Summer/Fall 2014
Fall might be my favorite time of year. But right now, in LA, even though we are into September and school is back in session, it feels like the middle of summer. It's 100 today. So I'm happy that fall is on the way.
I just updated my website front page ( beththornley.com) with the happenings of summer but also wanted to mention that I will be playing a solo show in October at Piano Bar in Hollywood. The date is TBA. I'm super excited to play a show with just me and the piano. However, if I get a chance to do it more often, and I find that I'm lonely, I'm sure I'll be able to talk Rob into joining me on one or 10 of the instruments he plays (the talented jerk!). I'll post the dates as soon as I know them.
My summer included a weekend in Laguna Beach. Here's a view from the room.
I hope you had a great summer!
 Thanks for tuning in and reading this far!
EP release!
April 8, 2014 is the day. It is the release day for my new EP, Septagon. It is available at all the usual digital outlet stores. Here are some links that might be helpful:
And, the band and I are playing a show and having an EP release party at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on Sat. April 26 at 9:30pm.
Thank you so much for reading this far. And I sincerely thank you for listening and supporting. Truly.
Rock on,
Beth
2013 year-end-review
Here’s a brief “End-of-the-Year”
newsletter.
OVERVIEW: (more details below)
1. We won the Los Angeles
Stage Alliance Ovation Award and also the LA Weekly Theater Award for original
music in a musical (Bad Apples). See
the picture of Rob and me with the Ovation Award below. The musical has been picked up for another
run in Seattle -- Fall 2014!
2. My EP is finished and will be released in
April. I wish I didn’t have to delay it;
but that’s how the music biz works (unless you’re Beyonce!). See the artwork below. It’s
called Septagon.
3. Songs that I wrote or co-wrote were heard
this year in several TV shows and in a movie!
5. Two kittens were added to the family in
September! Picture below.
DETAILS:
1. Winning the awards for the musical that Rob
and I worked on has been incredible. The
musical has been picked up for another
run in the ACT Theater in Seattle in Fall 2014.
The cast, crew, writer and producers of the show also won many
awards. They are the ones who made Rob
and I look good and we will always be so grateful for the experience. You can read more about the musical on my
website. Here is a picture of Rob and me
winning the Ovation Award (November 2013).
2. Yes, the EP is finally done! It’s called Septagon (more on what that means
later) and will be digitally released in April.
Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) co-wrote one of the songs with
me. Rob Cairns produced most of the EP. Bill Lefler produced one of the songs. Heidi Ross did the artwork. To find out more about who did what, zoom in on the artwork.
3. Songs I wrote or co-wrote were heard in
“Switched at Birth” (ABC Family), “Save Me” (ABC), “Client List” (Lifetime),
and the recent movie “Ass Backwards” (with Casey Wilson, June Diane Raphael,
Alicia Silverstone, Jon Cryer). Thank
you Lip Sync Music http://lipsyncmusic.com/ for finding places for my music!
4. And the Bowen Beer Bottle Band got together
again this year! So much fun. The link to see/hear this year’s song is
above. More about how it all gets done
and who puts it all together here: www.bowenbeerbottleband.com
5. We got 2 kittens in September! Now we are up to 4 felines in the house. From the top:
Hudson – 7 years, 15
pounds, badass.
Wilma – 2.5 years, 8
pounds, movie star.
Moe – 5 months, 8 pounds,
going to be a badass.
Hazel – 5 months, 6
pounds, knows what she wants.
Happy holidays and an
awesome new year to you all,
beth
Summer 2013 -- A new song 4 U (free!)
Happy summer! Or, if you're in this current heatwave in the USA, happy heatwave (I guess).
Because I know we all get a lot of email, I'm going to make this brief (but lively and hopefully a bit entertaining).
1. Here is a brand spankin' new recording of a song I wrote called
"All These Things". If you want, you can download it for free! Rob
Cairns produced it and sang backing vocals. It's practically a duet!
This song also appeared in the original rock musical that Rob and I
wrote the music for, Bad Apples. (more on the musical in a minute) http://snd.sc/19GWkXO
2. I'm recording more music and will be posting an EP on iTunes
and other digital distribution sights. I'll let you know when that
happens.
3. I'm excited to announce that one of the songs I've just
recorded was co-written with Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket). I'm
looking forward to posting it soon!
4. In April, (2013) Rob and I were nominted for "best original score" (for Bad Apples)
by both the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and the LA Weekly. We
were thrilled to be nominated by both of these groups. We won the LA
Weekly award! That was crazy fun! We went up onstage and gave a speech
and everything.
5. ACT Theatre in Seattle, WA, is going to do a workshop of Bad Apples in July. Rob and I will be going up to help with the music. We're very excited that they are interested in the musical.
6. And finally, I am happy to say that recently my music has been heard on Vanderpump Rules (Bravo), The Client List (Lifetime) and Save Me (ABC).
Thanks so much for reading this far. Please be in touch. I hope you like the song. I'm also over on facebook.
Love,
Beth
Our musical opened!
Hello friends!
The last couple of blogs I've posted mentioned that Rob Cairns and I have been writing music for the play Bad Apples. It opened last weekend here in Los Angeles! Bad Apples is a new rock musical that follows three characters inspired by the three National Guard soldiers behind the atrocities at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003/2004. Jim Leonard has created a compelling, jarring, beautiful and heartbreaking story that asks how this tragedy came to be. Who were the victims? Who were the villains? Is sadism part of being human? Was Abu really an aberration brought on by a few "bad apples"?
Being a part of creating a musical from the ground up has been an exceptional experience and I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of it. Collaborating with others to make something beyond what any of us could do alone has been a study in what it means to work for a common goal and a greater good. It was a true artistic endeavor, an incredible process and a wonderful opportunity.
I am so happy that the writer, Jim Leonard, asked Rob and I to be a part of this. Working with him and everyone at Circle X Theater has been fantastic. Thank you Jim and Circle X Theatre Company!
Below are some pictures from the show and a couple of links with info.
If you are in the LA area, the show runs until Dec. 2. Here's a link for more info regarding Circle X Theatre (the theatre company that produced the musical), the musical Bad Apples (what it's about and who did what) and tickets: http://www.circlextheatre.org/productions/now_playing
Here's a link to hear a sample of some of the songs: http://soundcloud.com/circlextheatreco/sample-bad-apples (It's Rob and I singing -- the actors in the show are even better!)
Opening night review -- LA Weekly: http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2012/10/an_abu_ghraib_musical_thats_th.php
This is a link to an article that was written about the play (before it opened) in which the writer, Jim Leonard, and Rob Cairns and I were interviewed about our process. http://www.lastagetimes.com/2012/10/circle-x-picks-bad-apples-from-the-abu-grove/
Thank you for reading this far! Below are some pictures from the show.
"Photos by Jeff Galfer/Circle X Theatre Co."
(below) This is my pal, (and publicist of my previous albums) Wendy Brynford-Jones and me on opening night! (not taken by Jeff)
The Movies!
I hope you had a chance to see "Girl in Progress". I was so happy and proud to have my music (4 songs!) be a part of such a wonderful film. If you didn't hear about the movie, it's because it was a small, indie film on a budget. Even though it was an indie film, Eva Mendes and Patricia Arquett were in the movie and both were excellent. This movie is well worth streaming or seeing at home if you missed it in the theaters. I loved how they used my music -- especially the usage of "There's No Way". "There's No Way" is one of my personal favorites and I was thrilled that it got some time in the spotlight. The songs made it to the soundtrack, too.
Up next is the movie, "Magic Mike", (Steven Soderbergh, director)which opens June 29th and is using my song "Wash You Clean". I've been seeing the trailers and the movie looks fantastic. I can't wait to see the movie and to also see how they chose to use my song. The song will also be on the soundtrack. I don't know what else is one there, but since there's a lot of dancing (and stripping) in this movie, I'm betting the soundtrack will kick some ass.
In general, I'm doing the usual. Working on songs,taking care of cats, sitting outside and drinking margaritas as much as possible. I hope you're having a great summer.
beth
May/June 2012 news
I wanted you to know about 2 very cool things coming up. On Mother’s Day weekend (here in the states) on May 11, the film “Girl In Progress” will open. I have 4 songs in it. That’s kind of miraculous. I’m very excited! The movie stars Eva Mendes.
And then, in June, another movie with a song of mine opens: “Magic Mike”, directed by Stephen Soderbergh and starring Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Also very exciting!
The songs that are in the movies will also be on their soundtracks. Again, excited.
In case you have a moment, I have updated my website with new pictures and colors and links to videos. Thank you Rachel Campbell (azeldesign.com) for web design/layout and Heidi Ross (redrocketreps.com) for photos and artwork!
And, to keep you updated on my world, I’m writing music for a play that will open here in LA in October. More on that as we get closer to October.
And, I’m still writing and recording new, personal material.
The kitten I found in September is doing great. We named her Wilma. She is now 10 months old. She likes to chase feathers and rip up paper.
And, as you know, sometimes I include recipes with my newsletters. See below for the thing I’m most excited about now – it’s a recipe for sweet chili vinegar by Paul Qui (winner of 2012 Top Chef). Add it to veggies or put it on your salad. It makes eating veggies and salads way more exciting than usual!
Sweet Chili Vinegar
Mix 1 cup sugar (I don’t use quite so much sugar but the recipe calls for it), 1 cup white vinegar, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 ½ tsp. crushed dried red pepper, ½ head garlic, minced in a saucepan and cook over low heat until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
It’s yummy, goes a long way and lasts a long time!
Hope you’re having a lovely spring.
Thanks for reading this far!
beth
January 2012 happenings/news
My band and I are playing in a benefit show at Hotel Cafe on Monday, Jan. 23rd at 9pm. This benefit will raise awareness and funds for the Kusewera After School Program at Mtendere Village Orphanage. The program educates the children through sports, music, dance and art. The evening includes several singer/songwriters and begins at 7. I go on at 9. Lots of my extremely talented friends play before and after me. Be a part of this great event and get your tickets before they sell out!
Where: Hotel Cafe
When: Monday, Jan. 23rd
Time: 7 - 11 (I'm on at 9 and it's a strict schedule)
Tickets: $15 pre-sale. $20 at the door
For: www.kusewera.org
For Beth news, I finished out last year so happy to have songs placed in shows like "Hung", "Royal Pains", "Ringer", "Flashpoint","One Tree Hill" and the indie film "Burning Palms". I have a couple of things already lined up for 2012 but I can't tell you what they are yet. Bad luck and all that. But the one that I CAN tell you about will be airing this week on "Jane By Design" ("wash U clean"). Check it out or set your DVR for Tuesday, Jan. 17th at 9pm on the ABC Family Network.
And, just to keep you in the know, I've been asked, along with my producer, Rob Cairns, to write songs for a play that will open here in Los Angeles in the fall (2012). More info on that as the date approaches.
And now, for a kick-ass appetizer recipe:
Black-eyed pea & Artichoke Dip
2 slices hickory bacon
2 tablespoon butter
1 onion chopped
1/2 C sour cream
1/2 C mayo
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 “ garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (15oz) can balck eyed peas drained & rinsed
1 (14oz can artichoke hearts drained & rinsed & chopped
2 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
Chop up bacon into pieces and cook, remove from grease. Add butter & saute onion. In a bowl, mix sour cream with mayo. Stir in bacon, onion powder, garlic powder & salt. Then add sauteed onion, black eyed peas & artichoke to the mayo/sourcream mixture and stir. Place in baking dish & top with cheese. Bake at 300 until cheese has melted and dish is warm.
Thank you for reading this far! If you're in LA, please come to the show on the 23rd and support a great cause and hear some great music!
September 2011
I hope you had a great summer. Here in Los Angeles we had a lovely, mild summer. Also, I discovered a great summer drink called The Eastside. Here's the recipe: http://www.imbibemagazine.com/Eastside-Cocktail-Recipe Enjoy!
I've got some news about a couple of TV shows, a kitten I found, a new EP, and a songwriters round I'm in.
For those of you in lovely Los Angeles, I'm playing in the Room 5 songwriters round on Monday night, Sept. 12 at 9pm. There will be 4 songwriters on stage and we each take turns playing a song. We go around 4 or 5 times, each playing a song and then we all take our clothes off and run naked around the room. Ok, we don't do that last part.
Joel Eckels, Sarah Winters, and Jarrod Dickenson will be playing in the round with me. Click here for more info about them. http://room5lounge.com/sch edule_new.htm
And in recent beth thornley music news, the USA network show Royal Pains played "You're So Pony".
Coming soon, Hung (HBO) will be using "Wash U Clean". I hear some of the characters sing along with it. That should be interesting.
Also coming soon, the CBS show, Flashpoint will be playing "Everyone Falls".
My new EP should be ready very soon. You will be the first to know!
I found a kitten (picture below). I was driving home from dinner last Monday night and I noticed a kitten on the street next to a car repair shop who was obviously looking for food. I got some food and went back to find her. She was still there, along with several others. A dude came out of the auto body shop and encouraged me to take one since he had 20 more out back. So, I took one thinking I'd find her a home. I wish people knew they could trap, neuter and return cats to their colonies (for free!). When they do that, the colony stays healthier and happier.
So I took one. I decided to keep her. She's a very special kitten. She's 8 weeks old. She was extremely underweight but otherwise healthy. She does't have a name yet. Any ideas?
Thanks for reading this far!
xoxo,
beth
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