After a fairly rough start in 2019, we pressed on and by the end of the year we were in full swing again!! Last January we began recording our sophomore album with many new originals. However, at the end of January after a gig on a frigid night, while loading gear out in the alley , Nita had a mishap and slipped on the ice landing her mouth directly on the back bumper of the van. This accident slowed our roll as her recovery took a full year of surgery after surgery to recover her smile and harmonica chops! Although the injury got in the way of scheduling a little, we played when we were able and we never cancelled a show! That is behind us now and we are ready to boogie!!
In July of 2019, we were blessed with a feature on the front page of the Norfolk Dailey News!! (You can read the article in a previous blog post if you’d like).
​By the end of the year we were playing almost every weekend again and our groove was on and full tilt!!
Now we are well on our way to exciting adventures in 2020! We are resuming the studio process this month and hope to have our new album out by the beginning of summer!!
Also we are excited to be returning to Hawthorne Nevada for another Armed Forces Celebration in May. Last year was pure joy and we can’t wait to do it again!!
Our momentum is just revving up again and we plan to be playing a lot this year!! Please feel free to come on back and check our schedule as we are updating it often!! We hope to see y’all real soon!! We miss your smiling faces and your smokin boogie ways!! Peace and Love from us to you!!

What an honor to have this lovely front page feature!!  :)  http://norfolkdailynews.com/news/bringin-the-boogie-nita-and-the-pipe-smokin-charlies-recording/article_4b081316-a4ad-11e9-b781-2b0cb133dfd0.html?fbclid=IwAR2LYulSoicqhcw7_WeKsRU0xNFJ-_EiG3IDmg0hrEbZk3neEF8qCoGd9Iw

This coming May, Nita the Pipe Smokin Charlies are heading to NEVADA to play a show in Gary and Nita's hometown.  Hawthorne NV is one of the most patriotic towns in the US!  Home to The Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot; It is only fitting that they pull out all the stops on Armed Forces Day.  With an aircraft fly-over, parade, depot tour, arm wrestling tournament, and many other activities, it is no surprise that folks travel from far and wide to attend this celebration.  We will be playing Saturday May 18th directly following the Arm Wrestling finals at Barley's Sports Bar.  Gary was a member of more than one band while growing up in Hawthorne and it is very exciting to be going back with the Charlies for this celebrated event!!  Hope to see ya there!!!     

Cool stuff coming up this summer! At the end of July we have been asked to participate in HEAR Nebraska's Good Living Tour! Several other of our favorite Norfolk area bands will be featured at the tour's Norfolk stop. All original material. Don't miss it! 
Also August 13th, we have been invited again to play the 'In The Market for Blues Music Festival.' This event is held in Omaha's Old Market, and several bars host this event..It's a good night for the blues and we cannot wait to get back there! I will Post more specific info when we are closer to the event. STAY TUNED!!  

https://www.facebook.com/events/565222286988323/ 
​https://www.facebook.com/events/212607315795487/​

Last week we had our CD release party kick-off at the Corner Bar in Fremont. This very talented young lady in the picture is Bailey, she did the art work for our CD; her artwork donned the set and it was beautiful!  We had a wonderful evening.  It's always a good time when we hit the Corner Bar!  They do a great job there supporting live music!
Been thinking a lot about life's ups and downs.  I think that certain stages in life influence the need for ups and downs and that ultimately it's about growing.  It hurts to grow...but man it's better than staying in the same damn place your whole life.  In the meantime, I just listen to the music..It soothes my soul and eases the pain just a little bit.  We are in this thing together on this planet. Praise God Above & Keep on Keepin on.  Lotsa Love.  
​

That's the title I have given the above photo.  I have to give  credit where credit is due.  My Grandmother was a southern woman born and raised on the white sand beaches of Florida. Her people were Spanish fisher folk that transplanted from the Canary Islands, Spain.  She was a proper lady, an officers wife and one tough little cookie. When she was young she had the nick name 'lil reb', she may have been small at 4'11",  but she was mighty in wit, style and charm and a looker too.  She smoked cigarettes back when they were cool, loved to do the boogie woogie with my tall straight Grandad and I never saw any other color but fire engine red on her fingertips.  Also, She loved the blues.   I am thankful for the influence she had on me and am always pleasantly surprised when I notice something in my lyrics or my style that is directly connected to her.  RIP Lil' Reb!  I love you.  


​

Comments Welcome!  I would love to hear from you!  Leave feed back, ask a question or just say hi!