NEVER READY
…for our CLOSEUPS

There aren’t alot of published candid pics of the Pea Pickin’ Hearts.  My vanity makes me a bit relieved that all the pics that I couldn’t Photoshop aren’t running rampant across the internet, ha.  You can’t blame a girl for disguising double chins and digitally helping the girdle do its job.  And don’t think that Jon is immune either.  He isn’t a fan of the alien-esque look his forehead takes on when shot at the wrong angle, ha, or how white is beard looks with too much flash.

However, this shot of Pea Pickin’ Hearts, taken by Hillary at the Hard Rock Gatlinburg, reminds me just a touch… of Priscilla and Elvis.  Maybe it is the sepia tone or my freshly coal-tinted locks… or maybe it is the pictures of Elvis looming over Jon’s shoulder. Regardless, we are both fans of this pic, double chin and all. continues below

Don’t forget to mark your calendars to see the Pea Pickin’ Hearts
in this same location, the Whiskey River Room,
at the Hard Rock Gatlinburg on

November 30th at 8pm
for the Hard Rock Whispers series. 

We’ll sing a few songs and tell a few stories
about the songs we sing (and maybe make them up)
The entertainment is FREE &
a full Hard Rock menu and bar will be available.

See you there!

Today marks the 40th
Anniversary of the Hard Rock Cafe! 

The Pea Pickin’ Hearts are honored to be a part of the celebration by playing at 1pm at the Hard Rock Gatlinburg (@HRCGatlinburg).  In honor of the years the Hard Rock has rocked hard, we are playing a set of our originals mixed in with tribute performances of our favorite music legends from Patsy Cline and Hank Williams to Loretta Lynn and Tennessee Ernie Ford.  We’ll make it a sing-along, ha.  See you there!

Line Up for Founder’s Day at Hard Rock Gatlinburg:

11am Melanie Reed
1pm The Pea Pickin’ Hearts
3pm Martha Christian
7pm-ish Roman Reese
9pm Shawn Mullins!

Thanks to the Hard Rock for
Loving All and Serving All for 40 Years!

We sing about the agony of going 55 Toward 40, but Hard Rock Gatlinburg is making 40 look great with 40 Days That Rock. 

Come hear the Pea Pickin’ Hearts at Hard Rock Gatlinburg on Tuesday, May 24th at 9pm.  And it is FREE!

By the way, we want to say a HUGE “Thank You” to the Disc Exchange (where you can buy our CD) and Myi105.com for having us perform in-store on over the waves on the weekly Homegrown show.  We had a blast.  Thanks to Tony Cox for the picture below!

April showers have definitely brought May flowers… pea blossoms, if you will. It has been a CRAZY few weeks for the Pea Pickin’ Hearts! We even played Christmas songs before the Easter Egg hunt at The Inn at Christmas Place. Confused by the holiday fusion? We were too… just a little. We had a blast, and can now play “Peter Cottontail” by request, ha!

The Pea Pickin’ Hearts have just added some May dates including a live performance at the Disc Exchange that will be broadcast live on i105′s Homegrown show on May 18th! Plus, you can see our first of two performances on May 24th for the Hard Rock’s 40 Days that Rock celebration in honor of HR’s 40th anniversary!

Stay tuned for June updates… they are HUGE!

HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLED

Well folks, Cabin Fever at the Hard Rock in Gatlinburg is over for another year, and here are the results:

Third Place went to the Pea Pickin’ Hearts.  No cries of protest, please.  We deserved third.  We ran into a sound nightmare and let it spook us.  As a result, we put on a bad show.  It happens.

Second Place went to the lovely Melanie Reed.  I was THRILLED to hear Goodbye You, Hello Chardonnay again and touched to receive a t-shirt with the same slogan.  I’m wearing it now, but thought drinking chardonnay at lunch was ill-advised.

First Place went to Martha Christian.  She was lovely last night, as always and had the crowd all but hanging from the rafters.  Congratulations on a great peformance, Martha.

The Peas are taking a little time off until April 10th.  We are headed to Phoenix for the opening of my first solo/duo art show in 2 years.  Then we return to record our radio spot for Mixx 105.5 FM’s locals show.

Thank you for all of your support!

We hope to see you out in support for the Pea Pickin’ Hearts at the Hard Rock in Gatlinburg for the Finals of the Cabin Fever Singer / Songwriter competition.  The competition begins at 7pm, but you remember our motto, right?

COME EARLY. SIT CLOSE. SCREAM LOUDLY.

Where was this dress when I was deciding what to wear tonight?

You helped us get to the Semi-Finals at the Hard Rock Cabin Fever Singer Songwriter series… so we’re counting on you to take us all the way. Come cheer for the Pea Pickin’ Hearts at the Hard Rock in Gatlinburg on Thursday, March 3rd at 7p.m.  No Cover!

COME EARLY . SIT CLOSE . SCREAM LOUDLY.

COMPETITION
MOVES TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

The Cabin Fever Singer Songwriter series at the Hard Rock Gatlinburg began eight weeks ago.

This was the fourth of a six-night series and featured regional artists showcasing original acoustic songs in competition for nightly prizes as well as a series grand prize.  The Semi Finals are up next on March 3rd and will feature the first and second place winners from the four previous weeks.  The finals will be March 17th!

The grand prize includes
the following:

An 8-hour recording session courtesy of Music Row Studios, Appearances on Writer’s Block , Home Grown, Local Mix at Six, and the main performance stage at the Nashville Songwriter’s Festival on June 4, 2011.

I took the night off from picture taking so that we could just enjoy performing.  Forgive me.

We were wowed by the talent and appreciate this great start to a fantastic series. Don’t forget to come out and cheer during the Semi Finals on March 3rd!

The 3rd Place winner was Robert Lovett from Knoxville, TN.  Robert was a delight.  He was both a sweetheart AND incredibly talented.  I am not the only one that belived his train song to be the best written song of the night… our own songs included.  Find out more about Robert Lovett on MySpace.  We exchanged CDs at the end of the night, and I haven’t quit listening yet.  I think my favorite is “Cheatin’ Songs.”  I hope I can sing back up for him live on that one someday.  Here is some video of him participating in the Cabin Fever Series a couple of years ago.  Enjoy!

The 2nd Place winners
were your truly,
the Pea Pickin Hearts.

We simply had a blast.  We started our show with Lottery Dreams–a silly song about what to do with your lottery winnings.  At some point in the evening, a Hard Rock patron came up to me and said, “You guys were great, but that first song was a little strange–a little yodle-y.”  Honestly, it made my night.  We finished up with “Cliche,” also known as “A Drunk, Cheat and a Charmer”.

Special thanks to all who turned out to cheer for us. 

Is it too much to ask all of you for an encore experience as our audience?  We’d love to have you come out on March 3rd and bring all of your closest friends.  No, really, ALL of them.  25% of our score is audience response.  We promise to sing different songs.

First Place went to
Martha Christian.

The eclectic musical cornucopia that influenced Martha Christian as a youth can be heard throughout her unique blend of jazz, rock and R&B; a sound she has coined, “progressive folk.” In a world of cookie-cutter sound alike pop artists, Martha is embracing her place as an authentic and transparent singer/songwriter.

From an early age, the church has been a huge influence in her music. There she learned the foundational truths that influence her writing. Her passion is to see people alive and free as they learn more about their redemption story, and feels music has always been a powerful instrument in that dance with grace.

Martha and her husband Joel and their four kids live in the East Tennessee area where they continue to serve in their church. After years of leading in camp, retreat, and worship settings, Martha has started touring to promote her debut project, “Dare You to Trust Me.”

Follow the Pea Pickin’ Hearts by Email to receive updates on the Hard Rock Gatlinburg Cabin Fever Singer Songwriter series!

CHEER FOR the peas!

Okay, folks… this is it.  We need you at the Hard Rock Gatlinburg on Thursday, February 17th at 7pm to cheer for the Pea Pickin’ Hearts at the Cabin Fever Singer Songwriter series.

Don’t be late…

We could pull the number one spot.  Come at 7:20…you might miss us.

There is no cover charge, and you are not required to eat dinner at the Hard Rock.  The only requirement is that you cheer your heart out for us.

By the time you get this post (by email), the show will be TONIGHT.

Thursday… be there or be square.

COMPETITION BEGINS!

The Cabin Fever Singer Songwriter series at the Hard Rock Gatlinburg began last week. The second of a six-night series (February 3, February 17 with Semi-Finals March 3 and Finals March 17) featuring regional artists showcasing original acoustic songs in competition for nightly prizes as well as a series grand prize.

The grand prize includes the following: An 8-hour recording session courtesy of Music Row Studios, Appearances on Writer’s Block , Home Grown, Local Mix at Six, and the main performance stage at the Nashville Songwriter’s Festival on June 4, 2011.

We were wowed by the talent and appreciate this great start to a fantastic series. Don’t forget to come out and cheer on the Pea Pickin’ Hearts on Thursday, February 17th.

The 3rd Place winner was Travers Glarner from Maryville, TN.  Here is a little video of his performance from last year’s Cabin Fever Week 1 competition.

The 2nd Place winner was Kevin Hyfantis.

Singer and songwriter, Kevin Hyfantis spent his college years locked away in a dorm room or a basement, banging away on a piano and writing lyrics when most would have been partying.  This is the kind of persistence and passion that Kevin maintains today, chasing a melody or a lyric and creating music with The Bishops Band.

It was in college that Kevin was approached by different bands to play keyboards and he learned how to move an audience.  After graduating from The University of Tennessee with a degree in Public Relations, Kevin spent a summer working and rejuvenating in the Dominican Republic with only a bag of clothes and a guitar.

Upon returning to Knoxville, he reconnected with former band mates Shaun Shuetz and Nate Donegan and started writing songs. In order to create a larger sound, the trio called upon the talents of  Josh Hobbs and Ben Cohen.

With a new sound and a broader range of possibilities, the band began experimenting with more challenging material, taking Kevin’s songs which deal with demons, lust, love, and God, and turning out an albums worth of material that is set to be released this fall. Enjoy this video of Kevin Hyfantis singing “Right Place, Wrong Time.”

First Place went to Melanie Reed from Johnson City who sang “Hello Chardonnay”.

After two weeks of the boys club, it was great to have a female perspective and voice. 

There was a touch of irony listen to “Goodbye you, Hello chardonnay” while I was sipping my own Chardonnay.

Melanie seems to be a woman of mystery on the web, but you can visit Melanie on ReverbNation to learn more!

Follow the Pea Pickin’ Hearts by Email to receive updates on the Hard Rock Gatlinburg Cabin Fever Singer Songwriter series!