This Honest Age

Don't blink

2007-03-16T22:56:48Z

Hey all,

Just a quick update... I'm signing in from the studio right now, taking a break from laying down master vocals, watching the very brilliantly meticulous producer, David Browning work.

I'm learning what it means to be a professional working in this thing called 'the music business' - instead of 'the music business' being a big, shiny building with a massive gold padlock on the double front doors as I'd imagined it would be, it's actually a quite comfortable, totally satisfying, inspiring, creative space where I can have chips & salsa, play on myspace, and sing for hours on end, complete with mint chocolate chip ice cream and studio children & pets.

I have to remind myself not to miss a thing. This is it. These are my dreams unraveling. It's hard work, at times frustrating & self-deprecating, emotionally draining and beautifully exhausting, but most definitely a labor of love in its purest form.

Don't blink.

New pics!

2006-09-21T20:43:20Z

new pics!

A Whole Different Animal

2006-08-29T18:11:22Z

I don't mean to be such a tease...

2006-08-21T15:40:11Z

Ah yes, the new record... it's chugging along... I'm itching to release something already, but all in good time, my friends. We'd rather release the best record we could possibly make, rather than compromise the work just to meet a deadline. Ah, the luxury of indie labels :-)

I will tell you this, though... after receiving countless emails regarding the release of the new CD, my talented partners-in-crime and I have decided to release a limited edition EP! An appetizer to the main course, if you will. ;-)

Stay tuned...

Vacation Pics!

2006-08-16T15:08:06Z

Vacation pics from the cruise are up in the photo gallery! Go to the "On the Road" section and click on "August 2006 Vacation". Check 'em out! We took a 4-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, stopping in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.

http://jenwoodhouse.com/photogallery

Jen wins The Raw Artist giclee contest!!

2006-08-16T15:05:07Z

What a nice surprise to come home to! After 4 days of fun in the sun, I logged onto MySpace to find a lovely message from Shell, (aka The Raw Artist) congratulating me on winning her contest! I won one of her fabulous giclee paintings!

*happy happy joy joy jig*

Again, if you aren't familiar with Shell's work, I urge you to take a look. Her work is so gorgeous, haunting, dark, yet uplifting. With vibrant colors and amazing composition, depth, and texture, her work is stunning.

Clickety click here:
http://therawartist.com
http://myspace.com/therawartist
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Raw-Artist-Gallery
http://michelleah.com

The hubs and I went browsing through her store to claim our prize and this is what we decided on:

Isn't it amazing? We're so excited!! Thank you so much Shell! You rock!!!
xo
jw

Biker Bars and Signing My First Rear-End

2006-07-19T21:14:31Z

Okay, so I've had some days to soak it all in.

Let me start by saying that the folks at the L&H Saloon made my visit to Columbus, GA memorable and downright rockin'. Biker bars rock!

I was a bit apprehensive at first... I emailed Graham (or, 'Killer' as he is so endearingly referred to),

"I googled the venue. It's a biker bar. Do you really think my music is appropriate for your bar?"

And he responded, "Hey, good music is good music. We're bikers and we know good music."

(... um, ooookay, 'Killer', you know your bar better than I do.)

A myriad of shiny Harleys are parked outside the bar. I walk in the door to find a bunch of leather-clad, tattooed folks drinking at the bar. Warm smiles, some waves, someone yells "Hey, Jen! There she is!"

Not that I buy into stereotypes, but my apprehension came from my being nervous that I'd be good enough for my audience. I was afraid I'd bore them with my originals, and I'd disappoint them by not knowing more covers. And it would be 3 hours of boring disappointment.

Those apprehensions melted away as soon as I walked in the door. The vibe of the place was friendly, fun, and welcoming. I quickly set up my gear and did a quick sound check.

The show went really well, the audience was amazing and so supportive. I gave my brain a mental kick in the ass for being nervous and silly.

Short stories behind the songs. Jokes. Audience interaction. Music. Laughing. Clapping. Pool. Beer. Cameras. More stories. More jokes. More laughing. More music. Fun, relaxed, good times.

After my first set, we sold some CDs, took some pictures, and then it happened.

Yes, folks, I autographed my first rear-end (no worries, pictures to come). And to make things even more interesting, the rear-end I autographed happened to belong to a drill sergeant! In Mr. Drill Sergeant's defense, he did get a free beer out of the whole deal. Haha... good times, good times.

Just to hold you over, I've got a short video of the show at www.youtube.com/user/jenwoodhouse ... check it out!

2 more sets played, with a break to meet people, mingle, take a bathroom break, sell CDs, sign stuff, and take pictures.

I'll be posting pictures to my gallery and I've already posted the video to YouTube.

To those who were there: Killer, Vickie, Iris, Stacy, Dale, Drill Sergeant, Gary, Brian, and the rest of the L&H posse, thanks so much for being so much fun... I had a blast!! And to Ricky's Tacky Tiki Tavern... thank you so much for going all the way home to get a fan for us!! That was so nice!

Thanks, Brian (www.jpphotog.com) for capturing some great moments... wanna see? Go here---> http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=68325584&blogID=145026948&MyToken=70c9a63f-7db8-440f-b2c6-711ec1d69a31

And Gary! My bobble-headed Dunder-head... thanks for your support!! You took some great shots too! Go here to see Gary's pics---> http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=83005330

xoxoxoxoxo

SETLIST (I don't remember the order, sorry):

Searching for Orion
Halfway There
Your Window
Everything I Wanted (Jonatha Brooke cover)
If Only
Hello Beautiful
All She Can Do
Gravity
Linger (Jonatha Brooke cover)
Trouble in Mind
Strange Fruit (a cappella)
Something I Understand
Breakin' Me In
Not Myself
Putting the Damage On (Tori Amos cover)
Turning Circles
Emily Is
Rearview
You're Beautiful (James Blunt cover)
Impossible

We hit the 50,000 mark!

2006-07-06T15:26:45Z

We hit the mark! 50,000 plays on MySpace and 10,000 friends! Woohoo!
Thanks for lending an ear everybody ;-)

And thanks so much for the kind words, comments, and emails. I may not be able to respond to every single one, but I do read ALL of them! Thanks so much for your beautiful support.

Madly in love with you,
xoxo
JWoo.

Different Will Do

2006-07-02T14:59:37Z

I'm really finding it hard to belong anywhere
Constantly posing my questions like silver arrows at unwilling targets
I'm asking you to define me
Maybe the person I know myself to be is not at all who you see
Tell me how you see me
Tell me who I am
I've always played the third wheel
Just waiting to fit in
We're all running the same race
We all want the same good things
I'm just looking for a little respect and kindness
So why can't you run beside me like a good friend
Now I see that I was always better to you by far
I waved my suspicions away
And pressed closer and harder to you at the end of the day
You say I'm like a spider
Quiet, relentless, and sharp
You're terribly, terribly wrong
I've got one of the best hearts I know
But I guess everyone knows me better than I do
Everyone wants to feel special
But the best I can expect is different
Different will do but special is what I'm needing from you
Thoughts, heavy like lead
Maybe it's all in my head

YouTube.com rocks!

2006-06-25T02:46:58Z

I've joined the YouTube.com revolution, see? More videos to come...

In other news... The Smoking Moose show rocked last Thursday night, right into Friday morning. So to all you Anniston folks who came out to support: THANK YOU!! YOU ROCK!!

The vibe was great, everyone was so supportive and responsive, definitely made my evening. I had such a great time. So great, that we rocked til the power company shut us down. Okay, not really. But isn't that so rockstar? This, however is not so rockstar: a storm blew through and we had a blackout.

Um, yeah.

So, here we are, rockin' out to some new tunes and I'm getting ready to play the last song and boom. Blackout. Lucky I had some candles on my piano for ambience & drama. Now, they were for ambience and utilitarian purposes. Ahh... so much for drama.

So what does a musician do at a time like this? Walk out into the audience, pull up a chair and play an acoustic set, of course! The show must go on, right? ;)

We had a grand ole time, which even included a fire show on one of the tablecloths! LOL. You can't call it a party till the Fire Dept. show up.

;-)
xoxo
JWoo

New art pieces and the House of Wood Concert

2006-06-04T16:13:59Z

The House Concert was a ton o' fun... Adri & Sonia Leigh rocked the house as I knew they would. Two of my favorite girls :)

And, it's always good to purchase new works of art. This piece was created by an amazing artist out of Las Vegas named SuZanna Anna

Imogen Heap.

2006-05-22T03:02:38Z

Just a quick post... just got in from Nashville...

Regarding the Immi show last night: Brilliant. Fantastic. Awe-inspiring. She's our modern-day Mozart, folks. There is so much music in this one woman, the world can't help but hear her. And this is just the beginning. Hallelujah!

How To Save a Life

2006-05-16T17:49:41Z

K & I saw The Fray in Bham last night... and I, being the nerd that I am, started counting heads. Ah, I await the day when 3000+ people cram themselves into a room for one of my shows. Simply amazing.

The Fray was really great live, and of course, they saved their radio single for last and everyone had a lovely little sing-a-long together. It's gotta be an amazing feeling to move 3000+ people enough to clap their hands & sing in unison.

People-watching kept me entertained in between sets. I started to observe a lot of mini-dramas among the crowd: the PTA moms sitting against the wall, keeping a watchful eye on their teenage daughters, the beefcake frat boy trying to pick up a cute lonely blonde while his girlfriend (I assume) was away fetching a couple cans of Icehouse, the drunk over-the-hill scantily-clad lady with too many tattoos, showing them off to the PTA moms who stifled their condescending laughs...

The crowd was so loud, everyone holding their cell phones up, or urgently text messaging their buddies... I was starting to wonder if it was even about the music. Unfortunately, I realized it wasn't. It's about the cute blonde and how the inflatable frat boy can take her home with his girlfriend, not about how clever and thoughtful the lyrics are, or how the instrumental arrangements are so neatly structured, or how the Fray has a knack for crafting tight little pop songs...

Ah well. Everyone hears music differently. And ultimately and generally, I guess it's about the song and how a person relates to it at a very certain point in their lives, not about how much thought went into one phrase...

In other news, the upcoming House Concert is shaping up to look like a nice turnout... I'm nervous but excited.

Next up: Imogen Heap in Nashville! Can't wait can't wait can't wait. That girl is brilliant.

Instinctual

2006-05-09T21:52:34Z

Hello loves,

This past weekend was musical bliss. I'm so blessed and thankful to be working with two of Nashville's finest. The record is off to a beautiful start... we laid down 5 tunes and are wrapping our right brains around production/instrumentation ideas. I'm really excited about this record. I think I've grown as a songwriter, artist, person, and chocolate-lover since the last album and am looking forward with twinkling eyes to this one.

The songs are showing themselves in their best light and I'm just trying to keep up! One is moody, ethereal and gorgeously unforgiving while the next is soaring, wide-open, and blissful. I can't wait to share them all with you.

Everything inside me tells me this is where I need to be, with whom I need to be working & creating with. It's funny how instincts work that way.

I hope everyone and their mothers enjoy next Sunday!

xo
jw

Reflex Reaction

2006-05-04T21:22:41Z

My first reaction has always been to throw my hands up and run away (Philly. New York. Chicago...). Only, this time I'm older now and it's not as easy as it used to be. *sigh...

Ignorant people irritate me. It's too bad they're everywhere, no matter where I run.

I'm deeply disappointed in people who deny who they are, insist on the 'idea' of who they think they are; people who believe the world is against them, that it's everyone's fault but their own. That they are not the reason their lives suck.

We all make choices. Most choose not to take responsibility when their idiotic choices lead them to dead-ends in life. People who use their misfortune as a crutch, as an excuse not to change their paths really irritate me. I have no sympathy for ignorance. Your life sucks because YOU suck, the choices you MAKE suck. Grow up and take some responsibility.

People will only see themselves as they wish. It's not my place to hold up a mirror, to force change upon them. I need to stop believing I can change the world.

May Dates

2006-05-02T21:33:49Z

May is shaping up to go like this:

May 5-7: Studio - Nashville
May 11: Michael in Jacksonville
May 12: Invitations for House Concert go out
May 12-14: Studio - Nashville?
May 15: The Fray in Birmingham
May 18: Rachael in Atlanta
May 19-21 Studio - Nashville
May 21: Jen in Birmingham
May 20: Immi in Nashville
May 22: Jess's Bday
May 27: Jen in Columbus
May 28: Adrianne at the House of Wood House Concert

Awesome

2006-05-01T15:12:54Z

Great news... the musical phenomenon that is Megan is now on the roster to lend harmony vocals to the new record. Score!

Easter Sunday

2006-05-01T15:11:46Z

( say cheese! )

The Little Indie Artist That Could

2006-05-01T15:10:53Z

I'm in the midst of gathering all my tax write-offs and according to my tour mileage log, I've logged about 13,000 miles last year. And that's only including actual driving miles, not flying. Whoa.

Random

2006-05-01T15:09:38Z

I just got a MySpace friend request from Sophie B. Hawkins. How random. lol.

In other news... I've got a show this Sunday in Atlanta and if I don't bring a crowd, they're gonna make me run naked through the park. Damn fine print! It's freeking cold and I don't enjoy running. I hope people come to the show and spare me the embarrassment.

I'm freeking exhausted. Bedtime.

Keeping My Options Open

2006-05-01T15:08:17Z

So nice to have options... yes, it's a good problem to have.

I'm back in Nashville meeting with some guys about an artist development deal. We'll see how things go. Wish me luck!

On another note, I wrote a song a couple days ago and performed it at my gig at the Loft. A nice reception. Needs some ironing out, but a step in the right direction. Score! :)

Jumping on the iPod Bandwagon

2006-05-01T15:06:49Z

I've been naughty. I finally broke down and bought one.
Yes, folks, I am officially on the iPod bandwagon. I must be the last human being to have one, honestly!
Okay, so yeah, I went ahead and did the iPod video one, whatever the biggest one was... in black, and engraved. :)
Oh my.
Buyer's remorse already? Yeesh.

A Concept Record?

2006-05-01T15:04:16Z

I'm worried. I just wrote a new song, but more and more, I'm realizing this record is going to be made up of songs that are, well, made up. Storylines, situations, emotions, I don't know where I'm getting this stuff from, but it's not from my personal life and I'm not experiencing the things I'm singing about firsthand. I'm just, well, making this sh*t up. I worry that my music isn't as honest as it needs to be because of this. Crap.

Harmony

2006-05-01T15:02:55Z

A couple studio shots: at the Loft laying harmony vocals down with Shanna Sharp.

Photo Courtesy of SeanRox.com

In other news, Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!! <3

Freaky Little Story

2006-05-01T15:01:17Z

Me & Megan Slankard in Birmingham, AL

Oh yeah! The new 'do... took the blonde out, made it copper, got some bangs and a ton of layers! (haven't had bangs since grade school!) eeee.

ps. If you're not familiar with Megan's music, check her out. She's a formidable talent.

( more? )