Welcome to Willie Nelsonville

The kids had so much fun together......and so did their mommies!!!We all went to the 5th annual Nelsonville Music Festival where Willie Nelson headlined and we spent the weekend in the foothills of Appalachia.She takes after her aunt with the hair twirling! Geeeeze...would it kill you guys to smile?? Willie rocked!!! If you'd like to read more about the show, check out my review here.

REMINISCING ABOUT OLD TIMES...

...the ending of an era

THE SHANTEE played their final show at The Newport on 12/17/2004

Pre-party with the girls!

Their happy, feel-good tunes always kept you on your feet dancing and smiling! We found amazing seats, our own private little balcony, and proceeded to have one of the best nights ever! Although it was bittersweet, the evening brought us all together and I will remember and cherish it always!

...every single time you're gonna spill your wine ;)
Hope you enjoyed this little step back in time...

OH LAURYN, WHERE ART THOU???

Where was I in 2002 when this was released, living under a rock? I can't believe how incredible the Unplugged album is! The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was great but this tops it by a mile in my book! The acoustic guitar and her gorgeous voice are too much to handle! Is there any hope for another album? She's got five kids or something crazy with Rohan Marley, one of Bob Marley's sons, so that probably takes up a great deal of time, but please!! I WANT MORE!!!! Thank you pandora.com for the wake-up call!

I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofe6sc6_CpI

Water (the follow-up to Rebel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF_KWhlxKyo

I LOVE YOU, WARREN HAYNES!!!

I have recently started a complete love affair with Warren Haynes. I've always admired him as an artist. He is so completely into what he does, he not only plays in The Allman Brothers, but also Gov't Mule and The Dead! Not to mention all of his solo projects! That man is dedicated!!! His live, acoustic album from Bonnaroo 2004 is so amazing...even though I was there in person, I didn't quite have such an appreciation for his ability to play the guitar and the beauty and rawness of his voice back then! I keep listening to it on repeat and it's one of those albums that every song is awesome! His lyrics are so much more than just words strewn together! I am also a huge Dave Matthews fan and I think that their musical styles are somewhat similar, although I will say that Warren has recently won my heart!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tOP1SVRbPMutube.com/watch?v=_tOP1SVRbPM
Beautifully Broken...(this is not the best version I've heard, the acoustic is amazing, but this is still a great example)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRapyEORGfA
Patchwork Quilt (acoustic version...tribute song to Jerry Garcia. Soooo good!!)

Here are some of my favorite lyrics from this one:

We were at Jones Beach
When we got the word
Saddest sound that I ever heard
The bluest note that nobody could play
Ravens sang with us that night on the stage
Tears of sadness, tears of rage
But nobody spoke, we all felt old
And in the way

So walk beside me
Or above me, I don't know

These days it sure seems
I'm lost where ever I go
God, how could you, I heard someone say
And what do we do with our lives now anyway?
Now that our North Star can no longer be found

But there's a banjo moon in a tie-dyed sky
Hippies dance and babies cry
Church bells ring as a silver-haired angel look down
And the blood of his music runs through the veins of our guitars
Bright lights, Dark Star

"I'VE GOT MYSELF A NEW MOTTO. IT SAYS, DON'T FORGET TO HAVE A GOOD TIME!"

I hate to admit, but it's been a quite a few years since Ani has come out with new material that I am absolutely in love with. Don't get me wrong, there are a few off the last albums that I listened to quite a bit and liked, but I wouldn't say I've fallen madly in love with anything in a while... that is, until now!

Red Letter Year has its ups and downs. Again, not an album you would continually listen to straight through, but each song is unique and worth at least a listen. Several songs, including Present/Infant, are somehow related to being a mom or having a baby. It means so much to me to hear my favorite artist put into words some of the feelings I have experienced as a mother myself . She is such a wordsmith!!! I have played #3 so many times, my own son has even told me, "nuff mom!" This one is so great, I have to share some of the lyrics with you...

"lately i've been glaring in the mirrors

picking myself apart

you'd think at my age i'd have thought of something better to do

than make insecurity into a full-time job

make insecurity into an art"

and...

"don't let the sellers of stuff

power enough

to rob you of your grace

love is all over the place"

Way Tight, song #5, is another favorite! I love the music and the lyrics so much on this one...it's just real life! Landing Gear, song #10, is also another great one about awaiting the birth of her baby. I suggest checking out Ani's website http://www.righteousbabe.com/ and you can preview each song and read the lyrics! It's a c.d. worth buying, in my opinion...it'll get plenty of play time, even if you do skip a few from time to time!