"The piano-based melodies of singer/songwriter Kit Holmes may suggest Norah Jones, but the confessional, introspective romantic laments on her new record Return to Love are wrapped in an unmistakable '70s pop sensibility that actually echoes more Carole King's Tapestry. Nearly every track on Return to Love could have been played on AM radio back in the day, and as a lyricist Holmes would've held her own against the likes of Adult Contemporary staples such as James Taylor and Carly Simon.

As the album title suggests, Return to Love is mainly concerned with romantic relationships, especially with the difficulties of healing and moving forward after one has had its fire snuffed out. Surviving a breakup is like crawling from a wreckage and then trying to drive again; there are equal amounts of trepidation and excitement, anger and newly found joy, and Holmes covers all of the bases with honesty and warmth. Holmes actually opens the record on a positive note with the title cut. “But when my heart is open/ And my mind is clear/I know I can," Holmes sings with cautious optimism. The song's mellow groove comforts the heavy weight in the words. Holmes is clearly not saying that the time of acceptance has arrived; she is singing of some imaginary future date when all's well.

Conflicting emotions make their presence known as well; indeed, love is never simple. Holmes' sultry delivery on “Bad Seed" may suggest desire but the lyrics have the sting of a spurned lover's slap to the face. In “Bad Seed," Holmes focuses on the vulnerability many people, male or female, have towards the aggressive pull of the dangerous kind, which often leads to disappointment and bitterness. However, she speaks from the perspective of someone who is no longer going to put up with anybody's garbage. Holmes's show of strength is best exemplified by “Blue Guitar," in which her voice soars with self-confidence.

Holmes started writing tunes at the age of 9 but she didn't release her award-winning debut album, All I Know, until 2004. Return to Love finds Holmes reaching a level of musical craftsmanship and depth of feeling that is quite impressive and impossible to ignore."

Visit Website | Purchase

 I've gotten pretty caught up in Major League Baseball Playoffs - exciting, (when "my" team wins), stressful (when they lose) and sometimes exasperating (when there's a really good pitching duel and a gazillion extra innings 'til someone blinks). In the end, it's no biggie 'cause I know I'll get  back to "normal" life when the World Series is over. Kit Holmes Music management will also be grateful for this... ;-)

 In the meantime - I'm also caught up in some really fun gigs coming up - the first is this Saturday:

 Saturday, October 15th, 2011
Jess & the Best - Kit's on the piano! - 7 - 9 pm
Jess & The Best w/Kit Holmes - Austin, TX

 If you caught Kit sitting in with Jessica Shepard's totally rockin' band at the recent HAAM Benefit Day event you know this is gonna be a smokin' hot show! The band (featuring bassist David Valley and fiddle-man Christopher Hanson) had soooooo much fun they all decided to do it again! There's no cover but you might want to get there early to get a table! Yummy Italian vittles, honky-tonkin' hot, original Country kickin' songs (and a few classic covers...). This is a total blast, y'all!

 NOW, if that sounds like fun, check this out:

 Saturday, October 29th, 2011
Mashed Potato Cookoff & Fall Festival - 10 am - 2:30 pm
3rd Annual Mashed Potato Cookoff - Wimberley, TX

Price: $5 admission (cookoff entry fee: $15)

What better way to get your comfort food fix (in a big, big way!) on a cool, fall day? The 3rd annual Mashed Potato Cook-off and Fall Festival is a fundraiser for the Unity Church of Wimberley. Kit plays a full set at 11:00 am. Other musical acts include Hamp & Janet, Chris Prewitt and more! Silent auction, kids activities and of course, potato dishes of all kinds! Costumes (hey, it's almost Halloween) are encouraged (especially anything potato-themed!). Want to enter your favorite recipe? Find all the details at www.unityofwimberley.com. Top Prize for the winning potato entry is $100 bucks (no small, potatoes, eh?)...

...they're baaaaaack...!

Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Kit Holmes w/Dana Clark & Wave Harless - 7:30 pm
Heart of a Woman Concert - San Antonio, TX

Price: $10 - 15 suggested love offering

"Heart of a Woman" is a collaborative musical labor of love by three multi-talented musician-songwriters from the San Antonio and Austin Texas areas. Kit is joined by songwriter Dana Clark and percussionist Wave Harless for an evening of laughter and tears-in-your-vino women's musical wisdom about life, love and everything in between!

These three ladies join forces again after several raved-about shows at women's retreats and house concerts. Lots of original tunes mixed with familiar, powerful cover songs. Gentlemen...never fear, this is a great show for everyone. 

Note: though the ladies don't get tooo down and dirty, we do suggest that you get a babysitter for the kids under 18...

Tickets/details: www.uusat.org

Now, if you're looking for a faith-lift:

Sunday, October 16th, 2011
Sunday Celebration - 11 am
Wimberley, TX

Price: $ Love

Rev. Ellen Debenport speaks on "The Unapologetically Divine Parent/Child". Kit brings the music. You know the title intrigues you, right? Join us on "The Hill."

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011
Sunday Celebration - 11 am
Wimberley, TX

Oh, it's always a good day on "The Hill." Come join us.

Sunday, October 30th, 2011
Unity Church of Georgetown TX - 11:30 am
Guest Musical Artist - Georgetown, TX

Price: $ love

This is Kit's first visit - she shares her always inspiring and fun music with guest speaker Chuck Robison for a refreshing, uplifting start to your week. C'mon y'all. You know you wanna be there...

---

The Holidays are Coming! The Holidays are Coming!!! Whheeeeeeeee!!!

Kit is available for your swanky/fun/festive/fill-in-the-blank Holiday or Special Event soiree'!

She loves being a gracious guest.... oh. wait.... what we meant to say was:

Did you know that Kit has a repertoire of more than 2000 songs in her audiographic-memory-jukebox-in-her-brain noggin'? From the standards sung by 'Ol Blue Eyes (that would be Frank Sinatra to you youngsters) to modern day Diva fare (okay, no Lady GaGa...yet...) and all the holiday favorites you can stand (and then some!) Kit can provide that oh, so elegant musical touch.

Jazz, pop, country, blues, rock, and more. And of course, a whole slew of original songs. From a solo piano/vocal performance to a trio or quartet - Kit's got your holiday or special event music covered!

Please contact Cynthia Millonzi at cmillonzi@kitholmesmusic.com or (512) 964-2801 to book Kit NOW for your holiday or special event.

And, let's talk about house concerts...shall we? Call Cynthia. Kit loves house concerts!!!

That's all I gots fer ya right now, all. Except to remind you the holidays are coming (I think that was mentioned somewhere) and CDs make a GREAT gift!! Find all the music and more at www.kitholmesmusic.com

Please be kind to one another and please come out to a gig and say "Hi." Or shoot me an email. Or "like" me on Facebook. Or follow me on Twitter (@pnogrl).

Love you. See you soon!

Kit

 Just a quick reminder for those in the Austin, Texas area this weekend:

 Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Song Swap w/ Jerialice Arsenault - 7 pm
Thrice Cafe - Austin, TX

Kit shares the stage (and is your song hostess du jour) with Jerialice Arsenault. Great locally sourced, always super-fresh foods, coffees, teas, yummy wine list and local brews on tap. Super cool vibe. And of course, amazing songwriting prowess......rrrrwwraaaoooowww....!

Grab a chair early!

And please, mark you calendars...it's sneaking up sooner than you think!!

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
HAAM Benefit Day - 3 pm
HAAM Benefit Day - Austin, TX

Price: donations to HAAM

Today is the annual all-day fundraising event for The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). Kit (along with hundreds of other Austin musicians) is donating her performance in order to help raise awareness and money for the organization.

Kit will be performing at Opa! Coffee and Wine Bar at 2050 S. Lamar from 3 to 4 p.m.

You can find a listing of all the performance locations and artists at www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org.

Thanks...and see you there!!!

 I had the blues these past few weeks. Yep. You heard right. I had the blues. Not in that “feels so good to hurt so bad” kind of way that makes you wanna sing it loud and slow with a blaring sax solo for emphasis. Nope, these were the foggy, can’t-put-my-finger-on-it, can’t-seem-to-find-inspiration-in-anything kind.

 Part of the promotional stuff I’m “supposed” to do is to tell you all the wonderful and exciting things I’m doing with my music and, on occasion, my life.

 Thing is, it’s not always wonderful and exciting. Just like any other job or career (or life). There’s lots of unpredictability about where the next gig (and/or paycheck, if ever…) will come from. There are times I find myself faced with a lot of “tell me again why I’m doing this?” moments. Especially when one day I’m playing to a roomful of people listening intently and the next to a roomful of people only interested in listening if I play cover songs. Sometimes my skin isn’t as thick as I would like to think it is.

 It wasn’t until I began writing this newsletter that I discovered that this general case of melancholy (say this with your best oh-so-droll British accent) had its roots in the upheaval that seems to be taking place, in frighteningly monumental ways across the globe. Call it the “never-ending summer of drought and scorch” blues (here in Texas). Call it the “Try as I might to stay positive in all things I’ve found myself bogged down in how ‘bad’ things are in the world” blues (though I realize that’s not a very catchy song title). Of course, it might just be middle age and/or hormones that were making things seem so bleak.

In any case, I’m reminded, sometimes painfully, that Shift happens…(as the east coast found out a few weeks ago) and its happening in very uncomfortable ways everywhere. Yes, there’s lots of metaphor here, folks.

 My gurus (yes, I have two of them…okay, four if you count the cats) say in these times of great upheaval I’m supposed to be gentle with myself. “Be in the moment, trust that it’s all as it’s supposed to be and be grateful for all you have. Show up everywhere as the love you are.”

 They have obviously mastered this practice...

Guru Marti                                       Guru Taddy

The wildfires just in the area around Austin have destroyed more than 1300 homes and overturned thousands of lives, livelihoods and landscapes in just matter of days. There are so many people across the country dealing with sooooo much worse than any “blues” I might have been feeling.

 Life can change in a heartbeat. I am grateful to be reminded. I’m grateful that I have the “luxury” of time right now to create an emergency evacuation plan (should the need ever arise) and to take stock of what’s really important in my life: My partner and our “children”, all our friends and loved ones, and the things that can never be taken away or lost, like sharing joy, being a shoulder to cry on, loving and forgiving unconditionally.

 I would be most grateful if you would take the time to send any support you can to your local American Red Cross. Mother Nature has walloped everyone this year and they can use all the help they can get.

 Please be kind to each other.

 There is, however good news from command-central here at KHM: a fab review of the new CD, Return to Love. Check out this link to the review in Jazz Corner Magazine.

 You can also read the review in it's entirety at the end of this email (if you can't open the link above). Way cool!!! In case you haven't gotten your copy of Return to Love, just click HERE to get it!

 I want to give a shout out to the folks of Arlington, San Antonio and Wimberley Texas for being such great supporters of the music in the past couple of weeks. You all totally rock!

 Now, if you'd like to be a really cool supporter (and yes, it's possible within the air-conditioned confines of ALL the gigs coming up) please consider this your invitation to come join the musical fun:

 Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Jazz Happy Hour w/ the guys! - 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Momo's - Jazz Happy Hour

Price: $5

You been workin' like a dog during the dog days of summer? Kit and the band bring the coolest of coolio jazz and blues vibes for your chillin' out pleasure. Rest yo-selfs, children...Eric Calistri on guitar, Ross Jackson on bass and Gianni DeBiagi on drums. Standards and Kit Holmes' originals are on the menu...

 Sunday, August 7th, 2011
Sunday Celebration - 11 am
Unity Church of Wimberley

"When All Hell Breaks Loose" - is the topic of the day. Do you really, really want to miss this? Rev. Ellen Debenport gives you the lowdown, Kit lightens it up.

Sunday, August 14th, 2011
Sunday Celebration - Chris Pfeiffer - 11 am
Unity Church of Wimberley

 After a long (too long) stretch of not communing with each other and/or each other's music, Kit and guest soloist Chris Pfeiffer (www.chrispfeiffer.org) will cover "the hill" with all kinds of groovy musical love. Guest bassist Kevin Lewis (www.lewisandclarkmusic.com) joins.

Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Sunday Celebration - 10:30 am
Guest Musician - Downtown Austin

Price: $ Love

Always a favorite here at the Circle of Friends, Kit brings all the joy and harmony she can muster to help you get your love on...!

Saturday, September 10th, 2011
In Concert - 7 pm
Concert w/Robin Hackett - Spring, TX

Price: TBA

Kit in concert with Grammy-nominated songwriter and hip guitar slinger Robin Hackett. This promises to be a fantastic show! More info coming soon!

There are shows being added all the time so please check the website for last minute additions! www.kitholmesmusic.com

 Here, as promised, the review from JAZZ CORNER:

New album from singer/songwriter Kit Holmes unveils honest reflection of adult relationships

July 18, 2011 (Austin, TX) Written by Robert Sutton. The roads that Return to Love can be ridden with potholes and busted signposts. Singer/songwriter Kit Holmes is painfully aware of this. "You're really good/At saying how you love me," Holmes declares on "Blue Guitar."

In the highway of heartbreak, love is too often stated but not proven. Action does speak louder than words, and Holmes' latest album, Return to Love, is pop music filtered through a mature perspective. A lifetime's worth of broken promises creates scars that no amount of "baby" talk can heal. The complexities of adult relationships are placed under a microscope and Holmes unveils their bumps and bruises with straightforward honesty. Prepare to be moved.

Holmes fits within the style of classic, confessional female solo acts such as Carole King and Carly Simon. Like those artists, she is effortlessly able to wrap hummable melodies around particularly stinging lyrics. "Split Decision," for example, features some engaging, jazzy piano but the song is actually whether or not taking back a lying old lover or finally leaving him behind like a dog burying a bone. "Beggin', cryin' on the phone/Should I throw my life away ‘cause you just can't handle being alone?" Holmes sings, outlining the indecision weighing on her wounded heart.

Holmes produced the album herself, and it has a definite early ‘70s feel to it. Most of the finest records during that era had crisp, crystalline sound; each instrument made its presence known. On the title cut, Roger Friend's drums have the kind of punch that isn't often heard in these days of overly processed recordings.

Although a lyric sheet is thoughtfully provided, one can hear Holmes' every word. She sings them with the soaring confidence of a survivor, a woman who's been there and done that. "So send him packing down the road/With the dogs at his heels," Holmes advises on "Bad Seed." Nobody said returning to love would ever be easy.

More Information: http://www.kitholmesmusic.com

Love you all, and look forward to seeing you soon! Stay cool. Be hip.

Most of the fireworks (in any and all forms) were cancelled in and around Austin this year because of the extreme drought conditions. Bummer. But in Kyle, TX, a tiny town about 20 minutes south of Austin, they went ahead with the show. So, of course all the folks who's cities & towns cancelled fireworks displays (I estimate about 30 gazillion people) swarmed in on every 2 lane road they could find. Yes, the Kit Holmes Music crew was a part of the tidal wave of cars and trucks that made Austin's infamous stretch of I-35 during rush hour look like a stroll in the park.

Well, the fireworks were pretty and pretty good. And nothing caught on fire. So, in the end it was all good.

Couple 'o things coming up this month, gig-wise, that ya might find interesting...so, I hope you're intrigued enough to come on out and take a listen:

 (Calendar Dates for this time period can be viewed at www.kitholmesmusic.com)

As always, there's always more to come! Please visit the website (www.kitholmesmusic.com) for complete calendar listings, streaming audio samples, photos and more. Guess what?! You can also purchase the new CD Return to Love, or any of Kit's other fine CDs and songbooks! All tracks are available for purchase/download, too! "Like" Kit on Facebook (she'll love you for it!). Or follow her on Twitter @pnogrl:

Be well. Be Kind. Stay cool. Share your popsicle with your dog. Peace, love and homebrew.

 Love,

Kit

First of all, a shout out to all of you awesome and amazing fans across the country who take the time to visit the website and write nice things in the guestbook. (Sorry, but I will delete the ads for pharmaceuticals from Russia...).  

The new CD Return to Love is doing really well in sales, thanks, again, to YOU awesome and amazing fans. Have I mentioned how awesome and amazing you are?  'nuff said...

 There's one show in particular this month I invite you (okay, I'm really encouraging you) to attend: The Bugle Boy show on Friday, June 24th at 8 pm. 

 Bassist/vocalist Ron McCain and percussionist Ric Furley fill out the sound and it's gonna be a blast!

 Hey, why not make an overnight/weekend out of it? Did you know there's a Best Western hotel just 3 minutes from The Bugle Boy that offers discounts if you mention you're attending a show? Did you know there's an amazing little place called Bistro 108 in downtown La Grange that serves up gourmet fare with an extensive wine list? Did you know there's all kinds of other cool places to explore in the area? Let me be your tour guide!

 I encourage you to get your tickets early, put together a carpool, reserve yourself a room and make dinner reservations for before the show. You won't be disappointed!

(Calendar Dates for this time period available at www.kitholmesmusic.com)

 Please visit Kit: www.kitholmesmusic.com for CDs, MP3 Downloads, lyrics and more! 

Thanks and be well, be kind, and take care of each other!

In Memoriam:

Roy J. Lowery

May 14, 1936 - May 28, 2011. Love and light to the family.

 As I sit down to write this I'm shocked to acknowledge it's the 5th of May. Time flies, indeed. The last two weeks of April were focused on the most recent "14 Day Song Challenge" that some songwriting pals and I try to tackle a couple of times a year.

 Object of the game is to write one new song every day for 14 days in a row. Oh, and not only do we have to write, we have to record and post the song in an online forum for everyone else in the group to hear. The only thing that lets us off any kind of self-imposed hook is that the songs don't have to be "good". All in all it's an exercise in getting past our internal critics and allowing the creative juices to flow freely. And actually, I've watched a marked improvement in everyone's writing (mine included) every time we do this.

 So, what's in it for you, you may ask? Bottom line: giving yourself permission to create. To create without judgment about it being perfect or fear that someone else will judge you/it as being less-than perfect. Just create. That's what we're here for - with one caveat: to create from a LOVING place. Life is so much more peaceful, expansive and joyful when we act from love rather than fear, don't you think?

 Jus' sayin'.....

Playin' for Pinetop 

 So... a cool (literally: the temperture dropped from 93 degrees to 58 degrees in a matter of a couple hours) event took place this past Sunday (May 1) here in Austin and a cool little blurb came out of it. Check it out!

 http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/278130/street-pianists-pay-tribute-to-pinetop-perkins

Ladies of Central Texas, it's time again...

 Friday, May 6th, 2011
Women's Retreat - Concert w/Dana Clark - 9 pm
Women's Retreat - Kerrville, TX

Price: See website for registration details

Kit joins fellow "Heart of a Woman" musicians Dana Clark and Wave Harless for the 2nd annual Women's retreat at this rustic, beautiful gathering place 17 miles west of Kerrville, Texas. The ladies will kick off the weekend retreat with a concert of original and cover tunes all geared toward The Heart of a Woman. Humor, depth and honesty make up these ladies' tunes. Visit the Retreat Website for all the registration details! As of this writing there are still a few spaces left for the weekend! Join us!

 Happy Mother's Day y'all.

ROADTRIP!!!!!

 Kit will be embarking on a 10 day roadtrip to Ashville, NC to revive, rejuvenate, relax and oh, yeah...do firewalking!

  If you're on Facebook (please go HERE to "like" Kit) Kit will be posting occasional updates on her whereabouts...(she thought about Twittering but figuring out how to do all that just feels too stressful...thereby defeating the purpose of the trip).

NEW CD:

 You're always gonna hear it here first, folks...And you probably already have but here goes again.

Return to Love, the latest CD from Kit is available in both CD and download form and is available in all kinds of places. Need a last minute Mother's Day gift? Download it from CD Baby, Itunes and Amazon. You can go HERE to buy the physical CD! Easy, no? Y'all rock.

Monday, May 23rd, 2011
An All - Day Celebration
Kit's Birthday

It's Kit's birthday. Send her a greeting on Facebook.com/kit-holmes or send all your cash to the business office: PO Box 50306, Austin, TX 78763. She'll thank you for it and she'll love ya even if you don't!

Thanks for reading. Thanks for supporting. Please treat each other kindly and give yer pets some extra pats...

love, Kit

 Just a quick note to let you know about a really cool event happening this Sunday, May 1. It's free and totally wide open to anyone and everyone!

Sunday, May 1st, 2011
Playing for Pinetop - 7 pm
Playing for Pinetop - Downtown Austin

Price: Free

Kit will be one of about two dozen Austin piano players gathering ‘round the 14 “Play Me I’m Yours” pianos in town to raise a joyful sound in honor of beloved Grammy-winning blues pianist Pinetop Perkins. Pinetop died in Austin on March 21 at the age of 97.

 Organizers invited piano players from across the musical spectrum to play for Pinetop and say goodbye to the pianos, which have been present in public places around downtown through April as part of an event presented by Art Alliance Austin.

 Kit will be playing the piano located at the Pfluger Bridge Garden along with Matt Farrell. They’ll be the ‘hosts’ for anyone who wants to tickle the outdoor ivories one more time.   Any and all skill levels (as well as ages) are welcome to come play and co-create this unscripted event. Fans and appreciators also welcome!

 The map of piano locations and more information can be found at www.playmeaustin.com. (NOTE: only a couple of the locations have parking within a block of the event, so wear your walking shoes!!!)

 Volunteers will also be on hand to collect donations for the Pinetop Perkins Foundation.  The mission of this tax-exempt, non-profit organization is to provide encouragement and support for youth and young people at the beginning of their musical career; and help provide care and safety for elderly musicians at the twilight of their career.

 This is going to be sooooooooo cool! Looking forward to seeing you all there!!!

For those of you who pre-purchased the CD and weren't able to attend the CD release party April 2 - we shipped everything out on April 4 so you should have it spinning in your CD player or your ITunes by now! Thank you again, from everyone here at KHM for your love and support. You totally ROCK!

 Now, if you haven't purchased a copy of Return to simply click HERE or buy directly HERE and you can take that item off your to-do list. $15 bucks plus shipping will get it to you pronto. Or, you can spring for the LIMITED EDITION CD for $25 (plus shipping). Each Limited Edition CD contains additional cool artwork designed and autographed by Kit! At this writing only 45 of these little gems remain. Get one with your name on it today!!

Hey, another cool thing in The Store at Kit Holmes Music is the complete songbook (finally!) to Kit's awesome (with the award-winning title track) CD, It's a New Day. Complete, meaning vocal lines, guitar chords and full piano accompaniment! All you ivory-ticklers and singing sensations get yer mitts on one today!