Hollywood, etc.
Current mood: productive
Category: Travel and Places
First thing: If you haven't heard Peter Searcy's new record, "Spark," (and i assume you haven't because it hasn't been released yet) -- mark your calendars for May 22. It'll be released on Label X/Toucan Cove and it freakin' rocks. In that good, soulful, lyrical, but still pop-friendly and rockin' sort of way.

Which brings me to why i was in Los Angeles last week.

I play piano for Peter. I have made this odd niche for myself playing accordion in tons of bands. Don't get me wrong -- i LOVE that i play accordion with so many people. But i'm actually really really good at the piano, and i rarely ever get to play it anymore. But Peter Searcy's new record is really lush and has lots of piano parts ... so i've had a blast playing in his band lately. And last week, he and I went to LA to do some recording and play a few industry-meeting-type things.

I went to LA once, when i was six. My mom was trying out for "Wheel of Fortune" (this was back when you actually got to go on a shopping spree with your winnings ... i always wanted her to get the Dalmation statue) ... and my dad, mom and i drove across the country to get her to her auditions. (Doesn't this sound like an indie-movie waiting to happen?)

I remember very little about this trip. I remember i slept through St. Louis, which upset me because I had wanted to see the Arch. My dad then told me they had painted it blue -- a lie that i believed until i was 14 and embarassed in Geography class when i informed the class that the St. Louis Arch had been painted blue in the mid-1980's. During my waking hours I did two things: 1) i memorized every state and its capital -- the license plate game became an automatic pop quiz. And 2) I forced my parents to listen to "Thriller" over and over and over and over again. Literally, the entire way across America. I don't have a clear memory of forcing Michael Jackson upon my parents, but my mom has hated the record ever since. My dad still likes it. But i think he was on my side on that particular road trip.

But speaking of "Thriller" and Los Angeles.... last Monday, Peter Searcy and I recorded some live acoustic tracks in Westlake Audio in Hollywood: where "Thriller" was recorded!!! How freakin' cool is that? And besides Michael Jackson, a few of the names they have hosted include... the Bee Gees, Earth Wind and Fire (who sat next to me on the plane out there, by the way. they were stopping in LA on the way to Malaysia. Can't believe only one of them was in first class! Just goes to show you, you should always talk to the person next to you on the plane. You never know who they play guitar for.), The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Wilie Nelson, AND Kelly Clarkson. Killer, eh? But the beautiful thing was that the gorgeous Yamaha grand had been tuned hours before i arrived. It was beautiful. Look for new photos....

But enough name-dropping.

As a former New Yorker, I was trained to hate LA. But i'm here to openly admit that i do NOT hate LA.. Granted, Peter did all the driving (thank you, Peter). But really, everyone was super-nice. The views were amazing, despite the smog. And most importantly, every meai was delicious. Every order of French Toast was made from Challah bread ... every Black Forest Coffee treat from the Coffee Bean was just the right mix of crunchy/drinky... and it turns out i like finely shredded salad, especially if it's in Beverly Hills.

Other exciting things:

The dorkiest thing i did was make Peter drive by the house where Jimmy Stewart lived.

We played a show at the Hotel Cafe, where they have a piano. I love that. Peter kicked ass. Then I sat in with John Neilson, who played after Peter at the show... check out his Myspace. He's got lots of great tunes.

I went to a barbecue with Peter in the Hollywood Hills. The first person I met turned out to have been in the same NYU acting studio as my college roommate, Lyzz. Weird. And then i hung out with some friends from Nashville Star who live in LA. We karaoked some country songs, which didn't go over so well on the Left Coast.

I learned that I'm a good person to take along with you to random business/networking meetings because, well, I'll talk to anyone. Which means whoever took me doesn't need to babysit me. So if you have a wine-n-dine function ahead, where there's an open bar and a delicious vegetarian menu, consider me as a date. I promise not to tell any pirate jokes. I also am obsessed with keeping my receipts. That's what happens when your mom is an auditor.



Anyway, Los Angeles was a blast. I'd go back in a second. The weather was amazing. The people were great. And the food ... no one freaks out when you ask if something's vegan. Mark your calendars for Peter Searcy's CD Release show, which i think will be May 26 at Headliner's. Check his myspace for more details

gardening
Current mood: mischievous
It's that time of year ... and for Nashville, it comes a few weeks earlier than Louisville. Even more reason to enjoy my time there: USNA-USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6B, baby!

I planted a garden this morning. Well, for now just marigolds and pansies, but i began to prepare the bed for the delicious herbs and veggies that will feed me throughout the summer. You know it's commitment when you plant it in the earth.

Where is this elusive garden? I have no idea ... i haven't learned my neighborhood names late, but i know how to get there. I know it is 171.3 miles from my Louisville driveway. It's near I-40. The soil is rich, there's a hoe and rake in the crawl space, and a majestic black Great Dane lives across the alley. The ice cream man drives by playing Turkey in the Straw a bit too loudly (which, by the way, i can play quite well on my fiddle now). If i ever figure out where the garden is, i invite you to come sample some heirloom tomatoes, come July. I'm going to have a mediterranean-themed garden, i do believe. Come over and make a sauce sometime.

in the mean time, i'm going to have to figure out a nice way to shape my front-yard-veggie-garden in Louisville. I live next door to Mr. Lawn Extraordinaire, so i can't be a total eyesore, even if it does mean free eggplant for the neighborhood.

Yesterday, I took my first fiddle lesson. Then i came home and cranked up the New Country radio station and fiddled along for an hour. So far, i'm really good at the fiddle intro to some Carrie Underwood song. And i can play Boil the Cabbage -- without the double-stop though, so don't be impressed yet.
Wow, is my dog annoyed with me.

adventures, musical and otherwise
Current mood: creative
Category: Life
It feels like I've been blogging a lot lately about the same things. But they matter, and for someone like me -- a writer, i think is the most sensible way to categorize it -- i just have to write it down to figure it out.

i was talking to danny flanigan last week about songwriting, and how most people write about themselves and things that happen to them. I think I write when I need to figure something out -- usually trying to understand someone else's motives. Although when the song's finished, it oftne ends up being about me, or could be, or i don't knwo...

Another weird thing about blogging is that anyone can read it. Maybe that's the performer in me. I could just as easily write this in a journal and tuck it under my mattress.... but something's stopping me. Maybe editing me. It's hard to be completely honest when you know your mother lurks around myspace and reads your blog. (hi mom.) But then maybe that's just an excuse.

So Nashville updates. I went down there twice this week.

The first was an adventurous and spontaneous trip led by one Ben Andrews. We were both talking about the finer points of I-65 on Tuesday and just decided to go. He needed to pick up a Leslie cabinet or something for someone else anyway, so the trip suddenly had a point. That was a strange encounter, around 1am, in a mall parking lot, and I was in the front seat with a migraine trying to ignore the nice man explaing the Leslie. Migraine subsided by the rest stop in Glasgow, and i ended up driving back by 6am, quite awake.

But this is out of order ... first we stopped in a club down there, where the Nashville Star finalists were performing. But we were late and missed them... then i ran into all sort of people i knew ... some of the producers from N-Star, as well as some people i'd met a few weeks before at a MuzikMafia show. (This is what i have discovered: Nashville is just as small of a town as Louisville. Can't go anywhere without running in to someone you know.)
Ben and i stayed for the first part of the Mafia show, which was great fun, except for the fact that I absolutely could not stand being in the audience when there were musicians playing off each other on stage. It is driving me mad in the head that no one in Nashville really knows that I play. I didn't want to sing or be the star -- it had nothing to do with being on stage -- it had everything to do with playing with top-notch musicians. Where the Artistry reers its beautiful head. That's what I need.

So then i got a migraine... ick.

Anyway, Thursday i went back. The N-Star people i ran into at Fuel left me a ticket to the show on Thursday night. Live at the Bellsouth Acuff Theatre (i always thought his name was "Roy," but that apparently was just short for "bellsouth"). I forgot how funny TV can be. The show was actually very entertaining though, but not nearly as much as the after-party at Gibson's.
Where yet again ... the kick-ass musicians that make up the Nashville Star House Band actually got to let loose and just rock out. And of course, i had that wistful look in my eye of "dammit, if this were Louisville i would have been invited on stage by now to play keys." And then ... that's when Lee, the N-Star keyboard player (who is a killer player), saw me, and saw that look in my eye, and invited me on stage. One song, three chords, but that was all I needed.

As I told the band members back at the Semi-finals: I don't want to be a contestant on the show; I want to be in the house band. Or the touring band. Or any band of kick-ass musicians.

Like tonight, where I am playing Headliner's in Peter Searcy's band. Peter has this rockin' 7-piece band put together for tonight. I'm leaving my charts at home and bringing the rock.

Anyone up for an adventure or a tour or just rockin' out: call me.

Current mood: energetic
Category: Life
Urges urges urges. I am have no idea what my "current mood" is, but i suppose i'll have to choose something before i post this blog.

Excited, anxious, but all in a really good way. I have this maddening urge to play music. Not just to perform -- i do that all the time -- but to PLAY. To sit down with another musician, and sing instant harmonies, play a perfect chord, make the accordion sing, try out a new instrument.

Those of you who know me know that despite being a Leo, and thus not at all minding the spotlight, I am happiest being a sideman. When i get to just sit in with a great musician/writer, like Tim Krekel or John Mann or Peter Searcy, or whatever random musicians happen to be passing through Louisville on a tour and i decide they need an accordion, or someone i really connect with musically and spiritually .... oooh, i can't hide the thrill on my face.

And i've been writing. I can't stop the writing. Does it go together? I haven't finished things, but i've started about 30 songs in the past week. (Actually, this is a familiar pattern in my life, but my life seems to have worked out just fine. My school psychologist friend tells me i'm ADHD, undiagnosed, but to quote her, "it's not a disorder unless it's disruptive." So bring it on, i say. To mildly quote one of my own songs: i want it all. And you thought that song was about being a tart.)

All the writing means that i haven't started recording my next record yet. I was all ready to begin -- had the songs, the studio, the producer, most of the band -- and then i started writing again. And i'm not sure what kind of record to make. I suddenly feel like my current songs are not the best they could be, and i'm going back to the arsenal of 50-75 songs, wondering if any of them are any good. Or not that they aren't good -- but that I can do better. God, i'm such an over-achiever. I thought this was supposed to stop after high school. Hee hee.

I don't mean to sound like i'm worrying or fretting. It's quite the opposite. I'm excited and thrilled and stoked and ready and feel like jumping up and down. And it's not the coffee talking (i'm down to one cup a day, and weening. next week: green tea only!). I also have a new accordion on its way to Louisville. Yee haw!

One more confession, which i made in a previous blog, but which was not really substantiated: I love Nashville. I've been down I-65 twice in the past two weeks, really for nothing in particular, just enjoying the fact that every club has live music at any given hour. Can you imagine walking into Air Devils Inn on a Saturday morning and hearing live music? Also, everyone is incredibly friendly there. Or at least they are once you strike up a conversation first. And, again, if you know me, you know that I am the ultimate: "hi what's your name, do you want to be friends?" kind of girl. I loved going on adventures alone, walking around downtown, exploring, ducking into clubs, making friends at the bars.... i lived in New York for five years, and i never got that thrill. Something about Nashville.

Now i feel like i'm just rambling. Still no intern. I'll also need a new roommate come mid-June, so if anyone mildly normal who doesn't mind Great Danes is looking for a place, let me know. And it would help if you liked unicorns. (but not baby unicorns.)

Brigid

p.s. like my new pics? the amazing eddie dant, who has yet to join myspace. he needed a model to test out some new lighting thing. i can't wait to see what he does when i actually hire him to take pix.

So you're reading this, eh?
Current mood: cheerful
It just occurred to me that a lot of you out there are reading my blog, and I suddenly feel guilty that i haven't written in a while.

I'm curious who is out there reading... is it Nashville Star fans wondering if i am dishing out dirt on the contestants i know from the show? (i don't know much, other than Meg and Tim were great at regionals. and i think Angela is kicking butt on the show. and i think Zach Hacker should just go ahead and become "Zacker." But enough about Nashville Star....)

Instead, i think i'll just babble about things that are on my mind.

I played a show at Uncle Pleasant's on Saturday night with two fabulous songsters ... Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. It was one of those great Louisville nights with an appreciative audience, listening to the words, and focusing on the stage. Gotta love that. I had this blue dress on that i'm not quite sure about. I got mixed reviews, but it was fun playing dress-up anyway.

I'm going down to Nashville tomorrow because i need to start doing that. Anyone doing anything fun in the vicinity? I"ll be back down there again on Friday i think.

This Actors Theatre show that i'm Musical Directing has me spending every ounce of free time in rehearsals. They are actually really fun; this always surprises me. I forget that actors love to rehearse, and musicians love to "wing it." Actors probably know better. The show opens on March 23, and i highly recommend it.

I have also been given the task of making a wish list of musicians with whom i would like to share a bill. Any thoughts? My instincts are: Tom Waits, John Prine, etc... should i be aiming lower? any suggestions?

What i really need is a live-in intern. Surely there is some Music Business or Arts Admin major out there who needs a place to stay in return for doing things like ... booking shows, updating press kits, going to the post office (i have 4 packages just sitting by the door that i can't seem to find the time to mail), maybe occasionally picking up my dry cleaning or running the dog around the block, but mostly just going to shows with me and maybe selling merchandise? Perhaps the occasional trip to Nashville? I've got a nice room with your name on it if this is for you.

What else would i like? I would like to go out dancing with someone who actually knows how to dance. Not someone who just twirls me around in the awkward 7th-grade-perfect-attendance-dance kind of way. Lead me, baby!

what else? To dispel the rumor mill once and for all: NO, i am NOT married. Louisville is such a small town. these rumors spread quickly.

My dog Guinness is getting fat. But this is my fault for leaving nachos within his reach. And for failing to take him on a sufficient walk each day (intern, where art thou?).

I had Spanish club tonight. It is obvious i have forgotten mucho vocabulario.

Enough. Surely you don't care about this stuff?

Current mood: relieved
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
Apparently, all ten finalists have been notified that they made the show.

Seeing as I have not been notified, I would venture to assume that I did not make the show.

Oh well! At least this means that i can start booking all those shows and mini-tours that i've been avoiding while my life was up in the air.

I've been offered a few house concerts in the region .. anyone interested in hosting one? I love doing that type of event.

And if you don't know Stoney LaRue,c heck out his myspace. He put on an amazing show last night at Phoenix Hill. And his tour bus has cable! someday, someday...

Current mood: anxious
Category: Friends
No, I don't know anything.

sorry:)

Current mood: giddy
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
Best text message of the day:

"U made front page Tennessean." Rec'd 7:41am. From my dad. Who just went downstairs in the hotel to get a newspaper, as he always does when he's out of town.

First of all, I'd like to point out how impressive it is that my almost-62-year-old dad knows how to send a text message. Second, an ACCORDION is on the front page of Nashville's biggest newspaper. And finally, I'M on the front page of Nashville's biggest newspaper.

It's been a fun day.

Jen and I went to the Pancake Pantry this morning, while my parents wandered around downtown Nashville. I suspect they were going up to everyone they saw and telling them about their superstar daughter. They are so proud already, they wouldn't know what to do if I ever actually did make it big.

But back to the pancakes...

I was told to avoid the Pancake Pantry because of long lines, but seeing as it's Thursday, i figured it couldn't be that bad. We didn't have to wait long -- maybe 10 minutes. I spent those 10 minutes telling the other people in line that I was on the front page of the Tennessean.

Both our server and the college kids sitting next to us recommended the Sweet Potato Pancakes. Jen and I were not convinced. When said college kids left, I decided to taste a bite of their pancakes. The sweet potato pancakes were just not that good. So we ordered Sugar and Spice. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. So good. Apple sauce, hot maple syrup, and some other delicious cinnamon-esque syrup.

After breakfast, I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and spent way too much time watching video clips of Old-Time favorites. My mom told me that bar regulars used to call my dad "Glen Campbell." Flashing back to a memory of my dad using lots of hairspray -- i can almost see the resemblance.

I also saw Elvis Presley's gold-plated piano. Is that what happens when you have so much money you're not sure what to do? You start gold-plating the TV in the backseat of your Cadilllac? Or your concert grand piano? I hope that never happens. I'd much prefer to just buy plane tickets to Paris at the last minute.


I went back to The Stage about 6:00 to listen to some of tonight's finalists sing. My friend Blue, who lives in Louisville was in Nashville audtioning for TV's original reality show: Jeopardy! Made the callback round, and he goes back tomorrow for more questions..... While at The Stage, I hung out with excellent musicians: Shaun Garth Walker and Marcy Hook. Both have myspace pages, and both were at the Indianapolis tryouts for Nashville Star. And both are clever, fun people. Go be their friends.

But I got antsy at The Stage, and headed over to the Douglas Corner Cafe, on the recommendation of Peter Cooper -- who wrote the FRONT PAGE ARTICLE IN THE TENNESSEAN ... did I mention that? Hee hee...

And I sat down, with my parents, and Jen, and Blue, and Shaun, and i looked to my right and there was Delbert McClinton. And to my right -- Russell Smith. And behind me -- John Prine's bass player, Dave Jaques. And Dave's lovely girlfriend with a beautiful name: Lemesa. And then in walks Shannon Lawson, whom I knew from Louisville, but hadn't seen in years. Now THAT was a night in Nashville. Unbelievable concert. Donnie Fritz and folks from Muscle Shoals. Absolutely awesome. Except, as I told Delbert and Donnie: it was missing an accordion.

Next time, folks, next time.

For those wondering, there's no word until next week about the show. One more night. If you're around Nashville, please drop by THe Stage tomorrow night and say hello. Showtime is 6:00. Admission is free. 18+.

Yee haw!

Here's a link to the Tennessean article:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611020377

Nashville Part Two
Current mood: tired
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
I'm tired and ready for bed, but not complaining at all.

I think I love Nashville. Is that allowed?

This morning I got up very early to make myself pretty for the cameras. This involved doing various things to my hair, which were all for naught, because it was raining. But all was well.

I arrived at the Nashville Star office a little after 8, where 18 of the other finalists were arriving one by one for a day of interviews and band rehearsals. It was all very low key, and i spent most of the time trying to remember everyone's names. The rehearsal was unbelievably fast, and, of course, the band played the song perfectly. I sat around for several hours, drinking lots of water, and going to the bathroom even more, until it was time for my interview.

The weirdest part of the interview was being on the other side of the camera. It's been years and years since i interviewed anyone, but it was still strange to have the lights and microphone turned around on me. But fun.

The Stage on Broadway was packed tonight. Lots of people brought their own crowds -- complete with t-shirts. Two fine young ladies from WKU came down bearing Brigid Kaelin t-shirts, which made me smile tremendously. I played fourth.

Check out the Thursday edition of "The Tennessean," which might have some quotes from me.

There's nothing much I can do, so i just plan on enjoying the rest of my time in Nashville, and checking out the other contestants' performances on Thursday and Friday.

I'm tired, and not feeling very coherent. So to bed ... i'll write more or edit tomorrow.

Current mood: excited
Category: Life
Last March, I managed to score a free ticket to Elvis Costello at the Ryman Auditorium. I borrowed a car, drove 3 hours south, heard Elvis, Tift, and Emmylou, and turned back for Louisville. That was my only Nashville experience.

So today, I'm seeing Nashville in the sunlight, and I think I like what I see.

Of course, visions can be altered when they come with fresh cookies (warm, and verrrrry chocolatey) hand-delivered by your hotel's bellhop. Do hotels still have bellhops? Is that an antiquated term? Either way, this particular bellhop moonlights as an Elvis impersonator. (Presley, not Costello.) I get the feeling there are a lot of Elvis impersonators in these parts.

Tomorrow at 8am, i report to N* HQ for on-camera interviews, a "brief rehearsal" with the N* House Band, and eventually my performance just after 6:00 at the Stage on Broadway.

From what I hear, there are 20 performers Wednesday night, and I am second. i'm also told that the show is free and open to the 18+ public, but you'll probably have to stand in line (or "online" if you're north of the Mason-Dixon line).

This being my first blog, I'm not sure how often I'll update it. Several people have requested that i blog rather than send individual email updates. We shall see. We shall see.