Hello Nadas fans. Jason here, writing to you from our nation’s capital. We are playing DC tonight as part of our Rock the Rails tour. Actually, it is just me tonight– Mike will be joining me in Philly tomorrow. It is not too late to join us for one of these last few Rock the Rails shows; especially if you are in the northeast part of the United States.

Check out http://www.desmoinesmetro.com for more info and to RSVP. Tonight’s show starts in six hours and is almost filled to capacity so act fast. (Sidenote: I’m sitting in a tavern, watching Tom Harkin on cspan. They are probably talking about whether or not to move the Iowa caucuses to Christmas Eve. I’m so political.)

Last week we had the honor of playing the after party for the World Food Prize induction ceremony in Des Moines. The party was put on by our friends at ONE.org. The ONE campaign is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to eliminate global poverty, hunger, and AIDS. Today, I will have the privilege of visiting their US headquarters, here in Washington. It is a great organization with a noble effort. Please check them out if you aren’t already familiar with them and join the cause.

Also, this afternoon I am headed into the sirius/xm studios to make an appearance on the XM kids channel to promote our Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed album. (A record for the kids) A friend of ours from the band, Eddie From Ohio,that we used to play with is spinning the record on his kids show. Tune in if you want. 6pm’ish EST.

Love and real reality television,

The Nadas

QOTW – Have you ever taken a train trip? Where did you go?

Hey y’all – Jason here, with this weeks installment of the blah blah. We have a lot to talk about in this week’s email. It is going to require some reading and for you to drop whatever you are doing and focus for just a few minutes. I know it is hard to read long emails and focus for more than 30 seconds but I promise to sum it all up in 140 characters and tweet it later for those of you who have lost the ability to read full sentences. Get comfortable…

First thing’s first, we have a last minute show announcement for tomorrow night (Thursday) that we are very excited about. We are playing the after-party for the World Food Prize that is being thrown by the ONE campaign. Here is Libby from the ONE campaign to give you the details–

Dear Nada-Nation,

I want to invite you to a very special (and free) event this Thursday night: ONE’s Official After Party for the World Food Prize featuring the Nadas (Invite attached or find the event on Facebook). 8:30-11pm Downtown Des Moines Marriott, 700 Grand Ave DSM

Based on the vision of Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Iowan, Norman Borlaug, The World Food Prize was created to not only recognize and celebrate great achievements in Agriculture that reduces hunger and poverty but also to create role models. ONE wants to help amplify the message of the World Food Prize and inspire others so we are honored to host the Official After Party with our friends and supporters, The Nadas.

Along with the great concert we will be showing our awesome PSA “The F-Word, Famine is the real obscenity” and Sheila Nix, ONE’s US Executive Director, will briefly talking about our new Ag Campaign.

In addition to the concert there will be a cash bar, a ONE photo booth, and free ONE gear. We hope you can come show your support with a night of fun and inspiration along with some amazing people from all over the world!

See you Thursday and don’t forget to bring your friends!

-Libby Crimmings

Jason again…We are long time supporters of the ONE campaign and are honored to be a part of this event.

The next morning, Mike and I leave bright and early for our next leg of the Rock the Rails tour. We are playing Charleston, S.C. on Friday and Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday. The next leg of our trip will take us to Washington D.C. next Thursday, Philadelphia, PA next Friday, and Portland, Maine, next Saturday. These are all acoustic house concerts. If you are interested in attending any of these events, please RSVP here — we will provide more details (showtime, etc.) as they become available. Space is very limited, so act NOW! If you cannot attend, but want to follow along on the adventure, we will be posting on our Facebook page, via Twitter, and on the dedicated Rock the Rails Facebook page.

One last thing, I am playing tonight with my side project, The Lamplighters, which is the house band for the Gas Lamp in Des Moines. We start at 9pm. For more information on the Lamplighters or the Gas Lamp – go here, or here. Please like both pages and spread the word . . . if you are so inclined.

Love and non partisan activism,

The Nadas

QOTW – Who do you think should receive the World Food Prize?

Hey Nadas fans,

I (Emma) am happy to bring you this week’s blah blah. “Why you? What are Mike and Jason doing? Is Mike’s hair normal again? Is Meatloaf still working,” you ask? Mike’s hair is not “normal” yet, but we’re working on it. Meatloaf IS still working but sometimes it likes to play ‘hard to get’ with us. And as far as the blah blah goes–each week I politely text Mike and Jason to remind them to write the blah blah for your viewing pleasure. Usually, they take turns. This time, Mike decided it is my turn to blah. So! With no further ado, here is what you need to know about the Nadas this week:

1)   We are playing a fantastic show at Peoples Court, one of our favorite venues, on Saturday (10/8/11). We are selling tickets in advance through Tikly, the ticketing company I launched at the beginning of May. Tikly provides lower service fees, allowing you to actually SAVE money when you buy in advance. So, if you are planning on coming to the show on Saturday and you would like to save a couple dollars—be sure to buy in advance. No hidden fees, no confusions, nada (see what I did there?)

2)   Jason has started another singer-songwriter series! This Friday is the first evening of the series at Hotel Patee in Perry, Iowa. We are kicking off the series with Jason providing the tunes on Friday (10/7). Hope you can join us!

3)   The Nadas released a kids album & it rocks. If you haven’t listened to ‘Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed’ yet, you and the kids you know are missing out. Get your copy  here.

4)   Week two of Nada Nother Sunday at Peoples is booked—we are happy to have our friends, The Host Country, playing on 10/9.

5)   We are having our friends at 87central make sweatshirts that read: “The Nadas”! Excited? Me too.

So, there you have it. A weekly wrap-up of what is going on in the world of Nada. Oh! We are also moving our headquarters to downtown Des Moines…in fact, that is what Jason is working on right now. And since I just heard something crash and then a thud, I think it’s time to quit blah’ing and start helping.

Love and new offices,

Emma

QOTW: What are you doing on Saturday?

Hello friends of the Nadas – Jason here. I hope you all are enjoying these blustery early fall days. I am starting to feel the changes of the seasons and I am excited. Whenever someone asks what my favorite season is, I have a difficult time choosing. I have many fond memories from every season, and am giddy with anticipation during the in between days. I just wish I could remember how to layer properly. I am cold in the morning and warm in the afternoon. One solution I have decided is that I am going to start sporting a neck kerchief. I think it will be just the solution and probably quite fashionable. I’ll figure it out.

Autumn is an especially beautiful time of year in the neighborhood where The Nadas and Authentic Records have their home office. Beaverdale is Des Moines’ little Utopia. Just named one of America’s most beautiful neighborhoods by Forbes Magazine…enough chit chatting we have much to discuss.

This week we head north to the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul. We are playing our big rock show at the Fineline once again on Saturday night and we certainly hope your weekend plans will revolve around that show. Go here for more info.

Also, if you have youngsters and are hip to our new kids record you may want to pop into one of our acoustic showcases at one of the many Creative Kidstuff Stores in the greater Minneapolis/St Paul area. Check out our schedule and we’ll see you there.

There has been some confusion about our fall Peoples show. It is SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8th. It is going to be fun. Our friends, The Host Country, are opening the night. Get your tickets now via Tikly.

If you are fans of our band, then you are probably fans of the band The Damnwells. (I wish that worked both ways) They are on tour now and will be stopping through our hometown of Des Moines on Monday, October 3rd. Get more info here.

One last thing…I am working on putting together a new acoustic concert series for the Hotel Pattee in Perry, IA. It will be in the lobby of the beautifully restored historic hotel every Friday evening. I will get you more info next week, but mark your calendars, I will be kicking off the first night solo on Friday October 7th. Check back next week for more details.

Love and neck kerchiefs,

The Nadas

QOTW – What is your favorite fall accessory?

Ahoy!!

Aye be listen’n to thar radio a couple o days past and Aye be hearin’ it be national talk like a pirate day. Arrrrrgh!  If only thee blah blah be an audio file ye could appreciate how grrrrrrreat me pirate accent be!   Aye be told by me buccaneers how annoying me pirate voice be getting after only a small amount o time.  To that I say Arrrrrrgh!  You be needing to shut your filthy pirate mouth and walk the plank.  One day in the year Aye be obliged to talk like a pirate and you be obliged to listen!!!

OK this is exhausting.  My plan was to write the whole blah in pirate but its too hard and I have the movie “Brides Maids” waiting in the DVD player so back to regular old non-regional diction (in writing):

With fall comes back to school and thus we hit some college towns this weekend:

Friday, September 23, 2011 DG’s Taphouse

125 Main Street, Ames, IA

Set: 10:00 PM

21+

Tickets: $10.00 students $15.00 general public

Saturday, September 24, 2011 Blue Moose Tap

Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA

Set: 9:00 PM

19+

Tickets: $5.00 student back to school special $10 general public

Buy your general public tickets now via Tikly!

Come on out, join us, and don’t be afraid to wear a puffy shirt.

Love and swashbuckling,

Mike Beard and The Nadas

QOTW:  Have you ever had to wear an eye patch?