Video of the Year!!! LOGO's Best of 2008...

Congratulations to Jen Foster for making it into the running for this list....

Watch the video...click to vote !!!!

Patrice Pike is Rockin' For Rescue on the Levee!!!!

The time is drawing near for another Salon Nights on the Levee and Rockin’ for Rescue art and music event, featuring artists: Matt Anzak, Tamara White, Marie Troute, and Christiane Ertmer; and great live music by Fishing for Comets and the Patrice Pike Band. This event will also include an auction with many animal friendly goodies and services, just in time for the holidays! Proceeds from the auction, door, and portion of the fine art sales will be donated to Lifelong Friends Pet Adoptions, a no-kill 501 ( c ) 3 North Texas Shelter.
Mark your calendars, bring a bottle of wine, and come on down to Lower Oak Lawn and enjoy the fun!

PATRICE PIKE



FISHING FOR COMETS

The holidays are upon us once again - Time to start thinking about those pesky stocking stuffers....

Well, it's that time again - have you started shopping yet??

I decided to put together a list of my favorite music for the year. CD's always make great gifts, and some of the online download sites like iTunes offer a "gifting" option so that you can give by the album or by the song...

Check out my favorites this year...

Jen Foster - "Songs from Thirty Nine"

Was there any doubt that Jen Foster would top my list? "Songs from Thirty Nine" is the latest award winning release from this really cool artist. This 4 song EP paves the way for the release of a full album sometime next year, and it's lower price makes it a great stocking stuffer for everyone on your list. The EP features "Closer to Nowhere" and "Venice Beach" - both songs that have been highly acclaimed by the who's who types on the indie music scene. If you are looking for a full length release, Jen has a couple of those available as well. Check them out and pick your favorite - which will not be an easy task - at Amazon.com, CDBaby, iTunes (where you can also buy a great video for "Closer to Nowhere"), and other online sites. Learn more about Jen Foster here.


Fishing for Comets - "Scattered Among the Archipelago"

If you like 10,000 Maniacs, you will love this band. The music is acoustic, upbeat, and filled with standout guitar and vocals. This band, I think, has become my official local Dallas favorite for this year. I bought this CD at a gig and it has been in heavy rotation on my iPod ever since. I am a sucker for acoustic music, and these folks have really caught my attention - and I am really excited to see them live again on Nov. 22 at Salon Nights on the Levee (For all of you Dallas people, advance tickets for this show are available at the Salon Nights web site) Check out Fishing for Comets and find links to purchase the CD here.


Sarah Bettens - "Shine"

Remember K's Choice? The singer in that band is on her own and making a name for herself. This latest release, along with her last release "Scream," is great for everyone who loves a great female vocal, and the super hot sex appeal of a chick playing a telecaster. The tracks on both CD's range from sweet and melodic, all the way to a grungy sort of alternative pop - Great Stuff... Check out all things Sarah Bettens here.


The Katie Todd Band - "Make Some Time for Wasting"

Katie Todd is a new artist to me this year (Thanks Becca!!). My favorites on this CD are "Leave" and "Face Down." If you like artists like Fiona Apple, Natalie Merchant, and Jewel...you will love this CD. I am keeping my ears open for a show date in Dallas - I would love to see these folks live!! Learn more HERE.


Jessi Lynn - "You Ain't Seen Nothing Like This"

I first heard about Jessi Lynn from my friends over at Salon Nights on the Levee. Then I saw her live and was totally hooked. Jessi Lynn's grammy nominated music reminds me a bit of Mary Chapin Carpenter - kind of pop/country. My favorite song on this record is "Anywhere but Here." Jessi Lynn has several releases available on her web site, ranging from a 4 song EP of yet to be released music, including one live track, to a collectors item CD that will not go to press again - definitely something for everyone on your list. Check out all that Jessi Lynn has to offer - including a couple of free downloads here


Finally, I wanted to include a couple of offerings for all of my friends who are interested in giving back this holiday season...here are a couple of great opportunities to help out AND get some really great music...


Rockin' For Rescue Compilation CD

Rockin' for Rescue is an organization that promotes live music events to raise money for animal rescue organizations that find forever homes for homeless animals that, for whatever reason, might not make it through an overcrowded shelter system. This CD features tracks donated by several awesome artists including Edie Brickell, The Clicks, Jen Foster, and Sarah Bettens. For a $10.00 tax deductible donation to this 501C3 non profit organization, you can give this CD to all of the animal loving rockers in your life. Learn more and make a donation HERE.


500,000 hits in 365 Days For Singer Songwriter Katie Reider

www.500kin365.org

Learn the story of this incredible artist who died last summer after a lengthy battle with a rare tumor that stole her voice, but not her spirit. At this site, you can listen to, and share Katie's music and, for a 1.00 donation, download a couple of tracks for yourself. Proceeds will go to Katie's family to help pay for the enormous medical bills that were built up over the course of her illness.


So, there you have it, my picks for the year...hope everyone is in good health, good spirits, and ready for a rockin' holiday season!!!




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Now playing: Jen Foster - A Day in the Life of a Rock Star
via FoxyTunes

A busy couple of months...but so much great music!!!

Wow, this last couple of months has just flown by - so many things happening in my world.

Can I just say, my birthday ROCKED!!! I just want to thank everyone so much for making that whole weekend an amazing and unforgettable few days. Rayn & Donna, all of the good friends that I haven't seen in ages that came out for the party, my new friends from Rockin' for Rescue, Salon Nights on the Levee, and the flea market circuit...and the incredible Jen Foster. It meant so much to me to celebrate my 40th birthday and 5 years of sobriety with great friends and, of course, great music.

Speaking of Salon Nights on the Levee...the shows just keep getting better and better. Late September brought Jessi Lynn all the way from Newnan, GA. with her unique style of country music to the Levee stage. Sporting a brand new custom built Pawless guitar, Jessi Lynn engaged the crowd with music and stories reminiscent of a "VH1 Storytellers" set. The show was opened up by local Dallas artist, Tiffany Dawn. It was my first time to hear Tiffany's music and I was impressed. She is definitely someone I want to hear again.

I will remember Texas/OU weekend 2008 for 2 things...Rayn and Jen Foster at Salon Nights on the Levee, and, of course...my birthday party!! If you had told me that I would ever hear Rayn perform live at a venue again, I would have laughed at you. Frankly, I expected that she would seem a bit tight and nervous, but that was not so at all. In the same way that I always remember her performances, Rayn owned the stage and the crowd while she performed the opening set. Performing old favorites like "Just by Chance" along with her newer compositions like "When She Cries/Saying Goodbye," and even a brand new unrecorded tune called "Warm Wet Kiss," Rayn demonstrated, once again, that when she has a guitar in her hands and an attentive audience...the result is nothing short of magic. After Rayn finished up, it was time for Jen Foster to take the stage. I don't suppose I have to tell anyone how long awaited or eagerly anticipated this show was. I thought October would NEVER get here. But, alas, it did... Jen was amazing, as expected. She engaged the crowd early and kept everyone rocking and singing along with award winning favorites "Closer to Nowhere," and "Taking Bob Dylan." She brought new material along as well, singing "The Sweet Song," a tune that has just been selected as the new theme song for Sweet cruise lines. Of course, no evening with Jen Foster would be complete without "The Home Depot Song,"... What an incredible night at Salon Nights on the Levee!!

It took me a hot minute to recover from all of the birthday festivities and, no sooner than I was back up on my feet after an ugly cold, Sarah Bettens was arriving in Dallas to play at the Granada Theater. I loved her show in Austin in July...I loved her show in Dallas more. I don't really know what's up with Dallas music fans - but they are really missing out when they let these shows pass them by. Sarah hit the Granada stage with a full band and put on an incredible show. I have to take an aside here and mention the drummer. You don't see that many really good female drummers around - I haven't really seen one in Dallas since Heidi Pyron sort of dropped off the scene a few years ago. Sarah Betten's drummer, Karen Teperberg, is AMAZING. I was really loving her. The whole band was awesome and Sarah, well, was Sarah...what can you say about that. She is a really intense performer - one of those singers that you just can't take your eyes off of when she is really into the music because you can just see it moving through her. I think I have found yet another favorite to add to my list...

So that about sums up the last month...Rockin' for Rescue and Salon Nights on the Levee are revving up for our November show with the Patrice Pike Band. I have not yet heard Patrice live, but I have checked out a few of her tunes and really like them. Everyone I know that has seen her perform says that she puts on a great show, so I am very excited about seeing her at the Levee on Nov. 22nd - AND, Fishing For Comets will be opening that show up...I LOVE them!!! So, buy your tickets now, because we really are expecting that this will probably be a sellout show with Patrice coming from Austin...you can get advance tickets at www.salonnightsonthelevee.com or www.rockinforrescue.com - Hope to see you there!!!

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Now playing: Fishing For Comets - Hope Is Calling
via FoxyTunes