Amanda Richards: Journal

I’ve been having so much fun playing in zombie blood lately, preparing for my show this Friday at the Ponderosa Lounge.  This will be a show like no other.  Many of the songs we are performing are unreleased, unrecorded or just unreal.  I’ve got a new line up of undead musicians for the evening featuring Max Skewes (aka 2 drink Max) on Banjo, Susanna Lowbeer on fiddle, Dan Sullivan on bass and Simon Lucas on Drums.

 

This is gonna be a lot of fun for us and probably a lot of fun for you too if you want to come out.  There is no cover and they’re serving $3 bloody Marys and $2 PBR’s in honor of the Zombie Apocalypse.  We will be sharing the stage that evening with Chris Kelly’s Mortal Remains for some more totally inappropriate country music.  The show starts at 9 and we will likely be on around 10 or 10:30pm.

 

The Ponderosa Lounge

(located in Jubitz travel center)

10350 N Vancouver Way

Portland, OR 97211

 

Feel free to come as a zombie or a zombie slayer.  All are welcome (as long as you’re over 21).

 

xoxo,

Amanda

 

Bohemian Country Songstress
www.amandarichards.net

 

So, I’m getting ready to head out to Tri-Cities this weekend to make the rounds at Ava Wine Rooms and Ice Harbor Brewing again.  I had such a great time there 6 weeks ago that I’m really looking forward to going back…

I got my franken-guitar back from the shop today.  It seems to be playing decently so that’s a good sign.  Hopefully, it won’t fall apart during the middle of one of my sets this weekend-- but those boys over at Portland Fretworks seem to know what they’re doing so it's probably unlikely…

I’m getting pretty excited about this zombie show at The Ponderosa Lounge on October 23^rd.  It’s gonna be kinda late for a lot of folks, but if you can hang it’ll be well worth it.  I’ll include the press release at the bottom of this email for your critique.

Also, it looks like the Portland Music Awards are starting up again this year.  It’s really cool that we have a means here in Portland to acknowledge local, hardworkindg and talented musicians and songwriters.  If you would like to nominate me or any other of your favorite artists you can do so at www.portlandmusicawards.com

 Here’s the stat’s for this weekend:

 Friday October 9^th

Ava Wine Rooms

3617 Plaza Way, Suite A
Kennewick, Washington 99337

8 to 10pm

Free

 

Saturday October 10^th

Ice Harbor Brewing Co

206 N Benton St C
Kennewick, Washington 99336

7 to 9pm

Free

 

And here’s my Zombie PR, What d’ya think?

 

AMANDA RICHARDS

BOHEMIAN COUNTRY SONGSTRESS

ZOMBIE SLAYER AND FEMINIST

 

CONTACT:    arbooking@gmail.com

###-###-####

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                

 

Zombies Destroyed the World! Amanda Richards to retaliate at The Ponderosa Lounge.

PORTLAND­­––October 23^rd, 2009––Local Bohemian Country Songstress and Zombie Slayer, Amanda Richards, will be performing teasers from her soon to be released album regarding the Zombie Apocalypse written from the perspective of the last “person” on earth who happens to be a country singer and a feminist.

Accompanied by a band of cadaverous cowboys brutalizing instruments resembling the banjo, fiddle, bass, guitar and drums- The group will feature originals such as “You Don’t Leave Your Woman When There’s Walking Dead,” “Is my Baby Gonna be a Zombie?” and “Undead in my Bed.”

Drink specials for the evening will be $3 Bloody Marys and $2 PBR’s. 

Show starts at 9pm and there is no cover.

The Ponderosa Lounge is located at the Jubitz Travel Center in Portland, OR.

10350 N Vancouver Way, I-5 Exit 307, Portland, OR 97211

503-345-0300 Ext. 4459

www.PonderosaLounge.com

 

 

 

For more information, please contact the address above, or visit www.amandarichards.net

 

###

 

 

Thanks Again!

 

xoxo,

Amanda

Good morning! I’m sitting here typing out this e-mail while enjoying a steaming cup of matte and the company of my precious cockatiel, Beulah, who survived the night after being egg bound.  Yet another thing to be grateful for: Good friends.  Be them feathered or otherwise.

 

I wanted to let you and my other good friends know that I will perform at a songwriter competition tonight at Macadam’s Bar & Grill in SW Portland, trying out 2 new songs to see how they score.

 

The showcase starts at 8:30pm but I go on towards the end.

 

Thursday, October 1st

Macadam's Bar & Grill

5833 SW Macadam Avenue

Portland, Oregon  97239

 

I’ll also be playing Friday night at Winestyles in Tualatin from 6:30 to 9:30pm. 

 

Friday,October 2nd

7009 SW Nyberg St
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503) 691-7777

 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I’m gonna have the Zombie album (written from the perspective of the last person on earth who happens to be a country singer and a feminist) done in time to release it for Halloween, but I have decided to incorporate much of the zombie material into my set on October 23^rd at the world famous Ponderosa Lounge (in the Jubitz travel center).  I’ll also be doing some of the naughty country songs with a new line up of musicians we’re calling The Fishnet Stalkers.  This should be a really fun event and I believe the cover is like $3.  I highly suggest putting this one on your calendar.

 

Friday, October 23^rd

The Ponderosa Lounge

10350 N Vancouver Way

Portland, OR 97211

 

I hope sober October treats you well and hopefully I’ll see you soon!

 

XOXO,

Amanda

Ok, here’s a very last minute update with a list of the shows I’m doing this weekend, the status of my guitar, a very embarrassing confession and a cry for help.  I also want to say that I got a letter from ASCAP announcing that I will be receiving my first royalty check for $250.  It’s not much, but it’s a start, eh?

 

Here we go…

 

Friday, September 25^th

The Bavarian Kitchen

38773 Proctor Blvd
Sandy, OR 97055-8018
(503) 668-4000

7 to 9pm

 

Saturday, September 26th

Portland Farmers Market

PSU Campus

Portland, OR

11am to 1pm

 

Saturday, September 26th

Peninsula Park (performing quiet acoustic music for Pure Life Clinic while patients receive massage and chiropractic adjustments, come try it out)

700 N Portland Blvd

Portland, OR 97217

2:30 to 5pm

 

Sunday, September 27^th

Dundee Farmers Market

120 South West 7th St
Dundee, OR 97115

11am to 1pm

 

So the diagnosis on the guitar is that it can be repaired but I have to be easy on it and use lighter gage strings.  This will definitely buy me some time to replace it which I still may need to do.  I want to say a big THANK YOU to Gigi & Jason for helping me out with the cost of the repairs. I also want to say another big THANK YOU to Josh Townsley for loaning me his beautiful Seagull guitar while mine is in the shop. 

 

It’s funny how this minor little setback really snapped me out of a funk and has got me inspired and excited to forge ahead with my career. 

 

Now, here’s the part where I share with you my embarrassing confession…

 

You see, I let myself get into a rut.  I worked so hard to complete my last album that by the time it was complete I ran out of energy and resources to keep the ball rolling.  I also had a team of people helping me and it was a major setback for me to lose my manager. The results were that I was too overwhelmed to be a writing, performing and recording musician while attempting to manage a whole team of people aside from the four other members of my band.

 

There is so much work involved, there is no way that one person could effectively do it all on their own and still have some semblance of a personality. Coordinating things like the posters and promo from Communications Factory, our wonderful ad agency sponsor; setting up radio, newspaper and television interviews; booking shows or finding booking agents to book shows; finding sponsors and financing for tours and projects; setting up conference calls, goal setting, maintaining a positive attitude, writing long winded e-mails, driving, touring, performing, and still finding the time to write music and create art… and still be able to pay the bills most of the time.

 

I can’t do it all on my own.  At every pinnacle of my success there have always been other people there to help. I’m doing this alone right now and it just isn’t what it could be.  I can’t build anything bigger than what I have right now on my own.  So, I’m looking for folks in my community to help build a better foundation to support the amount of infrastructure it takes to keep a project like this rolling.  As  the ball gets bigger we’re gonna need more people to push.    

 

There are small jobs and there are large jobs, the pay is terrible and at times non-existent. 

I have a lot of resources and information about working in the music industry and could be a wealth of knowledge for someone who’s looking to get started.  It could also be a fun and exciting hobby for someone who is unemployed or retired or has a trust fund and lots of free time.

 

In any case, I need help…  There. I said it.

 

I guess I better go now.

 

Love, love love

 

~Amanda

 

Hey kids, I’m playing this Friday at the Redhare in Astoria… If you were thinking of heading out to the coast this weekend, maybe you’d like to come check this show out!

 

8/28/2009- 8pm

The Redhare

260 10^th St

Astoria, OR 97103

$10 cover

 

I’m also playing in Roseburg on September 3^rd for their Music in the Vines from 5:30 to 8pm.

 

If you have friends in the area, please, please, please… let them know.

 

 

Talk to you soon!

 

Xoxo,

Amanda

I’m playing Friday night…you know, tonight…  August 14^th,  in Tualatin at Winestyles from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

 

So, if you’re still looking for something to do tonight, there is no cover and I will be dragging my electric bass player, Justin Rouse out with me tonight as well.

 

Btw, I have no idea how this giant picture of my ass ended up in this e-mail.  I’ve tried everything to remove it, including diet and exercise….

 

Xoxo,

Amanda

 

 

Bohemian Country Songstress
www.amandarichards.net

Hello again,

At long last, my voice has returned (possibly stronger than ever) and I am feeling much better. I’m sorry for being such a Debbie Downer last week.  Things are looking much brighter and I think I’ll have many new and exciting things to report to you very soon.

 

In the mean time…

 

I’ll be playing Thursday night at The Backspace accompanied by my good friend and amazing cellist Ashia Grzesik.  The show starts at 8pm with a line up that includes Karli Fairbanks from Spokane, WA and Amber Rubarth from New York.

 

My set will probably start a closer to 10pm. I know that’s a little late for a school night, but I really hope you can make it cause this’ll be the last time I play in Portland for the next 6 weeks. 

 

The Backspace

115 NW 5^th

Portland, OR 97209

Tickets are $6-$8

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/62046

 

 

I hope to see you soon!

 

Xoxo,

Amanda Richards

Why hello there,

I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch lately.  My musical life has had a few recent twists and turns and it’s left me literally without words.  I thought I knew my course, I had all the momentum and energy I needed to move forward but I got a “Shakabuku” or a swift and spiritual blow to the head and have needed to pause for a moment to recover.

 

I’ve been physically ill for several weeks (I haven’t been sick in almost a year) and I lost my voice for over a week.  This is scary stuff when my sole source of income is from music.  But scarier still is not being able to communicate or to live what I ‘believe’ is my “soul’s purpose.”  And since I basically quarantined myself off from friends and family without the ability to speak over the phone, I’ve had an awful lot of time to think about this.

 

I’m feeling much better now but I still have this nagging feeling that something is missing in the big picture.  So at the end of this month, I’m going to go find it.

 

In the mean time, I do have two intimate shows coming up that I would love to see you at before I begin my journey.

 

The first is this Friday, April 17th at Winestyles in Tualatin. 6 to 9pm

7009 SW Nyberg St

Tualatin, OR 97062

503-691-7777

 

The second is at the Backspace on Thursday, April 23^rd. 8 to 11pm (I go on around 9:30)

Backspace

115 NW 5^th Ave

Portland, OR 97209

503-248-2900

 

You can get tickets online for $6 or at the door for $8.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/62046

 

This is a very special show as I will be sharing the stage with two other amazing female singer/songwriters Kari Fairbanks and Amber Rubarth.  Amber recently won 1^st place in the International Songwriting Competition. This show is also 2 days before my birthday, which I will be gone for, so feel free to come bearing cake.  

 

Thank you again for your love and support.  I couldn’t do this without you.

 

Xoxo,

Amanda Richards

 

 

Bohemian Country Songstress

aka seeker of a higher truth
www.amandarichards.net

Well hello there, I suppose it is about time that I brought you up to speed on the latest and greatest.  Sorry it has taken so long, but here is a quick progress report of the last 10 days or so.

 

First of all, the CD release party was a huge success!  It was a lot of work and I am soooo grateful for all the help and support that I received to get this project off the ground. I can’t imagine having pulled this off by myself.  There were so many wonderful people who donated their time, resources and energy into making this a success.  I can’t thank you all enough.  Soon we will have a beautiful DVD of the evening filmed in HD courtesy of Mike Canty and his wonderful crew over at MCTV and an awesome multi-track recording thanks to my good friend Eric Johnson over at Audix.

 

After the show, I spent a few days recovering on the coast of Southern Oregon and then spent the weekend performing up on Bainbridge Island near Seattle.  Now I have the very unglamorous task of soliciting the album for distribution, airplay and licensing.  Mostly it involves me sitting in front of the computer for hours on end and making many many trips to the post office.  On the plus side, I do get to work in my pajamas. 

 

I still have a pretty big mountain to climb to get this album out there but all I really want to do right now is write songs. I am nearly done writing the zombie concept album I’ve been working on and I should be ready to begin recording in the next couple of weeks.  I’m kinda feeling like the parent who enjoys making babies more than raising them.  But I’m a “proud parent” and will do whatever it takes to get “Who Has Your Heart”  heard and most importantly- SOLD.

 

I’ve got 5 shows coming up in Seattle at the Moisture Festival booked under the name “Buxom” which is a dirty duo I have formed with Ashia Grzesik, an amazing cellist and songwriter.  We’ll be performing primarily original material of the inappropriate variety in a Country/Cabaret sort of style March 11-15^th.

 

There is some talk about me going to Nashville around March 17^th to talk with Grammy award winning producer Larry Butler.  Larry is an old school country producer who has worked with some of the greats like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers.  I don’t have the plane ticket yet, but the opportunity is there and I will keep you posted as things progress.

 

Thanks again for you love and support.

XOXO,

Amanda Richards

Hey there, I’m sure you’re probably sick of hearing from me go on and on about my CD release party and how great it’s gonna be, blah blah blah.  I hear ya, I hear ya.  But you know what?  It really is gonna be great.  We’ll be making history that night.  MCTV is going to be filming the whole thing in HD for us, Audix microphones will be recording the event and it’s gonna be emceed by local celebrity Chloe Hauser of channel PDX 49.  FOX news is covering my story and airing teasers locally for the event during American Idol TONIGHT!  I’m serious.  REALLY.  I’M NOT JOKING.

 

The album’s been getting a lot of press lately because of the odd and somewhat inspirational story behind it.  I’ll tell you all about it on Friday if you want to come down.

 

If you’re still on the fence about coming, I wrote this poem that I hope will inspire you to attend.  I posted it on my blog in an effort to keep this e-mail short and sweet.

 

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=30260809&blogID=471314717

 

The show is gonna be a lot of fun, but honestly, I can’t wait til the day after the show when I can have little break from my own neurosis.  If you ever want to test the boundaries of your own mental health, I highly suggest throwing a party just like this one.  Then try to convince 600 of your closest friends to attend.  It’s really a great exercise, you should try it.

 

Anyway, I hope that you still love me even though I’m a little loco and FOX news thinks I’m cool.

 

I hope to see you on Friday,

Xoxo,

Amanda

 

Friday, February 20^th 2009

The Aladdin Theater

3017 SE Milwaukie Ave

Portland, OR 97202

Doors open at 7pm

Show starts at 8pm

Tickets are $15-$22

Available at the door, through me or Ticketmaster

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=30260809&blogID=471314717

Wow, news channel 8 just came to my house to do an inspirational story an me and the community effort that has gone into launching my new CD "Who Has Your Heart."  I'd really like to see this or get a copy of it and I DON'T EVEN HAVE A TV!!!

I know it's last minute, but is there any chance you could help me record this?

I've also got a few other TV things going on next week as well.  So if you haven't already got tickets to my CD release at the Aladdin, you might want to get them soon.  It looks like we might be able to sell this one out! 

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00419AA83E3C44?tm_link=edp_onsale

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your love and support.  You are truly an inspiration to me.

 Talk to you soon!

xoxo,

Amanda

 

 

Man, I cannot believe how fast time is flying by.  I am so excited to share my new album with you and I cannot wait to show you the SWAG that I’ve got for you- we're talking bonafide Amanda Richards merchandise: commemorative cookies and whiskey shot glasses, inappropriate coffee mugs that you may want to reconsider taking to work and bleeding heart t-shirts guaranteed to alienate you from your friends and family (actually, their pretty freaking cool and they'll probably help you make friends, "cool" friends who will respect you for your awesome taste in music and clothing). 

 

I know you probably have already marked your calendar for February 20^th for my CD release at the Aladdin Theater (at least I hope you have) but there's another date you may also be interested in marking as well. February 12th, this coming Thursday, my whole band is gonna be on AM Northwest! That's right, We're gonna be TV stars!

 

Thursday February 12th

KATU Channel 2

AM Northwest

9am

 

I was gonna invite you down to the studio, but apparently they don't do the live studio audience anymore so you're just gonna have to wait til I'm on Letterman or Conan ;)

 

 

 

OK, so I don't mean to grovel, but please, please, please let me know if you are interested in helping with any of the promotion with the Aladdin.  My mom made these kits for us to give people if they want to sell tickets to their friends and family.  You can also get tickets at ticketmaster if you just want to get a few for yourself.

 

 

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00419AA83E3C44?tm_link=edp_onsale

 

As always, there is so much more to tell you but these things always end up being so darn long. But before I go, Can I ask you a huge favor?  If you love me or my music or both, would you please tell a friend about me and maybe invite them to join you on February 20th at the Aladdin? 

 

Thank you so much, you really are the best!

 

So you don't forget...

 

Friday, February 20^th

The Aladdin Theater

Doors open at 7pm

 Show starts at 8pm (Get there early cause I’m going on early)

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00419AA83E3C44?tm_link=edp_onsale

 

 

Thanks again for reading this whole e-mail.  I know sometimes it's a chore but I just love talking to you so much I don't know when to stop.

 

See you soon!

xoxo

Amanda Richards 

 

P.S. My spellcheck wasn't working today and I'm uncaffinated so I hope my spelling was up to par this morning

So, right now I'm sipping coffee in SE Portland frantically trying to get this e-mail out to you before my 15 minute time limit on this blasted public computer runs out. My computer would probably be fixed and returned to me by now if I hadn't have unknowingly sent it into the eye of hurricane Ike. At least I didn't decide to hand deliver it. I desperately need a computer soon cause there is so much happening right now that I really should be writing to you weekly so that my e-mails aren't so dense.

 

First and foremost, I am playing a solo show tonight in Tualatin at Winestyles from 6:30pm to 9:30pm and I'm really hoping some folks come out and hang with me. It's a pretty small place so we actually can talk and interact. Then I'm flying to Orange County first thing in the morning for a little business and to celebrate my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversay! (I love you guys!)

 

My newly appointed (and wonderful) manager, Paisley Rose, is also down in L.A. at the moment working as a consultant on HBO's Big Love. Rumor has it that one of my songs is being considered for an episode. Please cross your fingers, pray, practice voodoo or whatever for me cause this could be huge if my song gets picked up.

 

I'll be back in P-town on October 10th to (Bohemian Country) Rock the Ponderosa Lounge! My 5 piece band will be closing for Nashville country Artist: Adam Gregory. We should be playing from 9pm to 1am and it will be a lot of fun. The Ponderosa is one of the biggest country venues in the Portland area and they regularly have national touring acts passing through. This will also be the only performance with my band in the Portland area for the whole month of October so... um, come check it out.

 

On Sunday October 11th I will be performing as a finalist in the Nine Muses Acoustic Tavern songwriter showcase. The showcase will take place from 5:30 to 7:30pm and if you feel like coming down and cheering for yours truly, tickets are available at www.ticketswest.com. If I win it's $1,000 bucks in my pocket, free studio time and another interview on NPR's River City Folk.

 

I am also participating in a very cool and progressive event on October 21st called "Singing about a Revolution" taking place at the Someday Lounge in Downtown Portland. I'll be doing a very short set showcasing some of my not too familiar political pieces (including: You're Finished Here, Cowboy) and some new comedy stuff. Tickets are $15 and proceeds go to the non-partisan website http://www.ontheissues.org For more information on the event visit:

http://www.myspace.com/singinaboutarevolution

 

There are also a few other exciting things going on in my world:

Audix Microphones will be featuring me in their next big ad in American Songwriter Magazine promoting the new VX5 microphone! And my song/poem "What I mean to Say" won the editors choice award in an international poetry contest and will be published in the UK this winter! If you'd like to read it, go to http:www.myspace.com/amandarichardsband and look under my blog.

 

Ok, I'm starting to get some dirty looks from the barista so I better get off the computer. I'll try to stay in touch and keep you up to date with my music and computer saga.

 

xoxo,

Amanda

Okay, Okay- I know I should probably start giving a little more notice when I have a show- but I love the fact that you're so spontaneous and don't mind a little last minute Friday night entertainment.

So tomorrow night (or tonight- depending on when you read this) I will be playing a 1 hour solo acoustic set from 9pm to 10pm. Afterwards will be a performance by the band "Quoting Napoleon." I've honestly never heard this band so I cannot tell you if they are any good. You can go to their website www.quotingnaploleon.com and decide for yourself (let me know how it goes). I've also never been to this venue before so I really have no idea if the food is any good or what the atmosphere is like. What can I say? It's an adventure for me too!


What I can tell you is that there is no cover, it is non-smoking and by God there will be an hour of acoustic music from 9pm to 10pm!

Here's the specs:

Friday October 12th, 2007
9pm to10pm
5833 SW Macadam Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97239
503.246.MACS
www.macadamsbarandgrill.com
If you can't make it, don't beat yourself up too badly. After all, I do have a very cool show coming up November 3rd at the Tea Zone in NW Portland. This place is brand new and out of this world cool.

See ya later,
Amanda