Subdudes Texas Tour

Oh what a feeling! I love the Subdudes music so much. It is an important part of the fabric of my life. I have mourned the break up of this band more than once. Celebrated reunions more than once. Even mourned the passing of an original member recently. Still, there I was opening their Texas -House of Blues shows. Nice! That's my idea of a perfect bill. I was so happy! Still am.

The House of Blues venues are real first rate rooms! Beautiful theatre setting, great stage, lights & sound. Cool crew members who were eager to help. Just a great experience overall. I loved the opportunity to introduce myself to a bunch of subdudes fans who didn't know me before. The shows were amazing. Great sound, great energy- beautiful!

One thing that hit me as I stood in the audience during their set was that I have said goodbye to this band before. I've suffered through the breakup of my favorite band & mourned them. The first time in 1996. Then they got back together in 2003 or 2004. Then they broke up again in 2008. Now they're back together again in 2014. This was going to be the end of the line again but they have decided to move forward and play select shows. Awesome!

The strange feeling happened as I thought about their breakups. I remembered a dream that I used to have that my granddad was still alive. In the dream I questioned the situation. How could this be? Didn't he die? He was so sick but here he is- wow...he must have gotten better! So, there I was rocking out to my favorite band (again) and I thought- wait a minute. Didn't they break up? I thought this would never happen again.  Weird!!!

California Tour with Marcia Ball

What an amazing tour! Marcia and I have been friends for a long time but you really get to know people when you spend a bunch of time in a car together or share hotel rooms with them. She is so down to earth, cool & easy going! I already knew that but it's confirmed extra double now! 

The shows were amazing! Superior venues, great audiences, first class treatment from a top notch staff at every venue. We were treated so well! Thank you Freight & Salvage/Berkeley, City Winery/Napa, The Palms Playhouse/Winters! Thank you KPIG and The Krush KRSH for having me the radio! Ice cream Monday with Bill Bowker at The Krush was a blast! It was wonderful sitting in with Jenny Kerr & Phil Milner in San Francisco & staying the night with them in Jenny's lovely SF home! Cool seeing my friends whom I lovingly refer to as my Arkansas cuz'ns Blythe & Julie. I loved seeing Bryan Beck & The Fabulous Judy in Napa! I loved watching them dance to Marcia Ball!  My friends Donny & Lynn came to the show in Napa also. I got to stay with them a couple of days later and sit in on a blues jam hosted by Donny w/ featured guest Terry Hanke. One of the best surprises was a little gig that popped up last minute in Hyampom, CA. I took the gig without many details because a friend of mind was hooking it up. I just went on faith. It was a good move on my part! First of all, the drive was a drive if a lifetime! So amazingly incredibly beautiful. OMG!!!!!!!!! I had NO IDEA!!! Wow! Wow! Wow! Crazy beautiful! The people in Hyampom turned out for my show! I didn't see many houses so these folks must've come from miles around. Very nice folks. A lot of young, soft spoken, intelligent men! I met several from Texas! 

I want to go back! I LOVED IT THERE and not just because of all the young, polite, intelligent men- although that is a bonus! LOL! Just kidding!

Yay California, I love you!

Nancy Sinatra Tribute at the State Theatre

Can't even believe how much fun I've been having! Lets see...the Nancy Sinatra tribute at The State Theatre was a hoot and not just because of all the fabulously talented folks or that Tiny Dancer made dresses for us or even that I was excited to debut my knees in Austin (I wore a short dress!). Guy Forsyth sang a duet with me. He is so fabulous! It was super fun and memorable occasion because my friend Samantha Hazlewood (daughter of Lee Hazlewood - writer of "These Boots Are Made for Walking") flew down for the event! She was here less than 24 hours and we had some serious fun! After the show I took her to an after party at Deep Eddy Cabaret and then on the the Continental Club for Heybale and then upstairs to the gallery for some impromptu Ephraim Owens! What a night! I introduced her to Earl Poole Ball and he told her some stories about hanging out with her dad in California in the 70s.

Fuel Our Fire- teen creative camp!

Fuel Our Fire

I had the most amazing opportunity arise a week ago. I got a call from Phoebe Hunt to help coach a group of teens in collaborating, songwriting & recording. There's much more to it than that but that was the initial part that interested me. I was assigned a group of 5 kids ranging in age from 16-19. The kids were musical, poetic, intelligent and talented. 

In a week we collaborated and accomplished what they all wanted.

Long story short- we collaborated on the most amazing song EVER!!!! I can't wait for you to hear it! It blows my mind! I am SO PROUD of these phenomenal kids! What a cool thing to get to be a part of! Lucky me!

Getting ready for the Fire!

My new cd, "Building a Fire" will be released on August 26, 2014. Getting ready for that date is a big endeavor. Just like any monumental undertaking, there is a schedule where things need to happen at certain points leading up to the big day. Right now we have 2000 CDs, 500 padded envelopes & hundreds of posters in my living room. We are coordinating the tshirts & other stuff. We're making one sheets and postcards, stuffing envelopes, autographing 236 CDs for Kickstarter supporters, package up several hundred for radio and press. Plus, continue to schedule CD release parties & play the shows I currently have on the books. It's a whirlwind right now! This is why it takes me so long to get a cd out. I love the creative process so much and I spend a lot of time in that place- the creative place. Now the creation is complete & marketing is what has to happen now. I love that too. I believe this is a great CD and I am excited about spreading the word. Things are fun & fast right now!

Delbert McClinton & Friends "Sandy Beaches Cruise"!

Can't wait! Last year was so amazing! This year will be even better! I'm really so excited about this cruise! It was one of the best times I've had EVER! This time  we go to Antigua & St. Croix- Virgin Islands!!

Super Moon Honky Tonk

Played Poodie's tonight. Such a groovy roadhouse honky Tonk. First time I ever saw Willie Nelson was there. I got a call from a friend who said Willie was going to play a secret show. I went, fully expecting it to be a rumor, but when I arrived & saw Willie on that tiny little corner stage,  I could hardly believe my eyes. Some places are very special.  Poodie's is one of them.

Tonight was very special. Not a huge audience but definitively a great audience and my old friend, Beaver, was at the bar! Too cool! We ran into each others arms for a slow motion hug! 

Great Soundman! Killer band tonight! Tony Velasco in bass, Tom Gillam on lead guitar, Perry Drake on drums. RAWK!

A new web site!!!

I built a new web site all by myself! I think it's pretty good! Maybe I can do a little side work for my friends who need new sites! New skills! Check it out at http://www.shelleyking.com

Cruise of a lifetime!

Well, well, well...so now I've been on the Delbert McClinton Sandy Beaches Cruise-SBC20 and man was it something! I had the time of my life! There were so many talented artists and so many dedicated music fans. It's was an amazing vibe, almost dreamlike. I highly recommend this cruise to everyone who likes blues, R&B, soul, jazz, zydeco, country, singer songwriter, folk, & gospel music. OMG! I can't wait til SBC21!!!

Back to Biz

Well the holidays are over & it's back to business time! What was I doing before that festive season? Oh yeah! A new record! Right...ok, well, it's pretty much done. I am in the final stages of listening before I sign off on the mixes to be mastered. I leave for the cruise in a little over a week! The Delbert McClinton Sandy Beaches cruise!

I can't wait...well, actually I can wait! I have to get ready. There are things I need to purchase. For instance, I bought a couple of pretty dresses to take with me. They are strapless. They're lovely but I need to go buy a strapless bra! I don't think I've owned a strapless bra since high school. It just hasn't been an issue. But now with the revival of the strapless dress...I must get the appropriate undergarment! So many things to think about! I made a "to do" list and it was long. Then I went through it and prioritized & everything was a high priority! Oh boy! I'm glad it's January! I have more energy at the beginning if the year. 

Onward

I was making my list of all the things I needed to do. I went through my list and prioritized it. Everything is "high priority" & the list is long! Where do I start? I guess the things that have penalties for being late get first in line. Taxes and more tax related biz. Goodtimes! Ok, I'll start there. After that, I have a ton I stuff to do to get this new record out there. One of the most important things is raising money to be able to do it. Whew! So much to think about! I even have cleaning out closets & the garage in my list, maybe even a garage sale! All in two weeks. 

Ambitious, I know.

I'm so excited to be playing on the Delbert cruise! I leave on the 19th- Two weeks from today. I feel like I have 2 weeks to prepare for the trip & get everything else on my list done so that I can really let go on that week long cruise without my iPhone! Yikes!