Mia Montenegro: News

I will be playing Friday, January 20th at the new "Montecito Ristorante Lounge" in downtown Waukesha - this is an extension of the Friday Night Live series (during the summer) that is also part of Waukesha's Winter Jamboree.

Montecito Ristorante Lounge is a new Italian-American restaurant that is housed in the old space of the "El Ranchito" Mexican restaurant - right across the street from "Poppin' On Broadway" where I play often for Friday Night Live.

I have all of their contact information below along with a recent article on the restaurant and its new proprietors. I do hope to see you there!!!
Mia

http://www.downtownwaukesha.com/member-details.php?ID=1796

http://www.waukeshanow.com/news/135529378.html

6:30 - 8:30 PM
Montecito Ristorante Lounge
257 W. Broadway
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: 262-542-7470

Once again it’s that time of the year – downtown Waukesha’s Friday Night Live!! I’ll be playing three dates this summer – all of the details can be found in the Calendar section to your right ------>

July 1 – The Steaming Cup
Sept. 16 – Poppin’ On Broadway
Sept. 23 – The Steaming Cup
(all times 6:30 - 8:30 PM - rain or shine)

See you there!!

Hey there –
Long time no hear…not much new going on since last summer – BUT - that’s all about to change. This summer is gearing up to be pretty busy and I’m playing a couple of new places for the Friday Night Live series in downtown Waukesha.

Many of you have been to The Steaming Cup and I will be playing there as well, but the first new place is “The Clinton St. Gallery,” an art gallery just a hop, skip, and a jump from The Steaming Cup.
http://www.theclintonstgallery.com

The second new place is “Poppin’ On Broadway,” a gourmet popcorn shop just 2 blocks from the Steaming Cup. They offer many, many different kinds/flavors of popcorn and believe me (I’ve tried it), it is DELICIOUS!!!! The popcorn shop is sponsoring the stage along with El Ranchito, a Mexican restaurant across the street, so if it’s raining, I will be playing indoors in the restaurant. Gourmet popcorn and Mexican food – you can’t go wrong!!
http://www.poppinonbroadway.com

For all of the summer dates, directions, maps and all the information you could possibly need, visit the CALENDAR section to your right ---->

I hope to see you this summer!!
Mia

Hi all -
Just a note to let you know that there are some new photos uploaded from my recent Friday Night Live gig at The Steaming Cup - they are found in The Steaming Cup folder in the photos section to your right ------->
Or just click on this link -
http://www.miamontenegro.com/photos-group-39.html

There is also a short video clip of "In These Clouds" from that same night - enjoy!http://www.miamontenegro.com/music-56.html

A few new things to take note of -
1) New montages!!!

I am taking a break from working on my next solo CD to work on some long-awaited and much requested Suburban Gypsies projects. The slideshow montages (right on the front/homepage) are taken from a TON of pictures in my vault set to some live Suburban Gypsies songs that we recorded for a couple of cassettes that were available in the 90's (more on that below). I featured each one of the band members (including myself obviously) in three of the montages backed by a song that that particular person sang (like Eric singing "Volcano" - that montage features photos of him) and so forth. Over the years, (including up to recently), I've had people asking about the Gypsies and what an amazing time that was, so I figured I'd share some of our photos - live and on the road.

2) Old Suburban Gypsies cassettes now available for purchase on CD!!

As stated previously, I've had people asking me over the years whatever became of the old Suburban Gypsies cassettes that we recorded back in the 90's - and how can they be acquired?? Well, I've combined the two cassettes, "Standing Room Only" and "Still Standing" and made them available on one CD - You can purchase them when you see me at any of my live solo shows, or online using a credit card (it is totally secure). Only $15.00 for 19 songs! Due to time constraints for fitting all the songs on one CD, I had to leave a couple of songs off - but rest assured, all of the BEST ones are on it!! To purchase online - click on the "Merchandise" link to your right -------->

At the time of this writing, it is 90 degrees, 80% humidity with a dew point of 73. Oppressive - and I absolutely love it. It reminds me of the time I spent with my Mom in one of my most favorite places in the world, Charleston, South Carolina. So I pretend and dream that that is where I am right now :)

Not much news here or much to report, but I do have a gig at The Steaming Cup in Waukesha coming up in August as part of the Friday Night Live outdoor concert series. Details are in the calendar section to your right and I hope to see you then if not before.

YES - I am still writing, recording and working on my next CD in my studio. It will be all acoustic - along the lines of Indigo Girls' "Strange Fire" or Kristen Hall's "Real Life Stuff." Patience….please……

Have a wonderful, awesome, safe and steamy summer!
Mia

I had the great pleasure of seeing Howard Jones on his acoustic tour that he's on right now with only him on piano and Robin Boult on guitar. As some of you are aware, I am not one of those people who fall into fads and passing trends - if I like someone's music and musicianship, I follow and support their career continually, no matter how long or what phases it takes. Most people remember Howard Jones as an electronic-pop 80's icon. Yes, he was that, but I have continually followed his career for 23 years, so it was an absolute dream to see this acoustic performance as well as being able to meet him. I first saw him live in 1985, so I brought along a picture I took of him during that performance back then. I have a few pictures of me and Howard after the show that I just uploaded to the PHOTOS section to your right - look for it under the header - "Mia and some famous people." ----->

Since the 90's were such an extremely debaucherous decade for me, the Sub Gyps, and my extended peeps, I thought I'd share a few pictures I came across while I was cleaning (yes, really cleaning.)

The photos range from about 1993 - 1998. As you can see, we had A LOT of fun (more than anyone should probably legally have had), but we came through it relatively unscathed. You may also notice that in many of the pictures, we are drinking - yes, again, it was the 90's and I'll leave it at that.
Peace!!

As some of you may have seen (and might have already purchased), I have a new line of merchandise available for purchase via Café Press (click on the link below).

** They have recently added MORE COLORS for t-shirts and long sleeve t-shirts. Just check out the black t-shirt and you will be able to see the additional colors there.

They always have online discount codes or coupons that you can use at check out. They are usually only good for a specific allotted timeframe, so they will expire eventually. I will try to update them weekly or keep you updated with the latest discount codes. So, if at anytime you should feel the need to get your "Mia" t-shirts, hats or other swag, check here first for the latest discount codes.

http://www.cpcoupons.com/

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* (If you are uncomfortable ordering online, you can also place your order by phone at 1-877-809-1659 during their customer service hours - Monday-Saturday 9 AM - 9 PM EST.

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* Yes, you can now get your very own Mia Montenegro ring tone for your cell phone - only .99 cents!! Click below for your choice of three different songs!

http://www.isound.com/ringtones/mia_montenegro/

Thanks to all who showed up for my debut there on Saturday and made it a great night! I'm very excited to report that we have booked shows there on a monthly basis through September.

Check back soon for the specific dates and information regarding the added shows at The Steaming Cup!

If you happened to miss the show or couldn't make it, I have posted 4 new videos. They can be found in the MUSIC ~ VIDEO section to your right under VIDEO - The Steaming Cup.

Well, I finally got some video up on the website - although it’s new "old" video from 2000. I was scavenging through a bunch of old media on my computer and voila! These popped up. So I figured, what the heck, I'll put 'em up. They can be found in the newly labeled - MUSIC ~ VIDEO section. There are also a few pictures from those days that I've posted in the PHOTOS section as well.

FYI - there's nothing wrong with YouTube (the player and host-site that you watch the videos through), but yes, the quality of the actual videos themselves is pretty poor, but still watchable. Since these were taken back in 2000, digital video technology hadn't advanced to what it is today. I hope to get more up to date video clips in the coming months - but in the meantime, enjoy!

Hey there - I've got a few gigs coming up in the next couple of months I want to tell you about - so hope fully you'll spread the word and get a bunch of people out to Waukesha !!

First of all - it's at a place called "The Steaming Cup," right in the heart of downtown Waukesha. There is a MapQuest map and directions on the CALENDAR page, as well as the particulars - I play 6:30 - 9:00 PM. I have been there and it is a wonderful place for meeting up with some friends for coffee (they have a VAST array) as well as tea, smoothies and sandwiches. And just so you know, while it's a totally awesome place to hang, it is a coffeehouse afterall, hence they serve NO alcohol (and you know how I like cold one after a show), but that's OKAY. ;)

So anyway, it's a smaller place, therefore I will not be doing the whole sequencer/electric guitar thang. I will have my P.A., but other than that, it's just me and Marty (my Martin D-28 guitar) - an all-acoustic show !

I truly hope to see you all there supporting me as I make my foray back into the world of live giggin'! Also - get those song requests in and I'll try to do as many as possible! Send them to - mia@miamontenegro.com

See you at The Steaming Cup! Peace!!
March 25

I had the priviledge of attending an Al Franken lecture and book signing recently and while he's much too big of a star to chat and pose for a photo op with all of us ;) we were able to get our book signed! You can check out a couple of pictures I took in the PHOTOS section to your right ---->

Updates!! These have been up for a little while, but I have some pictures I took from the Indigo Girls concert I attended earlier this month - click on the PHOTOS link to your right. Also, while I haven't actually completed a personal "bio" per say, I have updated the MANIFESTO (aka Biography) page with a Q & A session referencing actual questions or comments people have asked me or made to me over the many years. I have also added a link (in the LINKS section) to a cool European independent music site which is also selling my CD. Check out all of these new links and features by clicking on the appropriate link to your right --->

I've added some brand new pictures of my annual gig for the campers in Wautoma, WI - where we have our yearly Labor Day weekend gathering. And yes, it was VERY hot !! (No air conditioning in these buildings.)

Hi all -
Well, I got to catch up with my slide guitar idol, Sonny Landreth, who played this year at Milwaukee's Bastille Days. You can see some brand new photos I took (some pretty cool artistic looking ones for that matter), along with the 3rd installment of the "Mia & Sonny" photo collection (you knew I'd meet him again and get a new picture) !! :) Just click on the "PHOTOS" link to your right - enjoy!

First off -
I want to thank those of you who have expressed your condolences to me via e-mail or cards regarding the recent passing of my Mom in April who fought a relatively short, but courageous battle with lung cancer. I was truly and sincerely touched, and they were much appreciated.

Now - on to brighter news….
I recently had the pleasure of seeing Mary Chapin Carpenter at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee (3rd row center orchestra pit no less), so of course you know I have pictures (they were allowed as long as you didn't use flash.) So I have updated the PHOTOS section with an assortment of pictures of Chapin and the band - check 'em out now by clicking on the PHOTOS link to your right.

Yes - I actually am in the studio working on my next CD. As mentioned in previous news posts here in this section it will be all-acoustic, along the lines of Indigo Girls' "Strange Fire" or Kristen Hall's "Real Life Stuff." I am also still writing and working on some pre-production for a lot of the material that will go on that CD - so stay tuned!

Hey there - check out the LINKS section where you can click on to mp3 Tunes.com - http://www.mp3tunes.com/album_details.php?album_id=25712 where you can legally download the entire CD, "Somewhere In Between" or individual songs at .88 cents a piece!

Every single song from "Somewhere In Between" is now added in the MUSIC section for you to listen to clips. Also included are all of the lyrics for each and every song, and a few more "stories" behind some of the new additions.

Aloha!
I recently returned from a trip to Jamaica (yes, I literally got to "Go South") - obviously it was FANTASTIC! So the news is that I've included a bunch of photos from my trip in the PHOTOS section, titled "Jamaica Vacation" (I know, very clever…)

I went with a group of friends, Charlie, Matt, Tim and his wife Christine, so you'll see a lot of pictures of those people. We also met some other people at our resort along the way like Carol and Gene from St. Louis, who accompanied Charlie and me on a trip to Negril where we watched the famous sunset and saw some locals cliff diving.

Also - more photos of famous people! I recently had the pleasure of seeing the Russian bluegrass band Bering Strait, and got to meet them briefly after their show. Check out a couple of pictures I took of them in the PHOTOS secton (the Famous People link.)

And don't forget, feel free to peruse the rest of the website's PHOTOS, LINKS, and MUSIC clips if you haven't already done so.
Peace!
Mia