Connecting with YOU!
**Hey Friends!**
I hope this message finds you well! Perhaps you're decorating for Halloween, breaking out the warmer sweaters, and trading in your flip-flops for fuzzy socks! I'm currently in sunny Arizona, performing a few shows while watching over a friend's house and their two dogs. With my own dog, Juno, here as well, this house has really "gone to the dogs" with three beautiful pups!
Juno and I at the top of Sugar Loaf in Sedona AZ! What a long tongue!!!! :-)
It’s been a while since I’ve written a newsletter, and I’m excited to share what's happening with Blaze and Kelly, as well as my new solo journey!
Over the last four years, I’ve dreamed of “getting mobile,” and that dream has come true! I found a Ford Transit Van and remodeled it to be my “hotel on wheels.” This way, I can come straight to YOU!
Have a Van! Let’s make a PLAN!!!!
I’m launching my own website, www.niccoleblaze.com, very soon and exploring new ways to share the joy of music with you!
1. **Songs, Stories, and Supper**
I’m excited to introduce an intimate gathering for 4-12 people to enjoy pizza or a light meal while I perform unplugged by the kitchen table or on the couch. We can swap stories, and I’ll share backstories about the songs I play while hearing your thoughts too. It’s a fun, interactive night that can be as energized or as laid-back as you wish. If you're interested in hosting a night like this, please email me at niccole@blazeandkelly.com.
2. **Song-O-Gram!**
Looking to send a friend a special birthday wish? I can help with that! Whether via phone, video, or even a live performance, I can create a personalized musical message. If this sounds interesting before my new website launches, send an email to niccole@blazeandkelly.com.
3. **Excursions with Nicci B!**
I’m planning future trips for listeners and friends, including places like Ireland or down the Salmon River. I’ve played on the Salmon River several times and have taken two tours to Ireland, one in 2019 and a recent one in 2024. Both experiences were profound and amazing! If you’re interested in any trips or have suggestions, join my Nicci B Excursion group page on Facebook: [Nicci B Excursion Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/7320551034678379). If you’re not on Facebook, email me at niccole@blazeandkelly.com to get on my excursion list. If that Facebook link doesn't work, just let me know, and I’ll add you!
4. **Lessons and Coaching**
I’m also offering online guitar lessons, providing one-on-one sessions no matter where you are. It’s been wonderful to see students progress in this format! Additionally, I’ve embarked on life coaching called “Gentle Guidance,” helping individuals bring balance and calm to their lives, even during tough times. I also offer performance coaching named “Own It!” to boost confidence for those looking to perform in front of others. If you’re interested in any of these coaching opportunities, just shoot me an email with "Coaching" in the subject line and let me know your goals!
All of these offerings will eventually be featured on the BOOKING TAB at www.niccoleblaze.com. I hope to launch the new website within the next month and will keep you updated!
If you’re a fan of Blaze and Kelly, that makes you a fan of Niccole Blaze too! The email and newsletter sign-ups go to the same place. Thank you for your support as fans, friends, and listeners!
Mo Kelly and I have upcoming gigs as well, and you can always find our shows at blazeandkelly.com. At the end of this newsletter, I’ll include my solo, duo, and band shows with percussionist Meghan Kelly Watters.
Today is a special day because both Meghan and Mo are celebrating their birthdays (10/2)! A big shoutout to these amazing ladies that I love! Happy Birthday, Meghan and Mo! We’re all the same age until 10/26, when I’ll age drastically *wink-wink* and officially become a year older than both of you! LOL!
As the coming months unfold, I hope to see you at a show or two—or three or four! Enjoy the changing of the seasons!
**Warmest Regards,
Niccole**
**Schedule/Calendar: (Arizona, McCall, Boise - check it out!)**
[Upcoming Events](https://www.blazeandkelly.com/new-events)
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Meet Willow (stretching) and Chloe! My little house buddies! They are adorable!
Wanna go to Ireland and explore the Cliffs of Moher! Sign up for Excursions with Nicci B!!!
New Music and Fun things in Store
Hello Friends,
Nicc letting it “fly”!
It’s been a while and there are some wonderful things “Springing UP” this Spring and into the season of music as we (rock and) roll!!! I hope you all have been well as this seems to have been one of the LONGEST winters in history! I’m sure this is an exaggeration! I suppose I am MORE than ready for Spring, warmer weather, outdoor recreation, outdoor shows, and BBQ with friends & family!
Grand Targee Ski Resort we played at the Trap Bar in Alta Wyoming!
The thing I am excited to share and tell you all about is coming in July!
“Shine On” is a retreat that is happening July 6-9th this year in Taos, New Mexico. I am teaming up with Uma Joy for an epic growth and creativity retreat. There is more information here:
https://intentionalcreativityeducator.lpages.co/uma-joy-and-niccole-blaze-shine-on/
Here is an interview where Uma Joy and I speak of the Retreat. These videos are a way for you to see our connection and excitement that we cannot wait to share with you! There will be two more videos coming soon!
Uma Joy, Niccole Blaze and Kua in Taos!
https://vimeo.com/user50529385/shineonpart1
https://vimeo.com/user50529385/shineonpart2
I hope you can join us! Everyone needs rest and reflective time now and again. I hope you can give yourself the gift of self-love in a beautiful, safe, creative environment!
NEW MUSIC! Please check out our new FLASH DRIVES featuring friends Meghan Kelly Watters and Deb Sager! This is our sold out Sapphire Show from 2022! A fantastic energetic show with 21 songs spanning originals and covers you will love! Check it out here: https://www.blazeandkelly.com/usb-flash-drives
Blaze and Kelly’s month of shows looks like this:
April: (All shows are in the Treasure Valley Area)
13th 3-6pm 3 Horse Ranch
15th 5:30-7:30pm. Lost Grove Brewery
27th 3-6pm 3 Horse Ranch
28th 7-9pm Swirl Wine Shop (in Nampa)
29th 1-4pm The Sandbar @ the Riverside Hotel
*** All details are @ www.Blazeandkelly.com.
Welcome Friends to 2022
Hello Friends,
It’s been a very long time since I’ve written a global blog. We have a V.I.P. Membership program where I curate behind-the-scene updates, tour blogs and songs not otherwise recorded. I’ve produced NEW material for this program each month, yet for whatever reason…I have faltered writing globally, to our “non-member” fans, so my apologies.
I suppose the delay has been due to, “what good is there to say?” The world as we know it has changed since the last time I reached out to all of you. Undergoing Covid and the shut down, all the countries’ growing pains, it actually stifled me a bit. Apparently I’m not the only one.
Some people took that time and made the best of it. Others got depressed, gained weight, drank their fool heads off…and me…well, I did a combination of both! Ha! I, like many, was in shock at first. To see 80 shows fall off of our calendar March 14th 2020 only to wonder how we were going to “support” ourselves through this time. We embraced technology as most did; going LIVE with our “Love Streams” kept our bills paid. Then the tumultuous questions, “What shows DO we show up for?” Our whole living is based on going out into crowds and spreading good vibes through music. How were we supposed to do this with both the fear and ethical factor of spreading a deadly virus on our conscience?
You can see why I didn’t really know WHAT to write.
Then as time does, it makes us look, consider, take in, hopefully appreciate what we DO have around us. I appreciated the break of “go go go”. I embraced silent days with myself and Mo and our dog Juno. I stepped back from my busyness. I pecked out a few songs here and there. I put on 30 pounds and enjoyed ALL the yummies and fancy drinks I learned to make being my own bar-tender.
Then my father died 10/14/2020. A whole new grief bore down. There was a lot of agony going on for me. I had no “fus-pah” to write a blog for folks and the months kept crawling and spinning by, “quick-slow”. We’ve seemed to catapult into the last 2-3 years, hanging onto the “pole” that will dump you over to the other side.
New years of last year 2021 came upon us and I dug in. I vowed that I would not swivel away my time, I would recommit to a healthier body. Put myself on a better eating program and limited my intake of libations. It was a good start. We had a decent year in 2021, it wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible. It was a moderate year, and I took off the 30 I put on (note: It took a LOT longer to take it off than put it on, ugh!)
Dad’s been gone for over a year now, which seems impossible to conceive. He sat in the audience at our last production at the Sapphire Room with a big proud smile. That was the day before the shut down, March 12th, 2020. He showed up to surprise me that day. I will forever have fond memories of that time with him.
The silver lining of everything coming to a stop more or less, was that our ‘chops’ on our instruments have indeed improved. We are no longer afraid of cameras in our faces capturing video because we streamed every week during that year. Also I don’t give a shit about being completely transparent with my growth as a person or a musician. We are all going to pass from this existence so I might as well show up fully…100% for myself and others. Any cards I might have kept, I now show.
We are far from perfect. But the world, or at least a part of this world is coming into the realization that – yes, we are NOT perfect - we are human, perfectly human. No one sits higher than another; a simple germ can wipe us off the face of the map.
I have a lot of philosophy as to “why” this has happened in our world. We HAVE needed to slow down, we HAVE needed to take a look, we HAVE needed to go inward, we HAVE needed to reflect and dig down to REAL priorities. It HAS been a worldwide teachable time! We also desperately need to be GOOD stewards of the planet and take into consideration of our impact.
I have survived and even thrived and so has Mo, yet we’ve had some leave us which has been so sad. We’ve watched ourselves, our government, the world and others inconsistency. Masks on? Masks off? WTH? Wash your hands, do your best, don’t judge others with what they want to do, respect your own integrity. We’ve all bared witness to the morality dilemma of the Nation and the world and our little “pods” in which we hang.
I have laid my fingers over the neck of the guitar, asking for its magic and trying to understand deeper theoretic musings. Guitar and music still holds its mystery for me. I’m still amazed! It will never be done for me, I will ALWAYS be mystified by the glory of music and how it can take one to tears and also lift them high! I spend my time mostly how I’d like to, and this is a true gift for which I am deeply grateful.
Our audience through the last couple years has literally “saved our bacon”. The out pouring of love has been remarkable and donations have allowed us to keep Juno’s bowl full and our own bellies.
My hope for 2022? That we ALL look at ourselves and see something beautiful staring back at us; we get in touch with our true nature and bring acceptance to it. We slough off the old judgments and doubts and learn to live more deeply from inside out. People are already rewarding more and more authenticity and I think this is fabulous! Our expectations of ourselves and others are met with grace and the space of forgiveness. That is my wish and prayer for me and the world.
That we truly understand what it means to be peaceful, inside and live it and demonstrate it to each other. We truly know that things are not the goal; inner happiness is a breath away.
Yes, it’s been a while. I’ve wanted to write to you 1000 times. What to say during all this…? You are loved, and so am I. Let yourself feel it! Happy New Year!!!
Playing "next to" Brandi Carlile and making it "Little Time"!!!
The Gorge Amphitheater in Washington
Hello! Back in Idaho!
I know, some of you never knew we left...but we did! For a split second, splash in the pan we traveled off to the Gorge Amphitheater in the great state of Washington!
(mini clip of Brandi show: click HERE)
The main motivation was to see our beloved Brandi Carlile and twins as she celebrated her 40 years of life at this dream come true venue she has always wanted to play.
I know the feeling, as she described playing up at the beer gardens 15 years prior at the Gorge. She told a story about her and the twins scrounging up enough $$ to pay for their sound system and dreaming about the big stage and now she was standing on it!
(Mo loving up Stage B at the Gorge)
That must have felt pretty great. For us, making the "Little Time" has been pretty fun too! We played at Cave B Winery where the original owners of the Gorge Amphitheater make their wine! The people who created this dream come true, a modern "Walt Disney", a visionary made it possible for all these people to gather up on this cliff side and take in the beauty of the Columbia River while listening to music (and sipping their wine!) Brilliant! What a vision!
I've been to the Gorge several times to witness Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and the Lilith Fair! And here we were, playing less than a 1/4 mile away from the BIG TIME STAGE! Ha! What a trip!
We felt truly blessed and we met many Brandi fans which we hope are now our listeners too!
My greatest push during this show was to play a difficult Brandi song called "The Eye". To...Brandi fans! "Yikes, better get this right", I thought to myself. And...they loved it! Shew! Thank God!
After that song was complete and the audience was content, I elevated the microphone as I think I grew another inch taller.
Then off in the distance that familiar boom of a voice came echoing through the canyon. Brandi and her band were hitting it on a sound check. Mo and I looked at each other with a smile. This might be the closet we get to the "Big Time" and the closest we get to meeting or opening up for Brandi, but we'll take it!
The audience smiled too! They sipped their wine, took in the sights and truly appreciated our "goods". Couldn't ask for much better than that! (Well, except for the heat to cool off and the Texas sized mosquitoes not to bite during dusk - and perhaps a 40' RV to climb into with an air conditioner, and large bank roll with a manager to boot, but hey...we are "in the arena" as they say. Sweating it out and giving it our best with all the love we can!) This "little time" may not be the big time. Our names may not be known, and if this is as close as we come to that stage...I will always be grateful for all that music has brought to us!
(their ride)
(our ride)
I truly thank our inspirations like Brandi and the many other awesome talents that are out there! And I am grateful that the "Walt Disney" of the Gorge Amphitheater came up and introduced himself (Vince Bryant) and said, "I've been listening to music for over 40 years, and you two have something very special, just really hits the heart, you are very talented, really...I mean it!"
So I will keep that moment and forgive me if this sounds like I'm bragging. Ya gotta love it when it's good!
(Walt Disney = Vince Bryant)
And NOW it's back to "work", back to our beloved local scene. Back to where they know us and call out the set list. We know your faces and some of your stories...there is nothing "little" about this "little time"...and I thank my lucky stars every day to do what we get to do. And I thank all of you for your love and support!
Now...7 shows in 8 days!!! Come to every one!!! Ha ha!!! ;-)
SHOWS:
Wed. 6/5 Indian Creek Winery in Kuna 6:30-8:30pm:
This winery features delicious wines for all palates in a beautiful setting! Come enjoy some live music and wine tasting with us. $5 door, wine members free. Kid-friendly.
Thurs. 6/6 Telaya Winery in Garden City 6:00-9:00pm:
Come join us for Thirsty Thursdays at Telaya winery on the beautiful Boise River. Enjoy some wine tasting, and music and take in the sights. There will be a food truck if you get hungry.
Fri. 6/7 Albertson's Market Street in Meridian 5:00-7:00pm:
If you haven't had a chance to check out the new Market Street across from the Village, we'd love to see you! We play in Talon's Spirits and Taps in the store. They offer a happy hour menu and kids are welcome!
Sat. 6/8 Payette Brewing off River Street, downtown Boise for the Bustin' Out of Boise benefit 4:00-8:00pm:
This special event is a fundraiser in it's 10th year! This non-profit organization helps women facing the challenges of cancer. There will be door prizes, live music, a delicious BBQ meal, and silent auction. One of the items auctioned will be 2 round-trip tickets anywhere in the U.S. on Alaska Airlines. Tickets are $8 for kids 10 years and under, and $15 for adults. Please come out and support this event!
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4240421
Tues. 6/11 The Local in Garden City 6:00-8:00pm:
This venue features wonderful wines and brews from all over the Northwest, and has some delightful dishes to nosh on. 21 and over please, sorry kids.
Wed. 6/12 Sully's Irish Pub in Star 7:00-10:00pm on the patio:
This venue has tasty pub food with a variety of choices, and is always a fun time! Great place to gather with friends. They are kid and dog-friendly too. Hope to see you there!
A great memory...and the "Sun Runs"
Bucket lists and finding Joy in the Ride!!!
Hi Friends,
It’s hard to believe it’s September already and I have not sat down to write a new blog! We’ve been all over and zooming along but with the Fall season arching upon the horizon, I am delighted to sip some tea and catch you up a bit!
Last we left of was in March. We released a new EP “Joy in the Ride” and have been in such gratitude for the positive feedback on this little self-produced disc.
April we took off to Austin. We’ve always wanted to check out that town as it’s been on both of our bucket lists! What a beautiful city. It reminds me MUCH of Boise yet bigger. Even the river running through the city was nostalgic of our home here in Idaho! We had a great time visiting with our friend and checking out the sights AND partaking in some amazing BBQ from the “Salt Lick”! OMG! They give a new meaning to “smoked”! Wow! I’d go back just for that!
Yum!!!!
Fabulous Music City! Austin TX!!!
People wanted to know if I liked Austin better than Nashville. I honestly don’t know how you’d compare these two. They are so different. I thought I would be an Austin girl, but truly, Nashville had my heart. So perhaps there is more country in me than I thought!
We then spent a bit of time in Zion and went for an epic hike up to Angels Landing. Also on the bucket list! This was a quick trip that begged us to stay longer but we had to press on as local shows called us home AND we needed to prepare for our tour through southern California!
An epic hike to Angel's Landing (Zion UT)
Mid May we joined a musician friend in Quincy CA at the West End Theater. Mel Wade and Gia put on quite a phenomenal act and the people in Quincy were truly warm hearted folks. Again, if time availed we would have tooled around the town a bit more or caught a fresh stream to space out at in the lovely wooded mountain range.
Mel Wade and I being goofy! Who's that in the marquee?
We made tracks for wine country California! Hitting some major wineries we were well received which is a true complement, as California is a Mecca for good music!
Morro Bay, Ojai, Camarillo, Escondido, Encinitas…there were some lovely towns and people in them! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and met some amazing musicians too in our travels. We did have some car troubles (transmission) and that was a bit deflating but part of the risk you take being on the road AND being far from home. These challenges were met with positive attitudes which got us home unscathed.
The wind was whipping at Eberle Winery, so we kept our hats on. A beautiful sunny breezy day!
June had us playing many local gigs and catching up with friends and also a trip to Oregon. We were in Halfway OR for a wonderful concert series, got the chance to check out the Weiser Fiddle Festival and came home played some shows and then buggerd off to the OR coast for a two day Festival and private house concert in Sisters & Lincoln City!
Surf Dog!
These guys met us between Halfway and Baker City OR! What a sight to see!!!
Those were some fast days and it makes me tired just thinking about all that travel. It was absolutely fantastic, but when we landed home, we were delighted (as most people are after a trip).
Even dogs get tired of driving! "Dog tired" Juno-Bug on the road!
We had to gear up because after all that travel we had some high profile shows with a BAND!!! Yes! An ALL GIRL BAND actually! We got together with Meghan Watters on Cajon (box drum) and Bonnie Johnson on electric guitar and found the “rock” in our “roll”. It was quite a time to prepare for it all and yes, we were moving fast but it was a thrill to play with the accompaniment of others. We rocked the town of Twin and Mtn. Home and found our way back home for more local shows and then out again to Twin Falls, Sun Valley, Stanley and various shows in those regions. It was SO NICE to be in the mountains!
Home away from home! (Our "tour bus"- an 11 foot Shasta trailer 1970's)
We made a little “home” for ourselves by a lake and ran out to play when we needed to. It was time to hit the pause button and we did. I bought a paddle board with me and a mountain bike. I was on both every day. Oh and I chopped my hair short in July. MUCH cooler!!!
There was a moment I paddled out to a smooth as glass lake and just laid on the paddle board for an hour. I felt the depth of the lake under me and I swear, it was the most rejuvenating thing! I needed that after all the running around we had done the previous months!
Juno and I paddle boarding on the lake.
Isn’t it amazing? You don’t have to be famous to literally exhaust yourself ha ha! It was in those moments I decided I’m going to re-evaluate and set my “cruise-control” to a slower more manageable pace, which is how I’m writing to you now.
Sure, by others standards we may still be going 90 mph but by ours it’s knocked down to 75. And through this winter it will probably feel like 35 and that’s ok. It’s ok to go slow. “Too much hustle is a lonely road” (Find My Stride –nb ha ha!)
My mama always said, “Niccole, don’t cram 10 lbs of ‘shit’ in a 5 lb bag”. She was so right! Quality over quantity any day, there was SO much good with this summer! Truly! I want to frame it and come back to its warmth when my compass gets a bit off course and the days become short and cold.
I feel Mo and I both derive so much meaning and value when we are playing, home or on the road. Yet it is so valuable to have down time too. We all need time to go inward and rest; just be and let yourself day dream. This is so hard in today’s culture. We are pulled a thousand ways! We are all bombarded with thousands of e-mails, messages, social media, phone calls, musts and shoulds. Our own expectations of what we think we should be able to do gets in our way. Drowning in the midst of detail we can lose sight of what is important.
I found myself like a little kid the other day, needing a nap but not giving it to myself. I finally spun out and crashed on the couch. Woke 30 min. later and was so refreshed. Why did I resist that? We live in a society that says, “busy equals good”. Honestly “more” is not better, someone told me (thank you Tim), “better is better”. If you can have better without having MORE…good for you!!!
Anyway, Lake Alturas really gave me a unique gift. It stopped time for a moment. It made me be IN the song, “The Sun Runs”. I treasured every minute and I wanted my mind and my outlook to stay there. I wanted to bottle that perfect state of mind.
That state of mind where you don’t need to add more or take anything away. All is as it is and the heart is full and the mind is clear. There is SO MUCH MORE I could write! Yet “more is not better –better is better”. All the in between moments we experienced between all the epic travel, touching shows, heart-felt hugs. I truly feel so fortunate!
We can make our lives into a daily grind, whatever we do (for a living or for fun). Our outlook and busyness can truly get the better of us. It is nice that the seasons change here in Idaho and outwardly become a reminder to go inward. But what of you down in beautiful ever green sunny California?
Yoga dog, "Hey Juno...you are on my mat!!! "
How do YOU find a way BACK to yourself? I leave you to ponder. Maybe it’s good music (ha ha!) I hope this finds you, making time for one of your most important relationships in your life…yourself! Be well!
Much love,
Niccole (and Mo in the Spirit of this note).
New Music to Bring into Spring!!!
"JOY IN THE RIDE"
Sweet friends!!!
March is “marching” along and we have some NEW TUNES OUT!!! Yes, in today’s fast music world we are told that we need to spend about 6 months preparing everyone for a new record. We need to put ad’s in the trade magazines and shouts out about the “new CD” to get everyone all hyped and sell out the release show. There are a bazillion online things we could, should, would have done.
Well…call us "rebels" but we did not do all those marketing things that were always preached to us! We wanted to surprise people and having a release was surely something we didn't think we were ready to do for a production by 3-10. I had only 3 songs but they were good ones and I thought, "why not?" All the records I have released over the years, I never just “sprung” it on the audience…until now! Perfect for "Spring" don't you think?
We knew were going to play at Boise’s premiere listening room called, “The Sapphire Room”. We self produced and promoted our show “Sing in to Spring” and well, “sprung” it on them! Here is what’s cool! The show SOLD OUT anyway! So people came to the show not expecting new music and we said “surprise!”
I have been working on these brand new tunes and we recorded them here in my home studio. They turned out lovely and true. No fillers, no extras, just simple and solid! The EP (meaning extended play) is called “Joy in the Ride” and it gives me great Joy to create, produce and engineer these tunes for our beloved audience! So far the reviews and sales have been awesome! I couldn’t be happier that people are liking this little “record” (I’m still old school and love calling them "records" and "albums").
So we broke the rules and release a record in a way that was WAY outside the box. It’s nice to get older and just do stuff without all the “suppose to” getting in the way. It’s also nice to be in control of our own music and our own journey, the beauty of being independent! Sometimes, of course, this can be challenging but what a gift! To write and play music and have people WANT to buy your art and WANT to see you at a listening venue play LIVE! Enough to sell out! What a phenomenal time that show was! Glued in my mind, I am forever grateful!
We are learning more and more about technology too! We have a membership page and we were able to stream our show that evening so that our members from faraway places could tune in! How cool is that!? We had people from CA, WA, VT, OR,OH,NJ and even LONDON sit in the front row from their living room and watch and interact! Brilliant technology for this type of thing!
Here is a snippet of the show: Slide
If you would like to purchase a copy of Joy in the Ride go here: Joy in the Ride
If you would like to become a member and support independent music, click here for more info: Check out Membership
We thank you so very much for being a part of our “Joy” in the Ride!!! Be well and happy Spring!
The Month of LOVE and a chance of "new eyes"!
Well hey folks, I don’t know what happened to January… or December for that matter? I think I fell down that “winter/holiday vortex”. But today is a brand new day, in a brand new month and a close to a brand new year! How cool, we can always start all over again. I think sometimes we don’t realize this.
I know I come to a blank page here and the one thing I like about writing is that I can empty my head. Now and again wisdom will pop out! Ha! It’s as if I’m riding along in my mind…doing all this “circular thinking” (round and round on the hamster wheel) and when I write…I organize those thoughts into a language. I get to define those thoughts and through defining; I can discern, make sense, get clearer and understand perhaps what I’ve been living with, living under, overcoming or what needs more work.
For many, people believe the season for music is in the Spring/Summer. And that is only a half truth. Sure, we are playing and gigging hard. We are running around the continent and putting into practice what we know. We are moving fast and seeing friends at shows. It’s all very “outward”, very social and in some senses, it can feel like a long party.
Yet winter allows my artist to come out from behind the curtain, in a different way. Most who know me, experience my personality as an extrovert. During the season of winter however, I go inward, as many do. It’s easy in the Spring to have an outlook of a “fresh new start” right? It’s not so much in the winter, but it does exist. It is possible. It is possible to select a new outlook or pick up a new set of habits that are healthier from day to day. I get to ponder and reorganize myself in the winter. I stop moving so fast (well…at least I can get down to 30 mph).
In that, I’ve noticed here’s what happens. I shake out those inner dialogues and contemplate them. I get real with my feelings in relationships, home, community and world. There is a lot going on and in the summer just zooms on along. Winter, I look at it all. I reevaluate everything…and, with any luck…I write about it.
I wrote 2 songs in December. Well, I should say, I finished two songs in December. I have a box where all of my “song bones” live. These song bones are parts and pieces of ideas or couplets for songs. They are the fragments that haven’t come together.
I found 2 very heart-felt ideas and explored more. Both of these songs are a painful write. Both of these songs waited for me to “get in the mood” to finish. I had to be in my “winter mode”; more contemplative and reflective. One is entitled “Only the Lucky”. This song is about exactly the topic that I speak – “choosing all over again”, and in this case deciding to continue walking the path. The other song is called “Joy in the Ride”. And like the later (yet completely different) it tells a story someone overcoming a burned out situation, again choosing with “new eyes”.
How can we be in the same situation, yet look at it differently? What are the inner workings of that? How can we select to see our careers, friendships, and partners, world and dare I say politics…with NEW EYES? I think we all get tired of seeing and watching the same thing over and over again, especially when it’s not so favorable.
This is where IMAGINATION is paramount! John Lennon was no fool! We DO have to imagine our world, lives, career and relationships with fortitude and find space to live into something good. This is where new songs arrive for me and perhaps for you…a new lease on life? Something to ponder: “What in your life may need a fresh look?” “How does winter present itself to you?” “Are you introverted or extroverted in the seasons of the year?” “What does winter do or mean to you?” “What new habit would you like to embark upon this year (thinking habits count too)?”
Hope you enjoy the rest of your “winter mode”.
Much love to all,
Niccole Blaze
Getting Older
Getting older…aren’t we all? This year marks one of my mile stone years and it has occurred to me that I probably have more time behind me than I do in front of me. If I live to 100, I am starting on my second half of life (you do the math smart people! *wink!)
What does this do to a person? What does this do to a musician? I can only speak for myself obviously and my musicianship permeates my “person-hood” so I don’t really separate the two.
I know others who may look at musicians and say, “If you haven’t ‘made it’ by thirty give up.” Well, we need to clarify, what is the definition of “making it”. I didn’t even have my first paid gig or my first record until I was 32! Would that all be for naught? Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah happened when he was 50! Was he a failure before that song? Or did everything he ever did lead him to write that masterpiece?
Aren’t we all “sharpening our axes”? I've noticed my drive has been shifting in this "growth spurt". I am less driven to please others and more about sharing simply what is true at the time. I find freedom in this. I have been a people pleaser the majority of my life. What can I say, I like making people happy. I would sing that song (Bobbie McGee) even if my voice would take the hit and I had a whole weekend of shows to still do. Now? Not so much.
I’m more about the win-win. If it feels right and I’m in the mood and I know I will nail the delivery, sure…I’ll sing that song (What’s going On). But if it’s a mixed crowd and I’m not feeling the love…hell no! Yep, it’s taking me 50 years to not care! Ha! And it’s not that I don’t care…I suppose I am giving myself a bit more compassion.
I can look in the mirror and say, “Hey, not bad for a 50 year old!” Ha! And I KNOW this is still a pretty young age. You folks that are older are saying, “You just wait kid – you’re a puppy!” It’s a matter of perspective. The 20 year olds will think we are old farts and the 70 year olds will think we are pups.
And then there are those who we seem ageless, and I do feel ageless truly (accept when my feet ache or my body tells me I’m not 28 anymore). I have realized we need to be smarter with not only our time (since we have less of it- do the math right?) but also smarter with our life’s force energy. It takes more energy to do things. Let’s face it, our batteries are not as fresh and don’t re-charge the way they use to. We learn to prioritize our TIME and our ENERGY and I think there is wisdom in that.
Classic example; there is a club we play in Oregon that we walk our equipment up quite a flight of steps (probably 20 steps or more). Then we duck under a small door and set our PA over-looking the patrons and the bar. We are still strong, we can still do that and pride could make us bust our butts up there. I say to Mo, “Let’s see if we can find ourselves and ‘angel’.” And sure enough 2 young men appear to help haul our stuff up there. These boys would hardly guess that we could be their mother’s age and we thank them and Spirit for sending those lovely boys our way. It all works out! Now where are they when we are done at mid-night? Ha! Good thing we are STILL in shape because we were on our own.
Physically you would never give it a second thought when you are young and fit. I have always tried to prioritize fitness, yet I falter like many. I do my best. And I think the beauty of getting older is finally, “my best IS good enough!” I think that’s what happens! My standards are not lower, but I am more of a compassionate being to myself and that makes all the difference.
“Sorry I can’t sing that song…I just freaking don’t want to…love me anyway! Here, let me sing you a song like that one, you might like it more!” Ha! It’s comforting and you know, I don’t think it’s a phase. I think it’s here to stay.
Like me writing this blog. I don’t care that you know how old I am. I have people saying to me, “don’t tell people how old you are!” as if shame should take the lead. Why? What will that serve? Who cares? Will you see me differently? Will the industry see me differently? You want me to fool you? I think I’d be deranged if I had to “act” like I was still 30! And frankly there are some main streamer big hit artists out there still trying! Ugh! That looks exhausting!
One thing is for sure: We ALL get older! And those artist that were swinging from the trapeze singing their songs will someday look back and be like, “Whew! I don’t have the energy to do THAT again”.
It’s almost frightening to be in the public eye and have an underlining expectation of not aging! That is crazy and I’m completely NOT going to embellish these people because wisdom has taught me, it’s more about them and less about me. I can’t stay young for you, to make you still feel young!
But I can play a sweet song and we can all reflect and go back to a younger day in that song. I can still rock and roll and folk and jive! I’m FAR from done with my musical career so don’t panic! I’m just beginning to hit my stride! I have many musical ideas and much more maturity to handle all these concepts!
I think the freedom that comes along with aging is exactly what this country and world needs. ALL of Life is Beautiful! Not just the first half! The seasons shape who we are and who we become and in the words of my own song, “We stand in the middle of ourselves” and isn’t Life Beautiful?
Embracing the ALL of it is the secret to staying and feeling young. Also, I’m a firm believer of getting on the floor. Yep! Get on the floor with your dog, get on the floor and do yoga, get on the floor and play with your kid, get on the floor and make love…GET ON THE FLOOR! I have a theory that people who get on the floor every day keep a young attitude! Try it! Works for me!
Cheers to my second half and to YOU who may be in on your 1st half, 2nd quarter, 4th quarter! Where ever you are on this journey called LIFE, embrace it all! Stay forever young in your heart! Get on the floor and keep listening to music. Find a song that takes you back to your teen-age years, to your 20’s, 30’s. Music is SO POWERFUL! It can transport you to a time in your life! Not many things can do that! We need music to find transcendence! How fortunate and blessed I feel to be on this journey, wrinkles and all! Thanks for reading and some of you did your “homework” from the last blog. I invite you to this writing assignment:
Pick a song that is epic from your past. Listen to it. Reminisce. What things are you grateful for that you know NOW and didn’t know then? (You don’t have to turn it in AND it won’t be graded! For those who like to write, you might find out some things about yourself.)
Enjoy and thanks for reading my blog! Stay forever young at heart!!!
Much love,
Niccole
Insights from a "deaf musician"
Hi Friends,
I had the most amazing experience last night! I watched a fantastic movie (Wonder Woman) and for the FIRST time I knew every word they said!!! It was incredible! I have been to movies my whole life and have always missed the one liner jokes or the pivotal statements that make the majority of the plot! Dialogue would fly by me and the question mark would rest heavily upon the top of my head. Those who I’ve partnered with would always be straddled with the task of “keeping me in the loop” and missing parts themselves to keep me up with what was going on.
How did I catch every word this time?
We are lucky here in Boise. The top-notch movie theater in the village has a “close caption” device they can now give to movie goers! Who knew?!? I’m a VERY BIG FAN of close caption! In fact, I often would rather wait and watch a movie on Netflix just so I can have the captions.
Let me back up. Some of you may not be aware that I am “hearing impaired”. My immediate family would use the term “deaf” ha! I’m sure they would say that because I annoyed the hell out of them a time or two not being able to hear them properly. And some of you who I may not have responded to might just think I’m moody or perhaps a snob. Nope…neither (well, I hope not, ha!).
I am severely hearing impaired and if you hang out with me long enough, you will know I don’t compute everything that is said. Before watching that movie and before going to Nashville, I used to think I heard at least 80% of what was going on. NOPE! I was so wrong!
I am lucky if I hear 70% of what is going on! I venture to say the numbers are less than that truthfully speaking. I have been issued hearing aids since I was 19 years old. I’ve been hard of hearing all my life. When we went to Nashville I made it a point to wear my hearing aids. I simply don’t like them. They are uncomfortable and frankly, I’ve been a bit lazy, cheap and distracted to get new ones. But I found out they work! Ha!
I was listening to a gentleman tell me some information about a website I needed to put our music on and in the middle of his discussion the battery in my left ear died. WOW!!!! I thought, “Holy Shit! I really AM DEAF!!” I still had a good ear so I could make out what he was saying but I was flabbergasted with just how much those aids were… well, “aiding” me. “Damn, I really do need these fucking things! Hmmm!?” I have forgotten. I have been fortunate to be around sensitive people the last 10 years of my life and I have been fortunate to be with Mo who is my “translator”. That poor girl! LOL!
When I was a child, my mother must have thought I was blowing her off. (Much like I think our new puppy, “Juno” blows me off). I was probably around 7 when my parents put it together. I think she called me and I did not respond. She got closer and closer to me as my back was turned and then she realized. “Niccole can’t hear”. Yep. She took me to the doctors and they ran some tests and I have significant loss in both ears. Particularly in the high range, I hear low end just fine. The cochlea, that snail shaped bone in the inner ear has cilia, little hairs, that “catch” the sound. Well, mine have been damaged and are lying flat which makes it difficult to hear, especially in noisy environments or with lots of background acoustics.
This impairment use to be an agonizing topic for me by the way. I would RARELY admit this to anyone and with good reason. Have you ever noticed how people respond to those who can’t hear? I’ve made attempts to enlighten people about this issue and the first reaction I get is, “WHAAATTT!!!?” Like somehow that is funny? HOW…is that funny? That reaction is caused by people not knowing how to respond. It’s a knee jerk reaction to someone’s disability and frankly, I find no humor in it. It actually is quite annoying. It would be like me finding out you were blind and then giving you the finger and laughing. Yes, that’s how NOT FUNNY that is! There is also shame in it. People associate deafness with stupidity as if somehow they run together. FALSE. Deafness and stupidity are two very different things. This world can treat deaf folks as if they are less than, inferior, weak or subordinate. Look at the elderly and how little patience folks can have for those that can’t hear well.
Me? I consider myself lucky. At lease NOW I do. I didn’t always. Now, I don’t have to hear the NOISE of the world. Think about all the nasty gossip I get to miss out on! What a blessing!!! Lawn mowers are quieter for me, neighbor dogs, mosquitoes, gum chewers…you name it!
I do miss things though. I miss a lot! I miss the sounds of crickets, the leaves rustling in the wind, the birds waking to a new day singing their songs. I miss high-hats on the drums and the highest octave on a key board. I’ve missed important pieces of conversation, instructions from teachers, lessons, lectures, discussions, and don’t ever talk to my back or try to whisper something in my ear…I will just look at you with a blank stare…blink, blink blink.
I had a friend that loved to whisper during class and I would tell her I could never hear her and she insisted on still doing it. Do you know, in my youth, I wanted to slap her every time? (I never did) but I was so frustrated. Now? I guess I don’t care. LOL!
I suppose I just trust that if there is something I really need to know, I will “hear” it. Here’s the trade off. I SEE EVERYTHING!!! And I FEEL EVERYTHING!!! Yes. And sometimes that is hard too. All you hearing people miss so much communication! Communication with the eyes, the body language, and the energy the person holds. People don’t SPEAK the truth anyway…they SHOW the truth! In their eyes, the way they hold themselves, their expressions, their laugh, sigh, body posture, anxious fidgets, tappy fingers, proximity. The “aura”, the energy field that resides around a human being... I feel that! I am astute, sensitive and deeply aware of that “bubble” we all have, as we are all emotional beings (some more than others) and we all emanate energy.
So, I have these “magical” powers. I have a keen sense of others emotional journey. I can feel what songs might lift them, or one they really need to hear (usually not the one they WANT to hear) to have them reflect and release. I get to cut to the chase with good friends. I look in their eyes and SEE THEM. See their beauty, see who they really are, love them exactly how they are and …I listen.
I may be deaf….but, I really listen! Ask any of my good friends and they’ll tell you. I hear “between the lines”. And I feel very blessed. It wasn’t always the case that I felt this way.
I was the butt-end of MANY jokes when I was a kid. Who didn’t pick on the “deaf kid” back then? I was frustrated and angry, left out and excluded! The world moved too fast and no one really knew or had the distinction of this difference with me. People just weren’t sensitive or aware back then. Kids can be cruel.
Yet now, I don’t care. If you are cruel and talk in a low whisper or say something off-putting…I don’t hear you half the time! Ha!! Ignorance is bliss right? I can’t tell you how many times Mo has been so grateful that I didn’t hear someone’s snide remarks about “whatever” while I’m on stage (or off). I have taken to the philosophy that, “if I don’t hear it, it must not matter”. Yet I know that is not completely the truth. But I have a little Winnie-the-Pooh in me, “oh botha” and bit aloof at times, yet sensitive.
How do I do what I do? How do I play music? Many of you, when you find out I’m hearing impaired or you see my aids in my ears wonder how I can sing. Well, it is a mystery even to me at times. I am at a disadvantage than my hearing colleagues; however, sometimes there is an advantage.
I listen from “inside” and when there is too much noise out there in the world, i.e. excessive crowd talking; I usually do better than Mo who can hear keenly. She can hear soda fizz in the next room! THAT’SAMAZING!!! Yet she cannot discern her own instrument or voice when there is too much in competition with it. I will hear my own voice from, how shall I put this, “within my head”. I don’t know if that makes sense to you or not, but that is how I do it. I hear and feel it INSIDE myself, not outside myself.
Granted, the inner ear monitors that we now use have been a God send! I just love those things! It’s like I am in the studio when they are on. And, since I’ve been hard of hearing my whole life I can still pretty much communicate with people when I have them in, because I “feel” what you say more than I “hear” what you say. Does this make sense? In fact Mo usually does the sound check for us (which makes perfect sense), but I can feel when the room and our music is too loud. I can read people’s body language and now and then I tell her to turn it down. She’s learned to trust me, even though I have this disability.
My old dog Osa knew it too. I can’t tell you how many tea pots caught on fire! Ha! We trained Osa to “nose me” anytime the tea pot would go off, but before she learned I was lucky I didn’t burn the house down! Now we have one of those automatic shut off electric tea pots. So Juno is off the hook!
Why am I even sharing this with you? I think because I was so moved to “hear” (read really) all the words in that awesome movie. I could have cried! Truly! My whole life, movies were the most frustrating experience and I LOVE movies! But it SUCKS not to hear the “good stuff”. That truly sucks! But I’ll take the good with the bad.
I am a “deaf” musician! And I celebrate it! I think it makes me a more sensitive person; someone who wishes to include everyone, regardless of their differences or disabilities. I have overcome this “obstacle” and have “done it anyway” regardless of what other professionals would have recommended. Don’t let any “nay sayers” crush your dreams! Don’t let facts, reason or impairment tell you, you can’t do something! If you WANT to do it – find a way!
I am no longer ashamed of my hearing loss. I have theories about why I may have “lost” my hearing. But I think it’s helped me “find” myself and deeper parts of others who really need to be seen! Who really need someone to listen, listen from the inside.
Don’t we all need a little quiet in this loud world? Don’t we all need to quiet our “chatter” down to hear what we are feeling? I listen all the time! Make no mistakes. I may not catch every word, but I catch a whole lot of behind the scenes and I feel truly blessed!
And thank you to whomever invented “closed captions” now at the movie theaters!!! How awesome! I could do a kart-wheel this makes me so happy!!! And if you haven’t seen Wonder Woman yet…GO! She is AMAZING!!!
"Wonder Nic super powers!!!" :-)
Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to “listen” to my story!
Writing Assignments:
Here are some questions to ponder or do your own private writing. (I am still the teacherbig laugh* and I like to give “homework”). Do it only if you would like to:
How do you hear things? How do you listen? What voice is the loudest? Do you wish you were deaf sometimes? Imagine what a quiet life would be like? Are you the kind who likes silence or do you need something like a TV or radio playing constantly in the background? Who listens to you, from the inside? Who do you listen to? When you listen are you constantly thinking of what you can say or do you take in what the other person says?
Nashville Brain Blog!
My take on Nashville
During our conference in Nashville we had the chance to check out the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Hello sweet friends. We returned from Nashville just last night and I thought while the iron is HOT, I would write about it immediately. I sat on the plane and reviewed what we had witnessed, what we did and all those beautiful Uber drivers that shuttled us around in their cars, swapping stories and giving us the “jist” of this all American town named “The Music City”.
The “Capital” of country music; to me, Nashville is like water. Something that you must respect or it can kill you. It can crush your dreams in a single sweep; it can lift you high in a wave and take you for a ride. Its current could launch a simple song-writers career or leave one flattened against the rocks.
I’m a Jersey girl, very familiar with Frank Sinatra’s, “if I can make it there…I can make it anywhere…it’s up to you NY NY!” Those are my roots but I’m sorry, it should say, “it’s up to you Nash-ville Nash-ville”. Filled with musical venues, teaming with musicians, labels, recording studios per square mile, Nashville is a rare and incredible place!
In my early days people would say, “go to Nashville” and I’d get this claustrophobic feeling and now I know why. There is SO MUCH MUSIC…SO MUCH GOOD! It’s a small downtown with literally too many musicians, period! It’s like someone having ample of their favorite food… always! People just up and take it for granted. They get use to it. Like all the people living in Jackson Hole… those Tetons can become part of the back drop of their lives and they forget how special it is! Like every sunset, every note played is gorgeous!!!
The REAL musician’s musician goes to Nashville. Those hot virtuoso players, the pickers, the “live and breathe artists” land in Nashville. The ones who’s Spirits would “die” if they weren’t in Nashville. THEY go to Nashville. Me…I visit Nashville. Every note still rings beautiful to me!
I appreciated those hillbilly pickers, the honky tonkers, the twangers, the rockers and rollers. I watched as many musicians wore sunglasses in those dark night clubs shading their "windows to their souls" because they play night after night; 4 hours, no breaks, no comp drinks, no meals, and many times NO CLAPS! All for TIPS!!! “How can that be?” I thought? "How is this possible, this artist does not have oodles of money in their tip jar? No one is clapping!?" They sound just like Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash all in the SAME SET!!! How can this be???
I dropped my $20 in a young man’s tip bucket, it was the LEAST I could do! I witness the bar staff ignore his request for a drink refill...twice! She diverted his request with a song request of her own laid upon him. After he finished a challenging vocal song (especial suffering a cold) the bar staff STILL did not refill his glass. He quickly went on like the greatest non-commercial country radio station. I was flabbergasted! We bought him a round, half a bucket of Jack Daniel’s. The man had a cold, I get it. Whiskey helps, he wasn’t a drunk. He was simply exhausted and he was amazing!
He took me back to my childhood with his songs, mainly because my parents raised me on this old time country music. I thought about our family’s good times with this music playing in the background. When I dropped the $20 I asked him his name. It was then that he got my “business hint” and announced himself to his audience. It was after that he played an original song! His name, by the way, is Nathan Belt (Nathan Belt and the Buckles, great name!) He was playing solo at 11 am at the Nashville Palace, away from the big Broadway scene that day. It was a Thursday morning.
This guy played his self-penned song…I think the title was, “the memory of you makes it rain” and boy did he ever turn on my water works! I was baffled and blown away; I was sad, angry, touched, moved, and inspired. Sad because this guy deserved more; more than a big empty bucket for a tip jar. More than a bar keep that ignores him or an audience that doesn’t clap! This part sucked to bear witness. I was irritated with the bar staff and the people that walked by his bucket without even a buck out of pocket.
The lottery win was huge from the day before. 700 Million! Had I won it, many artists would have loved my visit to Nashville that day!
These people that pour their heart and soul into their music and practice like crazy to become great! Oh, I’ve TRIED to play like that! Do you realize how difficult that is!?! Try on that Chet Atkins or Merle Travis style?! From where I sit, I’ve tried all my life to get better at my instrument. Much of the time it’s not the discipline that slows me, it’s the knowledge of how to learn it, how to begin, how to slow it all down, focus and coordinate your fingers. I do ok; I’m not here to knock myself down…but THAT SHIT IS HARD!!! That takes YEARS of dedication and focus. This guy had it going on! He must have sat in the chair for hours learning how to play like that!
The barkeep finally pours him a round and sets it on his railing in the middle of his next tune after we prompted her. The place was not busy. She failed to tell him we bought the drink for him. Not that we needed the acknowledgement but we as musicians always like to thank those who treat us well. That drink was $14 dollars! Ha! Half a bucket of “get yourself well syrup!” wow!
I walked away all twisted up inside. Ever so grateful for what I have here, now. Knowing that I will do the best I can, for as long as I can. Knowing that we have such a solid audience back home and around the Northwest. Understanding that there are SO MANY LEVELS of GREAT!!!
Feelings of sadness come over me for my colleagues, my team, and my “tribe” for living so sparsely and busting their asses to put their unique sound scape in people’s ears. Trying to make livings with 3 jobs at a time and those long hours of no claps and no cash! Why?! Why do they do it?!
Perhaps that’s a whole new blog and I am picking the brains of a friend of mine who recently moved out of Nashville to Boise. I want to get his take before I comment about that.
I have a deep respect for those who play and stay there. But another side simply feels like they are exploited. Why should a club NOT pay the musician? All the people that come to listen, all the drinks they sell! You can walk 4 feet on Broadway and listen to one group play and walk another 4 feet and hear a whole new band “wash” over you. Horizontally you go from club to club with sound pouring out! It would be an old person’s nightmare walk if they can’t stand loud! Vertically you can go up to rooftops and most 3 story bars have music on EVERY LEVEL!! The rooftops shout it out and believe it or not, it’s isolated enough to appreciate each act yet the town just hums and the vibration is like a musical Vegas! It’s such a trip!
My “Shot” in Nashville
The first night we strolled down Broadway. We had lunch at Jack’s BBQ. OMG…smoky brisket! It was amazing! There was music EVERYWHERE! We club hopped and shopped and be-bopped around the main drag. Our “dogs” were getting tired so we slipped in to our last club for the night.
This beautiful black man in a cool white suit was on stage with his band. They called themselves “Friends with Benefits”. He wore a spanking hat and tie. He was super thin, spunky and adorable! He broke out with “Sweet Child of Mine” (Guns and Roses). Anything really goes ya know, Nashville has it all…not just the classic country. He sprang into the bridge and jumped off the stage, singing “where do we go now, where do we go now”. He pointed his microphone to me and gave me a wink. I sang the words and his eyes lit up!
After that, he pulled me on stage for a song. Ah, my lovely musical tribe! How awesome! I scratched my head for a moment as I tried to land on a song I knew that his band might know. Mo helped out with the request of Bonnie Raitt’s, “Something to talk about”. A friend caught it on video and I hope I can attach it to this blog.
His electric lead player rolled right into the slide part, on G (as per my request in key…thank the Lord I’ve learned one thing in music…don’t start yourself to high or too low or you will perish and embarrass the shit out of yourself!) As we were deciding the song the electric lead player joked that the lead singer was “throwing me under the bus”. I laughed and told him I was already under there because he adjusted the microphone too high. I simply grabbed the mic off of the stand and held it.
The lead player rolled into the slide and the catchy keyboards bounced to that old familiar tune. I immediately felt “at home”. How awesome was this? To actually SING in Nashville! To be backed by these amazing artist! Like a dream come true! To just dip in a little and bust out a song I rarely get to sing because I just feel like it needs a whole band accompaniment.
The lead player was nailing it and I was not warmed up at all, but I growled it from that deep place inside of myself, hoping to give justice to Bonnie Raitt!
The key board player and lead guitar guy sang the “doo-whaps” in the back and I was like…wow…real live band karaoke! This is awesome! As the solo came up the electric lead took off and slammed it. I pointed him out to the crowd and then he bit a few barres…ha…he threw himself under the bus for just two seconds but had a great recovery, just like a pro!
We slammed it on the modulation and I belted it out as best I could, knowing that this here…was probably as close as I may get to the claim of fame, “I played on Broadway in Nashville” story! The Universe gave me that forever “bragging right”! Ha ha!!! I’ll take it with a smile!
What a moment it was! Truly fun! What a gift! So easy to not think about guitar and just sing. The crowd cheered me on and that was super cool too! I was different, an outsider visiting and they knew it.
Click on the cowgirl and check out the video from that evening! :-)
Some History
It made me feel like the first time I ever sang in front of a group of people. I was 12 years old at a camp in Wyoming and I sang, “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers. I looked like a little boy with my “bowl” hair cut and my hankie tied around my neck; full attire in Western wear with cowgirl boots and belt!
They all hooted and hollered when I finished the song. They stood up and cheered and I wondered why? I had NEVER had that much approval in my life for something so simple. What were they hearing? Was my voice special? I pondered this as a 12 year old. They wanted me to sing more that season of camp…and so I did.
This was the TRUE seed that led to my beginnings in music. It wasn’t my family pushing me. I was never raised as a prodigy. I never had a parent push me towards an instrument, vocals or insist that I play this or that. We didn’t grow up with American Idol and everyone wanting to be a “star”. I never really had anyone in my home town or in my family really give any sort of kudos for my singing ability back then or make any suggestions that I should do so.
If anything, it was the opposite. I had a brother that teased me when I sang. But guess what…I sang anyway! I learned the guitar anyway and this was in the ‘70’s when girls were “weird” for learning the guitar. Yep! I was that “weird girl”! But I was pretty closeted about it. I didn’t bring my guitar to school or talk about it. It was my secret wish and dream. I coveted my dream. A bit embarrassed by it because, “who was I to want that sort of attention?” Too proud need others approval! Ha!!! Who doesn’t want other people’s approval!? Show me that person and I will show you a socio-path!
So, I sang the gambler and they loved it! I sang more songs at camp. I never really broke out my voice to my family or friends until about the age of 15 and even then I was shy!
My Father was blessed with an amazing voice. He could have been that other Frank Sinatra. Infact, he was with a woman (not my mother) who tried to push him in that direction and the talent scouts were interested in him. He was a “practical man” and did not see music as a viable career. It would have added up as irresponsible to him back then. He was born in ’31, raised very reserved. All his traits, I swear, passed down to me. I had to break from it to give myself the freedom to play and sing. To actually draw attention to myself went against the grain of which I was cut.
My mother on the other hand, she was a “pick yourself up by the boot straps” kind of woman. She never identified herself as a feminist by any means but she could have posed for the “You can do it” Rosie the Riveter poster just fine. Born in ’36 she was in that generation of do it all, “bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan”…and do it all with a smile. Well, my mother was a bit rebellious so, I have that going for me too!
We lived in New Jersey and in the early 80’s my Mom and Dad liked to go clubbing. They became friends with a beautiful black man named Bill Cope. He was amazing! A soft spoken gentle soul he was as he could play anything on the piano. My parents met him at our local inn and he was the entertainment every Friday night at the Columbus Inn. An old historic tavern/hotel that is located right in the heart of the town.
Much like I described the night of Nashville to you, my Father got handed the mic from Bill and Bill must have given him the same look as the you man gave me. The look of recognition that says, “Oh you can sing!!!”
When I was 15 the town gave my father a party for his service to the police committee. All the people of the town were there. We were having dinner and Bill comes up to me.
He asks in his Southern draw, “Hey Niccole, do you know that song, ‘That’s what friends are for’. It’s on the radio, how’s it go?” And I sang him a few bars. That sneaky snake said, “oh good, I would be so honored if you could sing that song for me and dedicate it to your father!” I about died. I told him no at first, like 3 times! Completely scared! My brother laughed and said, “You’ve been singing that song all over the house, just do it!”
Well…I did. There were probably about 1000 people there. That was the first time I ever sang on a microphone. And it was cool! I liked it. Actually, I loved it. I had the guts of my mother, but the practicality of my father. Bill must have recognized something in me and I’m grateful still for the “push” he gave me that day long ago.
I didn’t major in music for college. I skipped it for something “substantial” (like teaching). Ha! It wasn’t until years and years later, I let myself HAVE MUSIC. I let myself have a voice…and I sang out!
Conclusion
Thank you Nashville, you are beautiful, brutally hard, despairing and invigorating. You appreciate the dead more than the living. You are ruthless and cold, heartless and greedy. You are big bellied with a never ending appetite to eat up your prey!
As I walked into the Country Music Hall of Fame, I noted all the records in Gold platinum on a giant wall! So this is where all the great works get recognized; where all the salty tears get stored and framed in audio-graphs. Where people take pictures of “life’s works” and walk by. I found the shelf of the bobble heads and all the key players it takes to make a music career.
“I am that bobble head!” I thought, behind the glass, the one that says song-writer. “Hmm…is this the highest achievement of a work of art…right here?” Where bobble heads and Elvis’s car meet? Where you can read the original hand writing of Chris Kristofferson’s “Help me make it through the night”. And see the sexy outfits of Shania Twain? Wow! I happened to catch a glimpse of an artist’s gold record in the mix of the thousands of gold records. “Whoa, there is Susy Bogus’s record! Cool!” She played at the Sapphire here in Boise, same venue we’ve played! Infact we kind of opened for her in the neighboring club (365) just before she played that night. Wow! She is in this museum and she’s out there in the very similar venue scene we are! How wild! “Do we ever arrive?” I thought. Do people still ask her about “making it”?
I am the bobble head!
All those works of art!
Elvis's car!
To bring it full circle…the line from Guns and Roses echoes softly, “where do we go now, where do we go now?” Where do they go? Those stars?
We ALL SHINE in our own unique way! This I KNOW to be true! Finding the joy in this short ride, catching the moments, being courageous and surprising yourself, giving what we can to the endless tip jars of life, strolling the streets and breathing it all in, seeing the tiny lights from the plane start to get bigger as we touch down into Boise town.
“Where do I go now?” Where do you go now? Where do WE go now? A single star streaks across the sky, rises to an arch then falls.
To be continued! As my story continues!
Thank you for reading this and joining me for this “head blog”. You were invited into my brain for a moment. I hope you had fun in there…now, get back to your own thoughts and make some waves! Or music ;-)
August News!
Hey Friends,
We just returned from a very successful Washington tour! We had several gigs over a week’s time, one in Lacey for their afternoon concert series, another in Pacific, WA. And then onto Mt. Vernon where we had an incredible turn out for their Clubhouse concert series. 30 hours of driving time and over 1500 miles. Sometimes we call ourselves professional drivers, in addition to being musicians. But every day, we feel so blessed to be able to share our music with the beautiful folks and fans of this gem we call the magnificent Northwest! We thank you for keeping in touch with us and continuing to support the Arts! It keeps the wind in our sails!
Juno, our 4 month old puppy is an incredible traveling companion! She never complains and is always up for an adventure! She already has over 4,000 miles under her furry belly, having traveled to Sandpoint, Stanley, and all over Washington and Oregon since we brought her home on May 17th! Seriously, we couldn’t have asked for a better dog! And she helps to mend the hole that was left in our hearts when our beloved Osa passed away! So much to be grateful for!
Juno finally knows her name after a month. Whether or not she chooses to come when called by her name is another story, but ultimately she’s learning very quickly. Our running joke has been, “Juno! Do you know your name yet?” It kind of rhymes, and makes us laugh. She just wags her tail with a vengeance; her whole little body wags along with it. She cracks us up multiple times a day, and it’s such great medicine! We highly recommend doggie love to any who’s brave enough to love something so precious, but who’s only here for a short time, a chapter, really. Bittersweet, but sooooooo worth it! To those of you who have already met her, she sends a big wag your way! And for those yet to meet her, well, watch out, cause she’s likely to pin you down and give you a face bath!
We’re mostly local and in the mountains this month, so we hope you can join us for a show or two! Here’s the schedule for next week, and a little about what’s to come.
Fri. July 28th Willi B’s Saloon8:00-11:00pm
This is a great place to meet your buddies for a fabulous Friday night! They have a full bar and food for all palates, kids are welcome till 9pm, and if you like dancing, they have a great dance floor! Darts, and pool tables are also available. Hope to see you there!
Sat. July 29th Private Party for BoiseHouse Warming event! We are only booked out primarily through October, so if you want to have us entertain at your home, or for a private event this winter, or the holidays, please visit our booking page at: https://www.blazeandkelly.com/booking/
Wed. Aug. 2nd Highlands Hollow 6:00-9:00pm This local hang out offers great food and libations, plus the bonus of live music! Always a great time!
Thurs. Aug 3rd Bar 365 at the Riverside Hotel5:00-8:00pm This listening venue offers a wonderful listening experience, sometimes turning into a concert! They have half off appetizer and drink specials till 6pm, and a full bar and dinner menu also available. Bring your buddies and come on down to kick start your weekend!
STANLEY/SUN VALLEY:
Fri. Aug 4th The Sawtooth Hotel 6:00-9:00pmYou’ll love a night of music and wonderful dining at the infamous Sawtooth Hotel in Stanley! Tim and his band partner will kick off the night for the first set, and then we’ll entertain you from 7-9ish. If you’re in the area, please come join us for a fun-filled night of music and stories!
Sat. Aug. 5th Ketchum Town Square for “Ride Idaho” 5:00-9:00pmThis wonderful event is hosted by Ride Idaho annually! Bikers from all over the USA and Canada come together to bicycle our beautiful State for a round trip ride that goes 500-700 miles over a week. We will be entertaining in downtown’s Ketchum Square that evening! This event is open to the public, so please come join us if you happen to be in Sun Valley this weekend! It’s a blast!
Wed. Aug. 9th Redfish Lake Lodge Concert on the Green 6:00-8:00pmWell this venue offers a superb view of the lake and majestic Mt. Heyburn! A great time for friends and families of all ages! Food and beverages are available at this event! Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket, and cozy up for an evening of live music! Look forward to seeing you!
So that’s what’s cookin’ these next two weeks. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and details, and hope you’re having a fantastic summer! Big smiles to you!
Hope to see you soon!
Washington Club Concert
All our best,
Niccole, Mo, and Juno
Club House Concert! Wonderful listening crowd in Washington!
Summer Begins to Heat UP!
Hey Friends,
Well life has been full of surprise and wonder, both for us, and for our new puppy, Juno! She is full of energy, observes everything (i.e. you can’t get anything past her…) and the novelty and joy in her eyes while learning how to be a touring dog has been amazing to witness! She’s 35 lbs of love and spunk at 4 months old, and already knows many fun tricks and commands. She even takes direction from others, which is a must since she is going to be a village dog!
So our early mornings are now full of exercising the pup, what we call “taking her for a drag” because the first block or so she hunkers down, won’t budge, and tries to escape her harness, while chewing on her leash. This is both frustrating and comical, and as the song goes, “you just have to laugh….or you’ll go crazy.” We try to get most everything done while she’s napping, and are helping her learn that the kennel is her friend, not her enemy, so we can have a life too.
Juno chewing on her ice ball. Perfect for a teething pup!
So “where did June go?” Or in our case, “where did Juno go!?” Ha! She finally knows her name after a month. Whether or not she chooses to come when called by her name is another story. She definitely has her own ideas about how things should go, and despite numerous chew toys about, she insists on chewing on us as well! Ah, puppy love….we look forward to the chance for you to meet her someday soon before she becomes a BIG DOG!
So since June is now behind us, and the 4th of July is soon upon us, we wanted to wish you a fabulous holiday and hope you’re doing something fun with friends and loved ones. Here’s our Stanley schedule for those of you that may be up in the mountains. We look forward to playing to all the happy folks with the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains in the back drop. We live in an incredibly gorgeous place with wonderful community, and we are so grateful for your continued support of the Arts, and Music, and yes, reading our blogs and newsletters! Here’s what’s coming up.
Stanley:
Wed. July 5th Smiley Creek Lodge “On the Green” 5:00-8:00 pm Free to the public
This wonderful little Mecca is a fine place to bring your low back chairs, and a picnic and enjoy some tunes for your afternoon delight! They have incredible home-style food, and “real” milkshakes! And you simply can’t beat the view! Hope to see you there!
Thurs. July 6th The Sluice Alehouse and Eatery (250 Niece, downtown Stanley) 5:00-8:00pm
Always a great time at this local hang out! Excellent food and libations for all palates! Please join us for a leisurely afternoon of live music and good fun!
Sunday July 9th Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center Ketchum, ID. (We perform twice today)
9:30-10:30 am Sunday service: we will be the special musical guests that morning. Please join us!
6:00-8:00pm is when we’ll be performing music to celebrate their 30 year anniversary, and strong spiritual community! The BBQ/event starts at 4:30pm at the center and goes till about 9pm.
If you’d like to catch us here in Boise, here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up next:
Tues. July 11th The Local 6:00-8:00pm
This fantastic new local business features specialty dishes, and a variety of Northwest brews and wines. A great place to gather with friends after work or play! Hope to see you there!
Fri. July 14thThe Sandbar at the Riverside Hotel 6:00-9:00pm with Dominique Tardiff on mandolin
Who doesn’t love this venue? Right on the river, gentle breezes, dog-friendly, food and libations! Please join us for a night of live music and great fun with the talented and lovely Dominique! Always a great time at the Sandbar!
Sat. July 15thThe Vine Wine Shop 6:00-9:00pm 1320 S. Maple Grove in Boise
If you enjoy fine wine and dining in an intimate setting, you’ll love this venue! Please call for reservations if you’d like dine this evening (208) 949-5561. This is a great place to bring your partner or your buddies! Look forward to seeing you sometime soon! And have an excellent summer! Till next time!
All our best,
Mo & Niccole
Juno's first house concert! She did a wonderful job chilling and taking in the tunes! Good doggie!
Puppies and finding Doggy Love!
Sweet friends and listeners,
Last month we let you know about loosing our sweet girl Osa. It's been a reflective 3 months and as you can imagine, lots of sadness and emptiness. In that time we managed to embark on a new website and I turned to playing a LOT of guitar. I should be Eddie Van Halen by now yet...Niccole Blaze seems to dominate the picture ha! Scales scales scales. Repetitive scale skills like a meditation that helped me through the rough spots.
I normally write a song when I'm that sad, but it didn't come (yet). I just couldn't put my pen to paper. I was more than sad. We went down to Utah and played some house concerts. We also took up something completely different...scuba diving! Yep, like Dory says, "Just keep swimming". We found that something new helped us put our mind in a different place, yet we would still return to an empty house.
I would search on line like a woman who just had a break up scanning match.com but looking for "doggy love". I found nothing. Osa was a cross between a black lab and golden retriever. I had one before her too. Basically, this cross breed is a "mistake", very rare and hard to find. What I did find out was after 30 years of having this mix was that she was called a, "Goldador". Yep, that pseudo name comes in very handy as you will find out!
We took a trip North to spend time with friends and I mentioned I was having NO LUCK finding my breed that I loved. Well she researched it and my my, there they were...that beautiful cross breed I know and love.
I contacted them and sent pictures of my sweet baby and asked to be on a waiting list, because you know...it takes time. She responded back to me in 3 days, "Your in luck! We have puppies!" PUPPIES!!!! OMG!
So here's the freaky part. I told Osa I didn't want to wait too long and asked her to help me out before she left. After she passed I had this feeling and I told Mo, "I think we are going to get our next dog from Oregon". I also had a feeling that with all the friends that we have, surely I will get word on a puppy. The website my FRIEND helped me find was OREGON Goldadors!!! What!? True! I had a vision that we'd be coming home with a sweet puppy at the end of that tour. I didn't know how, but I knew.
Another freaky part of the story. Before knowing of the website and being present with the absence of dog in our home, I was in the shower. I get most of my inspiration in the shower. "Juno....I like that name!" I have a hunch that Juno came into the world that very day, March 7th is about the time we decided on her name.
More freak to freak you...so the woman sends me this picture:
Which one would YOU choose!? I was drawn to one of these baby girls. The one with her mouth open. She's singing a song and looks like she has a sense of humor. They are ALL adorable!!! I want them all! Ha ha!!! I had asked the breeder to pick me the one with the most soulful stare and curly hair.
2 weeks later she sends me two more pictures with 2 puppies in each picture, "it's between these two", and I was drawn to the one on my right ad chose that one. I then asked her, "is this by any chance the same one who had her mouth open in the first picture you sent us?" YES YES it is! That is our girl, that is our Juno! And since I am a musician, why not name her Juno Mars! ;-)
To be drawn to the same doggy consistently where as you can see, they all really look alike...I think is fascinating (or freaky, which ever you like)!
And that is our story of how Juno came to be. We get her May 18th and I'm sure we will keep you up dated on our new "tour manager" ha ha!! Right now we are enjoying the quiet. Still missing Osa but looking forward to puppy paws, puppy breath and sweet little smooches. I find it incredible and beautiful that a new little soul will come and enjoy her time with us and live in our home and share our journey. She will have her own temperament and personality. How awesome and exciting! "
"The sunshine resides above the rain!!!"
Well, we hope you enjoyed our story, here are some highlighted events we will be partaking in this summer season. We are not touring as extensively as last year (a good decision with a new pup) but we will be getting out regionally and definitely locally. However this is not a FULL list (please refer to the calendar for all dates) but this list gives you some very special concerts! Mark your calendars!
May 6th Café Capri 6-9pm. This is a great listening room, and a fun place to gather with friends! Owners, Terri and David Becker will be celebrating their 5 year anniversary at this fine place of business. A wonderful BBQ dinner is available for $8-10, and there will door prizes in addition to other fun surprises, so we hope to see you there to liven this celebratory engagement!
May 11-18th Oregon Coast Tour We have the special privilege of being invited to perform for two house concert events in Newport and in Lincoln City. Please see the calendar for specific details. We will have a furry creature in tow upon our return!
June 17th Bustin Out of Boise Event/Gerber Park in Eagle. 4-8pm. This is a wonderful annual fund-raising event to assist women in the Treasure Valley who are under-going cancer treatment and need additional assistance. There will be door prizes, games for those that want to participate, amazing prizes that you can bid on during the silent auction, a BBQ dinner, and live music by yours truly! If you don’t have any other plans this Father’s Day weekend, please bring your lawn chairs, and enjoy a bit of afternoon delight!
June 18th Indian Creek Winery Father’s Day Celebration 3:30-5:00pm. Nothing to do on Father’s Day? This outside venue is absolutely gorgeous and their wine selection in unparalleled by few. Bring a picnic and your comfy chairs and enjoy a special afternoon with us celebrating our dear ol’ dad’s!! Food and other vendors will be available as well.
July 19th-July 25th Washington Tour
This year's tour will bring us to Lacey for the Lacey Parks and Rec "Music in the Park" Concert Series, and another house concert hosted at the Clubhouse in Mt. Vernon. Please see our calendar for details.
AUG. 4th-9th STANLEY/KETCHUM:
The summer just wouldn’t be the same without a trip to the magnificent Sawtooth Mountains! We have the special privilege of performing at these favorite venues:
Fri. 8/4 Sawtooth Hotel 6-9pm: You’re in for a treat if you’d like to enjoy the fabulous listening room at the infamous and historical Sawtooth Hotel. Reservations are recommended if you're dining this evening.
Sat. 8/5 Ride Idaho Opening night, Ketchum Town Square 5:00-9:00pm. Hundreds of folks join this event each year to do an incredible 7 day bicycle ride around beautiful Idaho. We will be playing in the town square till 9pm. Please check out www.rideidaho.org for more details.
Wed. 8/9 Redfish Lake Lodge “on the green,” 6-8pm. You get an incredible view of Mt. Heyburn that stands almost 10,000 feet, and the pristine Redfish Lake to gaze at while listening to some tunes. Food and beverages are available to purchase but you can bring your picnic and lawn chairs if you’d like too! Hope to see you there!
DONNELLEY, ID.
Wed. 8/30 Roseberry Music Festival 6:30-9:30pm. This venue is great because it’s in historic Roseberry, Idaho, and the setting is sublime. If you’re in the area, please come by for a fun-filled evening of music and watch the sunset with us!
Sat. 9/9 Bill Wade’s House Concert Series 5:30-8:00pm. Nestled in the Boise trees near a beautiful babbling brook is where you’ll find this gem of a concert. Come enjoy a relaxing evening of music with friends. Bring your chairs and a little nosh of food or drink if you’d like. Donations of any size will be accepted at the door.
Sat. 9/23 Miracle Hot Springs Event Dome Concert 7:00-9:00pm. We’ve been hosting this show for two years now and it’s starting to get more popular, so if you want to “get-away”, come join us for a very special evening of acoustic music unplugged….that’s right, the acoustics are so heightened and resonant in the event dome, that we don’t even need amplification. You'll feel each note and song touch you! It’s a unique listening experience that brings people together. The Thousand Springs Festival is also happening this weekend in Hagerman/Wendell, so grab your tent, or a hotel nearby and come play with us this weekend!
Thank you for checking out our blog! We hope to sing a tune for you in the near future! Be well!
Niccole and Mo
Greetings Friends, Listeners and Folks joining us for the first time,
Welcome to our NEW WEBSITE! Yes, the old one was grand and this one is even better! We hope you like it and can find everything you need and more. There are plenty of songs to listen to, all the lyrical content included, pod-casts, membership & press information and a new look because you know…new is better right? Ha, well…not always, but we do hope so in this case.
Cruise over to the calendar page and see where we’re playing while you’re in town, or see descriptive on the many different types of venues we play. You can also check out the booking page for opportunities to book your own event with us. Yep, it’s all there and more is coming! So check back in with us once in a while, stay in touch, and add your e-mail to our newsletter. This way you’ll know where we will be playing, the latest songs we’ve been working on, and our tour plans.
We are still celebrating our NEW RELEASE, “The Sun Runs”. The songs on this CD came out just in time, not only for me personally but for many whom I know. People who are dealing with some tough things, myself included, can listen to a song and remember what’s truly important.
For me (and Mo), we’ve lost a great friend and our “tour manager”. She was beautiful; long black hair, soulful brown eyes, and a dazzling white smile from ear to ear. She was always happy, always up for a trip, and loved to sit and listen to us rehearse for hours on end. She traveled with us everywhere! Up to Montana, through Washington, California, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada and of course lived with us in Idaho. She met many of you and had many friends. Folks sought out her advice and comfort as she was so good at calming people down, and bringing lightness and joy to so many. I learned a lot from her and it’s been a truly difficult adjustment being without her these past 3 weeks. She truly taught me how to wag more and bark less. Yes, Osa Mae Black, aka “Big Dog” will live on in all of our hearts and in our music forever. She was that special.
People underestimate the power of a canine. Many think of hair, slobber and doo-doo pick-up. That is the extent of their experience. I can understand if you see it from only this perspective. It’s no fun being jumped on, slobber stamped, or having food stolen off your plate. I get it.
But for me, dogs have always been so grounding, understanding, compassionate, and inclusive. They “get me” emotionally and give me a comfort more than most humans. I happened to have had the most polite, charming, and sweetest girl, and I could continue to brag about her yet, I digress.
Soulful Osa Pic
My point is, music helps us remember what’s important. I love my old dog, my old mic stand, my old guitar, but I think I will love this new website and one day, when we heal over, perhaps there will be another four-legged sweetie that wants to go on the road with us. What a journey it has been! Thank you for visiting with us here and we hope you enjoy the “new” in your life as well as these pages! Be well!!!
Something for the first time!
Hey Friends and Listeners!
We just got back from our travels in Montana on Friday where the evening temperatures were 24 degrees. We were in our “tour bus” (trailer) and had to drain the water so it would not freeze the pipes. Only to come home to nearly 100 degrees on Sat. and play in the baking sun for 2 hours at Art in the Park here in Boise! Wow! What a shift! Needless to say, we sweat our butts off! Summer is here one day then leaves the next, then it’s Fall then it’s Summer…welcome back to Idaho!
We had a terrific time in Big Sky Montana! What an epic place. So vast and big and beautiful! The people were amazing and I’m pretty sure we will have some block bookings locked in to play at the ski resort this winter! Yippie! I’m dreaming about snowboarding those slopes! While we were there we met with inspirational giants such as Mary Morrissey , Jean Houston, and Karen Drucker. We also had the chance to sing “Life is Beautiful” for 250 new listeners and be in a choir lead by the awesome Michael Gott and Karen Drucker. Wow! It was a life changing phenomenal event.
During one of Mary Morrissey’s talks, she asked us, “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” Well, it just so happens that there was a trampoline outside of the hotel with bungee cords on it. It’s the kind of thing they strap you into, the bungee bands get cinched into the harness and you start bouncing. Well, you bounce and get tossed like a sling shot up in the air! It feels like 20 feet that your body lifts off the ground from your weight and momentum on the trampoline! AMAZING! EXILLARATING and EXHAUSTING all at the same time! Talk about a workout! My lungs felt like they exploded and I swear it literally MOVED MY HEART! My heart is sitting in a different spot than it was before I got on that thing!
One bounce sent me high in the air and coming down was such a rush! Mo was a natural. She bounced around and trusted the “rubber bands”. Doing back flips and forward flips while cracking up. Me however, I was more reticent about the thrashing of my body up and down with gravity. First of all…I was not sure my bra would hold upha ha! I mean, let’s face it girls, that is something to consider! AND there a people watching you! It’s funny how Mo and I can roll reversal at any given moment. We even surprise ourselves! So we did it and had a ball. We both loved the back flips. My first flip was not so graceful. I made it harder than it had to be (hmmm…? No psycho-analysis there) and about landed on my face.
I DO have to say, that two days later, we hit it again…and: I was a champ! I was back flipping a lot! I got the hang of it and fear wasn’t operating me any longer. Hmmm…make the life parallel there will we?! The next day after our trampoline experience I decided to push the envelope and do the “GIANT SWING”. What is THAT you ask? Well, you climb up a 20ft. ladder while wearing a harness. The guy clicks you in to a 5 point system. You hold a rope, that keeps you from falling (WTH?!!) They machine crank you up, it feels like 40 ft. and THENget this…THEN…you are suppose to LET GO of the rope! WHAAAAATTT!!!!??? I got cranked to the top and almost cried! Ha! I literally had fear gripping the life out of me! Terrified to let go I’m looking down at tiny little Mo and the guide all shouting at me to “let go…let go” and I was seriously in a panic. I started to get embarrassed that I was such a wuss and in the middle of explaining it to them and myself I just let go. In the middle, as if to surprise myself, my fingers just let go of this piece of rope that was holding me 40 feet up!
And then…I screamed bloody Mary and swung nearly a football fields worth of distance. It was quite a rush. Wow, a bit of self torture, but freeing too! Ugh! It’s that, “not knowing what to expect” feeling. Wow! And I use to be a dare devil in my youth. I used to ride motorcycles and jump over things with them all the time. Wow! I have really gotten away from the risky thrill seeking activities. Whew! Mo, of course, “monkey Mo” let go with such ease and grace and trusted. Ha! She even hung upside down and let her hands go. I had NO idea I was such a control freak! I tease her about being a control freak from time to time. She likes to have a plan and be in the “know” and I can ride by the seat of my pants just fine…but hang me from high heights and I lose it! Ha! But I did it! I over came some fear there. I feared for my life that I was going to die some crazy death, but instead…I flew! And it was amazing!
Mo coming out of her beautiful back flip!!!
high in the sky, the rock behind me has nothing to do with the picture
Imagine what could happen if you JUST LET GO! Isn’t that the truth? I know you’ve heard this before, but if you KNEW you weren’t going to go SPLAT…what would you do? If you knew you couldn’t fail? We spent last week expanding our own minds at the Big Sky Retreat. I listened to some of the most magnificent speakers and hung out with some amazing, loving powerful women that I now call friends. But that little voice that “dared me” to go on the trampoline and giant swing sealed the deal. Everything the speakers talked about I put into practice by letting go of that rope, of letting go and bouncing to the stars!
Contemplating the drop from below
Mo getting cinched up
Since coming home, I’ve been on a cleaning spree. Old drawers are getting purged and I am ridding myself of old stuff. It feels wonderful and productive. I was also struck with a novel concept on Face Book. One of my friends posted something like, “Teachers and parents don’t teach our children that they must be extraordinary, instead teach them to find value in the ordinary”…that way their lives can be fulfilling no matter WHAT the circumstances are. I’m paraphrasing here, but this hit me because I think I’m from that generation that we simply believe, “we are not enough”, “we must DO more”. And I am making my way to re-invent myself as being enough and enjoying the ordinary, the “Simple Things”. And yes, my heart is definitely in a different, more centered place than it was before going to Montana!
I hope my words in this newsletter and our music we play can literally “move your heart” more to center and you grow and stretch and enjoy every blessed day you are here on Earth! Thanks for reading about our journey.
I will be posting our video of our “wild ride” on the trampoline and giant swing on our VIP page for those of you who are on it…AND those of you who would like to join…go here http://blazeandkelly.com/vip-corner/ and catch up on what you’ve been missing!
Much love and many thanks to you all!
Niccole & Mo
Winter time lounging and songwriting!
Happy Holidays Friends!
I know I’ve been a recluse on the blog activity. I’ve been in my transition mode between Fall and Winter. I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! There are so many things we are grateful for. One of them is YOU! For listening and supporting our musical journey! The other is being blessed by the “song ferries”! They gifted me with a tune that came straight from another orbit on Thanksgiving Eve. I’m so happy about that! We had just returned from a dear friend’s holiday feast and Mo crashed out on the couch with big dog, Osa. While they snored away in unison, I put my trusty guitar in hand, and started to pluck away a sweet melody. It felt like a new master piece dropped out of the cosmos! It’s called, “I Give Thanks” and I really love the song. It’s stuck with Mo and I since I wrote it.
We are also so grateful for our winter gigs and private parties. They keep us a float in the winter time (when we “chew our fat” ha!) We are happy to provide warmth in the winter cold with good cheer, songs and friendships! So thank you for joining us in the winter and we truly appreciate those of you who have hosted parties! If anyone would like to host a party, please check out our booking page here:http://blazeandkelly.com/contact-us/booking-form/
You can also go to the Blaze and Kelly Face Book page now and click on the “Booking” button on the main picture to book too! Face Book has come a long way for those who are on it. If you “Subscribe” to our blazeandkelly page (not just “LIKE” our page but “subscribe”) that will allow our events to show up on your event calendar so you won’t miss out! Yay! So if you will, please go to:https://www.facebook.com/BlazeandKelly and “like” and “subscribe”.
How good can you stand it?!
Howdy Friends,
We are back from our travels and into the “thick of things” here in Boise Idaho! And this week is gonna be a HOT one! The weather forecast is in the triple digits topping out 110 degrees on Sunday! YIKES! So for those of you who are local, ha…come on out and sweat with us! Let’s talk about a cooler time, such as our tour through Washington and Oregon just two short weeks ago.
Basically, our trip to Washington and Oregon was absolutely amazing! Like three trips in one. Thank you to all the friends along our journey that made it extra special: Steve & Tess, Bob, Paul & Michelle and “the Rock” gang, Sue & Ellen, Karen, Wendy & Diane, Jayne & Tammy, Stu & Sharon, Rudy and Marilyn, Joni, Keith & Susan. It was fabulous to spend quality time with you. Time has been running fast these days. Some of you got to hear a brand new song I wrote called, “The Sun Runs”. We were blessed with such beautiful audience members, it really meant a lot to us that we could share such a vulnerable tune that was so well received.
When songs are first written, some of you may not know, but they are like newborn babies. So fragile and so pure and you covet them as a mama would. It’s quite a process, bringing them out into the world and sharing them. Some artists think nothing of it, and some songs are meant to be shared easily. But some, like this new song, I’m feeling selective of when we sing it. So, if/when the audience energy is just right, or if I’m feeling the muse of this song come through, maybe you will be lucky enough to catch it. I DID make it available on our “membership page” of our web site, if you’d like to join or have questions, please feel free to click on the link: Cyber Campfire!
Highlights from our trip consist of spending some awesome moments with folks both on and off the stage and seeing the geology of this amazing country we live in. We were thrilled with the reception we had at the Port Angeles, “Juan de Fuca Festival”!
Also, at the Seattle Center Sunday, the crowd at Northwest Folk Life quadrupled in size during our 30 minute set! It was epic! The MC said he’s never seen anything like that happen before and he’s been there for 25 years!
Journeying through the Washington Peninsula was a highlight too! We saw green moss and trees for miles and miles in quiet temperate rain forests. Even a spotted owl posed for a picture! And the Eagles were phenomenal! I bet we saw over 40 eagles at different times! We had a super intimate house concert in Mt. Vernon that was a pure delight and spent some time with good friends.
Once in Oregon, we discovered Silver Falls State Park. This place was amazing! An absolute MUST see if you’ve never been there. Over 10 waterfalls and miles of trails within a small area took you to the most remarkable and beautiful scenery. We walked behind many falls where the water dropped up to 177 feet! Incredible!
Then we made it to the coast. We had a phenomenal house concert at Rudy’s Piano Bar. We played to a sold out show in Lincoln’s City. We met wonderful friendly and hospitable folks, and had a super fun time. Rudy has a baby Grand piano that plays itself through a midi program. He’s got all the classics and when I first arrived, the piano was under a dark sheet on the stage. He had music piping through it and I thought, “man that sounds live”. He pulled back the sheet to reveal its key’s pressing themselves down in just the right places and I was fascinated. Of course I sat down and acted like Elton John for a while. Here’s a video of me being silly. Super fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vk2x1HGd2I
HOURS of entertainment after a stellar show! Needless to say, we stayed up many a many night past our “bed time” (whenever that is) on this trip. In the morning while we were at Rudy and Marilyn’s, they made the most amazing espresso I’ve EVER tasted! And I’ve been to Italy! Wow! I’d go back to Lincoln just for the coffee! LOL!
We had a day to unwind in Manzanita, one of our favorite hang outs. We walked the beach and as the sun set while our old doggy frolicked, many tears of gratitude streamed out of my eyes. Ever so blessed and ever so grateful! People listened. People were moved and friends were made. How utterly incredible, that I have had the chance in this lifetime to touch and be touched by so many, on such a soul level! I am so grateful!
Now, were there any bummer factors? The hardest one was both Mo and I catching a bug. Whew, that was hard. I fought it off but it was exhausting. It’s frightening when you play for a pin drop audience and you don’t know if your voice will “wobble” due to the infection going on in there. Mo followed in my footsteps singing, “anything you can do I can to better” and she caught the cold with full force for the ending of the trip. Ugh! That was tough. Upon leaving Boise mid May a person about clobbered into our trailer while they were running a red light. That was a near miss. Mo said, “Ok, got that out of the way. No more close calls.” We put 2906 miles on our car and about 80 hours in the “saddle”, which you can imagine the ol’ butt cheeks start yelling after a while. And we only had one not so cool venue with a crappy business deal, but other than that, we sold out of CD’s and had to have a local friend ship us more. (Thanks Kimmy!) And I think we made a wave! Let’s pray for some more waves. How joyful can you stand it? How good can you let it be? Good questions. I’m opening to that idea and I hope our words, music and what we share brings you closer as well. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Upon our return we ran into 4 straight shows and the daily doings of life. We play 6 more this week! It can become difficult to keep the mind slow when you run at that pace. Sharing my thoughts and these pictures has helped me remember just what it is I’m doing this for and I hope you enjoy!
Meanwhile, for the regional peoples reading this:
We will be in McCall @ Crusty’s on July 5th whew hooo! 7-10pm
Also in Donnelly we will be part of the Roseberry Festival Wed. Concert Series July 8th with Rochelle Smith on mandolin and back up harmony! 6-9pm
Idaho Falls: You will see us at Derailed on Fri. July 17th 7-10pm
Jackson Hole Friends! We will see you at Hayden’s Post on July 18th and 19th. 8-11pm
Sun Valley & Stanley folks we will be your way on Aug. 9th The Arts and Crafts Festival in Ketchum 12:30-2pm and Redfish lake Lodge, same day on the green from 5-7pm.
And don’t forget about the 1000 Springs Festival at
Ritter Park outside of Hagerman Idaho Sept. 26th
***we will also be hosting a public concert at Miracle Hot Springs in the giant yurt the evening of Sept 26th to celebrate another epic summer! If you’d like to camp or reserve a yurt please give them a call Miracle Hot Springs.
All details are on our website www.blazeandkelly.com
And for those of you in the BOISE area, here is where we are this week!
Thursday 6/25 Hyde St. Pub 7-10pm
Friday 6/26 Sandbar 2-5 pm **please note the time, mid day show.
Sat 6/27 Eagle Market 10-1pm
Sun 6/28 Smokey Mtn. Pizza 18th and State 6-9p
Mon 6/29 Payette Brewery for a fundraiser 5:30-8pm (benefit starts at 3pm)
Tues 6/30 Sockeye Brewery 7-9:30pm
Thanks so much for reading and being in touch with us! Here’s a few more, I couldn’t resist. Hope you all can see the pics. If not I will be posting them on our website too! Under “News”. Just in case the technical gremlins are up to their tricks! 🙂
Happy St. Patricks Day!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Friends!
We arrived home safely from our trip to Idaho Falls and Jackson Wyoming. The weather was amazing and we spent some wonderful time with new and old friends. We played our “heads off” at the Trap Bar in Targee and I also got to snowboard on this “ol foot” for the first time since surgery. We haven’t been all season, so it was sure nice to be on the slopes and take in the sights.
Done for the day!
We want to give a shout out to Bob and Joyce for scheduling their vacation during our time in Jackson. They came all the way from Michigan to see us play and to get their runs in on the hill! Super fun times with these amazing beautiful people! Thank you both for such a great time!
I’m sure many of you are wondering, since our last Newsletter, what is going on with “America’s Got Talent”. Although we had an amazing experience trying out for it last month we did not receive a call back. So, onward and upward we go! *smile*
Sometimes the potential is there and you just have to monopolize on the right moment.
We are excited to be selected for the Juan de Fucca Festival in Port Angeles Washington in May and we were also selected for Northwest Folk Life Festival. The two festivals ironically are happening on the same weekend, so our logistics is a bit nutty, but we will keep you posted on how it will all work out. I find it funny that the one year we get these gigs they are at the same time! Ha! Washington/Oregon people we are asking for your assistance in filling some dates while we are out your way! Please check out the link under “Travel Plans” below.
Upcoming Local Shows:
Tuesday, March 17 – Sockeye Grill on Cole (near Ustick) from 8-10 pm, with SPECIAL GUESTS, **ROCHELL SMITH. Rochelle always makes music fun with her beautiful voice and wonderful accompaniment on the mandolin and box drum.
Saturday, March 21 – Willi B’s off of Chinden from 7-10pm. This is a super fun venue! It’s big enough for people to dance and intimate enough to play some beautiful ballads, so come on down for some fun music, good food and full bar!
Saturday, March 28th– Boise Brewery off of Broad St. downtown Boise, from 7-9:30pm. We are honored to feature special guests and friends at this show too! The lovely ** Wade will be joining us from Reno. Mel lived in Boise years past. She brings a soulful sound with every song she sings. Rochelle Smith will be playing with us and with Mel so that makes it EXTRA SPECIAL! This is the same weekend as the Tree Fort Festival so if you are out and about downtown, stop in for a great local beer and some special tunes from all of us gals!
Sunday, April 5th – Happy Easter! @ The Center for Spiritual Living @ 10:30 a.m. – Everyone is welcome at “CSL”! We always get our cup filled with Rev. Jackie Holland’s talk and the boys in the band do such a great job backing us up. If you want to get your cup filled this Easter, put this on your calendar and join us!
We have some private events and personal travel plans booked for a few weeks in April, then we will be back at the Crush, Willi B’s and the 365 @ Riverside Inn. Please check the website if you would like more details about any upcoming shows or to make a booking with us for your own private event go to **LINK**. We make it super simple to have a rockin’ good time! J
Travel plans:
We will be heading off to the Seattle WA area the 15th of June with the Juan De Fucca Festival we will be headlining in on May 22 & 23rd. We have several shows booked around these dates but are looking for more private parties and venues. If YOU know of a place you think we’d fit or want to book a house concert or party, please get in touch with us by responding back to this e-mail or going to the booking page **LINK**
We will also be in the Oregon area the first week of June for a private event. We are looking for shows, venues, places to “crash” June 1st-8th. Any and all help with this would be super wonderful!!! A small gathering of friends by a campfire, to a major celebration…we are heading WEST, so let us know if we can play for you!
Mark the date:
Saturday, Sept. 26th at Hagerman ID Miracle Hot Springs, we will be in the dome hosting our own listening concert. Mo and I were amazed with the quality of the sound in the dome one time visiting the springs. We thought, “What a place to host a concert!” So this is the year! We will most likely be playing at the 1000 Springs Festival too, so make plans to get to Hagerman and finish up a lovely summer with us at the dome. Exact time will be announced and the cost will be a love donation. There are campsites available and yurts for rent on the premises too, but make reservations because the place fills up! We’d love to see you there and soak in the hot water after the show! 😉
Members Corner:
This is a special corner of our website dedicated to give you exclusive free downloads, exclusive stories, pictures and movies from the road. Our members are part of our special team. “Keep Facing the Sun”, a brand new original song is a new download made available now on the membership corner only. This month we will post a beautiful song called, “The Eye” by Brandi Carlile! This is off her latest new album and I think Mo, Roxx and I cover it super well. So sign up today! VIP Corner!
We would like to thank ALL of you who have taken the time to read this message and to listen to our music. We are extremely grateful to you!
Niccole & Mo
“Though our time here may be small and seemingly insignificant, there is a great destiny in each one of us!” -NB
It’s time to launch!
Howdy Friends,
We are on the road again, heading West to Oregon! We will be playing many big shows this month and what a great way to spend our “birthday month” 😉
Both Mo and I are “Rocktober” babies, we are October bookends, with Mo turning my age in the beginning of the month and me slipping away into “older age” at the end of the month. But for right now…we are the same age *big smile*! She catches up with me once a yearha ha!
Isn’t it amazing how time flies? 12 years ago I wrote and released “Smile”, our second CD. I’m sure with some of you, you look at your children in this way. You just can’t believe how old they are and how fast that time went.
I look at our catalog of music that way, especial this time of year. Fall brings out the reflective spirit in me. It is my “New Year”. As the summer busyness comes to a close we get to slow down and reflect on our path.
I am looking forward to playing for the people of Oregon. I am looking forward to giving our best shot to the Juried Showcase and sharing the best of what we can. But I am also looking forward to sitting on the ocean and listening to the waves come in. In hopes that my mind is filled with “no-thing” and the sound of the waves pound out all the “to-do-lists” and things I think I HAVE to do.
I love that about music too. It just puts me in the now. And although the business of it may take me out of the “now” at times, I am grateful that I know that special spot of a minor chord meeting it’s major. Happy that my fingers are flattened like “Frankenstein fingers” and numb to the pain of any string pressure. Calloused and getting older, you do wonder in this business, how long you can “schlep” equipment in and out of buildings, drive for hundreds of miles and have the energy to give people some joy and meaning from your words and art you’ve created.
It blows my mind what we do, and I am forever grateful! The power of music always sees me through. And I hope it does for you! When you are down, try turning on your favorite 80’s rock band and just see where you go!? It’s trasportive and that is why I LOVE it so much!
Thanks to all the listeners out there, who’ve believed in us and have been swept away by our tunes. Thanks for letting us transport you to another place and space. Thanks for telling us so and for greeting us with big smiles on your faces and hugs. We so appreciate you and hope you are enjoying the Fall Season!
Namastes’