Via a facebook event invite, we found out that our buddy, Doug Leavy, was doing promotional stuff for a concert in Colorado Springs with The Choir and Michael Roe (The 77’s) and their collaborative effort, Kerosene Halo. I (Michelle) pretty much hyperventilated because, as a 1991 high school graduate, I was a hard core fan of both of those bands and I couldn’t believe they were coming so close! Doug graciously offered us an opening slot and I am still trying to think of what awesome thing we can do for him to thank him.

It was so, so cool to hear these guys play again…not like they have ever stopped. Their classics still moved me (and made me wish I could still get away with wearing crushed velvet leggings, leather boots and some variant form of tunic) and their new stuff hooked me big time. They were still amazing, still funny, still kind and still approachable. These guys are great songswriters, (yeah, you may have heard of a little song Steve Hindalong, the drummer, wrote called “God of Wonders”:) stellar performers and warm communicators.

Maybe the best part of the night for me was when they said that that have been doing house show tours. What? Just like me? Maybe the winds are a changing and a venue that we have chosen for accessibility has all of a sudden become cool. (Obviously, if they are doing it, it has!!) As we left the house today for a twelve day Texas house show tour, I know I felt cooler thinking about those guys doing the same thing.

We finished up a little EP to take with us on this tour just this morning. Barry was mixing while I was packing the van. Tomorrow we get the awesome opportunity to hang out with Shane Bernard.

Lucky (or maybe unlucky?) for Shane Bernard, I seem to have turned a corner last night in the way I act around famous people. My nervous custom prior to last night has been to act too cool for school because I have no idea what to do. I know that if I start talking, idiot fan girl will babble on incoherently, so I just plaster myself to my seat, or a wall, and act like I couldn’t care less about being there. (For verification ask my mom how I acted backstage with Amy Grant or ask my friend, Christi Bovee how I behaved at a breakfast with my favorite writer, Ken Gire.) But last night, I got over myself. I let my giddy out and ate the whole night up like a skinny puppy. I smiled non-stop, idiot girl babbled on, I stalked Steve, Mike and Derri for pictures and I gave them my cd’s. Shane B, get ready, super fan finally put her cape on last night.

We are so excited to be headed back to our mother ship, the great state of Texas, for a November tour!  Please come and see us! Here is a link to our dates. There are plenty of shows to choose from.  We even have a Sunday morning the 20th open if we can serve you and your fellowship in any way!  Email us at ascensionarts@mac.com and we will make it happen!  If you wanted a date on this last tour and didn't get one, we are coming your way again in January and March, so let us know and we will be in your LIVING ROOM! 

Watch your inbox for news about our upcoming tours, cd projects and a house concert documentary we will be working on! 

Here 's a song we wrote last week, in anticipation of our Texas tour.

Here is a link to fabulous blooper commercial we made for one of those dates.  Enjoy. 🙂

Cd Baby has served us so well over the years.  They host the music, sell it, digitally deliver it or ship it.  They provide html for banners and now they have upped their game by creating an html widget to sell your music, that you can post anywhere.  They deliver our music to Amazon, itunes, rhapsody and a whole bunch more.  We love them, you should use them.  Here is a rocking widget with every single song we have every put out there.  One stop shopping, folks.  Enjoy!

Collaboration is one of our values, musical and otherwise.  So, when our dear friend, Tim Thornton of The Blackthorn Project, started talking to us about Recording Bazaar, we were all ears.  Tim's idea was to create and administrate an online recording marketplace.  What if you could get everything you needed for your recording in one place?  What if you could find a drummer, some BGV's and a mastering house all in one place?  What if you could choose from a wide selection of producers, guitarists, keyboardists and songwriting coaches on one website?  What if collaboration between the online artists was a key component and quick turn around was a way of life there? What if?!  If!  

Recording Bazaar launched today and we are proud to be a part. We know from experience that coordinating all of the different moving parts on a recording project can be a juggling act.  We so believe in what Recording Bazaar offers – tailor-made recording services provided by some the best musicians and producers we know.  Avail yourselves of the Recording Bazaar!  Whether your recording needs are big or small, Recording Bazaar has what you need.  And if you need US on your recording in any capacity, that's where you can find us. Come and get it!

Michelle's latest solo project, Swan Song is finished!  This project is a collaboration between Michelle and our sister-in-law, Rebecca Thornberry.  Rebecca is a visual artist and has created a painting to coincide with every song on the project. Downloadable versions of the paintings are included on the disc.  Be warned though, the subject matter is no fluffy stuff.  Michelle & Rebecca tackle subjects like cancer, rage, death and inner metamorphosis.  Do not enter unless you are ready to a)be moved b)cry c)let go of old junk and d)change.

Michelle, Rebecca and Cathleen Hobson toured this project in January and will continue touring as long as folks will have them!  House concerts have proven to be incredible venues for this intimate musical/art experience, so if you would like to host one, let us know.  Michelle & Rebecca continue to collaborate on the song-writing painting front.  You can keep up with what they are doing on Michelle's website.

In the meantime, get you some Swan Song and let us know what you think. If you puchase a physical copy from Cd Baby, you will be also receive the downloadable paintings.  If you prefer to use itunes and would like to purchase the painting downloads separately, email Rebecca at Rebecca Thornberry rthorn76@yahoo.com.  You can also email her if you are interested in purchasing prints of your favorite Swan Song painting or even framed prints.

CLICK BELOW TO LINK TO SWAN SONG ON ITUNES

Michelle has been working on a project with our sister in law, Rebecca Thornberry, for almost four years and it will be completed this coming week!  It's a fabulous collaboration of music and art and we all have high hopes that it will be incredibly meaningful for so many folks. Read all about the project here. The individual song blogs will be released on her site weekly in January.   Michelle, Rebecca and Cathleen Hobson will be touring this project in Texas in January.  Check Michelle's site for concert details. She will tour it again in March and if you want to book a spot on that tour, email her at stubbornsounds@gmail.com.  Thanks to everyone who has played a part in this project so far, we are in your debt.

We need a small amount to duplicate this project and we are raising the money through a Kickstarter site.  Click on the image below to find out how you can be a part of the process and get some great rewards while you are at it!

We bless you with an intentional New Year, down to your toes!

Barry & Michelle