Music

If you were to ask me what my idea of hell is, I would mention many things: citrus toothpaste. Windchimes and windsocks. Patent leather. Blisters. Cats. But oddly enough, the two biggest components that make up my idea of hell probably aren’t too far off: huge crowds, and hot hot heat. I experienced both this…

Here it is – the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Or… at least the moment I’ve been TALKING UP. I have 4 brand spankin’ new songs up on MySpace – you can listen here. Initially, I had thought that a simple guitar/vocal demo would be sufficient – just me and my Martin. But having…

It appears as though Jim Halpert may have a run for his money. This was the world’s most humble and magnanimous win I have ever witnessed. I am blown away by this man. His modesty and grace make him so likable, I can hardly stand it. David Cook has cemented himself into my heart, and…

You probably have some questions for me. And I am here to answer them. Preemptively. That’s right: I am going to answer questions that you have yet to vocalize. We’ll start with some obvious ones. Annie, can we see your new earrings? Of course! I got these from Mud & Mint’s Etsy shop, where there…

It is a rare occurrence to find a perfectly written song. But the other day, I found one – a complete gem. Start-to-finish, this song is flawless. “I Gotta Start Somewhere,” written by Jerry Salley and Lisa Shaffer, and recorded by Rhonda Vincent, could not be a better song. In any way. There is not…

So much for all of those big words about being so above slick, commercial pop-country. I fought it. Lord, how I fought it. I spent more than a year rolling my eyes in disdain and superiority. I scoffed at the media attention she received. I changed the station every time she came on. But then,…

Growing up in small town western Colorado, country music was always playing. At the grocery store, in restaurants, in everyone’s cars – this music created the backdrop for my childhood. However, as is often the case, eventually the cool kids decided that country music wasn’t “cool,” and I followed suit. I assumed that in order…

I love the Bluebird Café. It’s probably my favorite “thing to do” in Nashville. Since arriving here two months ago, I’ve been going about once a week, just to listen and enjoy the writers. If I’m with a friend, then typically we’ll sit and eat (I enjoy their Big Salad with grilled chicken), but if…

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this whole Nashville thing. I’ve been here for 7 weeks now, and they have been challenging, hard weeks. The questioning and stress that happens during transition is unsettling, and in no way have I been immune from this rough passage. I have wondered if I made the…

There’s this woman named Sara Groves. She used to be a teacher in Minnesota, but now she tours as a singer/songwriter. She is one of my very favorite musicians; she has a conversational style of writing that cuts straight to the heart of the matter. Even when she introduces her songs before playing them, she…