Kira Small: News / Journal

Click here to see the story on house concerts that I was featured in. Make sure you scroll down and see the video. Too cool! :)

Adorable Hubby and I are both booking stuff like mad. We just completed a frantic Midwest run (6 appearances in 4 days) and are looking ahead to more shows together and apart. Headlines:

Bryan is doing his first-ever tour with HIS band in the first week of May. It's the "They're Both The Same Band" tour with the Mike Keneally Band and the Bryan Beller Band. Same 5 guys, different music/headliner, 5 dates in the Northeast. I'm excited for him. Visit bryanbeller.com for details.

We're playing a duo show in Nashville during NAMM weekend (6/18). See my calendar page for details.

I keep sneaking over to F. Scott's here in Nashville to play torch songs from time to time. (I just can't quit you, Cole Porter...)

I'm headed up to Boston in late June to do some more teaching for Berklee College of Music's Vocal Summit program. A few private house concerts and other events happening around then as well, stay tuned.

Duo gigs in Louisville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas and who knows where else - all are ahead.

In between bookings (and the hefty act of booking itself) we're taking turns recording sessions for various clients at home on the Pro Tools rig we got for our wedding via gift cards. Cute, huh?

FUNS! We're loving our life right now.

And finally: NEW CD SOON! I promise.

WesFest 5: A Concert to Benefit the Wes Wehmiller Scholarship at Berklee College Of Music is happening at on Sunday 2/28 at The Roxy in Hollywood

ADVANCED DISCOUNTED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH 2/25!! CLICK HERE TO GET YOU SOME!!

For 5 years now Bryan and I have been joining friends new and old to celebrate the life of Wes Wehmiller, our friend and contemporary at Berklee College of Music. Our way of celebrating is to rock the house and raise money for the scholarship at Berklee established in Wes' name. We've raised over $50,000 so far. Pretty rad, huh?

Speaking of rad, check out our headliner Tal Wilkenfeld (aka Jeff Beck's hot young Aussie chick bass player - WAY rad!!). She'll be playing with her own band: Oz Noy (guitar), John Beasley (keys) and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums). There's more info on my calendar page about the show

CAN'T ATTEND BUT STILL WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? We understand that there are plenty of you who won't be able to attend the event but still wish you could help out. We invite you to check out the WesFest 1 and WesFest 2 DVD's, as well as the one and only CD from Wes' band I, Claudius: Bleed (The Wes Demos). The sales of all these items also count towards the WesFest 5 fundraising total

Click here and scroll down on the WesFest page to see all of the products available to support this year's fundraising drive.

I suppose that should say "Tweet Tweet Blog Blog" but I couldn't resist the random Prince reference. OK so I haven't been great about keeping things updated here...likely because I've been Twittering like a junkie. Sorry 'bout that. But now through the magic of the interwebs I have my Twitter feed posted right here on the front page. So even if you think Twitter is for bird brains you can still sneak a peek at my latest thoughts without having to drink the kool-aid. You're welcome. (If you are drinking the Twitter kool-aid - follow me @kirasmall!!)

You may notice also that the rough version of "I Will Raise My Voice" is no longer available for free download. We left it up longer than we thought but have taken it down in anticipation of the record it's on being released. Soon, my pretties, soon. Thanks to those of you who downloaded it and are digging it. That song has really touched people and for that I am deeply touched myself. Again I say...

Thank you for giving me someone to sing to - it's how I remember who I am.

Adorable Husband Bryan Beller and I have been playing as a duo (when he's not busy touring in a cartoon death metal band) and are having an absolute blast. There's video proof of said blast on my video page, again over to the left there. We're booking house concerts and venues all over the place. If you'd like to see us in your town, give us a shout. It's probable we'll end up posed like this at some point. Don't believe me? Book us for a house concert and find out.

New site design! (all over, see?)
New video posted! (on Video and More page)
New flash audio player! (right down at the bottom - click to play)
New concert dates! (on Calendar page)
New home address! (on file with post office)
New attitooood! (thank you Patti Labelle for singing inside my head as I typed this...)

I'll post more new pictures sometime soon. But we just moved and I have a cold and I have to go buy more Kleenex. Illuminating, I know...

WesFest 4: A Concert to Benefit the Wes Wehmiller Scholarship at Berklee College Of Music is happening at 7:30 on Thursday 2/26 at the Knitting Factory in L.A.

ADVANCED DISCOUNTED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH 2/23!!

Wes was a brilliant bassist and old college buddy. His memorial service brought Bryan and me together almost 4 years ago. One of many reasons this is dear to my heart. We'll both be participating again, along with many dear friends and a haul-ass headlining band.

There's more info on my calendar page about the show: http://kirasmall.com/calendar.html
To learn more about Wes, please visit: http://weswehmiller.net/
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW BY CLICKING HERE: http://weswehmiller.net/new/news/wesfest-4

I've finally posted a few new, unreleased songs for you to hear on my MUSIC page, one of which is a live version of "Say My Name" at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, GA - hot, hot, hot!!! (I was wearing these shoes when I played it...why would I not??)
I've also posted new pix from WesFest 3 on my PHOTOS page, like this gorgeous shot by John Wehmiller - double hot, hot hot!!!
Go now - listen, look, groove, smile, holla, whatever.
And if you're looking for something good to do with your tax rebate check, go to the bottom of my LINKS page and donate some of it to the ASPCA through the link there. God is extra nice to people who are nice to animals. That's what I think, anyway.

Are my new t-shirts fabulous or what??!? Oh my gosh. Here, look:


They're based on a song of mine by that name, which we haven't yet recorded but it's very popular when we play it live. (**Live solo version now posted on my MUSIC page!!**) Go to the "BUY STUFF" page and get you a few or I'll send these guys after you...

I've played in other people's rounds at the Bluebird but this is the first time I'm hosting one. As if that weren't enough to get excited about, check out who'll be joining me:

Lisa Silver ("40 Hour Week" - Alabama, "One Promise Too Late" - Reba)
Daryl Mosely ("He Saw It All" - Booth Brothers)
Cindy Richardson Walker ("Almost Over You" - Sheena Easton)

I have amazing friends. In addition to being brilliant writers, these three have pretty rocking singer/player credentials. Daryl sings like an angel, plays upright bass for The Osborne Brothers, and was lead singer and bassist of The New Tradition. Cindy and Lisa have sung (and played fiddle in Lisa's case) on hundreds of hit records. Anyone within earshot that night will be blown away, I promise. Oh - and those background vocals on my CD? It's me with Cindy and LIsa - so expect some of that magic up close and personal and unplugged and stuff.

For reservations, please call 615-383-1461 between 11am and 4:30pm CST Monday-Friday, or click on Bluebird Cafe right up there to reserve a table online. (web link on my calendar page)

Here lies footage from our show at The Gutter Lounge in Pensacola, FL on 8/3/07. Props to Promise at Film Works of Florida http://www.filmworksofflorida.com for filming that night and putting this together. For personnel info, see pictures of the gig on my photo page. (FYI - We will be back at The Gutter on New Years Eve and will see about removing the "green lead singer" light or at least changing it to a more flattering, less Kermit-ing color.)

If you'd like to watch this on YouTube, leave comments, read comments, whatever - here's the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eywmvgs_-Gg
**8/08 note - I've created a video page and moved this to there so y'all can read the latest and greatest Kira news there without interrupting your video groove...ain't I a peach?**

It worked! I knew if I told you all I was gonna post new pictures that I'd actually do it to avoid looking like an ass. Now, instead, you can see me showing my ass (metaphorically, mostly) in all these pictures. Success! Wait....

Seriously, new pics from WesFest 2, our show at The Gutter Lounge in Pensacola, my trip to the U.K., and most importantly, Lucian gets his very own gallery. Here come the teasers:




Now go see the rest on the photo page. Right now. Or Lucian will make this face at you.

That's right, y'all - my Superbad R&B CD Release Show Off was, indeed, superbad. I've posted a bunch of pix on the photo page. Like this one here...

Also - Love In A Dangerous World is reviewed in the June issue of Performing Songwriter Magazine!! Check it out on the press page.

Oooooo, I made a flyer...neat-o. Details (like those teeny, fuzzy names up there) are on the calendar page but know that this is gonna be a serious R&B throw-down!!

Here's a piece of the press release we wrote:

**********************************
Don’t call it a showcase: R&B/Soul Singer Kira Small announces all-star “superbad” lineup for CD release Show Off party
Nashville, TN - Offrow Records recording artist Kira Small will bring a full serving of her sultry, authentic soul and R&B – as well as an all-star-for-all-time lineup of musicians and vocalists – for a Superbad CD Release Show Off party to celebrate her new CD Love In A Dangerous World. This free event will take place at Rocketown in downtown Nashville on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Produced by Bruce Dees (James Brown, Ronnie Milsap), Love In A Dangerous World features a lineup of Motown and Muscle Shoals veteran musicians that can only be called “superbad.” Ms. Small will be rendering the record in its entirety with those very musicians: keyboardist Clayton Ivey (Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, BB King, Temptations, Supremes); keyboardist/vocalist Andy McMahon (Neil Young, Tracy Nelson, Ray Stevens); drummer Jonathan Dees (Jimmy Hall, Ronnie Milsap); multi-instrumentalist Nick DeStefano (Kathy Mattea, Dave Loggins); percussionist Tom Roady (Etta James, Michael McDonald, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor); bassist/vocalist Steve Brantley, guitarist/vocalist Jamie Brantley, and producer/guitarist/vocalist Bruce Dees (James Brown, Ronnie Milsap, Dave Loggins, Gary Morris);
and singers Cindy Walker (Commodores, Clarence Carter, Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris), Vickie Carrico (ZZ Top, Sam Moore, Brenda Lee) and Lisa Silver (Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton).
**********************************

I had to force myself to limit the band's individual credits cuz each one's list of credits deserves it's own press release. Craziness. I am so honored. Please come join us.

Oh, and there'll be free food.

Start your engines - this is gonna be the mother of all gigs. A stage full of people who've played and sang on more hit records than any of you own...playing MY RECORD, BABY!!! Details on the calendar page.

THIS IS THE SHOW NOT TO MISS!!!!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Rocketown
Nashville, TN

Note - Please don't confuse the date of this posting (4/29) with the show date...

Looks like we'll be putting on a CD release show in mid-May with the biggest, baddest band ever. (Onstage count right now is 12. Hah!!) Details not nailed down yet, but start clearing your calendars, shopping for new outfits, scoping out plane tickets, whatever you gotta do. We're looking at 5/15 or 5/22.

This is going to be ASTOUNDINGLY good. I can't wait. More soon...

See calendar page for logistical details but look here at the pretty picture...ooooooo....

This is a really cool showcase that happens every Thursday night. It exists to support and nurture independent urban artists and foster a community network among them while giving fans of r&b, soul, neo-soul and hip-hop a place to hear it done live by up-and-coming artists. (There are plenty of weekly songwriter dealies here in music city but my R&B butt usually throws someone for a loop.) I am thrilled that they asked me to be a part of this showcase.

We're doing this one as a quartet - Bryan Beller on bass, Chris Cottros on guitar, Marcus Finnie on drums and me on keys and vox. Rehearsal today was bad, y'all! Come check it out.

Joe Travers, me, Bryan Beller, Wes Wehmiller - Los Angeles 1994

Wes Wehmiller was a friend I went to Berklee College of Music with. He was a brilliant bassist and beautiful human, among many other things. He played a bunch of shows with me at Berklee, including my Judd's tribute show (see photo gallery for poster of said show in hands of me and Miss Judd). After that he played with some band called Duran Duran.

Wes died of thyroid cancer in January of 2005. A scholarship at Berklee was created in his name and I, along with many friends old and new, participated in a concert called WesFest last February to raise money for that scholarship. We rocked the house and raised over $12,000. Well, it's time to do it again.

WesFest 2 will happen on Tuesday March 6 at The Gig in Hollywood. Doors open at 7. Click here for all the details:

http://weswehmiller.net/wesfest2.html
Please join us if you can. Advanced tickets are available through 2/28 at discounted prices. Even if you can't be there in person, I invite you to consider making a donation to the scholarship fund. Will Snyder, who was the recipient of last year's scholarship, will be playing at this year's event. (I'll be singing some fiercely grooving R&B songs with young Will and his teacher, Berklee professor Danny Morris. I'll sneak a song in from my CD as well, fear not.) I haven't met Will yet, but from all accounts he has the same kind of talent and spirit that Wes had. This scholarship came into existence to honor that talent and spirit and nurture it in others for years to come.

The photo above is me, Wes, Joe Travers and Bryan Beller taken in LA not long after we all finished college. Joe, Bryan and I - along with many other friends from our Berklee days (click the link above for a list of all the participants - it's a righteous group!) will be there on March 6 tearing the roof off the joint. Please be with us however you can.

Here's that link again:

http://weswehmiller.net/wesfest2.html

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and working with two pretty legendary musicians this past weekend: Bob Babbitt (bass) and Ed Greene (drums). Bob is most noted for being one of the 2 bassists who played on all those Motown hits we know and love - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and "Midnight Train To Georgia" - stuff like that. No biggie. Ed has a list of credits a mile long too - Barry White, Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, Hall & Oates, Smokey Robinson...it's CRAZY how many records these guys played on. They were absolute sweetie-pies and we had a great time.
Here's me and Babbitt...


And here's me and Ed...

I love my life.

Hi all...

If you're reading this you're looking at my new website. It's brand new and there's not much here yet but I wanted to give you a clear way to find my new CD, Love In A Dangerous World. I'm really proud of this one, y'all. Please give it a listen. You can find the CD on CD Baby and more about me on myspace for now (pix and stuff). I'll get more goodies up here when I can. In the meantime, go check out my new CD!!!