Nu Shooz 40th Anniversary Celebration!
Does our FB Live Party answer the age-old question — The Beatles or The Stones? Watch to find out! Plus our last three Freestyle Shows for the summer.
Hi Friends,
First of all, we want to say thank you to all the folks who tuned in to our 40th anniversary Facebook Live party. The response was terrific, and people asked some great questions. (We successfully answered the question: Beatles or Stones.] Since you all couldn't fit into our hotel room in San Antonio, TX, this was the next best thing!
If you missed it, here’s the whole enchilada!
Cheers!
Valerie & John
P.S. A little shameless commerce. You could be the first person on your block to rock the official Nu Shooz 40th Anniversary T-Shirt. Suitable for all occasions, and crazy with style. Just click here to be magically taken to our store.
NU SHOOZ Summer News!
We're celebrating a BIG anniversary in June! Plus, we've got a bunch of summer shows coming up in June and July.
Forty years ago, what was happening? Jimmy Carter was President. The most popular baby names were Michael and Jennifer. And the World's inventors brought us the Walkman and Rollerblades.
AND a little band from Portland, Oregon was wobbling on baby legs. Tha’s right — JUNE 21st IS THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST NU SHOOZ GIG and we want to celebrate with you!
Hey Everybody,
Forty years ago, what was happening? Jimmy Carter was President. The most popular baby names were Michael and Jennifer. And the World's inventors brought us the Walkman and Rollerblades.
AND a little band from Portland, Oregon was wobbling on baby legs. Tha’s right — JUNE 21st IS THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST NU SHOOZ GIG.
The four original members, Jim Hogan, Larry Haggin, John Smith, and the late Randy Givens, played at Colonel Summers Park in Portland, Oregon. It was a different band back then. (The horns, congas, and backup singers were still a year away.)
To celebrate this milestone, we're going to do a FACEBOOK LIVE hangout after our show in San Antonio, TX on Saturday, June 22nd, and we'd love for you to join us. You can find our official FB page HERE. More updates on that later!
So, what was happening forty years ago?
Well, here’s a playlist of the top twenty songs on the charts in 1979.
It was a different world, that's for sure! Thanks for being on the journey with us.
Valerie & John
P.S. We’ve got shows!
We've got Freestyle Shows! We'll be sharing the stage with Stevie B., Exposé, Lisa Lisa and more on Alan Beck’s Freestyle Explosion Tour. For more info about the shows plus lineup and ticket information — just head to our calendar HERE.
Hope to see you there!
Spring News: The Tour Begins! Plus Valerie & John's Trip to a Mosque
In response to the tragic shooting in New Zealand last week, some folks up in Canada started a campaign called #VisitAMosque. We looked up the closest mosque to our house and went over for Friday afternoon prayers. During the service, the overwhelming feeling was one of peace. In fact, the word Islam means peace. Afterward, several members of the mosque came over to talk with us and one of them was an old friend we've known for over 30 years. Everyone made us feel so welcome. A great experience — we recommend it!
Rehearsal time.
Here we are... in the present tense, rehearsing for an upcoming batch of shows to kick off our summer tour. Our last concert was in November on Guam. (We were traveling with The Jets and there was a typhoon going on.) Quite memorable.
Coming up in March and April are some Freestyle concerts in San Carlos AZ, Sacramento CA, Miami FL and Las Vegas NV. You can find out more about our schedule on our website HERE
Finally, in response to the tragic shooting in New Zealand last week, some folks up in Canada started a campaign called #VisitAMosque. We were made aware if it by our Toronto friend Keith Laidman. He and his wife Michelle have an interesting website called Discover Hit Music that's worth a visit.
Anyway, we looked up the closest mosque to our house and went over for Friday afternoon prayers. During the service, the overwhelming feeling was one of peace. In fact, the word Islam means peace. Afterward, several members of the mosque came over to talk with us and one of them was an old friend we've known for over 30 years. Everyone made us feel so welcome. A great experience — we recommend it!
OK... that's all for now.
See you somewhere down the road!
xo
Valerie and John
As We Turn the Page... Some Love for Our Band ❤️
Every era has its beautiful moments. There have been many incarnations of the Nu Shooz band since our first gig back in the summer of 1979. We want to celebrate the fun we’ve had over the last five years with our current line-up. Thank you Gary, Fountaine, Margaret Linn, Tracey Harris, Haley Horsfall, Tim Jensen, Paul Mazzio and Johnny Riley for all your hard work and the joy you’ve brought to our lives onstage and off. Doing shows, rehearsing, and especially recording the ‘Bagtown’ album were a total blast.
This is a video we made of some of the highlights of the hang we’ve had since 2014.
Every era has its beautiful moments. There have been many incarnations of the Nu Shooz band since our first gig back in the summer of 1979. We want to celebrate the fun we’ve had over the last five years with our current line-up. Thank you Gary, Fountaine, Margaret Linn, Tracey Harris, Haley Horsfall, Tim Jensen, Paul Mazzio and Johnny Riley for all your hard work and the joy you’ve brought to our lives onstage and off. Doing shows, rehearsing, and especially recording the ‘Bagtown’ album were a total blast.
Here’s a video we made of some of the highlights of the hang we’ve had since 2014.
Now it feels like the page is turning. The two of us will still be playing the hits for as long as you all want to hear them. Our first show of 2019 is just around the corner on March 30 near Phoenix, Arizona. (Check our website calendar for more dates near you.) There are new projects in the works; more about that later.
It’s a new era, and we can’t wait to see what’s in the next chapter. In the meantime…
Be well!
Love,
Valerie and John
'Bagtown' Lives On!
Watch as the set for the video production of ‘Bagtown’ gets attacked by Godzilla and Sharknado at the FreakyButTrue Peculiarium - one of those institutions dedicated to Keeping Portland Weird - and ‘Bagtown’ alive!
Time flies doesn’t it? Just over a year ago we did a video shoot for the song ‘Bagtown’, the title cut from the album… (You guessed it)…’Bagtown.’ We shot the band in front of a green screen. Director Mike Wellins was behind the camera.
Malcolm Smith went to work building the town. That project took seven months, burned up many hot-glue guns, and filled about 30 square feet of our studio. The result of his labor was fantastic and magical beyond our wildest expectations. Mike came in and shot it from every possible angle.
Then it was time to take it down. We were sad. “Can’t we leave it up for just one more day? Or a week?“
Mike to the rescue again. He happens to be the proprietor of the FreakyButTrue Peculiarium, one of those institutions dedicated to keeping Portland Weird. He offered us a home for our beloved ‘Bagtown’ set, and came up with this beautiful presentation. ‘Bagtown’ is now under attack from Godzilla and Sharknado!
All is right with the world.
The "Making of..." our nu video for "Bagtown"!
Seven months ago we had a video shoot with the band for the song "Bagtown". Over the winter, our son Malcolm Smith has been working on the miniature Bagtown set - which is ALMOST complete. Next we'll put it in the hands of animator/director Mike Wellins who will take our green screen selves and actually put us INSIDE the town.
No date for completion yet. The cool part is, BAGTOWN LIVES! Check out the video we made in our studio to get a behind the scenes glimpse into the "Making of..."
Seven months ago we had a video shoot with the band for the song "Bagtown"
Over the winter, our son Malcolm Smith has been working on the miniature Bagtown set - which is ALMOST complete. Next we'll put it in the hands of animator/director Mike Wellins and his talented assistant Jasper Thun who will take our green screen selves and actually put us INSIDE the town. Mike is also the proprietor of Portland's FreakyButTrue Peculiarium (something you must see if you ever make it to the city!)
No date for completion yet. The cool part is, BAGTOWN LIVES! Check out the video above that we made in our studio to get a behind the scenes glimpse into the "Making of..."
Spring 2017
Spring is here! The trees are getting their fresh coat of leaves. What better time to release a Nu Shooz song with brand new clothes on. We’re proud to unveil the Eric Kupper Radio Remix of “Real Thing” from the “Bagtown” album!
We've also got some shows coming up in Boca Raton FL and Southern CA with 80s acts like Boy George, Exposé, Pretty Poison, The Motels and more...
Spring is Here! The trees are getting their fresh coat of leaves. What better time to release a Nu Shooz song with brand-new clothes on. We’re proud to unveil the Eric Kupper Radio Remix of “Real Thing” from the “Bagtown” album!
We want to thank everyone who took the time to vote for their favorite cover art on our FB Page. Here’s the winner. Hope you like it!
“Real Thing” was remixed by Eric Kupper, a star of the house music scene. Eric is known to DJ's everywhere for his production skills and a client list eight miles high, having worked with everyone from Alicia Keys to Depeche Mode. There’s a radio edit, and a club mix for you folks who want to dance all night. The response has been fantastic. Comments are rolling in from all over Europe, Asia, and Africa! We’re also charting on Traxsource - the ultimate DJ go to site for new music.
You can listen and download the radio edit here...
And the (longer) Club Mix is here on Traxsource.
Summer shows are already falling into place. We’ll be Freestylin’ it at the shows below in May and June. Watch this space for full band shows later this summer.
FRIDAY MAY 19
First, it's the 3rd annual LOTOS Music Festival in Boca Raton FL, featuring Boy George, The Romantics, Ace of Base, Nu Shooz, and more.
FRIDAY JUNE 2
Then it's the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in southern California with The Motels, Dramarama, Pretty Poison, Nu Shooz, and more.
All in all, life is good. As winter turns to spring we look forward to another season of music, art, and fun.
Vive le printemps!
XO VALERIE AND JOHN
JUST RELEASED! The "Real Thing" Eric Kupper Club Remix
Hey Everybody! It's the "REAL THING" Eric Kupper Club Remix! Eric is known to DJ's everywhere for his production skills and a client list eight miles high, having worked with everyone from Alicia Keys to Depeche Mode.
We love the remix he created for "Real Thing" and are ecstatic that he agreed to take it on. We hope you like it as much as we do. For a limited time you can find it on Traxsource. Click on READ MORE below to hear a sample of this tasty track, and then head on over to Traxsource for the full meal deal. Enjoy!
Hey Everybody! It's the "REAL THING" Eric Kupper Club Remix!
Eric is known to DJs everywhere for his production skills and a client list eight miles high, having worked with everyone from Alicia Keys to Depeche Mode. Since 1986, he has played on, remixed, and/or produced over 2000 records for artists spanning all contemporary musical genres. His work in the mid-to-late 1980s/early 1990s, especially his work with Def Mix Productions, is considered to be part of the foundation for house music as it exists today.
We love the remix he created for "Real Thing" and are ecstatic that he agreed to take it on. We hope you like it as much as we do. Enjoy!
January/February News
It's 2017! Here's a recap of our most amazing year yet - 2016, plus info on some February shows in Florida and the Pacific NW that you won't want to miss.
As always, thanks for your support, and for keeping the music alive. Without you, things wouldn't be nearly as interesting! Here's hoping 2017 is the best year yet.
xo
Valerie and John
Hi Everyone!
Happy New Year, first of all. 2016 was a great one for Nu Shooz. (We almost hate to see it go!) Thanks to YOUR support, we were able to release our album "Bagtown." Last month we heard that "Bagtown" was chosen as one of the Top 50 Albums by SoulTracks.com - one of our favorite music sites for soul music.
Another highlight was an appearance with our band on Oregon Public Broadcasting's ARTBEAT show. If you didn't get a chance to catch the broadcast - here's a LINK to the full half-hour concert and interview. Thanks to everyone at OPB for doing such a splendid job!
2016 saw Nu Shooz crisscrossing the country playin' the hits. If we didn't get to your city, well...it sure seems like we did! Fingers crossed - we'll get there soon!
If you live anywhere near Everett, WA, we're playing the Historic Everett Theater there on Saturday, Feb 4th, on a double bill with Animotion. Should be a great show.
Last but not least, John and Valerie will be heading to Delray, Florida for Honey Nightclub's "I Want My 80's Back "Valentine Rewind" on Friday, February 10th.
Thanks for your support, and for keeping the music alive. Without you, things wouldn't be nearly as interesting! Here's hoping 2017 is the best year yet.
xo
Valerie and John
The Lost 80s Live Tour w/Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung and more...
The 'Lost 80s Live' tour starts on August 27th in Sandy, UT, with A Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, Animotion, Nu Shooz, Naked Eyes, and Farrington and Mann, the Original "When In Rome UK." The tour continues with a swing through Northern California with shows in Sonoma (9/2), Saratoga 9/3), and Lincoln 9/4 then on to Las Vegas, NV, on 9/10.
What a busy summer it's been, starting with the release of 'Bagtown' in May. Since then we've been all over the place - Bakersfield, Coachella, Vancouver WA, and a beautiful sold out show at the historic Greek Theater in Los Angeles. So fun to hang with our Freestyle pals; Lisa Lisa, Exposé, Debbie Deb, and J.J. Fad to name a few. Thanks to all who were able to attend and make these shows some of the best ever.
Next up we're looking forward to a tour with a completely different kind of line up. The 'Lost 80s Live' tour starts on August 27th in Sandy, UT with A Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, Animotion, Nu Shooz, Naked Eyes, and Farrington and Mann the Original "When In Rome UK". The tour continues with a swing through Northern California with shows in Sonoma (9/2) Saratoga 9/3) and Lincoln 9/4 then on to Las Vegas NV on 9/10. For more info on the line up for each of these shows and tickets, visit the Lost 80s Live FB Tour Dates page HERE.
We've also been having fun doing some interviews surrounding the release of 'Bagtown'. Here are a couple we thought we'd share with you...
James Taylor (no...not THAT James Taylor) is a Brit who is an expert on CREATIVITY. He interviewed us last month for his blog about the creative life and was totally engaging (http://www.jamestaylor.me/valerie-day-and-john-smith/).
![Welcome to your summer. Yes, it's finally here! And it's the 46th anniversary of the very first NuShooz gig. [Colonel Summer's Park, Portland, Oregon, June 21st, 1979.] What a different world that was; pre-internet, no smartphones or smart toasters,](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54cee645e4b01fa0f0bfc5f9/1772327896063-IIMMIJOZCTP00HOVTU9D/image-asset.jpeg)
