Ponderings

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Dude where's my Car?
Dude where’s my Car?

Thawed by the Warmest of Hearts ….

Picture of a selfie…Beth Hart and Me.

Although I felt like I walked into Disney’s Frozen movie (and Elsa must have been MAD), I melted 🙂  As always, I am so amazed and humbled by the incredible souls I meet on the road, as well as the profound connections created by music.  Thank you to everyone who hosted the house concerts, came to the shows and supported me along the way.

Because I was too afraid to drive to and from Ira Siegel’s rehearsal space in the “worst snow storm in 5 years,” I paid $83 to an Uber driver….but Mr. Uber Driver had just seen Beth Hart the night before in NYC, and reassured me that I was opening for one of my generation’s Masters.  Indeed – Beth rocks!  She performs with such rawness and abandon that I can’t imagine anyone walked out of the Birchmere untouched by her honesty and passion.  Here’s a fun picture of us.  I never got the selfie, but I got a picture of the selfie.

After two great nights with Beth at The Birchmere, Ira Siegel (an amazing guitar player, borrowed from the Bacon Bros. and the orchestra of “Beautiful” and “Kinky Boots” on Broadway) and I met up with the talented and endearing Paul Guzzone (wonderful singer/songwriter in his own right, also the bass player in the Bacon Bros. band) for Part 1 of the Home Invasion Tour.  This is where the adventure becomes most exciting ’cause we never really know what each “venue” (Living Room/ Breakfast Room/Club House/ Whatever) has in store for us!  We couldn’t have gotten luckier in the draw.  Our trio, together with my Godbrother/Tour Manager/Magician Michael, zigzagged across PA where we did a house concert to benefit BreastCancer.org, on to WV, back to PA and then on to VA.  Each home was filled with the warmest, open hearts and delicious home cooked meals.  Thank you to BreastCancer.org, Howard & Missy, Arlene, Maggie and Veronika & Jeff – they were phenomenal hosts.  We filled the rooms with music, stories, laughter and yeah, a few tears (but in a good way), and hopefully we left smiles and the spirit of the songs behind, where they will continue to take on a life of their own.  If you are interested in hosting a house concert, don’t hesitate to email me.  I will be extending the Home Invasion Tour throughout the rest of the year – hitting as many States as I can!  

Coming up:

3/27 Charlotte, NC Private Concert

3/28 Huntersville, NC House Concert to Benefit Different Roads Home / Call for more info: 704-237-8804

3/30 Nashville, TN – Daisy Duke’s – Aubryn’s Open Mic – I will be doing a “featured slot” during this evening & hanging out to get inspired by other writers
2309 B Franklin Pike
8pm

3/31 Live on WFIV 105.3  in Knoxville, TN  Time TBA.  This was the first radio station to add “Heels Over Head” into rotation and I can’t wait to go meet my “First Love” at radio.

4/16 Hermosa Beach, CA Solo/acoustic opening for LISA LOEB at Saint Rocke
Tickets available HERE!  Tell your friends in the warmer part of the country 😉

I will be BACK on the EAST COAST in July – dates to be posted soon!   More Home Invasions – interested?  Hit me up.

More dates TBA.   You can find more info and tangents at www.facebook.com/cindyalexander.music  and “follow me” on Twitter ~ I’m @pnutsings. #HITour

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Me & January = Juggling the clutter I’m trying to move out to Good Will while pining over the ultimate release of things to which I’m inappropriately or dysfunctionally attached.  Meanwhile, I create piles and more piles of all the paperwork that didn’t find a proper place over the last year.  I avoid completing that task by making multiple trips to Office Depot to buy file folders, a label maker, and Junior Mints from the impulse aisle so that I can organize the year that hasn’t happened yet (on a sugar high).  Did I just admit that? So that I can avoid organizing ANYTHING, I thought I’d pop in and say Happy New Year to anyone who has taken the time to stop by my corner of cyberspace.   Some things to add to my Happy List:

I am honored to have received the L.A. Music Critic Award for Best Female CD for CURVE  (2nd half 2014) as well as be named Comeback Artist of the Year.  Although we did a “soft” release to our friends and fans in October, my team at Blue Élan Records knew that the holidays were a difficult time to promote an independent CD.  But NOW is our time ~ and CURVE is about to reach a larger audience.  We’re “going for adds” at radio next week!! Check back in to find out what stations will be spinning “Heels Over Head” but as of now, I’d like to thank i105 WFIV fm in Knoxville, TN for being the first to jump on board and give me an early add.   As this is my first ever radio campaign, I will never forget that leap of faith and show of support.

Although I love the writing and recording process, it’s playing live that gives me the deepest satisfaction.  I am thrilled to be able to tour this year and sing for so many of you in person.  Upcoming tour dates include the following:

January 24, 2015  Private House Concert – Studio 519, Redondo Beach

January 31, 2015 Vezer Family Vineyard, Fairfield, CA

February 1, 2015 Fenix Live, San Rafael, CA

February 14, 2015 Molly Malone’s, L.A., CA  Single’s Awareness/ Valentine’s Day show – take your pick!

March 2 & 3, 2015 opening up for Beth Hart at the Birchmere, Alexandria, VA

March 26-April 3 NC and TN dates to be announced soon!  The Home Invasion Tour of 2015 is coming together with house concerts all over the USA.  If you are interested in hosting one, by all means reach out by email or on Facebook, and let’s put something together!

Another happy note:  I’m cancer FREE and excited to being doing more work this year as Ambassador to BreastCancer.org.  More info on upcoming events and campaigns with BCO coming soon!  In the meantime, feel yourselves up (that includes MEN TOO) and let’s be reminded that although Drs. know the art and science of medicine, YOU know your body.  You’ve lived in it your whole life. 🙂

The Giving Key
The Giving Key

Love,

Cindy

PS:  Here’s a picture of The Giving Key.  I received one when I was in the hospital before my double mastectomy.  It meant the world to me – I hung on to it for a year before I gave it away.  It’s meant to be passed on – at a time when you realize someone needs it more than you do.  This is my own version of the Giving Key – one side says BELIEVE, and other side says CURVE.  They are available at www.blueelan.com and at my shows.

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Christmas is Here - Cover I’m happy to report that although I went into Target unarmed, I came out alive with the Palace Pet and Green Hulk Pillow that my children requested.  I had eyes, not words, with the woman who tried to take the Palace Pet out of my cart while I was perusing an Amelia Bedelia Easy Reader.  If you haven’t finished your shopping or you (like me) haven’t gotten to your cards yet either, may I offer up a simple solution?  How bout the gift of music?  Surprise!  I have a brand new Holiday EP called “Christmas is Here” !

One of the perks about being an artist signed to Blue Élan, is that I get to make MORE music MORE often.   “Christmas is Here” is a three song stocking stuffer:  The first tune was hand picked by Blue Élan President Kirk Pasich (“Christmas is Here”) and is written by Frank Michael Sullivan.  Yes, the same guy that wrote a bunch of hits for Survivor!  I wrote the second, “For Auld Lang Syne,” together with producer Dave Darling especially for this EP.  It’s a song about gratitude, forgiveness, and the chance to start over again.  The third song is a favorite of mine, “River,” by Joni Mitchell.  This is a recording that I did with Paul Trudeau a few years ago that has been sitting in the drawer, and I’ve always wanted to release it.  I hope you enjoy this collection and that you find it worthy of your holiday playlist.  You can sample the songs in the videos below or hop on over to iTunes or the Blue Elan store.  (Note: if you are purchasing outside the US, please go to Blue Elan as iTunes won’t have it available.)

Wishing you the warmest of holidays, filled with love and beautiful music.  Hope to see you in the New Year ~ I’ll be touring the US so please check the Tour links for updates!

XO pnut


For Auld Lang Syne
Lyrics by Cindy Alexander
Music by Cindy Alexander and Dave Darling
Copyright 2014 JamCat Publishing/ Loud & Stupid Music (BMI)

All night
I’ve waited all night
Watching a fire light
Tinsel and torn up paper
Safer inside by a window
Holding a snow globe
Of what could have been

Let’s not pretend
We’d do it again
But I’m better for all of that mess
Let’s count the blessings and let ’em count the rest

Come back home
It’s a holy night
Let’s wrap up this year in candle light
As the ball comes down and the sun comes up
Can I have this dance
My love, for Auld Lang Syne

My life
I’ve waited all my life
Yeah it’s the right time
To open your heart and give it
Back to the one who has asked you
This is our chance to start over again

Let me be clear
It’s a Happy New year
What’s broken is still in our hands
You got the pieces I’m missing and I’ve got the plan

Come back home
It’s a holy night
Let’s wrap up this year in candle light
As the ball comes down and the sun comes up
Can I have this dance
My love, for Auld Lang Syne

Let’s not pretend
We’d do it again
But I’m better for all of that mess
Let’s count the blessings and let ’em count the rest

Come back home
It’s a holy night
Let’s wrap up this year in candle light
As the ball comes down and the sun comes up
Can I have this dance
My love, for Auld Lang Syne
 (repeat)