trace bundy.

Trace Bundy is an instrumental acoustic guitar player who lives and performs in Boulder, Colorado. He is known to fans as "The Acoustic Ninja" for his legato and finger tapping skills. His playing style features him playing with both hands on the fretboard, intricate finger picking arpeggios and inventive use of multiple capos.Bundy was influenced by a variety of musicians such as David Wilcox, Ani Difranco and Phil Keaggy. He stopped using a pick altogether when he realized he could play more complex music using all five fingers.Bundy was born in Austin, Minnesota and later moved to the small town of Buena Vista, Colorado. He first started playing guitar when he was 11 years old.

Thanks Pandora for introducing me to something new!

the reckoning.

Needtobreathe's new album will be released September 20th. Let the countdown begin. In the meantime, here is a taste of their newest single they just released off their new album, The Reckoning.

Something beautiful.

July 12 - 3:03pm
(203) to (410)
Hey! Hope your week is going alright. I'm headed to Costa Rica on Saturday but if you're up for it, I'd love to get together before I take off.

....and then I waited. On pins and needles. Probably the longest thirty minutes of my life.

July 12 - 3:37pm
(410) to (203)
Hey. Yeah - definitely, I had fun the other night. I'll call you later. You around?

And that was that. My heart skipped a beat. That's when everything changed.



When I think back just 4 weeks ago, I never would have guessed this is where I would be. I feel grounded. I'm happy. Life makes more sense. It's really something beautiful.

ACL Discovery Band: Foster the People

This great band came at the recommendation of my trusty Music Advisor, Mitch. He's yet to fail me with a music recommendation so I was floored when he burned me a copy of this awesome album, Torches.

Foster the People was started in 2009 by Mark Foster. Foster originally named his band Foster & the People, but people misheard it as "Foster the People." Eventually, he took to the nurturing image it evoked of "taking care" of the people, so the name stuck.

Like what you hear?

Steve Moakler, one of my favorite artists and a good friend of Ben Rector's (who we already know and love!) is trying to put out a new album. Since he's an independent artist, he's using this cool thing called KICKSTARTER to get funding in exchange for some pretty sweet deals for the fans like backstage passes, thank you phone calls from Steve himself, private concerts, even your name on the CD jacket as supporter! Take a listen to his music and if you're impressed, consider funding his new album for as little as $10! I did it and I can't wait to hear his new stuff when it comes out...fingers crossed, in September! Way to go Steve!





About the Project

Hey Everybody,
Welcome to the KickStarter page for my next record! What a cool opportunity this is for independent artists to team up with their supporters and make projects happen. This is a really empowering idea and I think we’re gonna have a lot of fun with it.

Over the last two years, your excitement around my music has made it possible for me to transition fully into making a living writing and performing music.

NOW the time has come to time to make another record. Here’s where we’re at: I have enough funding for half of the record, but I don’t have enough to finish it. I’m an independent artist, which means I don’t have a record label or any financial infrastructure behind me funding my career.

I do have you though, and that’s a lot.

KickStarter has paved a way for us to raise support through what we’re calling parachute packages. It’s not a donation; it’s a partnership- a give and take. We have put together unique packages that are only available for this limited time in exchange for your support. Everybody will walk away with something. We need YOUR help in order make this record happen.

We only have 30 days to meet our goal of $15,000 so PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!  NONE of the funding goes through unless ALL of the funding goes through.

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE:

Why are you asking for $15,000?
We’re trying to make a record that can sonically compete with the standard of music you would hear on the radio or on television. It’s kind of expensive. It would be common for a record label to spend $150,000 - $300,000 on a record of that caliber. Our budget of $30,000 is plenty to do the job well, but any extra funding will only improve the quality of the record and our ability to reach people with it. Between the studio time, producer fees, payment for the musicians, mixing, mastering, design, packaging, it adds up really quickly. It takes a lot of manpower to get one of these things off the ground!

Why ask fans to pay for it?
Aside from the fact that I don’t have enough to pay for it myself (ha!) I think this a really cool opportunity to get people involved. I like the idea of aiming to do something tangible that I could not possibly do without your help.  It is a unique and empowering time for artists and fans to connect and make things happen. It’s very humbling in the best of ways.

When will the record come out?
Lord willing, we will release the record in early September. The record will come out as soon as it’s finished. I promise we won’t make you wait a day longer than necessary. Immediately following the album’s release will be a national tour. Can’t wait to give you all high fives and hugs when this record is finished!!!

ACL Discovery Band: The Airborne Toxic Event

Now that I've secured my 3-Day pass for Austin City Limits in September and the 2011 Line-Up has been released, it's time to start discovering some new bands! While the stages at ACL will be hosting several bands I already know and love, half the fun of going to a music festival is discovering new awesome bands. Two years ago, I discovered Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights - an awesome Dallas based band. There is something so exciting and inspiring about discovering and loving new bands. I still remember the day I heard Needtobreathe open for Gavin DeGraw a few years back at the House of Blues. I immediately fell in love with their soulful sound and heartfelt lyrics. The icing on the cake is when you share your love of a new band with a friend and then they jump on the bandwagon. Then you both can say...you listened to them way back when....before they got big....

Today, I'm listening to The Airborne Toxic Event and I'm loving it! What do you all think?

Wikipedia says...."The Airborne Toxic Event is an American indie rock band from Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. It consists of Mikel Jollett (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steven Chen (guitar, keyboards), Noah Harmon (electric bass, upright bass, backing vocals), Daren Taylor (drums) and Anna Bulbrook (viola, keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals). The band released its debut self-titled album in 2008 and released its follow-up album, All at Once, on April 26, 2011."

Exclusive Needtobreathe Preview

New exclusive sampling of the new NEEDTOBREATHE album!!!

Words To Live By

There are millions billions of cheesy, inspirational quotes out there to "brighten your day". They come in your Hallmark cards, charity brochures and probably even cereal boxes (the fact that Cheerios will lower your cholesterol is inspiring right?). While comforting a friend today, I threw one out of my own...

(You're laughing...ha, I knew it. Should have kept it to myself....well for those of you who can get over my very own cheesiness, keep on reading for something slightly deeper.)

Why as people, and more specifically girls, is it so hard for us to just let go? Someone complements our hair and we automatically say how gross it looks "but thanks!" (I'm a culprit of this!) How come we can't just be in the moment whether it's going for a run, reading a book, laying in the grass (or in Dallas, the pool) without constantly making judgements and worrying about how we look...

"All my life I've been good, but now...."

It probably took me a good 3-4 weeks to realize that this song "What the Hell" that they've been playing on the radio for a while now was in fact by Avril Lavigne. Way to make a comeback, Avril. It's been years since I've listening to Sk8ter Boi and get Avril still looks exactly the same as she did 7 years ago....she clearly knows all the anti-aging secrets.

Are your ears bored?

I rarely listen to the radio since I typically just play music from my iPod in the car. However, lately I've been pretty bored with what's on my iPod and what's on the radio. After listening to the Mumford & Sons album on repeat for about a month now, I think I'm ready for something new (or for them to come out with another album). Luckily, my friends are great music connoisseurs and are always suggesting new bands to listen to. Pandora stations are also a great way to learn about new bands/musicians (but I've even been getting bored of that!) Below are a few favorites from the latest suggestions that I've received. Don't worry friends, you'll get credit where credit's due. Also, if you're looking for a great site to look up/listen to specific songs/albums try Grooveshark. It's FREE and totally awesome.

Start Beginning - Nizlopi
This suggestion comes from Stew Fuller who's always jamming out to something great. While sadly this band is no longer together, they've left behind a few great albums that really hit the spot. Great music for chilling out or playing in the background at the office (since I'm rarely on a beach somewhere "chilling out).


I Got - Young the Giant
This suggestion comes from Mitch Brown and it is not his first. He's been known to make awesome mix CDs with all kinds of great "discoveries" on them. This band it relatively new (1 year old) and has some great upbeat stuff to get you through the "4pms on friday".



January Wedding - The Avett Brothers
Big thanks to Crooked Tree Coffee House and all the amazing music they play. This song quickly became one of my favorites from The Avett Brothers. Most of you (um yea I'm talking to my 7 readers) have probably heard of them but I just particularly like this song. And who's better to blend harmonies to perfectly then two brothers (Scott and Seth Avett).



Let me know what you think and as always, send over any and all music suggestions!

Dream Come True....

Jazz Fest 2011 - April 29, April 30
Mumford & Sons
The Avett Brothers
Jason Mraz
Amos Lee

New Orleans
2 days - $90


I'm THERE!

Mumford & Son's got robbed last night!

Mumford & Son's was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy's last night along with Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & the Machine and Esperanza Spalding. Sadly, they lost...no, not to Justin Bieber...to Esperanza "no one knows who you are, so how can you be the best" Spalding. Robbed.

Dear M&S,
Please come to Texas soon. I wish I could come see you at Coachella. Here's to hoping.
Sincerely,
Slightly Obsessed
PS. Make another album. I need more music.

Here is a live performance they did for a radio station:


This is the AMAZING Grammy Performance where they literally, rocked the stage:

I REALLLYYYYYYYYY WANT TO GO TO COACHELLA!

The Rainy Day Blues

1. Blessed - Brett Dennen
2. Slow Mo - Steve Moakler
3. When a Heart Breaks - Ben Rector 
4. Yellow - Coldplay
5. Heaven - Brett Dennen
6. Better Together - Jack Johnson
7. So Damn Lucky - Dave Matthews
8. Run - Steve Moakler 
9. In Your Eyes - Ben Harper
10. The One Who Loves You The Most - Brett Dennen 
11. Something Beautiful - Needtobreathe
12. Skinny Love - Bon Iver 
13. I'm On Fire - John Mayer
14. Come On Get Higher - Matt Nathanson

Today's Inspiration

Oh sweet sunrise

I welcome the sun,

the clouds and rain,

the wind that sweeps the sky clean

and lets the sun shine again.

this is the most magnificent life has ever been.

here is heaven and earth

and the brilliant sky in between.

blessed is this life

and I'm gonna celebrate being alive.

blessed is this life

and I'm gonna celebrate being alive

I dwell in the darkness

I live in the light

I sleep in the afternoon

and become the noise in the night

I trespass in temptation

suffered in sacrifice

but I awake each day with a new sunrise

Blessed - Brett Dennen