Just a reminder that I'm playing The Listening Room Sat. night Jan. 31st at 7pm with two very talented singer/songwriters, Rachel Williams and Rick Huckaby. There is no cover charge, free parking, and great food too! I played there last night for the first time and I was very impressed!! The sound is GREAT there.... a dream for songwriters, because you can actually hear the lyrics! Yay! If you can't make it out tomorrow night, please go to another show there sometime. You'll love that venue!
Also, next Monday night, Feb. 2nd at The Wildhorse Saloon is a VERY special show!!!!
The Gift of Music
Presented by the Dustin Wells Foundation
Dolly Parton & Friends
Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 7pm
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B00423071EE3453
Or you can call The Wildhorse for more information as well!!
Dustin Wells is my son Derek's first cousin, who was tragically taken from us at the young age of 21 in a car accident in 2005. This foundation was created in honor of him and all the money raised will go to the W.O. Smith/Nashville Community Music School. This is the 2nd Annual Event and last year they raised $50,000! Dustin was a wonderful young drummer and he would be thrilled to know that his love of music is the inspiration to help so many other young people discover their musicals gifts!!
There will be many other performers besides Dolly: Ronnie Dunn, Kellie Pickler, Jennifer Hanson, and many, many other special guests!!
I hope to see you at one or both of the shows!!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tonight!!
Come see me and my friends at THE LISTENING ROOM tonight!! 8:30pm!!
ITR w/Kaci Bolls, Greg Johnson & Brice Long
I know it's late, but TAKE A NAP PEOPLE!!!! I sure will.... :-)
http://www.myspace.com/thelisteningroomcafenashville
ITR w/Kaci Bolls, Greg Johnson & Brice Long
I know it's late, but TAKE A NAP PEOPLE!!!! I sure will.... :-)
http://www.myspace.com/thelisteningroomcafenashville
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pics from the Week
Last week flew by... it was my first full week home in awhile. Some of the highlights:
My friend, Kylie Harris (along with her husband/producer Marco Giovino) has made a very cool cd, which is coming out in April. They did a show at The Basement last Wed. night and I got up to sing a couple with them. It was a great crowd and their show is awesome!! Just the two of them, and it sounds like a full band! Trust me and GO see them if you see they are playing in your area. It is a fun night!!...
On Friday night, we had a great "Twelve Against Nature" gig at 3rd and Lindsley. I don't have any pics from there.... (hint, hint.. anyone?), but the band sounded extra good that night and it was a blast, as usual. Those Steely Dan fans are awesome!!
My son's band "Acid Mosh" (secretly hoping there is a name change coming soon for them) rehearsed for the first time in our sunroom on Saturday from 2 - 7pm. I was very impressed. For 4 boys (12 and 13 yr. olds) who had never played anything as a band before, they were really sounding good by the end of the day. I believe they are working towards playing the talent show in May at their school. Just WAIT until they have those girls screaming for them.... it'll ALL be over then!! You won't be able to pry those instruments out of their hands after that!! LOL
Finally, on Sunday... I helped lead worship at my church Cross Point Community Church. God is doing amazing things at that church, which I hear has doubled in size in the last year. Pastor Pete has been doing a series called "Paralyzed" which has been hitting home with alot of people. This last Sunday the topic was being paralyzed by our fears of the economy. I know several people who have expressed that fear lately. Pete reminded us how wealthy we all really are in this country. He said that statistics show that if you own a car, you are in the top 6% of the wealthiest people in the world. If you own a house, you are in the top 3%. REALLY?!?!?! Wow! I don't FEEL that wealthy!! Do you?
I hope you all have a great week....... I'm playing two gigs:
Thurs. night Jan. 29th: The Listening Room
ITR w/Kaci Bolls, Greg Johnson, Brice Long
8pm
Sat. night Jan. 31st: The Listening Room
ITR w/Rachel Williams & Rick Huckaby
7pm
Hope to see you there!!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Twelve Against Nature.. tonight!
Tonight... at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN. 8pm Totally amazing "Steely Dan Experience"... TWELVE AGAINST NATURE!! If you are a Steely Dan fan, you MUST, yes, MUST come out and groove to the music of The Dan!! It's a bunch of amazing musicians, including a four piece horn section. I'll be there, singing some bgv's... it's always a fun night, so if you have already seen all the Oscar nominated movies this year, and are looking for something different to do on a Friday night... then COME ON OUT!
However, I would suggest you come early... they were turning people away at the door last time. Totally packed out. Doors open at 6pm. $10 cover.
However, I would suggest you come early... they were turning people away at the door last time. Totally packed out. Doors open at 6pm. $10 cover.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I just don't understand....
I just don't understand why people have to be so negative. And why do they have to be SO mean? C'mon, people. Give it a rest. Just for a day.....
Today is inauguration day. The day we should be thanking our outgoing President for his service to our country, while celebrating our new incoming Commander-In-Chief. It should be a day where we all come together as a country and remember that we DO
live in the greatest country in the world and are lucky to be Americans.
Did I think George W. Bush was a good President? No, but that doesn't mean that I have to spew hateful things about him from my mouth all the time. I don't know the man, but I've heard from pretty good sources that he is a very nice man. That he loves this country, is devoted to his family and to God, and that he's very likeable in person. I have no reason to doubt those facts... AND I do believe that anyone who actually chooses to run for President of this country MUST have the right reasons for doing it, because let's face it people.....it is NOT an easy job. Oh, if we could all walk in his shoes for a few days, we might not be so easily throwing stones at the man. Alot of my republican friends claim that as the years go by, we will all look back at G.W. Bush's years as President and realize that he actually WAS a great President in hindsite. That we will see the benefits of his legacy in the years to come. Who I am to say they are wrong? And why do I want to sit around and argue with them about it? What good does it do? THANK YOU George W. Bush for your service to America.
NOW...... for that other little thing..... the fact that we should be rallying around our new President, Barack Obama. I DO NOT understand why people want to be SO hateful towards this man, who hasn't even gotten in the office yet!! I can't even listen to talk radio anymore, because the horrible hateful things they are saying about him already makes my stomach turn over. I'm already getting emails with "predictions" about Obama's Presidency and how he's going to ruin this country. They are full of inaccuracies and can ONLY be made to stir up and divide people. Why? Can someone explain this to me? The Bible tells us to "Not live in a spirit of fear", yet I see so many of my Christian friends being terribly hateful towards Obama, and i can only believe that it stems from fear. I don't believe that constantly tearing down this man, who is our new leader is the way to go.
I, for one, will be praying ALOT for Barack Obama. I pray that he lets God guide him as he makes important decisions for this country. I pray that God keeps him and his family safe, healthy and happy while they are our First Family. And, I pray that this country will HELP him be a great President by supporting him.
We have a choice folks. We can choose to be hateful, condemning, and fearful. OR we can choose to be hopeful, uplifting and positive about our future. I am going to choose the later. What good can it POSSIBLY do to be the other way?
On another note, I will also be praying that SOME people who INSIST on going around spreading LIES just to make people join them in their fearful, hateful and divisive way of thinking..... well..... i'll be praying that they get lockjaw. Permanent lockjaw. :-)
Sorry, that's just the way I see it. ---- M
Today is inauguration day. The day we should be thanking our outgoing President for his service to our country, while celebrating our new incoming Commander-In-Chief. It should be a day where we all come together as a country and remember that we DO
live in the greatest country in the world and are lucky to be Americans.
Did I think George W. Bush was a good President? No, but that doesn't mean that I have to spew hateful things about him from my mouth all the time. I don't know the man, but I've heard from pretty good sources that he is a very nice man. That he loves this country, is devoted to his family and to God, and that he's very likeable in person. I have no reason to doubt those facts... AND I do believe that anyone who actually chooses to run for President of this country MUST have the right reasons for doing it, because let's face it people.....it is NOT an easy job. Oh, if we could all walk in his shoes for a few days, we might not be so easily throwing stones at the man. Alot of my republican friends claim that as the years go by, we will all look back at G.W. Bush's years as President and realize that he actually WAS a great President in hindsite. That we will see the benefits of his legacy in the years to come. Who I am to say they are wrong? And why do I want to sit around and argue with them about it? What good does it do? THANK YOU George W. Bush for your service to America.
NOW...... for that other little thing..... the fact that we should be rallying around our new President, Barack Obama. I DO NOT understand why people want to be SO hateful towards this man, who hasn't even gotten in the office yet!! I can't even listen to talk radio anymore, because the horrible hateful things they are saying about him already makes my stomach turn over. I'm already getting emails with "predictions" about Obama's Presidency and how he's going to ruin this country. They are full of inaccuracies and can ONLY be made to stir up and divide people. Why? Can someone explain this to me? The Bible tells us to "Not live in a spirit of fear", yet I see so many of my Christian friends being terribly hateful towards Obama, and i can only believe that it stems from fear. I don't believe that constantly tearing down this man, who is our new leader is the way to go.
I, for one, will be praying ALOT for Barack Obama. I pray that he lets God guide him as he makes important decisions for this country. I pray that God keeps him and his family safe, healthy and happy while they are our First Family. And, I pray that this country will HELP him be a great President by supporting him.
We have a choice folks. We can choose to be hateful, condemning, and fearful. OR we can choose to be hopeful, uplifting and positive about our future. I am going to choose the later. What good can it POSSIBLY do to be the other way?
On another note, I will also be praying that SOME people who INSIST on going around spreading LIES just to make people join them in their fearful, hateful and divisive way of thinking..... well..... i'll be praying that they get lockjaw. Permanent lockjaw. :-)
Sorry, that's just the way I see it. ---- M
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NY to KY
Well, we had a wonderful trip this week. First New York City, then Louisville, KY. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip.The top pic is in The Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY where we performed as a part of the "Prairie Home Companion" show with Garrison Keillor. It was one of the most unusual shows I've ever been a part of. All the skits, monologues, music.. all going down in front of a live audience. He had them all singing "My Old Kentucky Home" at one point and it sounded like a choir of angels. Mike told me that there is a movie about Garrison and his show. Now I want to find it and watch it. Fascinating.
The next pic is our monitor man, Jon standing on the stage at The Allen Room in NY. It was a gorgeous room with a stunning view of Columbus Circle and Central Park right behind us. It was hard not to keep turning around during the show and looking behind us!! We had a great show there and the NY Times did a fantastic review on Patty and the show. She really is singing/performing better than ever IMO.
The next pic is Jimmy Johnson goofing around in the Hair/Make-up Dept. on the "Conan O'Brien" set. I just LOVE Jimmy! That man needs to seriously write a book! He has worked with so many amazing artists and has wonderful stories about his travels and musical adventures. I could sit and listen to him for hours.....
Next is me and Deanie getting our hair/make-up done before the Conan show. I like getting to have my hair and make-up done, but I don't think it's Deanie's favorite thing to do. As soon as we get back to the hotel she's like, "Gimme a washcloth!! I gotta get this sh-- off me!!" LOL I LOVE that girl!! She's an awesome roomie out on the road.... She will be touring with The Chieftans during Feb./March. We are so proud of her!! She's gonna ROCK that gig!!
Last, that's me in front of the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. I'm so glad it snowed a bit while we were there. It was magical. Deanie and I went to sleep the first night, knowing that the forecast was for snow the next day, so we were both excited. I woke up first wanting SO badly to see if it was snowing, but I was tip-toeing around the room in the dark, trying not to wake Deanie when suddenly she woke out of what I thought was a deep sleep saying, "Open the CURTAIN! Let's see if it's SNOWING!" (She loves snow like I do!) I ran to the window and grabbed the curtain....... YES!! It was SNOWING!! We were both SO happy!!
It was a beautiful trip. Thanks to you guys for following us on our little journey..... We are home for awhile. That is good. Mike is leaving today for a few days in LA. He will be on "The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno" tomorrow night. He'll be performing with Lee Ann Womack.... (That's Monday night, the 19th). Ya'll tune in and catch my handsome hubby!!
Now, I'm plopped down in my chair waiting on some football games today. It's going to be a lazy Sunday, but I'm glad. I need one of those.... how about you?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
New York
It's been a pretty cool trip to NY so far. Great food. Nice hotel. A Starbucks right around the corner. Met Conan O'Brien. Got to walk around the set of SNL. Actually, i'll post a pic later of me standing on the SNL set where the hosts usually do their opening monologue. It was surreal! I got up there and did my little bit..."Thank you, thank you! It's always been my DREAM to host Sat. Night Live.. and here I am!" Of course, there was no audience, but does that REALLY matter? Really?? -grin
We woke up to a beautiful snow falling here in the city. Deanie, Garry, Clay and I found a cool little diner where we had a cozy breakfast and watched the falling snow. I am lucky to get to travel with people that I love. I have some friends who travel with some other bands (no way, I'm NOT naming names!) that remind me how blessed I am. They don't have the same "road friendships" that we have in our little PL group. It's lonely out on the road when you are away from your family and loved ones at home. However, when you truly love the people you are traveling with, it sure makes it a WHOLE lot easier to be away! PL has definitely gathered good people to travel with, which makes our experiences out here very special.
Ok... we are about to run over to soundcheck at The Lincoln Center. We are playing the Allen Room there... it's supposed to be a gorgeous room with a glass backdrop over-looking the city from 5 floors up. Yes, of course... i'll get pictures!! -grin
We woke up to a beautiful snow falling here in the city. Deanie, Garry, Clay and I found a cool little diner where we had a cozy breakfast and watched the falling snow. I am lucky to get to travel with people that I love. I have some friends who travel with some other bands (no way, I'm NOT naming names!) that remind me how blessed I am. They don't have the same "road friendships" that we have in our little PL group. It's lonely out on the road when you are away from your family and loved ones at home. However, when you truly love the people you are traveling with, it sure makes it a WHOLE lot easier to be away! PL has definitely gathered good people to travel with, which makes our experiences out here very special.
Ok... we are about to run over to soundcheck at The Lincoln Center. We are playing the Allen Room there... it's supposed to be a gorgeous room with a glass backdrop over-looking the city from 5 floors up. Yes, of course... i'll get pictures!! -grin
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The view outside our hotel window this morning.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Waiting in the Islip airport....
still saying 30 minutes.... WHAT?!?!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Heading to The Big Apple...
It is 2am. I can't sleep. My brain is too full. Too full of lists. Lists of things that I must get done before I leave for NY. The weirdest thing is, instead of the list getting shorter as I get closer to my trip, it seems to somehow be getting longer. So tonight, although I went to bed at 11pm, i woke up at 1am with my brain going over and over all the things I need to do tomorrow before we leave on Tues. morning. I just decided to get up, have a bowl of cereal, and type up the list of things to do, so maybe my brain wouldn't be so full anymore and I could sleep.
The list is done. But here I am, still awake. SO, I'm blogging. Blogging about not being able to sleep. Maybe one of my sleep issues is stress. I always stress out before I have to fly anywhere. The whole experience of flying is SOOOOOOO stressful to me. Starting with making sure you have packed correctly, so that the airlines won't:
A. Break something
B. Make you leave something behind because it's not packed correctly
C. Ruin something
D. Lose something
E. All of the above
Then after the packing issues, I always feel like I'm going to over-sleep and not get to the airport on time. THEN, just being in a airplane for a claustrophobic like me is hard to deal with. So, until I land in NY on Tues. afternoon, I will be a mess. And I probably won't be sleeping much either... Give me a comfy tour bus ANY day over flying. Unless, of course it's a west coast run... -grin
OH! Just in case you are wondering what I am doing in NY..... I will be on the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" show on Jan. 14th with Patty Loveless. It airs at 10:30pm CST on NBC. You may not SEE me on the show, as just being in the band certainly does NOT necessarily give you any airtime, but if you are up, tune in and watch us anyway!! On Jan. 15th, we will be playing the Allen Room at The Lincoln Center. I will, of course, try to update this little blogspot with pictures and interesting tidbits of our trip along the way. It's never dull with the PL gang... someone's always doing something silly in that bunch!! LOL
Ok... i'm going to put on one of my hubby's History Channel shows. That should put me right to sleep. "Civil War Journal" is my Ambien.
Hope you all have a great week!!!!
The list is done. But here I am, still awake. SO, I'm blogging. Blogging about not being able to sleep. Maybe one of my sleep issues is stress. I always stress out before I have to fly anywhere. The whole experience of flying is SOOOOOOO stressful to me. Starting with making sure you have packed correctly, so that the airlines won't:
A. Break something
B. Make you leave something behind because it's not packed correctly
C. Ruin something
D. Lose something
E. All of the above
Then after the packing issues, I always feel like I'm going to over-sleep and not get to the airport on time. THEN, just being in a airplane for a claustrophobic like me is hard to deal with. So, until I land in NY on Tues. afternoon, I will be a mess. And I probably won't be sleeping much either...
OH! Just in case you are wondering what I am doing in NY..... I will be on the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" show on Jan. 14th with Patty Loveless. It airs at 10:30pm CST on NBC. You may not SEE me on the show, as just being in the band certainly does NOT necessarily give you any airtime, but if you are up, tune in and watch us anyway!! On Jan. 15th, we will be playing the Allen Room at The Lincoln Center. I will, of course, try to update this little blogspot with pictures and interesting tidbits of our trip along the way. It's never dull with the PL gang... someone's always doing something silly in that bunch!! LOL
Ok... i'm going to put on one of my hubby's History Channel shows. That should put me right to sleep. "Civil War Journal" is my Ambien.
Hope you all have a great week!!!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Two gigs this week...
Ok.... I'm starting to get out of my "funk" now. I think getting back to being productive a bit is what I needed. As much as I LOVE the holidays and enjoy the time off, I can only sit around so long before I start feeling like poo. So, now daughter is back on track and all is well on the family front and I'm ready to make some music again!!
Two gigs to tell you about:
1. Tomorrow night: Wed. Jan. 7th at 3rd and Lindsley Nashville, TN 6pm
I'll be singing with Rick Huckaby and his awesome band. Rick is one of my favorite new artists and I really think you guys will love him too! Check out his music! Just google his name and you'll find him all over the internet....
2. This weekend: Sat. Jan 10th at Chick-fil-a in Hermitage, TN 6:15pm
I'll be doing a 3 song set on James Breedwell's Neon Productions Writer's Night, which will be recorded for listening on Musictogousa.com's radio show!! There will be many other great writer's there that night, so I'm sure it will be an awesome show!
Ok, I'm going to attempt to exercise this morning before heading out to a writing appointment. It's a dreary, cloudy day here in Nashville, but those of you that know me know that I LOVE those kind of days! So... here's hoping for a wonderful day. For me. For you guys. FOR THE WORLD!!!!!! :-)
Two gigs to tell you about:
1. Tomorrow night: Wed. Jan. 7th at 3rd and Lindsley Nashville, TN 6pm
I'll be singing with Rick Huckaby and his awesome band. Rick is one of my favorite new artists and I really think you guys will love him too! Check out his music! Just google his name and you'll find him all over the internet....
2. This weekend: Sat. Jan 10th at Chick-fil-a in Hermitage, TN 6:15pm
I'll be doing a 3 song set on James Breedwell's Neon Productions Writer's Night, which will be recorded for listening on Musictogousa.com's radio show!! There will be many other great writer's there that night, so I'm sure it will be an awesome show!
Ok, I'm going to attempt to exercise this morning before heading out to a writing appointment. It's a dreary, cloudy day here in Nashville, but those of you that know me know that I LOVE those kind of days! So... here's hoping for a wonderful day. For me. For you guys. FOR THE WORLD!!!!!! :-)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
NOW it's a Happy New Year!!
I'm so proud of my daughter right now!! She's amazing.....After a long, difficult week, she has totally turned things around. Not everyone can admit that they have messed up and "right" their "wrongs", but she sure blew me away today.
NOW it IS a Happy New Year!!!
NOW it IS a Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Jan. 1st.....
Here is my myspace blog for Jan. 1st, 2009. Sorry it's not more uplifting... :-)
2009
Well, I have to admit...I'm terrified. And thrilled. And then terrified again. 2009 is here. I can't believe it. How is it possible? What will this new year hold for me and my family and friends? The only thing I know for sure is that there will be happiness and sadness. Joys and grief. Wonderful surprises and heartbreaking losses. High and lows, ups and downs.... you get my drift. It will be a year of everything..... just like 2008 was. And 2007. And all the years before that. I wrote a blog about my New Year's Resolution on my blogspot.
www.marciaramirez.blogspot.com
What about you guys? Any big resolutions for you? I actually HAVE decided that I need to make some changes in my life. One biggie is to simplify. I'm really over the whole "MORE!" attitude that our society seems to bang into our little heads. And I don't mean just material things. That's bad enough, to feel like you need more clothes, or cars, or a bigger house, or new furniture etc... I just can't take the pressure anymore of feeling like I have to exercise MORE, work MORE, eat healthier MORE often, drink MORE water, go to church MORE often, spend MORE time with friends and family, etc..... it's enough to make a girl like me shut-down!! I can't take it!!!!!! I'm not super-woman!! LOL I'm not saying that all those things aren't something that I'd like to do... they are all things I strive for, but geez...... sometimes I don't think I'm capable of doing it all. At least not do it all WELL.
Do I sound a little stressed?!?!?!?! LOL Anyone else feeling this way? Or do I need to up my estradiol intake????? :-)
I just re-read this blog..... and thought, "Well now, THAT was a CHEERY first blog of the year, huh?" I'm not as down as I sound.. just frustrated. And tired of pretending that I'm always cheerful, 'cause I'm not. I'm usually a happy, joyful girl. And I'll probably be back to my old self tomorrow...... but blogs are supposed to be about real life, right? And we ALL have days where nothing feels right. Everything feels out of sorts. Guess I'm just having one of those days. And it's only Jan. 1st!!!!!!! Arrgghh!! I better get out of this funk SOON, or '09's gonna be a LONG one!! ha!
Hugs,
Marcia
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