I went to my family's mountain home near Asheville, NC for the 4th of July weekend to celebrate my birthday and see my parents, sister, and her family. At one point, my youngest niece, Natalie, started talking about her life goals that she has written down in her journal. Natalie is 8-years-old, by the way. She said one of her life goals is to get a black belt in karate. Another life goal is she wants to be taller than her bigger sister (although we tried to explain that she has no control over that one)! Another goal was to wear bling every day, to which she flatly continued, shouldn't be difficult for her because she has at least one sparkle on her at all times.  :)

I thought this was an incredibly creative and, frankly, hilarious goal. The inner, bedazzled, 8-year-old came out in me and I immediately wanted in!!!! I proposed a pact: Natalie and I will both wear at least one piece of bling (sparkles) every day starting on my birthday (July 7th) and ending on her birthday (Sept. 3rd). We will take pictures of each other every day and send them so we can see our daily bling.

I posted this pact as my status comment a few days ago on my Facebook page just because I thought it was humorous, and I got a lot of support back! So, I figured I should document this "bling-off" so that y'all can keep up with the pact here on my page. It's in a new photo album titled, "Bling!" To get to my Facebook page, just click HERE!  A few of my friends in Nashville heard about it and wanted to show off their bling occasionally, too, so you'll see some new faces every now and then... but if you'd like to follow the "bling-off," just visit the photo album there on my FB page. We've still got a long way to go until Sept. 3rd. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get out-bling'd. Natalie is pretty good at it! I may need to take myself down to Claire's. Ha!

If you'd like to show off YOUR bling, e-mail me a picture (jpeg) to: lauren@laurenlucas.com. I'll include you in the photo album! Natalie would be THRILLED!

Love, light, and BLING,
*Lauren*

Hello Friends!

I hope Spring is treating you well so far. For our friends in Nashville, I hope you're recovering from the flood. I know we're all looking forward to some sunny weather! If you want to help in the Nashville area, Hands on Nashville is my favorite organization for volunteer opportunities. If you're interested, visit HON.org and see how you can get involved.

I have had a blast this past week playing shows in Georgia and South Carolina! I went down to Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA for the first time. I love listening rooms like that where the audience is really into live, acoustic, singer/songwriters. Eddie was every bit as lovely as I heard he would be and I hope to be back very soon!

Later in the week, my all-girl honky tonk cover band, Honky Tonk Angels, made a crazy-fun road trip to Batesburg-Leesville, SC to play the Poultry Festival! We rode a mechanical bull, got chicken tattoos (it was the Poultry Festival, afterall), and played nearly 3 hours of country standards to a very enthusiastic crowd. :) Another perk of being in SC was that I got to see my Mom on Mother's Day, so it was a really great trip.







More pictures and video are to come, but for now, check out my Facebook page for a little sneak peek video footage of the show.


There are also a few dates coming up in Nashville, starting TONIGHT (May 11)! This evening, I'm playing at The Listening Room in Cummins Station at 8pm for "Danny Myrick & Friends." I'll be doing a short acoustic set, along with Ann Marie Boskovich, before Danny gets up there and rocks out with his band.

Then, next Tuesday, May 18th, I'll be playing the Billy Block Show at 12th & Porter with my band! I go on at 9pm.

Check out other tour dates on my website, and it looks like I might be doing more shows in SC and GA in June. I'll keep you posted!

Thank you for coming out to shows and supporting my music. I hope to see you soon.

Take care of each other,
*Lauren*

 Hello friends!

I hope you're enjoying this little dose of Spring, even though I'm afraid it's just a tease. The real thing should be here in about two weeks, and I could not be more ready!

Meanwhile, mark this Saturday, March 13th in your calendar! I'm playing with my band, opening for the superbly talented Rick Huckaby, at 3rd & Lindsley. My set starts at 10pm, and I'll be pulling out some new tunes.

Also, the Tin Pan South Festival, NSAI's annual legislative fundraiser, is just around the corner! I'm doing a groovy writers round with Bart Allmand, Amy Dalley, and Jeremy McComb on Friday, April 2nd at Edgehill Studio Cafe. We go on at 9:30pm.

If you've been visiting me on my Facebook Page and Twitter, then you know I'm working on a new record and you've seen the terribly expensive looking mobile phone pictures documenting the process -- not to mention Charlie, the orange cat toy xylophone for ages 0+ that is making an appearance on the record. :) The first half is recorded and overdubs should be complete by next week. I'm so excited to share this new music with you! If you want a sneak preview, then come to the show on Saturday.

Until then, enjoy the sunshine and free music on my website!

Peace,
*Lauren*

Hey y'all!
Just wanted to let you know that I'm playing an acoustic set tonight, Feb. 11th, at the newly renovated Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville.  The new changes to the Hard Rock are AWESOME!  It's a very groovy playroom now. 

My set starts at 10pm.  Come around 8pm to see Peter Cooper & Eric Brace, and Brian Ashley Jones.  I'll finish off the night!  $5 at the door.

*Lauren*

Whew!  Everyone needs to just calm down.  It's been almost a week, yet everyone and their dog has an opinion about last Sunday's Grammy performance by Taylor Swift.  I really haven't felt like weighing in until now... until after reading the absolutely horrendous, hurtful things people have been writing, all the while safely hidden by Internet anonymity.  To say that Taylor isn't talented is just untrue.  Sure, she has her weak spots, and live vocals just might be one of them.  Nearly all of today's stars use Autotune in their live shows, and ignorance is bliss to the audience.  Hell, T Pain was smart enough to use it so intentionally that he's basically created a new genre of music.  (Come on, you know you have the Autotune app.)  You would've bitched if she had used Autotune, and you bitch when she doesn't.  Then everyone jumped on board to get their 15 minutes of press, including her label president and even Kelly Clarkson (which ticked me off, to be personally honest with you).

I have friendly arguments all the time with peers debating if you're really an artist if you don't write your own material.  The answer is "Yes."  Reba, Trisha, Martina, Wynonna... the list goes on and on and on, and let's not even get into the integrity of the classic artists, like Judy Garland.  They didn't write their songs (at least for the first few decades of their highly successful careers), but  they deliver them like no one else.  And that's what the audience connects to.  That's the kind of artists they are. 

Now, let's talk about stage presence.  I love 'em, but George Strait, and Alan Jackson do not give the most riveting performances.  But that's okay, too.  That's the kind of artists they are.

Now, let's talk about the SLEW of young artists who sing great, look perfect, shake their money makers on stage, but are horrible influences on the young viewing public.  Apparently, that's okay, too.  That's the kind of artists they are.

Where in the wide world of sports is it written down that you have to sing perfectly on key, write your own amazing songs that connect with everybody, look perfect, have endless energy on stage, oh yeah... and don't party like a rockstar and get a reputation.  Who IS that person?  They don't exist.  I can't name one single artist who is all of these things.   Every single artist I can think of has either been caught for using Autotune, doesn't write their own material, sings poorly live, is a bit overweight, down right ugly, or has been to rehab.

Of that entire list, the only one that Taylor is at fault for is pitch.  Taylor has revolutionized certain parts of the music industry.  She's not perfect.  She doesn't need to be.  Don't buy her records if you don't  like it.  But, seriously...  everybody calm down!

P.S.  Also, if you were disappointed by any of the Grammy wins, you should join NARAS so that you can VOTE!  Here's the link: Grammy Membership