Eagle

The Lock Stock and Barrel 3/15   @  7-10

The Sockeye Brewery w/ Roxx 3/16   @   7:30-10

Brundage Mtn. Resort 3/17 @ 2:30-4:30

For the rest of you, let me tell you what’s been happening.

First I mentioned that there will be a CD release party on April 28th for  Jenn Snyder’s rocking new CD @ Shorty’s Saloon! (The date is changed from the previous time I had announced this).  I am honored to be playing electric lead guitar on this record and also proud of the production process.  She’s a little gal with a huge voice,  absolutely amazing!  You don’t want to miss this show,  it’s going to be a honky tonk high energy night!  So git cher boots on!!!

Gary and Cindy Braun will open the show @ 8:00

Rochelle Smith will be on bass, mando and vocals , Travis Hardy on drums  (who played with  Reckless Kelly), I will play lead guitar and other random parts and the lovely Jenn Snyder will work her magic on the mic and acoustic guitar.

Shorty’s is right across from the fair grounds in Garden City.  Unfortunately no minors are accepted and smoking is permissible.  There will be a $2 cover which is a steal of a deal for the entertainment you will witness!

We are planning our summer schedule.  An East Coast tour is on the agenda this year, as well as a trip through Montana, and a  possible tour to Indiana.   I will be heading down to L.A. next month to attend an ASCAP writers show case and learn more about marketing  songs and hopefully making some great connections.

While I’m down there,  I’m stopping in on my great friend Ellen Degeneres.   Well…it may be a one sided friendship, but I enjoy it!  :-)  Yes,  I scored tickets to see her show and I will let you know when it airs.  I’m very excited about this!

I had the pleasure of laying down some tracks in my home studio and playing 3 songs I knew my father would know.  While he was here I asked him to sing on those songs.  He will be 81 next month and to hear his voice on these songs is such an endearing experience.  I’m thrilled and proud of him that he stepped up to do it and was willing to push through this emotional experience.  Thanks Dad!

I’ve been doing a lot of free writing.  I have written some new songs and one in particular called, “Oh Idaho”.  I would like to record this song within the next few days at home and put it on you tube.  I will keep you posted on the progress of this assignment  and I  welcome anyone to use this song to encourage non-violence and the strengthening of our civil rights.

We do  hope to see you soon and that you are enjoying the “whisper” of Spring on the horizon!  If you need to know where any venue is or more information, feel free to click on the website link: www.blazeandkelly.com

Peace!

Niccole & Mo

I will be behind bars in the Old Penitentiary from 6-7pm on Friday night to  help Idaho State Historical Society’s MAKE HUNGER HISTORY!!!  See details below*** here’s our schedule for the week also!  Hope to see you soon!!!

Thurs. 1/12  The Lock, Stock and Barrel right in  Boise from 7-10pm

Friday 1/13  The Old Penitentiary from 6-7***  THEN the Piper Pub in Boise from 8:30-11:30pm

Sat. 1/14  The Buzz Cafe off of State Stree from 7-9pm

Sun 15  Crusty’s Pizza in Mc Call from 7-10pm 

***
The Idaho Foodbank sees a dramatic drop in food donations in the month of January. So all month long in January the Old Idaho Penitentiary and Idaho Historical Museum provide half priced admission to any visitor who brings two canned food or non-perishable food items for the Foodbank.
As part of MAKE HUNGER HISTORY, on Friday January 13th from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the ISHS support organization The Friends of the Historical Museum will present the first ever “Escaping Hunger Celebrity Lock Up”; a free community event held at the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Special drawings, tours, prizes and giveaways will occur all day long. While there is no charge to attend, food and monetary donations are encouraged! All proceeds will be divided between the Idaho Foodbank and a scholarship fund for Idaho school field trips. Local celebrities will be locked up from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Their goal will be to get the most food and monetary donations. The winning celebrity will be presented with the “Warden’s Cup” and bragging rights for the year!

Please come down and make a donation and explore the historical place we have here in Boise, I’m sure a few prison songs will be flying between Bill Coffee and I, and some other greats in the community!

Let’s put an end to hunger…come bail me out!  Hope to see you soon!

Niccole & Mo

Whatever your personal preference our show, “will go on”!  :-)  (Boy am I just using as many cliché’s in this one or what?)  Yes, it is the winter time now and we are huddled up not playing as much.  A pretty typical and very needed little break, but what that means is…the shows we DO have are fresh and fun!  So, if you get the chance, come down to:

The Lock Stock and Barrel, Thurs. 12/29 from 7-10pm.  Great atmosphere, good food, full bar, and  the music that night is suppose to be awesome! (Did that confuse some of you?)

The Wood River Cellars, Fri. 12/30 from 7-10.  I could say the same as above, yet…no full bar, however some fine wines and brews.  This is a very relaxed atmosphere and the management is new (again) so, we hope to make a good impression…we’ll see.  Life is a continuation of starting over again isn’t it?

We won’t be playing again until the 13th @ the Piper Pub so if you can…come to a show and we’ll sing you a song!  I hope this finds you with your glass more than half full!  Thanks for supporting live music and we hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Cheers!

Niccole & Mo

Wow, the year is coming to a close and it was my goal to get something on video this year…ha!  Am I just making it or what?  I always was that student who put off the report until the night before and pulled and all nighter and mama always told me  ”a leopard doesn’t change their spots”.  True true!  I am happy to say while we were on the East Coast a  listener set her PHONE…that’s right…her PHONE up to catch a video.

Infact, she filmed many songs that night, which we will post later but I wanted to start with this one and let you all know where you can see it for free and enjoy a little bit of the magical sound of the Penn Square in Lancaster P.A.  This place had to be one of the most all time favorite places we’ve ever played as far as sound was concerned.  It was just us, with our little Bose sound system and a couple of the the establishments speakers that we rigged up.  I can’t believe how GREAT the sound was as it bounced off the high ceilings between the beautiful chandaleres.  The brick on some of the side walls gave the show a natural reverb for all you tech folks.  It’s a stripped down performance that sounded like we were in a very elite studio.  We loved it!

All captured on a phone.  I’m amazed at technology these days.  Incredible!

Feel free to “like” it or leave a comment.  We’d appreciate.

We’ve got some inquiry about playing house concerts on the West and East Coast.  If you live in the Bay area of Cali.  or on the East Coast between New Jersey and New Hampshire, and are interested in hosting a house concert let us know.  You can drop us a line  through our contact page on the web site.   We’ve been asked back to both coasts and we may be planning a tour mid spring to the West Coast (SF area) and the East Coast (NJ, PA, NY, MA, NH) in Oct. again.  Nothing is in stone yet, but if you think you could bring 30-60 folks into your living room (back yard, garage, front porch) for a private concert, let us know.

On the home front here in Boise, our Brundage gig in McCall was cancelled due to NO SNOW (booo!)  But we will be playing

Friday 12/16 @ the Piper from 8:30-11:30pm  w/ special guest Meghan Waters on Cajon (a box-like drum)  Yaaay!

Friday 12/30 @ Wood River Cellars 7-10pm   Yaaay!

So if you are in the area, swing on by!  And if you are somewhere in between (the EAST and WEST)  we really do want to get to you too.  Feel free to let us know if there are special events, festivals, concert series in your area you think we’d fit and we will research those ideas and make plans accordingly.  The one thing I have learned this year is that it takes a “village” to get your music out there and play in new areas…so pass us along and know we are in gratitude.

As the year switches calendars I would like to thank each and every one of you for making 2011 another successful musical year!  A year that will be imprinted in my memory for many reasons!  Let’s enjoy this new year coming too!  My goal…44 NEW songs…original or cover this next year! I have 2 down 42 to go ha!  So hopefully I won’t be looking at 2012′s end of the year with 40 to still do!  HA~!!!!!

Hope to see you soon!  Enjoy the video!

Happy Holidays!

Niccole & Mo

Wow!  We are back from our tour on the East Coast! And we are playing:

Thurs. 10/27/11 @ The Lock Stock and Barrel 7-10pm   (come down if you are in the Boise area and celebrate another trip around the sun with me…my birthday was on the 26th

Fri. 11/4/11 @ Piper Pub 8:30-11:30 pm.

And the BIG NEWS is:

We are opening for Toni Childs for 3 Idaho concerts Nov. 10,11 & 13th!

Holy cow I’m soooo excited!

First let me just say…I have been manifesting an experience like this for a long long time.  We’ve been working hard and thanks to some beautiful listeners, they’ve noticed and made recommendations!  Shelly Wisniewski thank you so much for recommending us and Amy Harris thank you for trusting Shelly and believing that the universe unfolds as it should!

You people have to know, musicians like myself go NO WHERE WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU!  Seriously!  The whole ball got rolling on the East Coast because of one lady, and that was Ann Zeiser!  Without her we would still be dreaming of going to the East coast.  She made it happen!  Her tenacity and belief that we needed to be heard on that side of the country is what got us there!  So that is how IMPORTANT  you ALL are!  Our success is YOUR success! So to those of you who are unstoppable in your love to see us get places thank you, thank you, thank you!  Thank you for listening, thank you for telling friends, radio stations and venues, and thanks for believing in us! When I was a teacher, I remember I had a quote board and one day I wrote, “If you don’t think small things make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito  in the room”.  Telling friends about our music matters!  Sending us e-mails with referrals and telling venues about us,  gets us places!   And Lord knows, the world needs good music and a lift right now!

Here’s the concert info. (all of this you can also find on line @ www.blazeandkelly.com/ )

Thurs. Nov. 10th @ The Jensen Grand Concert Hall in Pocatello ID, doors open @ 7pm : Admission: $28 / $20 students. Box office: 208-282-3595. Address: Idaho State Univ. L.E., 1002 Sam Nixon Ave.  Tickets available on line or at the door. Sponsored by Beta Alpha Psi, Special Guests – Steelhead Redd and Blaze and Kelly! We are absolutely delighted to merge our music with someone as amazing as Toni Childs. We hope you can make this special show in this spectacular new Concert Hall! Seriously, click on that link of the concert hall!  It’s amazing!

Friday, Nov. 11th @ Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood  in Sun Valley, doors open @ 7pm: Admission: $25-100.00.  Address: 100 Saddle Road. Foyer tickets $25, Gen Admin $40, & $100 VIP. A VIP Ticket buys you a front row seat, and access to a special after concert event at Chapter One Bookstore. Tickets available for purchase via phone or in person at: Chapter One Bookstore – Ketchum 208-726-5425 hours of 10am to 5pm.

Sat., Nov. 13th @ The Special Events Center at Boise State University, doors open @ 8pm: Admission: Rows A & B $65 Front two rows, R. Box office: 208-426-1494. Address: 1880 W. University Dr.. Venue phone:208-426-1494. Tickets: Reserved Seating Rows A & B $65 Front two rows, Rows C & D $50, All other rows $35 To purchase Calling 208-426-1494, On-line HYPERLINK “http://www.idahotickets.com” www.idahotickets.com And Eight selected Albertsons Grocery Stores ***We are delighted to be able to join Toni Childs during her time in Idaho. This will be our “home town” gig with her, so we’d love for you all to come celebrate with us!

Let’s talk about Toni Childs:

First of all…her latest EP is “A beautiful life”….hmm?  Does that sound familiar? ( We didn’t PLAN that folks!) this EP includes snippets of the larger collection to be release entitled “Citizens of the Planet”.  I’ve been listening to Toni since the  early 90′s.  I fell in love with her voice from her “Union” CD.  This was when my dream of making music was a secret.  I was much too shy and came from humble family roots. It took time and music like Toni’s for me to find my own unique way in the world. Toni represents to me, someone who wants to make the world a better place.  I feel the same way.  In reaching out, in making connections, in reminding each other that we are one human race called human kind, so let’s be KIND to each other.  We are creators of our own reality.  You could look her up and find more info. at http://www.tonichilds.com/ . You can listen to her music and read what she is intending to do, much like Blaze and Kelly…let’s “start a fire”.  Let’s be heard without the need for corporate funding or shall I say, corporate “owning”.  Let’s not have our ART be enslaved to “the MAN”.  A grass-roots movement of the people bringing art to the people, because art lifts us all.  It stimulates the imagination, and through imagination, the world can be painted any picture we want it.

Look her up. See who this amazing person is.  Come to a show…come to all three!  We will make it more than worth your while.  Start a fire with us…and let’s all kick back and enjoy the hypnotic glow and warmth of coming together!  Hope to see you there!

**** I was going to write about the East Coast in this news letter***  but that deserves a whole letter to itself because there are so many things I’d like to share.  Look for that soon,  we’ll keep you posted!***

Meanwhile, tell your friends, check out the web sites, get your tickets and enjoy the glow!

Much much love,

Nicc & Mo

So here’s the news:
Locally-
9/20  Sockeye Grill 7-9:30pm w/ Rox! - this will probably be our last patio gig for the season. Come on out and make it great!
9/21  Focaccia’s 6-8pm - Can’t say enough good things about Focaccia’s, intimate, inviting, great energy!

Regional-
1000 Springs Festival in Hagerman - Yes, we are back @ the Festival this year with Rox too! We playSat.  9/24 @ 2:30-:3:30.  This is a great festival with lots of arts and crafts.  Click on the link for directions and details.

then to the

EAST COAST we go!!!

A first for us to play across the nation on a tour.  I have played over there a bit informally, but this is a first far away tour and we are excited.  Please tell your friends about the web site and how to find us if you have friends that live in the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mass. and New Hampshire area.   We are excited to see the trees change and to have fun with old and new friends!

Here’s the tour at a glance:

Sat., Oct. 1st @ John and Molly’s - 10pm-2am.  An old stomping ground of mine, near my childhood town of Columbus.  A bit of a reunion with late night hours to get us all nostalgic!  :-)

Thurs., Oct. 6th @ The Broadway Inn 8pm.  This venue is in the Jim Thorpe area of P.A.

Friday Oct. 7th @ The Penn Square Grill.  This venue is in the Lancaster area of P.A.

Tues. Oct. 11th -open mic in P-town (that’s Provincetown, lot’s going on! A random night! )

Wed. Oct. 12th @ – the UU Meeting House in Provincetown 7-8:30pm tickets are $15 @ the door.

Friday Oct. 14th @ - the UU Meeting House 7:8:30 pm ($15 at the door).

***Please friend us @ www.facebook.com/blazeandkelly  and/or twitter blazeandkelly for times we may be on the street busking in downtown P-town and open mics!  ***

We finish the tour on

Sat. Oct. 15th @ Highlands Inn, music starts around 7:30 pm.  

So there you have it folks!  I would like to thank Ann Zeiser for all your help with booking, Ken David and Trina Hamlin for help with the equipment and all the venues for giving us a shot! Thanks to Melinda Bristol for dog watching and house sitting (holding down the fort .  Thank you folks for believing in us and helping dreams come true!

Have a great week!

Niccole & Mo

Hope you all are doing well.   If you go to this link:  OSA,  you will see my big dog in her everyday routine as we get ready to go for a walk.  She’s normally use to me putting her collar on BEFORE she gets my sneakers, this obviously made me laugh.  Hope you like it!  Here’s the “skinny” for the week -

Wed. 9/14  6-9 pm  an all ORIGINAL NIGHT @  the Bardenay in Eagle.  Yep, we are not allowed to play any covers.  And you know, it’s a good push.  We have a lot of great original material and sometimes we forget that cause we get all caught up with other people’s stuff.  It’s quite refreshing to play Just Us!  Come down, it’s a great space on the patio.

Friday 9/16  Season’s Bistro - 7-9.   – there will be a buffet this evening as we celebrate Rachel’s (the owner) birthday.  If you can make reservations that would be great, and if you have any questions please call: (208)939-6680.

Sat. 9/17  The Buzz Cafe- 7-9  -  Another place that is very easy going with a house concert feel, is  the Buzz. Gives you a buzz of  light-heartedness.  We’d love to see you.

Sun. 9/18 Hyde St. Fair @ 12:30-1:30 w/ Roxx on Mandolin.  This is always a great event with big stage sound and a wonderful environment.

Sun.9/18 Focaccia’s Fundraiser for a Friend @ 4-6pm : **

**Please join us in a fund raiser for Jim Peirsol. Jim is a brother of the head catering chef at Focaccia’s and is in need of back surgery to avoid permanent paralysis. Chef Bill will be providing a buffet, music and auction all for $15 with the proceeds going to Jim. Please help us fight for Jim’s future mobility. Join us Sunday 4-6. And thank you for passing this message along!

NEXT WEEK

Tues. 9/20 @ the Sockeye Grill 7-9:30 w/ Roxx!  Love the Sockeye!

Wed. 9/21 @ Focaccia’s 6-8pm  Amazing food, deserts and service!

We will also be playing in Hagerman ID Sat. 9/24 @ the 1000 Springs Festival 2:30-3:30.  This  is a GREAT time always.  Lots of arts and crafts and fun activities beautifully nestled in the 1000 springs park!

***These shows close out our music season for the summer as we travel to the East Coast in the Fall.  If you have any friends in the N.J., P.A., Mass.,N.H., area  feel free to direct them to our web site (www.blazeandkelly.com) as we will be playing a bit back there between Sept. 28th-Oct.18th!  Wish us luck!!!

Enjoy the turning of the seasons!

Nic & Mo (and yes…now “Osa”)

So I stepped OUT of the dinosaur age with my litte flip phone (from the 90′s  :-)  and jumped in to the fast lane with a new Android smart phone that does a number of cool things.  Includine 3D movie and voice activation texting…holy cow!

Still figuring this new gadget out, and not to sound like a commercial or anything but….I’m impressed.  So what does that mean for Blaze and Kelly and music?

Part of doing this “upgrade” was because truthfully…I missed you folks.  When we went to Portland I saw a thousand things I wanted to share with you, either on Face Book or via e-mail.  And though I liked my dinasour phone, mainly cause it has a picture of our cat on my motorcycle who is no longer living…that was about the extent of what I will miss with that phone.

What it means is…I wanted to get a new phone to keep in better touch with you all during our trips away.  Gone are the days when I have to wait to download my pictures into the computer and then send them out.  Now, it’s instant.  So…if you’d like to friend me @ Niccole Blaze…you will be kept up to snuff with the “personals”.  Or you can friend us @ Blaze and Kelly if you prefer to keep it just “music” between us…I totally understand.  :-)

I’m all about sharing our experiences as we travel the East Coast.  With the new phone in hand, I think that is possible.

So…what is happening in music… ??? You ask.  (Thanks for asking).

We will be playing at Wood River Cellars Friday 9/9/11  @ 7-9pm.  -  We LOVE this venue.  It’s got the “goods”, good sound quality, ambiance, food.  It is well worth the 8 mile drive out of Eagle…truly.  So…think about that for the weekend activites.

Then, if the economy has got the best of you, come see us @ The 8th St. Market Sat. 9/10/11(ouu…that’s a cool date!)  We’ll be there from 10am-1pm, on a cool stage.  Jump in the fountain, grab a lemonade…be a child again, or watch one IN the fountain  :-)

Next week we have:

Wed. 9/14  6-9 pm  an all ORIGINAL NIGHT @  the Bardenay in Eagle.  Yep, we are not allowed to play any covers.  And you know, it’s a good push.  We have a lot of great original material and sometimes we forget that cause we get all caught up with other people’s stuff.  It’s quite refreshing to play Just Us!  Come down, it’s a great space on the patio.

Friday 9/15  Season’s Bistro - 7-9.  Now, Rachel may be “hogging us” ha ha, but we don’t care.  We love the Season’s.  It’s one of our “home” places.  We got “mama” in the kitchen making her yum yum Cajun food, and we all feel like family there.  So, come feel apart of something special…besides, it’s Rachel’s birthday the next day…so guess who gets a “pinch” to grow and inch?

Sat. 9/16  The Buzz Cafe- 7-9  -  Another place that is very easy going and like a house concert setting.  The Buzz is just that…gives you a buzz of  light-heartedness.  We’d love to see you.

Plus two other gigs I’d like to fill you in because they are fun and one is VERY  important! :

Sunday 9/17  Hyde St. Fair @ 12:30-1:30 with Roxx.  It’s always fun at the Fair!

Sunday 9/17 Focaccia’s @ 4-6pm

Please join us in a fund raiser for Jim Peirsol. Jim is a brother of the head catering chef at Focaccia’s and is in need of back surgery to avoid permanent paralysis. Chef Bill will be providing a buffet, music and auction all for $15 with the proceeds going to Jim. Please help us fight for Jim’s future mobility. Join us Sunday 4-6. And thank you for passing this message along!

Chef Bill Green makes AMAZING food.  It’s going to be a win-win for everyone.  With your help this man may be able to WALK again!  Let’s make it happen.   You don’t need to make reservations but it would help if you would call Focaccia’s @208-322-2838 and let them know you are coming.  That way they are more prepared for the “masses”.   Really…let’s help this man walk again!  If he doesn’t get surgery soon…he will surely be crippled for life!  That’s serious stuff.  The insurance folks apparently don’t value this as LIFE THREATENING…do you believe it folks?  Don’t get me started!!!!

I know it was long winded…I can be quite wordy…but I hope you know, this comes with a heartfelt hug as we make our way into the colder months!

Cheers, and hope to see you soon!!!

Nic & Mo

We are back from the coast.  We had a chance to see the city lights of Portland, dip our toes in the ocean and then join in the fun of the Stillpoint Farm Festival outside of Eugene.  It was a warm welcome of old friends and current friends trekking along the way with us.  Artist such as Trina Hamlin and Blame Sally, rocked the house and we were proud of drummer Scott Lindbloom and Mando player Rochelle Smith for blending right into an all-star jam at the end of the show.  Nothing is more fun to be a part of  musicians on the fly creating some amazing music live.

Our drive home was a hot one.  Coming across dessert land in 100 degree weather made both Mo and I wilt and become a bit irritable I confess.  Wow!  The heat can truly knock it out of us.  Air conditioning not recommended while toeing a trailer and every chance we could find a river we’d get the big black doggy out of the car and take her for a dip.  She didn’t complain once (such a good dog)!  :-)

Today is suppose to be a scorcher and we are cooling off by the pool of the Owyhee Plaze off of main streetfor a SPLASH BASH!  The party is open to the public and so is the pool, we will be starting the music @ 7 and finishing around 10pm.  Bring your suits and enjoy a splash and a song tonight!  We’d LOVE to see you!

Also, we’ll be on the Boise Public Radio today KPBX 89.9 for a little interview between 4-4:30 pm so have a listen.  We then make our way to Montana for a show in Utica, smack dab in the middle of the state!  So wish us luck!

Our Facaccia’s gig for the 31st has been cancelled for those who have the schedule cards, cross that one off.

Friday 9/2 @ Season’s Bistro

Sat. 9/3 @ Eagle Market 10a.m- 1p.m

Sun. 9/4 @ Focaccia’s  Fund raiser 4-6 ***

*** Please join us in a fund raiser for Jim Peirsol. Jim is a brother of the head catering chef at Focaccia’s and is in need of back surgery to avoid permanent paralysis. Chef Bill will be providing a buffet, music and auction all for $15 with the proceeds going to Jim. Please help us fight for Jim’s future mobility. Join us Sunday 4-6. And thank you for passing this message along!

Hope this finds you well!

Stay cool,

Nic & Mo

Been a little while since I last wrote to give you the scoop of what is happening in the music biz with Blaze and Kelly.  First let me tell you about some shows this weekend. We’ll be playing:

Season’s Bistro (in Eagle-really not far from Boise, totally worth it too!) Friday 3/11 6:30 – 8:30. The last time we played there we had a ball!  Mel Wade opened for us and I was recovering from my day at Kung Fu.  Yep, how many things can I fit in my basket? Taking up Kung Fu has been a lot of fun but hard work too.  I’m loving it!  I was in a particularly zanny mood that night which made for some comedy.

Wood River Cellars (off of hi-way 44 heading towards Emmet) Sat. 3/12 7-9 p.m. This venue is totally worth the 15 -20 min. drive out there.  The sound is great, so is the ambiance, you’ll like it, come see!

If you’ve slipped on to our schedule recently via the web site you will notice this is a year of travel.  We went to Montana this Jan. for a conference and played a show case.  We had 12 minutes to “deliver our goods”.  By cutting a chorus out of one of my tunes and playing a faster tempo we were able to squish 3 songs in and fortunately we made an impression because we are heading back to Montana this summer to play some Arts Council shows.

We are also playing in California, Oregon, Utah, P.A. , N.J., M.A, maybe N.Y. and N.H. !  Some of the shows are posted on the web site here as tours:

http://blazeandkelly.com/calendar-of-events/

We have some new merch too!  Some awesome water bottles by hydro flask.  I will write more about these as I’ve already sold out of my first batch with more to come soon.  You can find out info. about them here: AWSOME H2O. In a nut shell these babies keep your liquid cold for over 24 hours and hot over 12.  They will be a MUST have during the summer months.  I’ve sold over 50 just at the shows and everyone has raved over them.  So check them out!

O.K. we will be pretty quite on the music front the rest of March after these shows this weekend and April we’ll swing into a middle gear til the summer reeves up.  Mark your calander for June 2, we are opening the season for the Botanical Garden’s and joining us will be Rochelle Smith on Mando AND Scott Lindbloom on drum!  Could it get any better!?  Pray for sunshine!

Much love to you all!  Cheers!

Nic & Mo

It’s facisnating to surprise ourselves now and again too isn’t it?  Life gives us grand opportunities to see “who” we will be in the midst of it.  It’s not so much WHAT happens to us as it is how we will respond.   “That’s where character comes in”, my Mamma use to say.  Who are we in the face of change, in the face of challenges, how do we treat ourselves and our neighbors?  During a struggle do we get consumed in it or can we continue to see the bigger picture?  That we are here momentarily…that love is really all we are put here to do.  We are IN this world but not OF it.

As I sit here to write a blog…I haven’t done this in a while.  I haven’t made known what is going on in my mind because sometimes frankly…my mind is every where…like the little mouse character “Speedy Gonzalas” (those under 30 might not know what I’m talking about…and isn’t that wild!)  Racing off to the next thing, the next show, the next task, the next item, the next meal to prepare, the next chore to fulfill…

Meanwhile,  I had the opportunity last week to play for a funeral service.  I did not know the man who passed but we were hired to sing “Life is Beautiful”.  There were over 150 people in this room.  Many people did not have a chair and they stood for several hours, mourning, consoling, reflecting.  Mo and I had played a 45 minute set before the ceremony was to begin.  We tried to pick appropriate songs as we always do to represent the energy of the crowd.  This was the first service like this we’ve ever played.  As I took my seat and listened to all the friends and family of this man speak…I was overwhelmed with emotions.

I was in trouble.  How can I lift an audience and sing, when I can’t even speak because I’m holding back the tears?  I sat there…feeling 14 again.  Not wanting to give into my emotions because I didn’t know this man…but I felt so much.  And let’s face it…I can be a bawl baby!  People have heard my laugh, but very few have heard my cry…and it’s an utterly sad thing to hear when I get going (this makes me chuckle as I write it…it’s true people…when I really let go,  I wail!  ha!  Big ol’ “Cry Face”!) So, I knew that I was touched beyond measure and there was no hope for me.

And then I heard myself think, “you might not know this man but this man is YOU, this man is anyone of my FRIENDS, this man could be my brother, father, or uncle”.  You DO know this man because that is what death is about…it’s about the living, remembering life, reflecting on the good, bad, ugly and beautiful.  You know these people that cry for his man…we all share ONE heart when it comes down to it.  That ROOT…that shared feeling,  all in that room felt  harmony within our sadness.  Sadness for the end of life and how the rest of us must live on.

So with that thought, my higher-self allowed me to surrender.  To surrender to my feelings…to get all snotty and weepy and just “sink in” to that place that I’ve been so many times in my life.  A wistful outpouring of gratitude and sorrow all in the same shot.  Compassion, empathy for those survivors of this death…I let go and the faucets turned on and out poured my tears.

After 45 minutes of several people making monumental heart felt sharing of times past, we were introduced to sing “Beautiful”.  Moments before we were about to go on, I prayed to my mom who has been gone for 8 years now, I said, “Mom…holy God, I could really use your help right now!  I need to step up and be strong for these folks and I really don’t know if I have it in me.  God, snap me out of it and let me be able to sing this song!  Or perhaps, God snap me INTO it and let me convey the meaning of this piece for these folks to take with them! Let me do right by this man who passed.”

We were introduced.  One would have had to be a stone to not feel all the emotion in that room.  Complete silence and sullen faces, open hearts and compassion that filled the air.  I stepped up to the microphone and with a shaky voice admitted to the audience that there were just a few things in life that were impossible to do at the same time, and that is cry and sing…ha!  They are like polar opposites.  We all chuckled, and then I opened my mouth and words popped out to introduce the song.  ”Life is Beautiful” indeed and that is why we were all standing in that room.  To celebrate this man’s life who is no longer.  To celebrate the time we all still have yet to share and experience.  I know I said a lot of profound things (because I can’t remember them right now…and that’s when I know Spirit speaks through me ha ha!  It’s not me, it’s someone else *big grin*)

After getting on the same page with the audience and admitting how touched I was and yet I didn’t know the gentleman that passed, they  clearly painted a beautiful picture of this man and conveyed what a precious gift he was and still is!

Then and only after that, I sniffled…took a deep breath and began to play.  Strumming those chords brought me “back home” again, into soul, into spirit, into what I knew I must do.  ”Isn’t this beautiful, here in this process a grand development…we don’t understand?”  (As the song goes).

I am constantly fascinated with life.  It’s such an amazing phenomena that we get to run around in these bodies and take on all sorts of challenges and adventures.  We get to interact with others and SEE ourselves and SEE others.  I feel so fortunate that I get to share the best of who I am, when I’m singing with an open heart to a crowd with an open heart.  There is no other feeling quite like it!  There have been moments, in the oddest places when I’ve let that song fly and I swear everyone goes up 50 feet with me and we all just “assend”.  It’s the coolest feeling I know.  And I plan to do a lot more of it.

So…I didn’t know what to write about when  I sat down here to blurt something out.  But I think perhaps I needed a reminder for myself…that come the winter if I go into “doubt land” and the days are shorter and the sun disappears all to quickly and “Speedy” is off and running…dig deeper and  inward for something beautiful. Revisit these words and that emotion.

Let my “leaves” fall, so they can nurture the soil and help this ol’ “tree” give life to new blossoms  in the spring.

Any who have read all of this, I thank you.  You are the quality of my audience and you are what fills me!  I would rather have quality than quantity any day.  The people that get something out of my music are those who aren’t afraid to look inward, or their spirit has caused them to resonate with my tunes TO look inward.  You are all champions in my book. Looking inward is not such an easy thing to do at times.

Tis the season to look inward, find something beautiful, let go of something not useful. Listen to your little voice.  Take stock in your inner wisdom…and yes…rake…and rake and rake some more!  It’s great exercise and it’s what the leaves are there for, wonderful reminders!  Where chores and “meditation” collide!  Enjoy it~!

Cheers beautiful people!!!  Bless you all!

Niccole