Hello all!

Quick update on some things. Backers outside of Louisiana should be on the lookout for their packages. I mailed most of them on Thursday and delivered some personally as well. Tonight is the CD Release in Shreveport (7pm @ Bear's on Fairfield), so if you're in North Louisiana, please try to make it out to pick up your goodies. If you're not there tonight, I'll try to get them out to you tomorrow and next week.

The Shreveport Times featured a nice Q&A with me in today's Preview, so if you'd like to check it out, visit them here.

Details for tonight's show are:

Friday, April 22nd - Bear's on Fairfield

7pm - Meet 'n Greet for Kickstarter Backers

8pm-10pm - Music!

Cover: $5 - which goes to our travel expenses & rent.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Shreveport, and I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you all over the place about the album. Be on the lookout!

Best regards and many thanks,

kMae

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200812553282521#!/event.php?eid=200812553282521

Hello fellow Pennies holders! The first CD Release Party and opportunity to pick up your goodies is nearly here. If you are in or around the New Orleans area, please make plans to attend. Please see the event details below or click on the link above to count yourself in the number attending. Thanks and looking forward to a great evening! - kMae

PS - Here's a first listen at "Down to the River," which features opener Joe Adragna on some background vocals. Hope you like!

Hello lovelies!

Five songs from Pennies in Hand have made their way on to the world wide web. You can find the title track attached here, and you can listen to the four other songs I've posted at either of these two sites:

Reverbnation/kelcymae

Myspace.com/kelcymae

I can't wait to hear what you think. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

Love,

kMae

Hello my generous ones!

I hope those of you in Louisiana had a great Mardi Gras and that the rest of you have been enjoying these past few spring-like weeks. I've got some updates for you regarding your goodies and the album's release.

First, let me say that if you have not logged in and filled out the survey requesting the specifics on your goodies, please do so now. Now now. I have to begin making my orders and if I don't know what you want (t-shirt size, etc.) I may not order the right amount. So, again, if you have not filled out the survey, please make haste.

Second, the album will be making its first appearances into the world in April! I will hold two CD Release parties, one in New Orleans, LA, and one in Shreveport, LA. Those who are able to attend those will receive their goodies at a Meet & Greet to be scheduled before each show. Those who live elsewhere or who are not able to make it will have their goodies mailed or delivered. Please mark the dates (times of the meet & greets will be determined later, but will occur in the early evening):

Friday, April 15, 2011 - (New Orleans)  Carrollton Station

Friday, April 22, 2011 - (Shreveport) Bear's

I will of course let you know all of the specifics as soon as they are set in stone.

In other great news, some songs from the new album will be posted on the web by week's end if not by the day's end. I will post a second update letting you know where to find them and listen.

Much love and lots of leftover king cake, kMae

The album is nearly finished! Almost all of the actual recording is complete and we've begun final mixing on the songs. Once that's done, it'll get all polished up in mastering and then printed on shiny CDs for your listening pleasure!

Right now I'm looking at a late March/early April release (I know, a lot later than I intended... sorry about that) and that's when you'll be receiving all your goodies.

I'm very proud of the work we've done and think you will be, too. Thanks again for making it possible. If you haven't yet responded to the survey I sent requesting your info (mailing address, t-shirt sizes, etc.) please respond now! I need all that info to know what to order.

Lots of love and lots of pennies,
kMae

Friends! A little update (& question) for you:

Recording is well underway. I've logged nearly 60 hours in the studio so far. Drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and vocals are almost all complete. Hopefully this week we'll be able to start overdubbing. I'm thinking banjo, violin, harmonica, lead guitar, uke, piano, and maybe some upright bass here and there. Tom Stern over at Blue Velvet Studio is doing the engineering and we're getting some great sounds. I'm so proud of all we've accomplished so far, and we're only about halfway there.

Also, some great news... Local New Orleans artist (and one of my favorites), Layla Messkoub has agreed to work with me on the album art. Layla is extremely talented, and I highly recommend checking out her work for possible placement in your very own living room: www.laylamesskoub.com.

And now the big question: Are you interested in appearing on the album? I need several voices for a couple different refrains at the end of the title track "Pennies in Hand." I want to offer my generous backers the first opportunity at singing on the track. Right now, I'm trying to get an idea of how many of you are interested in participating. You'd have to be available in New Orleans. If you are interested, leave a comment under the "Comments" tab and let me know by saying, "I wanna sing!" Project backers only! If enough people want to do it and I can find a way to make it happen, I'll email you all back with more info. Like I said, I'm just trying to gauge interest at this point.

Alrighty, y'all. I gotta get back to work.

Much love!
-kMae

Just to let you all know, I've been rehearsing over the last two weeks with drummer Kyle Sharamitaro and bassist Owen Romero to lay down the initial tracks for Pennies in Hand next week! I've reserved some recording time at local Blue Velvet Studio, and the project will soon be under way!

How exciting is that?!

I'm stoked. This thing is gonna rock, and it's all thanks to YOU.

Will be in touch soon!

-kMae

The whole thing ends so soon! Tomorrow!

This is our last chance to spread the word, so please, click the links on the Project Home page to share this with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and by e-mail. Let's see how far past the goal we can get with this thing. The music won't suffer for it, I guaraaaantee it!

It's almost studio time!

(cue fireworks)

Friends! We've done it! We've reached our goal and even inched past it! Looks like I'll definitely be getting into the studio soon, and you'll be receiving some serious goodies. I am so thankful for your support and generosity, as you have truly made me feel loved and appreciated beyond measure. Now, the pressure is on me to make the best album possible, something we can all be proud of. However, I still need your help in keeping the funding-ball rolling throughout the next 10 days, and here's two reasons why.

1. People who pre-order the album & merch now will be paying less than those who wait for its release! Let your friends know that waiting means missing out on a good deal.

2. As you may have seen in my video, the new album is going to cost me more than $5,500. I wanted to stay reasonable with my goal so that I could achieve at least the amount that my last album cost. This one's going to be better, and I'm hoping to reach more audiences with it. The more moolah I have in the bank, the more I can do. As my dad always said, "Money can't make you happy, but it does give you options." Ha! Who knew I'd come to appreciate such advice. If you help me keep spreading the word about this project, the options we have for this album will multiply.

Thanks again for your support. I feel so honored to have your faith in me and my work.

So much love,
kMae

Hey lovely backers! I hope you're having a great Thursday afternoon. There's been a lot of excitement this week for me, 1) because we have a show at Chickie Wah Wah tomorrow! 2) because I had a photo shoot on Monday to prepare for the album 3) because I interviewed w/ Offbeat magazine & the Shreveport Times about this here project on Kickstarter! and 4) because I played my first real game of Poker last night. Thank goodness the stakes were low and all I lost was a jar of Ranch dressing.

Anyway! We are currently at 76% with 21 days left. This is so rad. Thank you so much for all your help, and please continue to share the link to the page with your friends and family! If you're on Facebook or Twitter, click the appropriate icon under my video on the main page to "share" it.

If you're in New Orleans, don't miss our show tomorrow night at Chickie Wah Wah from 8pm-10pm. Chickie Wah Wah is one of the only smoke-free music venues in the city, and it's got a great atmosphere, great drinks, and great food. See you there!

Much love,
kMae

PS - Check out the shot below that my friend and talented photographer Jackson Beals took. I believe that's a penny... almost in hand.

Hey y'all! I'm blown away by the support! Almost 70% done, and 27 days to go. For those of you who missed the fundraiser party at Carrollton Station on July 23, here's a video of us playin' "Wagon Wheel" (made famous by Old Crow Medicine Show). Enjoy, and please share with friends. 27 days. They're counting by quickly!

So much love,
kMae

You guys & gals are incredible. I feel so much love and support right now, and I have you to thank, thank, and thank again. I'm checking out my options for studios and trying to finish up some new songs so that as soon as this fundraising business ends, the recording can begin! Please help me keep the momentum going by continuing to post this page on your Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and in emails to your friends and family. I can't do it without you. Well, I suppose I could try, but that just wouldn't be any fun at all. Listeners' support makes music a two-way street, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Much love,
kMae

Already $1,000 and I haven't even started the email campaign! Thank you, early supporters, for giving me such a strong head start. I will try soon to post a video clip from the Fundraiser show last Friday night. We had a great turnout and a great raffle, which helped us raise about $350 in addition to what we're trying to raise here. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported! I hope everyone got to take something home with them, whether it be a raffle prize, a t-shirt, or a koozie. Please support the businesses that supported us:

Carrollton Station
Café Atchafalaya
Theo's Pizza
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro
Kerry Irish Pub
C&M Music Store
UNO Press