OWBS York/Stroudsburg PA/Morristown NJ, October 22-24 Options

[SJN1279]

Found this on Leigh Nash's Myspace:

This upcoming Fall/Winter Leigh, Art Alexakis from Everclear, and Eddie Kowalczyk of LIVE will be hitting the road for an amazing acoustic tour.

More details to come shortly, but pre-sale for the shows start TOMORROW!

Dates so far:

Sep 25 2009 8:00P
4th and B San Diego, California
Sep 26 2009 8:00P
Riverwalk Center Breckinridge, Colorado
Oct 23 2009 8:00P
Sherman Theatre Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Oct 24 2009 8:00P
Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts Morristown, New Jersey

[+Ed+]

Does it mean they only wanna tour the US, or outside as well? If so, I could spread the word through some nice venues in the country, where drunken bears walk through the streets playing balalaikas.

[dangum]

Nash talks famiy, music, and Sixpence
By: Ryan Doyle
Posted: 10/8/09
Recently I had a chance to speak with Leigh Nash, former lead singer of Sixpence None The Richer.

Sixpence enjoyed great success in the late 90's with hit songs such as "Kiss Me," "There She Goes," and "Breathe Your Name." After breaking up in 2004, Nash went on to record two solo albums.

Nash will be performing locally at the Sherman Theater on Main Street on Oct. 23. There, she will be opening for Ed Kowalczyk of Live and Art Alexakis of Everclear as part of the Open Wings Broken Strings Tour. Stroudsburg is one of only four tour stops.

Here's what Nash had to say about what to expect when the tour comes to town, the status of Sixpence None The Richer, and her newly found stage fright.

Ryan Doyle: What should local music fans look forward to during the Open Wings Broken Strings Tour?

Leigh Nash: As far as my performance goes, I'll just be doing between 5 and 6 songs. I'll probably play a couple of Sixpence songs that people are familiar with and then songs from my solo album.

RD: Have you thought specifically about your set list or how much time you'll be on stage for?

LN: It might be like 20 to 30 minutes. I need to look at what my assignment is. I don't know exactly what they want from me. I'm going to do what Art and Ed want me to do.

RD: How did you get involved with this? Do you have any history with either of these guys?

LN: No, actually I've never met the guy from Live. But Art, I've met before. He's super nice and I was just really flattered that they thought of me and I'm just really excited to do these shows. I hope it's a good mix of music. I think it'll be perfect.

RD: Have you ever been in the Poconos before? Do you know anything about this area?

LN: Yes, I do. I know that it's beautiful. I look forward to seeing it.

RD: Are you going to make a vacation out of it?

LN: I think I'm just going to come in and play the show, but I do have a friend up there, so maybe I'll stay with her.

RD: What is the status of Sixpence None The Richer?

LN: We are back together. We got back together about two years ago and we are about to record our first full-length album for EMI. We're thinking [it] will come out in April.

RD: Is it all the original band members?

LN: Yes.

RD: Over the past year or so a lot of '90s bands have done reunion tours very successfully. How do you feel about that? And what do you think the future holds for your band as far as that's concerned?

LN: I think it's great. It's really nice when your favorite bands get back together to do tours. What Sixpence is hoping to do is continue to make records like we used to. Before when we were together it always seemed like business problems were getting in the way of us having a regular release schedule. We're just trying to do it right this time. I was fourteen or fifteen when we began making records so we were still really young. Now we just want to get the band together and keep making music.

RD: When do you think Sixpence was at its' peak?

LN: During the late '90s is when we had our biggest success when "Kiss Me" came out. That's when we were enjoying the top of our wave. Before that we were together since '92 and we were just in vans, and trailers, and cars and going to shows and playing. It's been up and down for everybody. '99 was when "Kiss Me" came out and the band got really big, and then we broke up in 2004.

RD: Being that you're from Texas and you live in Nashville, it surprises me that your music doesn't have more of a country feel to it. Is there a reason for that?

LN: I think Matt, who has always written most of the songs, has a very strong pop and rock background [because] that's what he grew up listening to. I grew up listening to old country music like George Jones, Patsy Cline, and Willie Nelson, so if there is any country lent to the music, it's because of that. That's just the way I sing because that's the kind of music that I really love. I'm from Texas and so is Matt so we both have some South Texas roots. I guess a little bit just sort of comes through somehow.

RD: You released your first album with Sixpence at the age of 16 and now you're 33. Why is Leigh Nash a better artist now than she was at the age of 16?

LN: Life, man. I've been through a lot in the last 16 years or however many years that is. Just like anybody would from 16 to 33. I had a ten-year marriage and a 5-year-old son and I've been divorced for three years and my father died two years ago. When I sing now, there's just a lot more to draw from. I'm happy to be 33 and to have experienced so much life. But I'm definitely looking for things to calm down a little bit.

RD: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

LN: My son will be 15 so that sounds pretty exciting. I'd like to have a few more kids and have a lot more music under my belt and still be singing and just be really, really happy. Maybe have a couple of dogs.

RD: I see that you launched your own record label, One Son Records. What inspired you to do that?

LN: Well, it all seemed like a good idea when I put out "Blue on Blue." I was going to have my own imprint and put out my own records on that label, but that record didn't do well at all. Basically, I'm still paying for it. If I ever pay it all back, I will make another record and put it out on that imprint (laughter). It happens. It's the music business, just like any business.

RD: What is it like to be in a public place, such as a grocery store, and hear one of your songs play on the radio?

LN: It's cool. It's funny now being with my son. He doesn't realize or really care that much that that's mommy on the radio but when I tell him he gets a big smile on his face. Half the time I don't say anything but he does recognize my voice and he likes it. He's the one I care about impressing these days, and he's not that impressed.

RD: Are you happier when you are writing and recording songs or when you are touring and playing live shows?

LN: I think I'm the happiest when I'm in the studio. I really love recording and I really love performing in front of audiences, but now that I've had such a long break I'm kind of dealing with some stage fright that I didn't used to have. It's going to take some warming up to that again. I really love all of it. It's in my blood. I miss it when it's not happening.

RD: When was the last time you played a show?

LN: Well I got to sing with Mindy Smith the other night. She had a record release show here in Nashville and she was amazing. I sang a song with her and I just about peed my pants, so that was the last time I was on stage and I was terrified (laughter).

RD: That'll get you ready for the bright lights of Stroudsburg!

LN: I'll be ready by the end of October!

Leigh Nash will perform at the Open Wings Broken Strings tour. You can purchase tickets at the Sherman Theater box office or online at www.shermantheater.com. Tickets are $25.

e-mail Ryan Doyle at: rwd2078@esu.edu
http://media.www.stroudcourier.com/media/s...e-3796047.shtml