Hi everyone!

The Near Misses are finalists in the Cayamo Cruise Songwriting Contest! Eva Gael wrote a really fun theme song and we recorded it just a couple of weeks ago:

http://playitlive.cayamo.com/entry.php?id=1320

You can help us win a chance to play on the cruise with artists like Patty Griffin, Lyle Lovett, Kathleen Edwards, Shawn Mullins and many more!! You may even want to come along on the cruise with us, so check it out after you vote!

All you need to do is click the vote button, register and then VOTE for the Near Misses every day until the end of the contest:

 http://playitlive.cayamo.com/entry.php?id=1320

Thanks so much for your support and please, pass it on to your music-lovin' friends!

Hugs all around,
The Near Misses

Marigold's first review!!!

by El Diablo (Creative Loafing)

They sing like angels and write like veterans, so for most who've heard The Near Misses, there's been little off-target about the all-female quartet since they first performed together in 2004.
Now, on the eve of their CD release party on Nov. 24 at The Evening Muse, fans of the band will hear the fruits of a year-long labor in Marigold, their official full-length debut. (An earlier EP featured live cuts, and Early Hits was a makeshift home-burn culled from crowd favorites and songs written prior to the band's formation).
The 10-song Marigold features two or three cuts from each of the band's four songwriters and singers: Etta Lea, Reeve Coobs, Shana Blake and Eva Gael (co-founding member Jill Lurie left in 2006). The songs range from Tres Chicas-like twangy country numbers and luminous pop a la Aimee Mann to Neko Case-esque indie rock and soulful, widescreen rockers. The group's signature harmonies color every song and style, and get fleshed out with equally lush instrumentation and arrangements.
But the group's calling card is their ability to create a holistic sounding record out of such disparate styles and voices.
"There was concern during pre-production that because of all the different singers it wouldn't sound like a record but something cobbled together," says Lea. "To me, it doesn't. The song can be folky or indie rock style, but once it gets Near Miss-ified, that's what makes it sound like a song by The Near Misses."
A song gets "Near Miss-ified" when the four women figure out how they'll structure the intricate harmonies. Typically, a songwriter brings a tune in with a general idea of what they want, but then the rest have lee-way to add their own ideas -- with the songwriter retaining veto power. Lea says it's not uncommon for her band-mates to start adding parts before she runs through a song the first time.
"We're all perfectly capable of doing your predictable three-part harmonies, and we don't try not to do that, it's just that we're interested in finding out what we can do that's fun and interesting," she says. "There's very rarely any 'here's what I want you to sing.'"
That's pretty much how the group has approached the process since they first sang together as The Near Misses at a Folk & Vote rally at The Evening Muse (Lea co-owns the club with husband and Marigold co-producer Joe Kuhlman). Originally a quintet with Lurie, four of the members were regulars in the Tosco Party Singalong Chorus and had all worked in other bands or sung on other records. But what began as a fun lark quickly took a more serious turn when crowd reaction to the band's sets -- initially featuring original material and covers by Gillian Welch and The Beatles, among others -- was largely positive.
Regional tours followed, and together with appearances at festivals like the Flat Rock Music Festival this summer proved that the group's music had legs. It also proved they could survive line-up changes -- after Lurie left, Gael briefly relocated to Kansas and the band performed as a trio -- and the rigors of the road.
"With all the touring we did this summer we went through that stress and hostility and could've broken up but didn't, so I think we got that out of our systems," Lea says. "Everybody has a good idea of what they want out of the project and what we want to see the record do."
Recording picked up steam in April, with locals like Jason Atkins (keys), Shawn Lynch and Jim Brock (drums), Dustin Hofsess (guitar) and The New Familiars chipping in. Together with the core members' growing confidence and expanded songwriting palates, Marigold is a far cry from The Near Misses' stripped down, folky beginnings.
"I don't think the older fans who have liked our quirky, folky ways will be put off by the drums or an electric guitar," Lea says.


don't believe us go check it out for yourself!

Go check it out...

Knoxville Sentinel

The Daily Times

Our friend Rick Lorenz made this for us.  Click on the link below and turn your sound on! 

The Near Elfs!

go check it out!

Near Misses Hit the Mark
Marigold captures band's rich harmonies, bigger sound
BY EL DIABLO
Published 11.14.07

They sing like angels and write like veterans, so for most who've heard The Near Misses, there's been little off-target about the all-female quartet since they first performed together in 2004.

Now, on the eve of their CD release party on Nov. 24 at The Evening Muse, fans of the band will hear the fruits of a year-long labor in Marigold, their official full-length debut. (An earlier EP featured live cuts, and Early Hits was a makeshift home-burn culled from crowd favorites and songs written prior to the band's formation).

The 10-song Marigold features two or three cuts from each of the band's four songwriters and singers: Etta Lea, Reeve Coobs, Shana Blake and Eva Gael (co-founding member Jill Lurie left in 2006). The songs range from Tres Chicas-like twangy country numbers and luminous pop a la Aimee Mann to Neko Case-esque indie rock and soulful, widescreen rockers. The group's signature harmonies color every song and style, and get fleshed out with equally lush instrumentation and arrangements.

But the group's calling card is their ability to create a holistic sounding record out of such disparate styles and voices.

"There was concern during pre-production that because of all the different singers it wouldn't sound like a record but something cobbled together," says Lea. "To me, it doesn't. The song can be folky or indie rock style, but once it gets Near Miss-ified, that's what makes it sound like a song by The Near Misses."

A song gets "Near Miss-ified" when the four women figure out how they'll structure the intricate harmonies. Typically, a songwriter brings a tune in with a general idea of what they want, but then the rest have lee-way to add their own ideas -- with the songwriter retaining veto power. Lea says it's not uncommon for her band-mates to start adding parts before she runs through a song the first time.

"We're all perfectly capable of doing your predictable three-part harmonies, and we don't try not to do that, it's just that we're interested in finding out what we can do that's fun and interesting," she says. "There's very rarely any 'here's what I want you to sing.'"

That's pretty much how the group has approached the process since they first sang together as The Near Misses at a Folk & Vote rally at The Evening Muse (Lea co-owns the club with husband and Marigold co-producer Joe Kuhlman). Originally a quintet with Lurie, four of the members were regulars in the Tosco Party Singalong Chorus and had all worked in other bands or sung on other records. But what began as a fun lark quickly took a more serious turn when crowd reaction to the band's sets -- initially featuring original material and covers by Gillian Welch and The Beatles, among others -- was largely positive.

Regional tours followed, and together with appearances at festivals like the Flat Rock Music Festival this summer proved that the group's music had legs. It also proved they could survive line-up changes -- after Lurie left, Gael briefly relocated to Kansas and the band performed as a trio -- and the rigors of the road.

"With all the touring we did this summer we went through that stress and hostility and could've broken up but didn't, so I think we got that out of our systems," Lea says. "Everybody has a good idea of what they want out of the project and what we want to see the record do."

Recording picked up steam in April, with locals like Jason Atkins (keys), Shawn Lynch and Jim Brock (drums), Dustin Hofsess (guitar) and The New Familiars chipping in. Together with the core members' growing confidence and expanded songwriting palates, Marigold is a far cry from The Near Misses' stripped down, folky beginnings.

"I don't think the older fans who have liked our quirky, folky ways will be put off by the drums or an electric guitar," Lea says.

Okay, so we did the festival this past weekend, and besides the drunk girl who crossed my boundaries, I LOVED IT!! The people were so open and friendly and there was just a great energy flowing, I spent more time playing music than listening, which is how I like it anyway, but I do wish I could have made it to the valley below and jammed at some of the campfires as in years past. Course it was mighty kush to stay in the cabin and we did avoid that unpleasant guy passed out in front of the tent as we went on the mile hike to procure the "must..have..coffeeee.." coffee up the mountain cause lets face it we couldn't get organized enough to bring a coffee maker and where would we plug it in at anyway? Well... there you go. So, loved the festival, it's for a good cause beyond my own pleasure. It raises money for girls with cancer to go to the camp in the summer. Nothing like getting wasted listening to good music and a good cause!?! Ain't life great? Peace out ya'll!

          Evagael

 

Here's a picture of us playing on the BIG stage...

and leading the worship service...

 

 

Face The Music
Fem-iliar Sounds Of The Queen City
By Nicole M. Sikora

GO CHECK IT OUT!!!!

Here's what they had to say about us...

..>..>

The Cool Girls: The Near Misses
Etta Lea, her sister, Eva Gael, and their friends Reeve Coobs and Shana Blake are The Near Misses. It's a band in which every member sings, and group talents include songwriting, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and mandolin, and percussion. When asked to describe their music, Gael responds, "It's like you take plain ingredients such as flour and eggs, and you pour them all together and make cheesecake. It's a flavor sensation." The other band members laugh and nod in agreement. Gael's assessment also rings true outside the band. The Near Misses won the "Best Band" Readers' Choice Award in the 2006 Creative Loafing "Best of Charlotte: International Edition," and the "Best New Band" Readers' Choice Award in 2005. Band members and fans alike cite the challenging harmonies as crowd pleasers. "Someone will think of one part of a song and there will be three voices singing, and you have to come up with a fourth," Coobs says of their creative process.
The Misses have other pursuits as well. Lea books shows for The Evening Muse and serves as the primary marketing contact for the band. Coobs works as a nanny and bartends at The Evening Muse. Gael helps build ponds and zoo habitats, often traveling to fulfill her responsibilities. Although she has left the band, founding member Jill Lurie often joins The Near Misses as a special guest. The women practice once or twice a week, and play gigs on the weekends. The spot-on chemistry among the band members is immediately evident, making it easy to see why The Near Misses are so popular. After shows, they stick around and are the life of the party, especially when the engagement is in a venue they frequent and friends are in the crowd. Lea, Gael and Coobs agree their dream gig would involve touring Europe. The Near Misses also have a soft spot for festivals and hope to return to booking them once their new CD is complete. In addition, the Misses say they'd like to create a festival of their own. "We would like to put together a 'FemFest' to cover the Southeast in a regional, Lilith Fair kind of thing," Lea says. "But," she smiles, "we're not working on it hardcore." Current sound: Known for melodies and harmony. The Near Misses draw upon rock, pop, country and folk. Three musicians who have influenced them: Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch and Joe Kuhlmann (band member Etta Lea's husband, and owner of The Evening Muse). Releases: Early Hits, recorded during live performances. Currently working on a studio album. Song or lyric that best defines their lives: "We all have a purpose for life until death, and we get closer to it with each passing breath." — "This is Your Day," The Near Misses Find them online at: thenearmisses.com and myspace.com/thenearmisses

Our friend Sue took us behind the glass at the aquarium she works at.  We got to play with and touch all sorts of cool things.  Here are some photos from our trip...

Our favorite little guy was the baby octopus named Diego.

Here he is playing with his toy...

As we were leaving Eva decided to get in the turtle pond.  Notice the little turtle poking its head out of the water staring at Eva.

Thanks so much Sue, we had such a great time!