Bonne's Blog

BF&TC in The Big Apple

2012-01-25T17:39:00.034-06:00

I'm very sorry for the delay on writing - thank you to everyone sending me "blog about NYC!" messages - I am excited to share our stories, however, in order to blog I must sit still, which I'm not good at. ;-) I'm hoping to blog more often, and as proof, I very recently got a smartphone.

Unfortunately, I even more recently need a new smartphone...

I can call out on my phone. But I can't hang up.

Very funny smartphone people.

"Bye!"

"Bye!"

"Bonne?"

"Yes - you have to hang up first"

"oh, ok........................Bye"

".............hello?"

"Hi, yes, it's still Bonne, you seriously have to hang up first"

"......hello?"

"Hi, yeah, no seriously...you have to hang up first"

So there are lots of stories and experiences I could write about. LOTS! =) But. Overall...I learned a few things. I've decided to write about those things.

Here are my top 12:

1) As music-friendly as the city is.
That is exactly how un-band-van-friendly the city is.
I wish I would have learned that lesson 190dollarsinparkingtickets ago.

2) Drinking Alcoholic Beverages During Pregnancy Can Cause Birth Defects ;-)

3) My boyfriend is a master at negotiation.

MBF: "How much for the car? We have 5 people and 3 instruments and have to go 20 blocks"

Escalade Driver: "$60"

MBF: "No way, we can get three cabs for that - how much?"

ED: "$50"

MBF: "$20"

ED: "$30"

MBF: "$15"

ED: Okay

4) Packing every pair of tights & leggings I own is not, in fact, overpacking. It is actually borderline brilliant.

The city that never sleeps perhaps does not sleep because certain hotel rooms are not equipped with modern day heating systems.

And that makes it f'ing cold.

5) Celebrities are everywhere if you walk around long enough in Times Square

6) A $1/slice of pizza is just as good as a $4/slice of pizza.

7) Bars closing at 4am vs. 2am takes a toll on my earring collection

8) Yes, a red rose and marijuana CAN be bought as a bundle-pack

9) No, a 30 block walk in 6 degree weather doesn't get better as you get used to the cold

10) Richie Cannata is a badass.

When the staff at The Bitter End says 'Richie Cannata's All-Star Band is the best in NYC' they are not f**king around.

Richie Cannata is, indeed, a badass. with a band full of badasses.

When told they were the best, I secretly thought to myself "Well - there's no way to ever really know that".

After song #1 I then secretly thought 'Well, touche'.

I would move to NYC even if all I ever got to do was go to The Bitter End on Monday nights. I think my mind is still sitting on the floor back in NYC.

We were there as their openers and I had already had one of the best experiences at a gig...the sound man was SO SO great...something I don't take for granted. The audience wasn't as large as it later got for Richie....but they were responsive and great. The entire staff (from bartenders to owner to doorman) were all friendly and supportive of what it is I do. Again...something I do not take for granted.

So - it was already a wonderful experience and I will want to play The Bitter End any and everytime I return to NYC.

But......I'm SO happy we stayed after our set.

The guys (Jeff Banks, Neil Stoffregen and Will Locker) and I were fortunate enough to get to jam all at the same time with these seriously wonderful musicians.

It was probably the highlight of the trip.

11) Singers from Iceland like cool black hats tooooo (this is a great artist, called 'James Daughter', who I met when she performed before us at Arlene's Grocery in Soho our first night. We bonded backstage over our mutual love of hiding our unkept hair.)

12) Last but not least... I have learned I am in love with New York City.

Now...in NON-New York news....while I haven't been writing on my blog much this month...I HAVE been writing new songs =) I begin demo'ing three of them next week. *whoop*

I also have my first ever Sold-Out-Before-An-Announcement-Went-Out Show at The GrapeVine on Feb. 3rd. That. Is. Awesome. Thank you to everyone for the support. I'll be performing with the awesome Seth Hedquist.

This is the first time he and I have done a GrapeVine show together. We'll be doing some never-done-at-the-Grapevine-before songs, along with a few new ones. So I can't wait for the show.

Also, to help plug another show taking place there, I'll be ATTENDING a show on Sunday, Feb. 5th at The GrapeVine for Grammy-Nominated singer/songwriter, Matthew Santos. The GrapeVine is my favorite venue in Des Moines, due to the intimancy & music-loving vibe it provides...so I'm very excited to hear Matthew in that environment. You can RSVP by contacting BONITA CROWE at afinetime4wine@aol.com

If you made it this far, thank you for reading all of this! Have a great weekend =)

Much Love,
Bonne

2011 Highlights & The Insider Sessions

2011-12-26T10:48:00.011-06:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to The Gas Lamp this past Friday night...such a fun night!! It was our first time at the club and it'd been a while since we had a full band show here in Iowa, so I was very happy to see so many people willing to come out on Christmas-Eve-Eve and rock it down with us! Take that Christmas =)

I was also visited that night by one Mr. Stan Brewer who is the creator of The Insider Sessions.

You can check out live videos of two of my songs he captured: 'Sweetness' and 'Possibly Impossible' by clicking HERE

The Insider Sessions features musicians/artists/bands who come through Iowa - this was actually my second time doing a feature with him. The first time was a pure acoustic recording with just myself and band keyboardist, Neil Stoffregen (you can check out our acoustic performance of 'Expectation Fall' HERE).

THIS time...he caught me with the full band =) I'm not an easy subject to film when I'm with the full band - so I think Stand did a great job!

I had a wonderful 2011 - with so many fun memories from shows and travels.

The highlights I want to talk about were these six:

1) releasing the 'Expectation Fall' EP
(this includes the super awesomely fun CD Release show at People's with all the musicians from the album making an appearance at the show)

2) finding out I have and getting treated for asthma - which is a huge relief to the alternative. Which is than an invisible monster would just show up from time to time and punch me square in the chest. It was especially annoying during performances. ;)

3) opening for Lee DeWyze - - the American Idol winner. It was a small 'win' for me to sing next to a nationally voted 'Best Singer' and get the reaction I got that night. (Thanks Dad) ;-) haha

4) The Live from the Loft - Live Recorded Performance Series. That was an incredible experience overall, musically and beyond.....specifically show #2 for reasons I won't go into......but all the shows were special and I'm having SUCH A HARD TIME choosing which songs to put on the live album (out in March 2012 - *big smile and shameless plug*)

5) My son getting a Mac computer from his school...he's in 6th grade and they gave ALL students in 6th grade & up a Mac Book. I think it's so so so wonderful...his computer is better than mine =) He's on it constantly...it has music and movie programs and he can do projects with other kids in his class from home via skype. Pretty cool.

6) opening for Toad the Wet Sprocket. I remember sitting and picking apart 'Pray Your Gods' by TTWS when I was a teenager. The music and words were influential to me and my songwriting. To get a chance to meet them and share a stage was a really fun experience. Plus it was the Simon Estes Amphitheater - a WONDERFUL place to perform...so that was a bonus as well =)

So there you go. My small but mighty highlights from 2011.

I really really am looking forward to 2012. I am lucky to have tremendous love and support from my family, especially the three main guys in my life, so I am only excited and anxious to begin all the new things on the horizon.

Also, in case you're thinking 'Hey...when I can I hear me some Bonne?' I took a specific and planned 'time out!' from booking the normal amount of shows the first few months of this upcoming year, BUT it's to focus on new songs/material.

I'm a weirdo and need a cocoon of time and thoughts to finish them all the way I want to, and want to do so soon so the band can start learning it all in time to perform it for you all this spring =) You can check out my current schedule at my main website: www.bonnefinken.com

We will be playing here and there...the first being for my favorite: The GrapeVine on January 7th. Tickets are $10 and you purchase them via contacting the owner, Ms. Bonita Crowe at afinetime4wine@aol.com or calling 515-314-4472.

I write this blog as I sit in front of a new (borrowed, thanks Scott) keyboard. I'm really excited about the new songs, and can't wait to see you after the New Year. Much love and many warm wishes for your new year, Bonne

My upcoming week...

2011-12-04T19:47:00.005-06:00

Here is a photo from soundcheck this past Friday - which was the first of the three 'Live Recorded' performance series.

It went really well - especially considering it was something new for everyone! I so appreciate that the next shows seats are all filled!! =) THANK YOU to everyone who came this past weekend and who are coming over the next two. I mean it whole-heartedly.

For everyone coming on the 10th: I'm going to make my holiday favorite....oreoballs....mmmmmmmm

I'm now going through the recordings from Friday to see which are the best contenders for the Live CD and also rehearsing round #2 of Christmas songs for Show #2 on the 10th.

On another small performance note:

I'll be singing for the Kees Camp Christmas Party this coming Friday night, Dec 9th. Now, normally I don't announce when I sing at Christmas parties - but this one is special. It is full of fun entertaining things and so they decided it's now actually going to be open to the public.

Kees Camp is a seriously sweet fitness studio that boasts not only boot-camp style workouts *which I'm currently enrolled in and love* but also pole-fitness *which I'm not currently enrolled in but think is bada$$*

Owner, Jennifer Kees, is a fitness-guru AND hip-hop and pole performer so they're going to bring an "on location pole" to the fun nightspot/restaurant DOS RIOS in downtown Des Moines.

Local Roots Band, Douglas Acres, will open the night with their music and then I start around 11PM. Jussst fyi if you're out and about downtown. I'll be playing for around an hour or so and think it's a fun idea that they decided to make their Christmas Party open for all to enjoy!

I'm signing off now...going to watch something on VH1 and eat something w/ranch dressing on it

....*hopefully Jennifer Kees doesn't read that* haha =)

Happy Holidays!
Bonne

Be a Part of My First Live Album!

2011-11-28T15:58:00.005-06:00

This is me and band keyboardist, Neil Stoffregen, in Nebraska this past weekend just doin' what we do in our off time.

Hangin' with Santa.

I do plan on getting back to my regular-blogging-programming as soon as I get through the first of the December Recorded Shows. I have a stockpile of stories and information to post, so I literally have been making notes and can't wait to sit down and blog for real!! However...there's pressing business at hand ;-)

I must stay focused on getting (and keeping) all the ducks in a row for the series to begin this week!

Ducks like: Christmas Lights, Sound Boards, a big screen TV, green and red toenail polish....annnd sugar cookies.

So....fun ducks =)

There are only a handful of tickets left for this show series - so THANK YOU to all you diehard fans and supporters who have
already purchased tickets. I am rehearsing a few Christmas songs as I type and can't wait for Friday to come!

Also speaking of this Friday - - that is the main date with open seats left =) Soooo...If heading out to the now-oh-so-cheerfully-lit East Village District around 6:30pm for some live music (which will be turned into an album) sounds like fun, it's not too late to reserve your seat!

Wine is available for purchase via The GrapeVine LLC & Da'Vine Entertainment. We will also have some light snacks for you,
and you're welcome to bring even more of your own for during the show.

Once again...here are the deets:

Tickets: Contact Da'Vine Entertainment at davine.entertainment@gmail.com or call 515-314-4472 to RSVP and purchase tickets
VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF AVAILABLE TICKETS

Cost: $35/ticket/show - price includes:
-admittance to the LIVE RECORDING
-light hor d'oeuvres
-ticket stubs will also be redeemable in March 2012 for a copy of the live CD

When:
Dec 2nd - 7PM-9PM
Dec 10th - 7:30-9:30PM (full)
Dec 17th - 7PM-9PM (4 seats remaining)
The Live CD will be made up of songs from all three shows. Each date will provide it's own unique performance featuring Bonne with different members of The Collective

Where: East Village District - Downtown Des Moines, IA (address will only be given out to ticket holders)

Refreshments: While light hor d'oeuvres provided, additional food may be brought in & a catalog will be available to order wine, which will be provided by The GrapeVine LLC.

Wishing you much love & joy this holiday season ,
Bonne

December Performance Series - LIVE CD

2011-11-08T07:57:00.003-06:00

It's my birthday today.......I tried telling my son I'm turning the big "2-3". His response was "...you had me when you were 12!? No you didn't!?"

=) Ha!

My son is smart. I did not have him when I was 12. And I'm not 23.

I'll just leave it at that =)

THANK YOU for all the birthday wishes and THANK YOU for the people who have purchased tickets for the Secretly-Located December Shows =) I'm very excited to perform these, and record a live album with 'the Collective'. For anyone who wants to join us...here are the deets.....and then I'm going to go eat chocolate birthday cake for breakfast =)

Tickets: Contact Da'Vine Entertainment at davine.entertainment@gmail.com or call 515-314-4472 to RSVP and purchase tickets
VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF AVAILABLE TICKETS

Cost: $35/ticket/show - price includes:
-admittance to the LIVE RECORDING
-light hor d'oeuvres
-ticket stubs will also be redeemable in March 2012 for a copy of the live CD

When:
Dec 2nd - 7PM-9PM
Dec 10th - 7:30-9:30PM
Dec 17th - 7PM-9PM
The Live CD will be made up of songs from all three shows. Each date will provide it's own unique performance featuring Bonne with different members of The Collective

Where: East Village District - Downtown Des Moines, IA (address will only be given out to ticket holders)

Refreshments: While light hor d'oeuvres provided, additional food may be brought in & a catalog will be available to order wine, which will be provided by The GrapeVine LLC.
Much Love,
Bonne

'Be Inspired' (my almost-wasn't song)

2011-11-01T14:39:00.024-05:00

I know what I want to do when I grow up. =)

I want to work with children.

I've been trying to work out a way to do both - now - but until they create the 35 hour day I feel like I'm going to need to wait a few more years.

But I got to briefly last night. And I had so much fun. And I feel like the kids that joined me in the studio did too.

I'm going to tell the story of a song I'm finally completing after a 2 year hiatus from it, called 'Be Inspired'.

...if anyone reads my blog they should know I have a tendency to write & write & write which I'm sure I'll do here.

One hand: beauty of blogging
Other hand: I should probably learn to get to the point a little faster
*but that isn't a lesson I'm going to learn today* =)

About 2 years ago I was approached by a ground-level-new-business who approached me, asking for me to sing a would-be theme song for their would-be commercial.

They first asked that I cover a very-famous song (it's not 'Natural Woman' but let's pretend it's 'Natural Woman' for the sake of my story...)

They liked my voice - and so they offered to pay me to record a cover of 'Natural Woman' (in addition to paying studio/musician fees) so that they could then use that as their Coming-Soon Commercial Theme Song.

Despite being new to the music business myself - and despite not having my then-manager with me at the initial meeting - I still was able to bring up a few items that needed addressed with this, mainly: song rights.

After some research and conversations it was decided that the amount of money needed to use 'Natural Woman' in their commercial would cost around 50 times the amount of money needed to simply pay me to write them their own original theme song.

So....that's what I did =) I wrote them a theme song.

Since they wanted 'Natural Woman' -- no deal was to be made until they heard my song, of course.

So I went home, and within about 24 hours had a song for them. I called it 'Be Inspired'.

I first played the song for my mom. She loved it (thanks mom =)

I then played the song for my then-manager....expecting to be told 'Good first draft' and then sent back to work out a few suggestions I figured he'd no doubt have for me.

He didn't have any suggestions. He loved the song.

Sweeeet.

So....I then had the women come into the studio so that I could "present" the song.

Production on it hadn't started - since production was to have been paid by them if they liked/wanted the tune.

So I just printed & passed out my lyrics and I played the song on my $80 keyboard with a simple drum beat so they could at least hear the basic structure in a pop-song type form, and luckily....I believe heavily based up on the lyrics more than my novice keyboard performance skillz.......they really loved it too =)

It was a very cool experience, just in that itself. At the time - I thought they were a legit group with legit backing that would be producing an Oprah-like commercial. I could hear this song being part of that. So it was exciting the song received the response it did.

After I played/sang it - - I went back into the sound booth where the business owners were listening along side my then-manager and the studio owner and was awesomely(sp?) greeted with hugs and tears and excitement.

They wanted production to start immediately.

Now...here is where it gets sticky.

Production was to start immediately...to allow me time to do it right & for edits, etc....yet no money had been received from the owners yet.

The financial dealings were to be handled by my then-manager - so I was a little out of the loop....so I waited for word on it.

As the days after that presentation went by, no official word or money was received - - yet I would receive personalized texts or emails from the owners talking as if I HAD received payment and I was working on the song.

It was very odd....to get text messages on my personal cell phone, saying they loved the song and would pay for not only production but to 'own' the song - - which would be an even higher amount of money. Yet - my then-manager was getting the run-a-round from them.

So...as I often do...I took a gamble. I fronted the money myself to begin production on the song.

I figured I'd get paid back anyways and it was worth it to ensure I didn't lose out on the opportunity - - as I know how things work...especially when dealing with people who don't understand how the music world works - they may not understand my needed timeline....and if one day they were to say "We need it tomorrow - here's the check - as long as we can have it by tomorrow" I wanted to be able to have it tomorrow!

So I started production.

And about two weeks into production....like the way of the world...balls were dropped everywhere there was a ball in play.

It's either that or the balls never really existed.
If they ever did - they don't now...that business never launched.

BUT. I learned a big lesson...AND this story does have a nice ending....

I was left with a song on my hands that really didn't have a home. It's a good song I think....but it is not really one I'd put on any of my albums.

It was around 75% done - production wise - when I stopped working on it. I didn't finish it because I had already put more money into the song than I ever planned to. So. It's just sat in studio limbo for 2 years.

Then, a few months ago, I was in a coffee shop in downtown Des Moines when I overheard the owner talking about a kids project she was working for a local youth shelter.

I knew the owner, slightly, as she sells my albums at her coffee shop (Village Bean - E 5th and Walnut) and I know the youth shelter well - as I had recently spoke with them about volunteering.

So I felt the need to introduce myself, and ask if I could hear more...and see if I could help.

They want to create a DVD series on 'alternative careers'. They want kids to know at an early age - - it's okay to dream. And more importantly - pursue those dreams.

This is directly up my alley. It's something I believe needs preached more to children.....that it's okay to dream and pursue what you want out of life. Even if it goes against the grain. I've even worked with teens in high schools on the subject of this....letting kids know that wanting a life in music doesn't mean you can drop out of high school. A career in music isn't all poolsides & nail salons like the media presents. It's not AT ALL...haha. But it can be rewarding the same way anything you're passionate about is rewarding. But it takes work and it takes an education.

So I asked if I could help.

We talked about the DVD they're starting production on - interviewing people of "alternative careers" such as make-up artists, firemen, a geographer, etc.

I agreed to speak on the DVD and I showed them the partially-complete song 'Be Inspired' to see if they wanted it. They do - so I'm donating 'Be Inspired' as the theme song for their DVD series. I don't mind at all my money or time or music being donated to a great cause such as this. SO it has worked out beautifully =)

And a big THANK YOU to Jon Locker of The Sonic Factory Studios to his donating his time & use of the studio to complete the song as well =) I work with good people.

And for fun sake - and since it'll be shown to children - I completed recording the song last night with a very special group of children.

They came in and we recorded some giggles and chatter and claps and a few hums & 'ooohs' & 'ahhs'. It was so much fun! And they did GREAT =)

I recently learned the DVD will be used not only for the youth shelter - - but now the public schools here in Urbandale and Des Moines, IA. So you see...it's a very cool feeling to see a song that had such a bad start in the world now end up in the very spot it's probably meant to be in.

Here are the song lyrics:

You know somebody, probably more if you think about it
The kind who likes to move mountains - but never talks about it
Yet we seem to search for more when we think to ourselves 'I wanna be inspired'..
Well I think...you're gonna be inspired

Take a look all around you
Beauty surrounds you
Take a break & breathe the day
Real life's amazing
A little bit crazy
But don't take for granted today
I feel the need to show you, take your hand & pull you
Put a mirror up to your face
Living with devotion - and a touch of pure emotion - and you...
you're gonna inspire someone today

Stayin' strong for a child who can't fight a fight now
Rubbin' shoulders for your parents as their bodies break down
All the while finding time for a smile
Don't you know..you're gonna be inspired
Don't you know...you're gonna be inspired

Take a look all around you
Beauty surrounds you
Take a break & breathe the day
Real life's amazing
A little bit crazy
But don't take for granted today
I feel the need to show you, take your hand & pull you
Put a mirror up to your face
Living with devotion - and a touch of pure emotion - and you...
you're gonna inspire someone today

There is someone out there whose life's not fine without you
A day with you and a day without are not the same
Can you feel their presence?
Let it help your method to one day say 'My life is full, and I know love was made'

Fragile people or the kind who never seem to break
Both need your love and laughter
Both are not just given traits in any one of us
We grow into who we are
I know you're gonna be inspired
Yes I know, you're gonna be inspired

© Bonne Finken

BE A PART OF BONNE'S FIRST LIVE ALBUM!

2011-10-27T13:02:00.010-05:00

Hello and Happy Early Halloween =)

This is a photo from Halloween-Past. It's one of the lamest outfits I've ever worn on Halloween. I wore it for a guy I was dating at the time who wanted to dress like a Sinatra-type and wanted a believable ladyfriend.

And we all know Sinatra wouldn't date a woman with short hair.

*coughmiafarrowcough*

But whatevs.

That year I wanted to dress as 1/2 of a donkey....but I was somehow outvoted.

I'm used to being a zombie or a ballerina with a bullet hole in my forehead - - not to be gross, but because I love FX makeup. If I hadn't gone into music, I'd probably want to work on special effects in the movies.

I blame it on my dad. When I grew up we went so far as to black out our house on Halloween, and he built a temporary graveyard and full sized coffins even.

So I'd lay in them waiting for the few kids brave enough to walk through the cardboard gate and ask for a snickers.

I would then scare them by crawling out slowly...and when they started to run back to their parent I'd start doing a silly dance and talk them back up to the door and THEN give them the snickers.

Haha....sounds mean? Now that I type it? But I promise it was all in good fun =)

Funforusanyways =)

Sooo scary was my go-to for Halloween costumes. And if you're NOT gonna go the cool makeup route - - humor was my 2nd choice.

So my ending up as a long-haired girl, basically, instead of a short-haired girl as a "Halloween Costume" shows how good I am at biting my tongue sometimes.

BUT - on the plus side - this non-costume allowed me to feel long hair again. I cut my hair all off back in 2003 so feeling hair on my shoulders again was the fun part of this costume. I don't have the patience to let my hair grow more than about 1 inch long - - which I'm told is too short for hair extensions...so I guess I did like the excuse to wear a wig.

I also liked the day after Halloween when I was uber-grateful to have my short hair and all it's low-maintenance-glory BACK. =)

ANYWAYS - - down to business =) I'm SO excited to tell you about a special performance series I'm putting on, along with Da'Vine Entertainment.

If you want the short of it...you can scroll down to the BOLDED section and it will give you all the cut-to-the-chase details.

Now.....for the long of it..........

The 15 people who have followed my music career from the beginning know that my start in this business was with full band performances. I was (and probably still am) most comfortable when there is a stage, & lights, a kick drum, plenty of 'crazy leg dance move space' and a sound system so loud you have to scream to talk over it.

When I perform in this setting - - it's like therapy for me. I get lost in the music. So much that it's probably my vice. I need to perform.
Like some people need a cigarette or a glass of wine.

I feel pent-up thoughts and fears and emotions leave my body...even if only temporarily....so immediately that it's like they're mixed in with the buckets of sweat that pour out of me during these types of shows.

But I was scared to perform stripped down.

If I didn't sweat and dance and scream on a stage - - would I still feel what I want to feel when I perform?

And...could I still communicate with my audience. I use my foot stomps and screams and hops as a way to help communicate the message of my music and songs.

That's why performing "stipped down" use to scare me. I would get booked for a duo show and pull in other instruments & bandmates even if it meant I didn't make a dime.

About two years ago, that changed. I met the owners of an underground performance venue, The GrapeVine. They had followed me for longer than most people who are now fans of mine. They knew me as the disco band singer & stage performer. However, when I released my first album 'Soul on Display' they asked that I perform for one of their weekly private concerts and only with one instrument as accompaniment.

I did - - and have continued performing these concerts monthly now, for two years. They. Are. My. Favorite.

I don't need to use foot stomps or screams to get my point across - - I get the chance to talk with my audience about my songs. And they get the chance to hear the lyrics.

So in 2012 - - I've been much much braver about performing "stripped down" and began doing private house concerts this way, and even performed at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market with the acoustic version of the band rather than the full electrified version =)

The response I received was "You need to record acoustic versions of your songs".

So that's what I'm doing =) And YOU are invited to join me. I promise it will be a good evening.

Thank you for reading this...and for all your support ~ Bonne

In short - here's the 'Need to Know' info:

Tickets: Contact Da'Vine Entertainment at davine.entertainment@gmail.com or call 515-314-4472 to RSVP and purchase tickets
VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF AVAILABLE TICKETS

Cost: $35/ticket/show - price includes:
-admittance to the LIVE RECORDING
-light hor d'oeuvres
-ticket stubs will also be redeemable in March 2012 for a copy of the live CD

When:
Dec 2nd - 7PM-9PM
Dec 10th - 7:30-9:30PM
Dec 17th - 7PM-9PM
The Live CD will be made up of songs from all three shows. Each date will provide it's own unique performance featuring Bonne with different members of The Collective

Where: East Village District - Downtown Des Moines, IA (address will only be given out to ticket holders)

Refreshments: While light hor d'oeuvres provided, additional food may be brought in & a catalog will be available to order wine, which will be provided by The GrapeVine LLC. Much Love,
Bonne

House Concert - testimonial

2011-10-10T10:49:00.002-05:00

Create Community, Create Magic
(this is a repost of a blog entry by one of our wonderful house concert hosts)

I think one of the best ways to win our country back from corporate power is to create community. I’d us the word “authentic community” but the word “authentic” seems to have been co-opted by the corp. media, so I’ll pass.
How do you create community? It’s pretty easy- it takes friends and some planning. A way to create it on a home scale is to have a music event, a mini-concert in your own home. Some call this a house party.

Anyway, I had one at my house last weekend. It was fantastic. We had Des Moines jazzy-blues chanteuse Bonne Finken and her guitarist Seth playing in our living room. Thirty-three wonderful and adventurous friends were in attendance, sprawled on chairs and sofas throughout the ground floor of our funky 1881 Italianate.
Pure/Simple: It was magic! Short of the great Amy Winehouse playing in my living room, I could not have been any happier!

For a modest cover charge (For Bonne) our little community got some good hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, but best of all we got to listen to a wonderful, original talent, all of this in micro-setting where performers and the audience together made the evening. No media, no business, just beautiful sound, talent in abundance and an appreciation of that talent.
No filters between audience and performers. It’s the absence of this unseen third party of corporate culture that made the evening sensational. No middle, no salesman, just performer and audience. A community of shared appreciation located in the moment.
Pure magic -go out and make some of your own.

Longest Blog Entry to Date

2011-10-05T00:50:00.036-05:00

Mollie Cooney of Channel 8 News did an "Artist Studio" piece (click HERE to see video)...and did a great job, and I'm so grateful that they took the time to come talk with me.

But there is one thing I want to clarify.

This is only for my own peace of mind & for anybody who may read on - - this WILL be long.....................

I was bothered by how one thing came across on the interview. It was my own fault, not anybody else's, for not finishing a few thoughts all the way through...I think I do have A.D.D but it's tough to focus with a camera on you and one take!!

It's important for me to clarify I didn't just up & leave my job once I realized "life is short".

I am not saying "Live for today - everybody should quit their job and go fishing!!!"

Even though I'd love to say that...I know that's not realistic. I'm just saying the "Live for Today" part. "Start doing what you want to do - today" is more like it.

But in all honesty, that may mean you'll have to work MORE or harder in order to cover all your bases. I know I had to work more than ever before, in order to be able to do what I love. I couldn't & didn't make a living off of singing right away by any stretch of the imagination.

So I wanted to tell the fuller story. This still isn't the FULL story (that will come later in the form of a book I plan to write, haha) But this is fullER.

I was a young single mother - literally living paycheck to paycheck at an insurance industry job. I dated, had friends, was close with my family. But looking back - I wasn't really all that happy. I was going through motions. To provide for my son, and to do what I thought I was suppose to do. Work. Pay bills. Eat dinner. Etc.

I love my son so much - so it wasn't really a thought ever to do anything different. I did what I thought I had to, to "provide". It was just he & I finally living on our own when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. I had to have a pretty major surgery that put me down-for-the-count for about 6 weeks. During that six weeks, I had a LOT of time to think......all I could think about was "...what if I was still in the hospital, what if the cancer had spread to my bladder or ovaries like the doctor warned could happen...what if what if what if - - what if ANYTHING, and instead I'm laying here recovering....don't take this for granted"I didn't & don't & hopefully never will. Going back to my old life simply wasn't an option.

ALL I could think about was "Be Happy, Bonne" and that would "provide" more for my son than working a miserable job just so we can eat McDonalds once/week. And to me - happy meant : singing.

I grew up VERY shy.....very. I've always loved to sing but had a hard time doing it in front of people. I wrote songs when I was a kid, a teenager, when my son was born I'd stay up and write when he was in bed. But I never ever thought of pursuing it. I was too shy to think about getting in front of people - and I had my son as a teenager, and so I didn't get the 'normal' chance to think about college.

But after I got sick - It hit me so so hard. This is my life. This is my personality. It is what it is. I'm not going to be reborn a more confident person. I'm not going to be reborn and be able to go to California or New York when I'm 18 yrs old to persue music. If I want to sing - - I need to sing. Here. Now.

Within about 1 month of being released from the doctor's care I was auditioning for my first band. It was a classic rock cover band. I remember for the audition I had to sing at one of their gigs, with their retiring singer watching. Very hard for me. I'm not showboaty (is that a word?) and I probably wasn't even really all that good back then. I had zero training, other than show choir back in high school. But I wanted to sing. They could have been ANY band. I didn't care. I just wanted to start singing immediately and saw this as my first opportunity. They gave me their setlist, and right away I saw my favorite song was on the list (Me & Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin) and was able to relax. Then...they told me "That song is off limits" and I had to choose another. So I sang "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by Georgia Satellites & "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night.

This was the first time I'd EVER sang with a live band....and this wasn't just a live band, it was a bar band (for any musicians reading, you probably know why I'm calling out the difference...no offense to any members of bar bands intended)....so my first audition ever was also my first time singing through a sound system, and was in front of an audience, and with a bar band - - in all it's bad-monitor-and-too-loud-of-guitar-amp glory.

Somehow I got the gig. Maybe I was the only person who had auditioned. I seriously am still not sure how I got it. I was 25 years old and my 3 bandmates had played in bar bands for as long as I'd been alive so there was alot of eye-rolling and head shaking as I tried to learn to sing on the spot. I was told by not only band mates but some patrons I shouldn't be there anyways since "girls can't front bands" - and I was told this AS going on stage... I went from only ever singing a few songs at choir competitions back when I was 16 or a few karoake songs TO singing lead on 40 songs a night through a seriously horrifying sound system (again - - don't mean to push this - - but damn dude).

I helped set up the PA and lights and I helped tear down the PA and lights. I sang songs completely out of my range, simply becauase the players didn't want to do the work to change the keys. I lost my voice every single Friday & Saturday night for about a year. But I kept singing, and ALWAYS managed to get my voice back in time to sing the next night. I sang in smokey dive bars for $70/night doing Led Zeppelin and Joan Jett covers.

And I worked at an insurance agency Monday-Friday.

I started off not all that awesome. I was scared 1/2 the time and couldn't hear myself the other 1/2. BUT. Even when my bandmates openly told me they were auditioning my replacement....I kept singing.

I still believe that experience helped me more than any single other experience on any other level.

They couldn't find anyone else crazy enough to want the position...which bought me time to get better =)

Songs that had been out of my range - became easier to sing.

And I found if I closed my eyes & zoned out and just sang....I wasn't as nervous. I wasn't standing stiff with my hand in my pocket staring at the wall anymore. I was able to lose myself. People started to like me....they liked my voice & the way I sang the songs my own way.

Unfortunately, some of my bandmates did NOT ever start liking me or my voice or the way I sang the songs.

They saw my changing melody lines or adding runs while I sang as singing the songs "wrong". They saw my way of hopping about as I performed as "looking for attention".

They were wrong. But they couldn't deny we started getting better gigs.
So they kept me. But never welcomed me.

I sang this way for two years. Two YEARS. There are so many stories during that timeframe I can't even begin to touch on them. If I do write a book someday, it'll be a very long first draft.

It took me two years to gain enough confidence in my singing ability to find a better environment to sing in.

The main source of confidence coming from a pretty strong source: a phonecall from a National TV show called "Rockstar: Super Nova" that aired for two years on CBS.

I turned down the show offer.

But I left that band.....

I briefly joined another cover band. This time - the band would eventually become a disco cover band. Who knew. But it helped me grow even more.

I went from singing Zeppelin and Janis to Blondie and the Bee Gees. Not perfectly at first. So again, I learned to adapt the songs to fit me.

Another huge learning point for me....I had to find ways to sing songs I didn't care for. I continued to sing on weekends (now for around $100/night...sometimes more) and still worked an insurance job during the week.

Somewhere about this time is where singing was no longer quite enough for me.

I never really have control over the songs I sang - and I found the songs I loved to sing, and looked forward to the most each night, were the few songs where I connected to the lyrics.

I wanted EVERY song I sang to be a song I could connect with.

What better way to connect than to sing your own songs - and control your own setlist. So I decided to made an album. And try to start my own band.

.....

Making an album is expensive. Especially when you don't have a band. So in order to make 'Soul on Display' I cut my biggest bill...........which was rent.

I really did just decide "Well - I guess we're moving out" and my son & I moved in with my Mom & Dad (who are divorced - we toggled between their places) and I'm lucky that they either are super understanding or love having me/my son around so much they didn't give me too much grief. That - - - or maybe they were afraid I was going a little crazy. But nobody could argue my work ethic. I still had to work in insurance....by now I'd been promoted into a 50-hr week job that most people would think I was crazy for not keeping forever and ever. The only reason I stayed as long as I did was to be able to afford my album. I kept singing in cover bands on the weekend, I also began slowly booking small shows so that I could begin singing some of my songs out in public. I was working 50 hours a week at my day job & still finding time to build a website, design album art, get photos taken, work in the studio on 'SOD', audition bandmates, sing in the cover bands, go to rehearsals, etc. I was working around 100 hours each and every week for about 18 months straight.

I think some people think 100 hours each week for that many months is exaggerating. It isn't. Anybody who saw me during that time knows that is the honest-to-God truth. I slept in clothes & make up and wore the same things for days w/o washing my face. Thank the Lord I found that black hat, haha. The amount of hours & stress I put on myself is still something I'm paying for, in the form of a small heart condition, since I made the mistake of living on redbull in order to stay awake 20 hours/day.

It was all worth it. I would do it allllll over again. I guess, in a small way, I did do it all over again to make 'Expectation Fall' but this time I didn't have to go homeless and I luckily have a wonderful boyfriend who acts as a sleeping pill so I got MUCH more rest this time around =) I also have traded my redbull in for fruit smoothies and protein shakes. On that same note, I also have started a really fun work-out program at Kees Camp - - I'm VERY aware of how important good health is, and I'm doing all I can to make sure I have many many more years in the music scene.

So....all that said...I didn't just up & quit my job and start singing with reckless abandon back in 2005. I just very recently was able to go into music "full-time". Although that makes me giggle. I've been doing music "full-time" for a very longf time. But I was able to quit my 50-hr/week insurance job that I worked on TOP of music, and now have control over when I work on websites or rehearse. I don't have to wait until 2AM to shower. It can be at 2PM. That. Is. huge. =) It doesn't mean I don't still work around 60 hours a week at music....but 60 hours is less than 100 - last I checked ;-)

So my mantra isn't "Quit your job". It's "Start doing what you love - today". You maybe can't ONLY do what you love. But. You can work towards that. And working towards it has been one of the best things I've ever done. I'm happy. I think I'm a better person for it. I can not IMAGINE life w/o music. It's almost like there are two Bonne's. The pre-cancer Bonne and the post-cancer Bonne. The pre-cancer Bonne is almost like a movie character or something to me. I'm that removed from my old way of thinking. I don't know WHAT I was thinking, or WHY it took a life-scare to shake me into my own skin. But -- I am grateful for it. It's never too late to pursue your dreams. On one hand I wish I had that ephiphany at the age of 16...on the other hand I'm glad it came at all.

And sidenote: to some of the people who are even IN the music scene that somehow still ACTUALLY ask me "So - full time music? What do you do all day?". My answer is: "Everything you must not do"

Friday, Oct. 7th

2011-10-02T14:07:00.006-05:00

October is full of private parties...weddings, art shows, house parties...and a trip to the quad cities.

But there is ONE in Des Moines, IA this month that is open to anyone, it's just very limited seating soooo it requires that you please RSVP.

This is my very favorite Des Moines venue - The GrapeVine - in Urbandale, Iowa THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!! The photo above is me & Bonita Crowe at a Grapevine show
James Biehn (Central Iowa Music Lab Owner, Awesome Musician) performs with me on acoustic guitar

7PM-9PM with a $10 admission - you will receive a wine catalog to order your beverage and you may bring your own snacks/food.

Very intimate performance please email afinetime4wine@aol.com to reserve your spot! THANK YOU - and Happy October =)

'Soul on Display' is restocked!

2011-09-29T11:30:00.006-05:00

Hello!

I have good & bad/good news:

Good News - copies of my album 'Soul on Display' are restocked =) I didn't load up enough for this past summer and we sold out, so THANK YOU to everyone who bought a copy and another THANK YOU to everyone who wanted one - and patiently waited =) This album was (& still is) my baby =)

Bad/Good News - I sold out of physical copies of my new EP 'Expectation Fall' this past weekend BUT have put in a reorder and they'll be in next week =)

That's bad/good news because it's a good feeling to sell out of anything, in my world. I'm sure that's the case for most sales world. I just wish I could predict better when I need to be pro-active and stock up!!

But - that would mean being organized...not one of my stronger traits

THANK YOU again to everyone who bought a copy of 'Expectation Fall'. I really hope you're enjoying it, your support is what keeps me going =)

In the meantime you can order MP3's of either CD at my website www.bonnefinken.com

I'll be reposting again soon to let you know about a very special performance series coming up in Des Moines, IA - - the words "live" and "recording" are involved & only a limited number of tickets will be sold....details are coming up very soon =)

Also, if you have the TV on this Sunday morning - Mollie Cooney of KCCI Channel 8 News stopped into a rehearsal of mine with Central Iowa Music Lab owner, James Biehn.....and the interview will air Sunday morning on "The Artist Studio" portion of the newscast.

Thank you, have a wonderful weekend everybody!

Bonne

Bonne Finken - Live in your Living Room

2011-09-19T16:35:00.001-05:00

Hello! I hope everybody has had a great start to their fall season! This is my very favorite time of year - when I get to pull out my scarves and jackets....although I do try and wear my flip-flops until my feet are absolutely forced into shoes by ice & snow.
I had a very busy summer filled with full band shows, some highlights being the always-fun Des Moines Arts Festival and opening for both Toad the Wet Sprocket and 2010 American Idol Winner, Lee DeWyze.

I am now looking forward to the time of year I wind down and stick close to home (Des Moines, IA) and regroup.
I'll be doing a special "Artist Portrait" for KCCI Channel 8 news towards the end of the month, with a few Iowa radio interviews in October. I'm doing a special music study with the wonderful pianist/singer Janey Hooper that I'm excited to stay we've already started working on. I've been writing songs daily and beginning to book band performances for 2012. However, my going back underground doesn't mean I've stopped performing...it means I'm performing more intimate & private shows. Mainly - house concerts. It's become more and more of a regular thing, and I love them SO much that I decided to dedicate some time to tell you about them...and see if anybody else would like to host one!

The intimate setting of house concerts mean I really get to meet my fans - more than is ever possible when I'm performing on a stage or at a large venue. Full band shows demand alot of my time, energy and brainpower. I am not only the singer/songwriter - - but am bandleader. So I feel like I never have time to hang out and chat with people as much as I'd love to - since there's always a question that needs answered or a bandmate or venue owner to hunt down, ha. House parties give me that opportunity to relax more and focus on the people & music.....in a nutshell: to connect.

I feed off of interactions and energy from other people - so the house parties are becoming addicting. I feel like everyone I've performed for are now friends more than fans, and I want to keep the trend going through the fall and winter months. The season for them approaches anyhow, as they're very popular during the holidays, but fall & spring would be a great time too (outdoors is always a possibility still during these times of year).

What is a house concert?

FORMAL ANSWER: A house concert is when an individual hosts a musician in their home for a private concert. It's an intimate show where the musician is showcased in a quiet and exclusive setting. Typically the host pays the musician a flat rate and donations or a cover charge can be requested from attendees. Everyone can meet and greet the musician before and after the concert over drinks and snacks.

BONNE ANSWER: It's usually myself and one accompanying musician (sometimes two) and we show up an hour before the party starts, we bring the sound equipment (and break music if needed) and set up in any room you tell us to set up in. We usually perform either one (1) 90 minute set or two (2) 45 minute sets....and allow time to meet and greet your guests before/after the performance. My sets are made up of 1/2 original Bonne Finken songs and 1/2 songs by my favorite artists....and during the approaching holiday season, we throw in some holiday songs as well. This is usually one of the very few times I open up and talk about what inspires my songwriting and why I choose the cover songs I perform with the band. It really is a fun time and I would be happy to answer questions if anyone has them!

Have a wonderful rest of your September...I've already started looking at Halloween costumes *favorite holiday* and I hope you have too =)

Much Love,
Bonne

Host a private concert at your home!
Book Bonne Finken for a house concert by emailing bonnefinken.music@gmail.com.

Catching up...

2011-08-13T18:57:00.006-05:00

I'm excited to finally start posting videos/photos from the 'Expectation Fall' Release show this past June. I have the first clip posted on YOUTUBE - I've been behind, but am now recovered from a seriously brutal July...

sidenote: I'm thinking of adding & treating "excessive heat" the same way as rain in our performance contract...holy buckets of heatstroke - that was a hard month.

I think I spent a total of around $300 on gatorade in one month. And we only performed 11 times.

We had alot of fun though - - performing the Clive Festival, opening for Toad the Wet Sprocket and for the 2010 American Idol winner Lee Dewyze, and had a GREAT time at Cunningham's Journal this past weekend in Nebraska.

We'll be on the Susan Knapp Amphitheatre stage this Thursday the 18th (full band) at the Iowa State Fair - Legends in Pleasant Hill (full band) Friday night and at DG's Taphouse in Ames, IA (full band again) Saturday night.

Hope to see you soon!! The band is fun, with some new faces & songs - - along with some familiar =)

Much love,
Bonne
(p.s. this picture was from the CD Release show, when I was trying to grow my hair out......I've since failed and it's back short again...*'boo' & 'yay' all at the same time*)

Des Moines Music Coalition - Bonne Article

2011-06-11T01:42:00.005-05:00

written by Mary Buck for the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition
June 02, 2011

If you’re into the Des Moines music scene at all, chances are you’ve had the good fortune to run into Bonne Finken and one of her energy-packed, passion-fueled live shows where the music and the atmosphere are on fire.

Much like Finken herself.

Diagnosed with cancer at a young age, she used the experience to foster a confident, leave-it-all-on-the-line attitude that drove her to write and release her own material. Her first collection of original music was 2008’s aptly-named “Soul on Display,” the soulful performances of which led to high profile gigs culminating in a stint at 2009’s SXSW.

Able to move easily between genre’s from soul and R&B to high-intensity rockers and maybe a ballad or two, Finken’s voice is her greatest strength, having drawn comparisons to both Janis and Aretha. A close second is her massive stage presence. A beautiful spitfire, she projects a girl-power vibe that seems unintentional, a feat for which many strive for and fail. Couple that with the top-notch musicians Finken always brings with her and the formula is complete.

Come out and experience a show... Full Schedule at www.bonnefinken.com

"Expectation: Success"

2011-06-01T15:42:00.007-05:00

Thank you to Joe Lawler of The Des Moines Register & Juice Magazine for a really wonderful article. I met with Joe a few weeks ago, and gave him a copy of my new EP "Expectation Fall". I was really just looking forward to a plug on the album show...so I was so so happy when I read his full article. He got alot of things spot on...and I appreciate it and the kind title =) Let's hope Joe is a psychic along with a writer... ;-) The article is below or you can read online HERE

"Six foot ten with the strength of two men."

The new tattoo on Bonne Finken's forearm doesn't describe the singer physically, but the words seem tied to the theme of her new EP, "Expectation ... Fall."

(The line comes from Michael Jordan, who was asked why he thought rebound specialist Dennis Rodman took and missed a game-winning shot when Jordan was open. Jordan told the reporter he couldn't understand Rodman's thought process because they were coming from different perspectives. He wasn't "6 foot 10 with the strength of two men.")

Reviews for “Soul on Display,” the 2009 album Finken released with her band The Collective, were positive, but little things nagged at the 31-year-old singer-songwriter from Des Moines. She needed to tone down her live performances. She needed to stick to one style. What does a white girl from Knoxville know about soul?

Rather than attempt to correct those issues, she decided to embrace her eclectic nature even more. “I didn’t want to be told where I should be coming from,” said, Finken, who releases her new EP at a show Thursday at People’s Court. “I don’t know if it was smart, but I know it’s honest.”

Finken is someone who knows what she wants, and what she wants is to perform. After overcoming cancer in her early 20s, she decided to stop postponing ambitions and turned to music. She spent years as a singer in a cover band, sometimes even performing at farmers markets. Anywhere there was an audience, Finken would sing.

When she built up enough songs for “Soul on Display,” she took the somewhat unusual step of hiring a band, paying them not only for her gigs, but for their studio time as well. This gave Finken greater control over the album, but was also expensive, and she cut her personal expenses (like rent) by crashing on friends’ couches during the recording process.

Finken is doing well enough now that she recently left her job to focus on her music career full time. “I don’t know if I would be doing this today if I hadn’t gotten sick,” Finken said. “There would always be one more thing I would be waiting for. Cancer made me realize you can’t wait.”

“Expectation ... Fall” was originally intended to be a full album, but because she wanted to have new material out for shows this summer, she split her songs into two EPs, with plans to finish the other half later. “Expectation” features the darker material, while the still-untitled second EP will deal with the lighter, more fun aspects that came from “Soul on Display,” including her positive experiences touring and playing shows at places like South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

For Thursday’s live show, Finken plans to perform with everyone who worked on the EP, eight musicians that includes Jon Locker, James Biehn, Kenny Washington and others.

“For some live shows I have to trim the band down, and there are some people who only play on the album that I don’t usually play with live,” Finken said. “But everyone has cleared the date to be there. It’s going to feel like The Collective, for real.”

Bonne Finken & The Collective CD release show
When: 8 p.m. Thursday.
Where: People’s Court, 216 Court Ave., third floor
Cost: $10 (admission only), $17 with a CD, $25 for two tickets with a CD.
Info: Go to midwestix.com.

Des Moines Vibe - 'Expectation Fall' EP Review

2011-05-30T23:49:00.010-05:00

Thank you so much to the cool music lovin' people at DSM Vibe for the nice review...their website is www.dsmvibe.com and the review of 4 tracks from 'Expectation Fall' is below. ~Bon

I was absolutely unable to listen to anything but Bonne Finken’s new CD, Expectation Fall, this weekend. After meeting with her late last week she was kind enough to sneak me a copy of her new EP before it officially comes out on June 7th.

The EP starts out with the fast paced song Mysterious, which Bonne describes in her blog has taken some practice to learn to sing and still be able to breathe. I can totally understand since I have been driving around singing this song into my steering wheel for the past four days. The wicked beats and solid vocals rival any pop song in the top ten charts. However, this girl can really sing and she writes her own music. And the versatility of Bonne’s voice is incredible. While listening to No Street Name I kept thinking her voice is reminiscent of old school En Vogue. There is a lot soul packed into her sound. What a kick ass addition a white girl from Iowa would make to a remix of My Lovin’

The lyrics in the song Little Things remind me of a badass P!nk song, which is kind of funny because I instantly thought of P!nk when I met Bonne. She has a cool style with a fireball personality, and after 10 minutes of talking to her I could tell there was a ton of passion brewing within her soul. This passion is very evident in the third track of the EP, Boyfriend. The sound of the vocals alone drip with passion, and I felt almost like I was intruding on an intense reflection of a relationship. I can absolutely see this song as the perfect addition to a movie soundtrack.

Although Expectation Fall doesn’t come out until June 7th, you can purchase it early and hear Bonne perform this Thursday (June 2nd) at People’s for her CD Release Party. You can buy tickets at the door or save yourself the hassle and click the Midwestix banner at the right and get your tickets in advance. Or….

You can win a copy of Bonne Finken’s new EP, Expectation Fall, and a ticket to see her live at People’s on June 2nd by doing any of the following:

1. Leave us a comment below about why you want a copy of Bonne’s CD and to get in free to her show
2. Tweet: Yo @DSMVibe, hook me up with Bonne Finken’s new CD and tix to the show on June 2 @PeoplesonCourt
3. Leave us a comment on our facebook page about why we should give you a copy of Expectation Fall and send you to the show at People’s

You have until 6pm on Wednesday, June 1st to enter.

Thanks to Bonne Finken for letting me preview her new EP and for letting us give away some swag. I’ll see you all on Thursday night. The DSMVibe crew will be giving out free high fives all night long.

one full rehearsal

2011-05-24T10:09:00.005-05:00

Hello and Happy Tuesday morning =)

I have the morning free, unexpectedly...our rehearsal this morning is postponed, as Jon (bass player/album producer) is unfortunately back at a hospital in Minnesota with his wife Ali & their new son, Ben =(

Which is the reason for the June 15th benefit show. You can read about their struggle & story at www.benjaminlocker.com

I can't imagine what they're going through, and I get sad when I read Ali's blog.

The friend side of me: Obviously understands Jon needs to stay in MN for absolutely as long as is needed....even if I had to cancel the show (or call in for back up) obviously I would. Although...it sounds like Jon will be back & ready to rock next week....at least for the one show....which is awesome.....

So on the business side: My reaction to only having one full band rehearsal before a CD release show, in the past, would have my stress level at a max - honestly....BUT....this time......I'm really not stressed at all. =)

I'm so grateful and lucky to perform with such professional & talented musicians...and I believe the fact that we're only getting one full rehearsal prior to the show will only translate to some fun energy being present AT the show....the kind of energy that can only come from the adreneline & magic made when you're on stage with a group of people who are all awesome at what they do.....and an open setlist =)

We'll be performing new songs 'Mysterious' & 'No Street Name' for the FIRST TIME on June 2nd. I've been rehearsing singing 'Mysterious' on my own...as it's verrrry tricky breathing on that tune....(way to go, Bonne - - note to self: next time, remember to write songs that allow for breathing). It's one thing to sing a song standing still, like I do in the studio. TOTALLY another thing to sing a song moving like I do during my live shows. Ha. So I'm practicing. By dancing around my place singing to the CD....that's official practice right there. ......they're so so fun to perform!! I hope they're as fun to listen to...

Thanks for your support, I hope to see you at the show, tickets are $15 at the door OR you can get them for only $10 by buying them ahead of time at Midwest Tix - - talk more later, have a great day!! Bonne

Grrr..... and Happy Birthday

2011-05-18T22:34:00.005-05:00

So, I have found out a few new things about myself today.

1) I'm scared of birds.

2) I do not have the patience to update my own website.

I spent the past hour googling the websites, copying the links, pasting them into links attached to my schedule.

.....

Now all of my shows now link to DG's Taphouse in Ames, IA (my August 20th gig location).

And it's now 10:30pm and I'm not sure I have it in me to try again tonight.

"Grrrr"

Here are some of the upcoming shows, just for the record, until I get it all fixed tomorrow:

May 21st - - The Meadows, Altoona, IA
Trio performing for the LLS Gala's opening reception.

May 27th - - Music in the Plaza, Altoona, IA
Small band performs

June 2nd - CD RELEASE SHOW at People's - Downtown Des Moines, IA
Tickets are at MIDWEST TIX

....hopefully that didn't link you to DG's Taphouse =)

ON a separate note. My mom's birthday was yesterday & my dad's birthday is tomorrow....so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to them both =) If I wasn't burnt out on computerness I'd upload pics of them........I feel like I have through tomorrow to do that - so I'm hoping for a 2nd wind =)

Hope you're having a good Wednesday...Thanks to Daniel Bosman of 106.3 for the interview today, I'll be posting more on that soon.....and 'Yay, Miami Heat!' =)

Bon

Calling in sick

2011-05-13T21:12:00.006-05:00

I'm stuck at home on a Friday night.

I feel like I'm skipping school or something?

I am suppose to be getting on stage to sing for Happy Fest in about...oh - right now. =(

I believe in the 5 years I've been singing professionally, I've missed 3 shows due to illness.

I probably SHOULD have missed around 20....especially in the winter of 2009 (right after 'Soul on Display' released) when I had a heart monitor under my clothes and had to lean on my mic stand to stay upright, ha......but it's very hard to cancel a show.

Like, 'You need to see someone about that, Bonne' level of hard. Because:

a) I don't want to let anyone down. Especially - the client. It's hard enough to not been stamped 'fickle' just for being in the music scene. Cancelling a show last minute due to ANY reason doesn't help things.

b) because I love to sing - even sick. Like today. I can't talk without coughing, and my body feels like I did P90X yesterday (I did not do P90X yesterday) and yet, I still try and sing. I even LIKE how my voice sounds today....I have been singing Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' against the advice of everyone around me to protect & rest my voice....really just because my voice has an extra rawness that is different than normal, so I sing kinda like if I was a kid finding a lighter for the first time. I just can't stop flicking it.... =)

But mainly I never cancel a show because c) in most cases? If I don't sing? Not only do I not get paid. The musicians don't get paid either.

That's more stressful than being sick.

Tonight, however, I was going to be the guest singer with an act, rather than THE singer for the act. It's a rare rare instance where I'm sick, suppose to sing, and my cancelling doesn't stop a show or take money out of pockets.

It's weird combo of 'nice' feeling and '...am I missing something' feeling.

But...I'm running with 'nice' feeling & laying my bed listening to the jazz flute playing in the club beneath me as I sip tea and watch Daniel Tosh stand up.

Now...if only Palmer's Deli delivered soup.........and was open at 10pm... ;-)

Have a good night... In case I don't blog again until fall - you can catch up on stuff at my MAIN WEBSITE or my FACEBOOK PAGE too Thanks, Bon

Song Babies

2011-03-22T13:12:00.003-05:00

First off....my main website is at www.bonnefinken.com

This is just my blog site - so if you're wondering where I'm playing? Or what my drummer looks like? =) You can click on my website and look at the full schedule, photos, videos, etc.

Today is a fun-busy day....working on the updated website, working on some songs being added in to the performances this summer, and lining up some CD release details.

Next week is my LAST studio session......hoh man =) That means the disc will be mastered soon and off to be replicated. It's starting to get close to time for people to actually HEAR what I've been working on....and that's both scary and exciting. Mainly exciting. But I do forget that I'm ultimately not working on all this for my ears alone while I'm working on it. So there's a feeling of panic when I realize I will eventually need to let my song babies leave the nest....ha weird. ;-)

The disc is now an "EP" - not a full album as I was hoping to get finished - it will have 6 songs. I have alot more around 1/2 done...but decided to draw a line and release an EP now to ensure some tunes got out before 2014. The time and money it takes to make the music I make are not easily ran across when you're a solo artist. Especially a brainstorming...somewhat anal....solo artist. So the disc will run $8 instead of 'Soul on Display's $15. And the set release date is June 14th. The CD release show is tentatively set for Thursday, June 16th. I will make a bigger, more formal announcement, once I get all the nails of the show hammered in =) Thanks to you for your support - I can't wait for you to meet my song babies...haha

Here is a photo from my last Grapevine show - - that's James Biehn on guitar and Will Locker on cajon. The next Grapevine show is April 2nd with James and keyboardist, Neil Stoffregen. Please email BONITA if you'd like to join us...super fun times at the Grapevine =) ~Bon

The Grapevine - March 5th Performance

2011-02-21T11:02:00.006-06:00

Reminder - new website at www.bonnefinken.com !!

Fans of Bonne Finken are invited to a PRIVATE PERFORMANCE featuring...
BONNE FINKEN with musicians JAMES BIEHN and WILL LOCKER
Saturday, March 5th at 7pm

This is an intimate 2-Hour performance where Bonne shares the stories and experiences behind her music.

To reserve your spot, or for more details, please email Bonita Crowe at afinetime4wine@aol.com

The concert will be held at The Grapevine (2175 NW 86th, Suite 4, Clive, IA 50325)

There is very limited seating, so please RSVP as soon as possible - RSVPs will be accepted on FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis.

Please bring your wine own glass and purchase wine from The GrapeVine to drink at the concert (a wine catalog will be emailed a few days prior to the event). You are welcome to bring your own picnic-style food. No other alcohol is permitted as The GrapeVine, LLC, sponsors this ADULTS-ONLY event.

Cover: $10 per person (all proceeds go directly to the artist!)

The GrapeVine showcases a variety of regional talent.

Red Valentine's Day

2011-01-07T09:27:00.002-06:00

The trio will be performing at new restaurant, Red, for Valentines Day. How very clever, Red.... It'd be pretty awesome if you could have a rotating restaurant name -- that was just called whatever color was associated with the current season/holiday. And locals just knew if it said 'White' in the paper they were referring to it - and just were referring to White cuz it's January......Red for February.....etc. ANYWAYS...here's a quote from the Des Moines Register on the new spot: 'Ingersoll easily rates as this towns it avenue. The new jewel in the crown is Red. (Red) is the downtown extension of Cafe Su, the upscale contemporary Chinese restaurant in Valley Junction. The sleek decor and wall of windows facing the street make this new addition to Ingersoll Avenue a place to see and be seen. The more upscale late night offerings are especially welcome on this popular strip.'

James Biehn Benefit Concert - Jan 23

2011-01-03T15:41:00.007-06:00

I'm already blogging again...?....News Years resolution or not - it will not be the normal - this is just a fluke =)

I want to remind everyone of the benefit being held at People's in Des Moines, IA for James Biehn.

James is a musician and teacher here in Des Moines, IA. But, more importantly, he is a wonderful and genuine person with a family and he was diagnosed with Stage 1 lymphoma 2 months ago and has been undergoing treatments for 6 weeks....and the music scene isn't really known for it's great benefit package.....or it's PTO.... ;-)

So please help us help James...it's only $20 and there'll be 4 bands and every dollar of the tickets, the merchandise sold, and booze purchased will go to the family......

January 23rd, 2011 (Sunday) 7-11pm
People's Court - Downtown Des Moines, IA (3rd floor of Court Center Building)

Band Line up:
Brother Trucker
Mr. Babers Neighbors
Bonne Finken and the Collective
The Nadas

The players that will be on stage with me, who are also donating their talents:
Jon Locker, Scott Dawson, Neil Stroffregen, Seth Hedquist and Jeff Banks

The show will start at 7pm and each band performs an hour...tickets are available NOW at Midwest Tix

I am lucky enough to say James is the guitar player on both of my albums and he also performs my monthly shows at The Grapevine with me - so whether you've been to a show recently or not, if you're reading my blog, that means you've probably heard my music haha, and that definately means you've heard James =)

Please take the time to check out www.jamesbiehnbenefit.com and please help support the cause....

...

Totally different topic:

If you are a movie buff at all...since I am...here are my Golden Globe hopes as of right now, in my fave categories:

Best Drama: Black Swan or Inception
Best Dramatic Actress: Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Best Dramatic Actor: Colin Firth - The King's Speech
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo - The Figher
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale - The Fighter

Even though he's too young by industry standards.....Christian Bale should get a lifetime achievement award, like, now. I thought he couldn't be any more impressive than he was in The Machinest......until I saw The Fighter. He made Mark Wahlberg look like a stand in. And I like Mark Wahlberg.

"Mysterious" track -- almost done!!

2011-01-03T15:38:00.003-06:00

Hello and Happy 2011 =) First off...this will be linked to my new website - www.bonnefinken.com
But I'll be keeping this blogsite - cuuuuz it's way easier to type in =)

Today was a productive day in the studio... Jon Locker (producer, musician, co-owner of The Sonic Factory Studios) and I mainly worked on and have allllmost finished the song "Mysterious"...which is first on the "need to get done" list, since it's the song I'll be doing the music video for.

It hit me today, as I listened to it after leaving the studio...it's only 3 people on this recording - - which may be the least to date. It's only myself, and Jon and Will Locker. Yours truly did the synth for it (and sang....), Jon worked the loops and played the can't-tell-its-actually-an-acoustic-guitar, and Will plays lots and lots...and lots...of drums on it. It only took 3 people to get it recorded.....and it will take 8 people to recreate it on stage =) No big deal? ......should make for a fun CD release show....haha

Today I also sang what-was-going-to-be final vocals for the title track, 'Expectation Fall'. Although, despite the high end microphone being used this time and my grown confidence in singing the song, I believe we're going to go back and use the original "scratch" vocal track.

On one hand - that's scary.
When I first laid the song, I had just written it and was singing it more tentatively than I normally would sing - - since I was still working out the melody line and was a little unsure if all the words/lyrics would remain the same...plus I was shy singing it for even Jon - - since the subject matter was so personal.

But on the other hand - - the emotion on that first take is very real. And of course - I'd rather have real than perfect...plus when we replaced the tentative unperfect scratch vocal with the new confident one....it was like taking away a part of the song. Aw. So - - we're leaving it alone.

I'm hoping to start posting clips of the songs here and there as they get closer to being done....we're on the downhill slide now - and I'm excited - I can't wait to share this album with you =) Have a good night....I'm logging off and hoping to give my mind a rest....by killing zombies on Black Ops......I'm addicted....

Full Band at Blue Moon - West Glen (12/8/10)

2010-12-07T11:33:00.005-06:00

Hello!

First off - - the new website is up and running at www.bonnefinken.com
This is much more colorful...and loud =) haha.. Lots of videos and information.

I do try and keep the 'News' section up to date and the schedule current.

However, I thought I'd pop in here and say 'Hi' for old times sake...and to say I'm very excited for the LAST full band show of 2010. It will be at Blue Moon in West Des Moines (West Glen area) and Mr. Seth Hedquist joins us on guitar this time!! I'm very very excited...we're going to be doing some songs that are new to the live show arena for me/us and I can't wait!!

Also, the progress on the album has started to speed up....my brain is going so much it's hard to reel it in sometimes, at what point do you stop following ideas you have that are sparked from the ideas you had before? I'm still not quite sure...but I'm starting to hit some points of 'this is it' with the tunes...so I'm getting a light at the end of the tunnel...jussst in time to start a music video - which I'm sure will hold the same kind of decisions to make, only visually =)

2011 should be fun and full of music, so I'm counting down the days....

Hope to see you tomorrow night, will write more soon....much love, Bonne

Stuff.... =)

2010-10-13T16:23:00.004-05:00

REMINDER: New Official Bonne Finken website up at www.bonnefinken.com

The past 24 hours have been a fun filled 24 hours =) Last night I performed at a private function with both Josh Schryver and Jon Locker - - who is now producer/bass player/acoustic guitar player....ohhhh snap

Today I found out the band is opening for The Verve Pipe at Vaudeville Mews this Friday, October 15th so I'm very excited about that! We go on at 10pm...The Verve Pipe will go on at 11pm. Party.

Annnnd we layed some fun stuff at the studio today....the talented Neil Stoffregen brought in his B3 organ and there's some great stuff going on the 'One Goodbye' track....and Josh Schryver was in to play for 'Catch 22'.

ALSO....for any possible first time homebuyers reading this....a friend of mine has put her adorable house up for sale, so I'm going to post some info in attempts to help her!

if you know of anyone in the market for a cute, updated, super clean starter home - click HERE is a link to our listing

More soon...
Bonne

New Website!

2010-10-09T13:30:00.004-05:00

My new official music website is now up...!! You can check it out at www.bonnefinken.com

Hope to see you at the World Food Festival tonight...I'm excited to perform, we have a fun line up (Jon Locker, Josh Schryver and Scott Dawson will be at this show) and it's absolutely gorgeous out!! =)

East Village is the spot in Downtown Des Moines - we go on at 8:30pm.

Much Love,

Bonne

U.S. Cellular's World Food Festival

2010-09-29T22:41:00.007-05:00

Hello! I'm sorry I'm not awesome at writing more often, as there is lots going on - working on the new album and preparing for some upcoming fall performances are keeping both my mind and schedule pretty full.

I was walking down the sidewalk so deep in thought yesterday I hadn't realized I came to a street and literally was almost hit by a car. Yikes... But it's that consuming...I really hope everyone who reads this can relate to that....in as healthy of a way as possible =)

I feel like as much care and thought as I put into 'Soul on Display' - - - even more is going into the new album. Something is different this time around. I can't quite put my finger on it. This time around something has switched in my brain - - where I feel borderline fearless with running with the thoughts in my head....which could be a good thing...or a bad thing? ...ha

The great James Biehn came in and did some fantastic guitar work on 2 tracks (sidenote - he and I perform this Saturday for The Grapevine. If interested in attending please email afinetime4wine@aol.com to see if seats are still available!)

We are working with Valley High School in West Des Moines on recording their drumline for the song 'Mysterious'. And by "we" I mean Producer and band bassist Jon Locker =) I'll just go shake hands with the students and dance and thank the lord I don't need to be the one who edits it.

I'm also very happy to say: keyboardist Josh Schryver is coming in from Phoenix, AZ to perform the World Food Festival with us. So hopefully there'll be alot of Josh Schryver fans roaming the fest =) We perform on the Corona Stage Saturday, October 9th from 8:30pm to 10pm. Please come out and eat some wordly food and hear the band....

Much Love,
Bonne

Saturday, Oct 2nd - with James Biehn

2010-09-24T10:45:00.004-05:00

Hello!

I had SUCH a great time performing with James...earlier this month was the first time we performed live together (he is the seriously amazing guitar player on both Soul on Display and the upcoming Expectation Fall album - but that was all studio work).

We are doing it again on Saturday, October 2nd at The Grapevine in Urbandale, IA.

Please email Bonita Crowe at afinetime4wine@aol.om and get on the list! She will send you all the details. It's limited seating, so RSVP's are required. We do not open this up to the public....and if you haven't been to a show - I highly suggest coming to hear James =) He is also the owner of The Central Iowa Music Lab. You can check both he and the lab out by clicking on the link!

Last show keyboardist, Krista Haugland, sat in on a few songs....here's a picture from the last show.

Have a great weekend!!

Bonne

New and Fun Stuff

2010-08-27T09:05:00.003-05:00

Hi! I'm very excited to announce the newest member of Bonne Finken and the Collective - Krista Haugland. She really is a fantastic keyboard player - and she's fun & femaley =) *yay* So I'm changing the band name from Bonne Finken and the Collective to: Two Chics > One Chic ... ... I'm kidding. But I am really very excited and honored that we met and it worked and she's jumped right in...so we're busy at work in the studio and rehearsing for the upcoming fall shows. Some more fun stuff going on in the studio: The drumcore from Valley High School in West Des Moines, IA will be performing on my song "Mysterious". Super fun. We're rounding up a horn section for "One Goodbye" and strings extrodinaire Patrick Riley from the Des Moines Symphany is working up arrangements for "Little Things" and "The Best". Super super fun. Also...last mentioned but certainly not least....Jon Locker put down his producer and bass player hats to put on a Lead Guitar player hat...ha..here's some video of Locker getting ready to play on "Mr. Passive Aggressive"....which Josh - if you're listening/watching - you can hear a clip of....but! It's not done!! =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmdL3LS-2jc

Sept 4th - - please RSVP to attend

2010-08-13T10:13:00.001-05:00

Fall is definately on it's way....and some changes are coming.....

My favorite 25 yr old in the world (keyboardist, Josh Schryver) is moving to Arizona. =(

I will miss him very much, he wasn't just a wonderful/talented musician and bandmate - he was a good friend and I will definately miss getting to see him regularly.

Soooo....while we won't be seeing him at 'every' show - - you will still be seeing him again. Even if I have to kidnap him ;-)
*for the record - in the event he were to actually ever get kidnapped - I'm kidding*

On the plus side for everything PR....I now have motivation to actually get on and use Facebook?...ha

But on the real bright side - - - - - I am very lucky that I have some other very talented musicians and friends who are able and willing to step in to fill the gap. For which, I am most most grateful for.

First up....the I-seriously-can't-believe-he-isn't-playing-with-Zeppelin/Aeresmith/The Killers guitarist, James Biehn.

Formerly of The McKenzies and Hyde Park - James now owns The Central Iowa Music Lab in the Roosevelt Shopping Center in Des Moines, IA, where he teaches many of the up and coming guitar gods (literally, one of his students is now playing with world known pop star, Katy Perry).

James also performs regularly in Des Moines - with his solo shows and with his bands The Soapbox Prophets and The Allman Brothers Tribute Band, SOUTHBOUND.

I am excited to announce I will be performing with James through the fall at The Grapevine LLC shows.

So that means I am also ultra excited to hear "Knee Deep" played on guitar... =)

The first performance is Saturday, September 4th. 7-9pm

Please RSVP to Bonita at afinetime4wine@aol.com (as there is limited seating) to reserve your spot and to receive a catalog of the wine available for purchase.

This is an intimate show, which allows me to open up about my songs and stories, it really is a show I look forward to everytime. Bring your own food and wine glass and enjoy the show!

Thank you!
P.S. For those who may contact or talk with Bonita at The Grapevine.....No, Bonita is not "me". Ha. She is a separate and real person, it's just an awesome coincidence that her name is Bonita and mine is Bonne...and we work together....thanks again!

Recording and shows....

2010-07-30T15:56:00.003-05:00

Hello!

Please stay tuned to the website to see when we will be performing. We are currently working in a new bandmate (yay!) annnnd I'm going to be holed up for most of the fall finishing up my 2nd album. I'm very excited, and will miss performing so so much, so I am keeping at least one show/month - - but with the summer schedule wrapping up, it's time to go into studio/work mode. I will be posting show announcements and notes about progress on the album...as well as new photos =)

Thank you for a fun summer - - we will be at the Downtown City Market on Saturday, August 7 at 8am.....this will be the last full band show for at least a month....so I hope to see you down there!

Thank you for the support
Bonne

City Market...and Chicago

2010-07-13T14:14:00.004-05:00

Hello!

I'm very very excited to perform this Saturday morning at the Downtown Des Moines City Market.

This is how I "got started"...singing original material anyways. And so it's a soft spot for me...

The band will be near the corner of 5th and Court Avenue from 9am to noon.

Then we head to Chicago on Tuesday, July 20th. We perform in the city for the first time at 8pm at The Elbo Room.

Verrrry excited to perform, and to hear the other bands!

Hope everybody has a good week!

Bonne

Fireside Winery - Des Moines Arts Festival Photo

2010-07-05T19:20:00.004-05:00

Hello,

It's been a while since I had time to blog...it's been very busy! We had a crazy June and I'm in the middle of the album now.

I'll be able to write more soon, but here is a picture from after our Des Moines Arts Festival. Also, we'll be at Fireside Winery from 7-10pm on Friday in Marengo, Iowa. I'm looking forward to the Davenport crowd that has promised to show up =)

Much love,
Bonne

Des Moines Arts Festival headliner announced...

2010-06-15T11:44:00.005-05:00

Hello Bonne Finken and who-I-hope-to-be-American Idol Fans..... ;-)

I was booked for the Des Moines Arts Festival for June 25th on the US Cellular Stage from 6-8pm - which i'm super excitd about. I really loved this performance and atmosphere last year, and am honored to have been asked back. This year I was told I'd be billed as opener for a-yet-to-be-announced-national-headliner.... I was excited when I heard that, last year they had Collective Soul, who I love =)

I found out the headliner is Katelyn Epperly....a very freshly known national act.....if you're an American Idol fan (or if you read the Des Moines Register at all) you probbbably know who that is =)

She is from right here in West Des Moines and made the top 24 of this past seasons American Idol show. So I'm not only excited to sing before and hear a nationally acclaimed voice.....I'm excited to have it be a female. I don't know if I've ever opened for a female before?

Pop/Rock band, Hollywood Burnout (fun music with great guys in the band! 2 guys were formly known as Little Mojo), performs 4-5:30pm. We perform 6-8pm. Katelyn will perform from 8:30pm to 10pm.

Rock, rock...and rock

Hope to see you there!

Bonne

Band/Fan Photos....it's been a while

2010-06-13T10:37:00.001-05:00

Friday at the Fountains & City Market

2010-06-13T09:33:00.001-05:00

Hello!

Last night was the first WineJam uncorked, it was alot of fun hearing musicians I've not heard before....there are some great blues musicians here in Des Moines...which I probably don't need to tell the people reading this lol. But I don't get out much.

6 of the bands were blues acts, we did our normal array of rock/pop, and the talented Chad Elliott respresented the folk genre.

I did sweat so much that when I got off stage my hair was, literally, just-got-out-of-the-shower soaking wet....but it was fun to perform on a big big stage like the one at The Blue Room (a not-really-open-yet event hall that was the spot for WineJam). I don't always get enough space to move like I want to...but I got to last night. The anouncer/MC, who is from the station KFMG and probably in his mid 60's(ish), had my favorite quote of the night (which I may start posting weekly lol I/We get interesting ones...). He told me later that it wasn't just good...it was "..some Lady Gaga like sh**".....haha. I think that's a compliment? I love Lady Gaga.

Next weekend:

We perform at Friday at the Fountains at the West Glen Fountains (near Tonic, Plato's Closet, Blue Moon Dueling Piano bar, etc.) in West Des Moines, IA. We'll be outdoors (yay) if the weather is nice from 5:30pm to 8pm. If the weather is NOT nice, we'll be inside the Blue Moon Dueling piano Bar. $5 admission.

And we'll be back at our favorite spot at the Downtown City/Farmers Market Saturday morning =) So I'm excited for the weekend already.....and it's only Sunday.

I am going into the studio to lay down another new song this afternoon though!! I thought I had all the songs for the album written...but I've written 2 in the last month now that I really love, and I played them for the guys and they agree they should go on 'Expectation Fall'....so we're nixing a few and replacing them with the new ones. I'd love to put them all on the album....but the cost and extra time to do a 13-15 song album vs. an 11 song album would put the album release into 2011 for sure....and I really really really want it out before this Christmas!!

Have a great week....I really do hope to post photos in a little bit!!! I'm behind......surprise surprise lol =)

Bonne

I would like to find the artist....

2010-06-09T12:03:00.004-05:00

There was a chain of emails sent through Authentic Records staff - - ending with me - - of this painting. I'm hoping to find out who the artist is....if you know, or are the artist, and read this? Please email me at bonnefinken.music@gmail.com as I would really like to know who painted this, and would like to send a formal 'This is awesome' note =)

Thanks,

Bonne Finken

new

2010-06-09T12:03:00.000-05:00

WINEJAM 2010 - this Saturday

2010-06-08T12:14:00.002-05:00

Hello! Please email afinetime4wine@aol.com for ticket information

This is an all day music festival at the new venue, The Blue Room, in Des Moines, Iowa.

8 bands will perform from noon to midnight. Bonne Finken and the Collective perform at 8:45pm to 10:15pm.

Chad Elliott performs right before us - - this is the wonderful folk artist that we are doing a special performance with on July 30th. Come out and see him do a full solo set - then be sure and stay for ours =) You can get VIP seating, great wine, the ticket purchased gets you in ALL DAY for ALL BANDS. Here are official details:

WineJAM Uncorked 2010
~presented by Da’Vine Entertainment, a division of The GrapeVine, LLC

Saturday, June 12, 2010
12pm – 12am
The Blue Room – 4611 SW 9th, Des Moines, IA 50315

Tickets: $20 for an all day pass (if purchased BEFORE 6/12!) *email afinetime4wine@aol.com or call 515-314-4472 to order your tickets, $25 AT DOOR DAY OF EVENT!

VIP tickets: $75 per person (must be purchased BY 6/4!)...includes reserved table upfront for entire concert, bottle of wine, commemorative wine glass & FREE WINE TASTING from 11am–11:30am! *email afinetime4wine@aol.com or call 515-314-4472 to order your tickets!

Featuring 8 bands & wine from The GrapeVine!
~food vendors, jewelry vendors, art vendors…more information to follow!

BANDS...
12pm-1:30pm = Kevin “B.F.” Burt
…classic R&B with a twist…
http://www.myspace.com/kevinbfburt

1:45pm-3:15pm = BLUES from the HEARTLAND (Curry Harter & Rob Lumbard)
…down home blues from Des Moines…
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BLUES-from-the-HEARTLAND/496321690712?ref=ts

3:30pm-5pm = Blue Sky Band (Bob Saar, Jennifer McAbee, David Pearson, Joseph Ewart)
…front porch music from Iowa: acoustic-electric bluesfolk originals with rock and gospel gems…
http://www.bobsaar.com/blueskyband/

5:15pm-6:45pm = VooDoo3 (CC Stewart, Ernie Terrell & Reggie Upshur)
…hard driving blues with a touch of rock and some funk thrown in for good measure…
http://www.voodoo3band.com/

7pm-8:30pm = Chad Elliott
...award-winning songwriter and accomplished finger-style guitarist...
http://www.chadelliott.net/

8:45pm-10:15pm = Bonne Finken and the Collective (Bonne Finken, Josh Schryver, Jamie Mahan, Adam Ross)
...more artists should be so bold…rock/blues/r&b/pop...
http://www.bonnefinken.blogspot.com/

10:30pm-12am = bella soul (Tina Haase Findlay, Brandon Findlay, David Larson, Duane Weikal, Julie Myers & Kyle Gowin)
…rock, soul, and blues meets jam, jazz, and gospel- are you beautiful? bella soul!...
http://www.bellasoulmusic.com/

Des Moines Cityview reviews 5/27/10 Show

2010-06-03T19:52:00.005-05:00

photo courtesy of Cityview

THE BODEANS with BONNE FINKEN AND THE COLLECTIVE
Simon Estes Amphitheater, May 27

Is there anything better than listening to live music on an early summer evening by the river? Yes, when that music is played by the BoDeans. Originally out of Milwaukee and formed in the mid 1980s, the BoDeans played to a full house of fans downtown at Simon Estes on Thursday night as part of the Nitefall on the River series.

Local act, Bonne Finken and the Collective, opened the show. Full of energy, even on this warm summer night, Finken danced across the stage and entertained the crowd with upbeat, mostly original songs. Finken and the Collective undoubtedly captured some new fans with the music, her powerful voice and her energy.

While the BoDeans are touring to support their newest CD, “Mr. Sad Clown,” their set list was full of old favorites and crowd-pleasers as well as some new songs. Classic BoDeans songs such as “Idaho,” “Naked” and “Fadeaway” joined work from the new CD — “Shine,” “Stay,” and “Say Goodbye.” They are the epitome of roots-rock music — heartfelt, intelligent and easy to enjoy (and dance to). Backed with a three-piece band, founding members Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas sounded especially good. After 25 plus years together, the two share amazing harmonies, powerful guitar work and thoughtful song-writing duties. Neumann and Llanas looked like they still enjoy playing the music and each other. Much of the crowd sang along and danced under the moonlight throughout the BoDeans’ 18-song set and left the amphitheater with smiles on their faces. CV — Karen Ericson

Knoxville and Mason City, Iowa

2010-06-03T11:12:00.008-05:00

(photo courtesy of The Des Moines Register - Bonne Finken and the Collective on 5/27/10)

Hello!

I'm about over my bronchitis......this past weekend was a huge struggle for me. I felt the start of it at the Nitefall on the River show....then it was on full blast by Friday.....riiiight as the band headed to NE for the weekend.

It's stressful. Being sick and having to sing. People tell me "if you're sick - don't sing". But. I don't ever want to cancel a show because I'm sick...unless I literally can't stand or literally have NO voice (which has only happened twice or so in my 6 years of professional singing...thank you very much ;-).

Even though bed and blankets is all that sounded good this weekend...if I don't sing - then nobody in the band gets to play OR make their money. Not awesome. It's like if you call in sick to work - nobody else is allowed to show up and everybodys pay gets docked.

Soooo - there's some pressure there to buck it up lol.

But also, then, there's the stress of sounding bad....and if people are hearing you for the first time, they could judge you on your sick voice. So then I worry about letting the band down, or disappointing people - the crowd and venue owners alike.

But....Luckily? I was told I just sound more like P!nk when I'm sick lol.....(or maybe the people in Kearney, NE like to drink alot before our shows).....either way? it worked out for us =) So THANK YOU to Kearney, NE for the support and good time - despite my lack of usual energy.

This week I have been resting my voice, and I believe it's at around 80% now. So that is enough for me to be excited to sing this weekend =)

The band will be in Knoxville, Iowa tomorrow night (Friday, June 4th).

There is a BBQ contest on the North edge of town - near the Outlaw Races campgrounds I believe...we perform 5-8pm in the tent =) 55 people are competing in the contest - so lots of BBQ to be had.

Saturday we head to Toast in Mason City, Iowa (June 5th). I'm very excited for this - we have great, fun fans in this town so I hope you all know we're coming and come out to hang with us =) We start at 10pm.

I have some more pictures I"ll be posting soon - - from Campfest and Nitefall on the River. Thanks for all the support - and have a great weekend everyone!

Bonne

Nitefall on the River and Kearney, NE

2010-05-25T11:02:00.002-05:00

Hello,

CAMPfest was a fun time this past Saturday night - we performed new song "Little Things" for the first time and it went pretty not-bad? =)

We are gearing up for our show this Thursday night at the Simon Estes Ampitheater in Des Moines, IA. We get to perform the first Nitefall on the River of 2010 supporting The BoDeans. We go on at 7pm. Bring a blanket/lawnchair and tickets are $12!

Then the band heards to Kearney, NE on Friday to perform at Cunninghams Journal for the weekend. I'm excited, as they have a great outdoor stage that we'll be on. 7-11pm Frida night - - then 8-11pm Saturday night as Roxi Copland is coming to NE Saturday night to open the show for us!

Keep an eye on our website for more show updates.....it's a busy summer with work on the album and lots of fun shows, etc. We're having fun =)

Campfest 2010 - Saturday Night 5.22.10

2010-05-19T22:15:00.005-05:00

CAMPfest highlights local bands
Des Moines Juice Article

CLICK HERE FOR CAMPFEST WEBSITE

A few months back Decoy frontman Chris Ranallo and guitarist Micah Wagner started kicking around the idea of a music festival featuring only local bands. They reached out to fellow musicians and owners of bars in the downtown Court Center complex, where Decoy plays regularly.

The result is Saturday's Court Avenue Music Production Fest (CAMPfest), featuring 18 bands performing in four bars inside the Court Center building.

"We just called people up and chatted, and a lot were really receptive," Ranallo, 32, said. "People want to be involved in something cool that's local. A lot of people want to see Des Moines grow musically as well."

But CAMPfest won't just be music. Court Avenue will be closed off between Second and Third street for an outdoor bags tournament starting at 1:30 p.m. It's $20 per team to enter, and participants get $1 Coors Light draws. If you just want to watch and drink cheap beers, admission to the tournament is $10. A DJ will provide music.

Ranallo hopes the festival can grow next year through grassroots networking and marketing. He's relying on bands to help spread the word to their fan base, and hopes local musicians will use it as an opportunity to network, pick up new fans and sell merchandise.

"I think we're going to learn a lot this year and hopefully start to incorporate a lot of cool events into it," Ranallo said. "It's hard to know what attendance will be like, so we didn't want to have too many things going on and have an identity crisis. One thing is for sure, the goal is to support local music."

May 22nd - Full Band at Backstage Bar (Peoples)

2010-05-10T17:48:00.004-05:00

Hello,

I'm very excited about some upcoming shows - and a few new bookings =)

First:

May 22nd - 9pm-10:30pm 3rd & Court in Downtown Des Moines at the "Court Center" www.campfeset2010.com
Bonne Finken and the Collective perform as part of the first annual CAMP Fest (Court Avenue Music Production Indoor Music Festival). Please come out and make an evening of it. Some great bands perform before us, starting at 4pm I believe.

Second:

The band will perform at the 2010 Des Moines Arts Festival (yay!). June 25th at 6pm.

Third:

The band will perform at the first Nitefall on the River at the Simon Estes Ampitheater. We'll be opening for The BoDeans. Alllright =) When the band performs outside of Des Moines, I get asked "Where do you play in Des Moines?" alot and never know how to answer.....so I usually just state wherever our nexxt gig is lol. Then 98% of the time the person goes "Do you play at the Ampitheatre?" and I've always had to say "No - I haven't played there yet" and it usually leaves me feeling a little empty inside...like I SHOULD be performing there lol. So. Now we have a gig there. Boom. Happy Monday after all =)

I hope to see you all at some shows this summer. We have quite a bit going on, but I've taken recent lashings and do promise to try and get ALL shows listed both on here and on our myspace page www.myspace.com/bonnefinken

Have a great week!

Hope to see you May 22nd!!!
www.campfest2010.com

Chicago...and stuff =)

2010-04-26T22:24:00.005-05:00

First.....here is a new picture, it was taken earlier this month. Roxi Copland is in the picture with me - - she is a fellow singer/songwriter and she created the "Calliope Concert Series" that we performed at last weekend....very cool and I'm hoping to do some more shows with her later in the year =)

That was last Saturday....and it's been an interesting week since then lol.

I'm almost done with my move to Des Moines. So it's been a mix of stress and relief this week.

Then, I find out my booking agent is not going to be working as an agent anymore. That's not exciting - it could be stressful, since I'm taking it back on instead of looking for another agent. But instead it's been kinda fun and has recharged me. So far. =) I think I missed it actually.....

The band got it's first show in Chicago, IL...super excited about that. And I liked being able to see the different options and know, more confidently, what we're signing up for lol. July 20th we perform at 8pm at The Elbo Room.

We're also going to perform for a "BBQ-Off" in my hometown (which involves free BBQ now...pretttty sweet) on June 4th. If you're from Knoxville, IA and reading this - - I hope you can make it out! 55 different kinds of BBQ and it will be held just north of town, and will be scheduled around the Outlaw Races so we're not competing with the roar of the engines....

Annnnd I had one of THE most awkward conversations with a venue owner, whom I've never met. In the conversation he used the "n" word.....so I turned the gigs down.

Random. I know.

We had a GREAT practice the other night...I think it's safe to say the entire band is excited for summer to begin. We have a full schedule, which is exactly how we like it (when the weather is warm lol) and I will be posting dates both on here at at www.myspace.com/bonnefinken

I hope you can make it out - - and I'm still working on the album too. Josh and I are performing some of the new material this Friday night...and the band versions are following shortly behind us. "Little Things" from the new "Expectation Fall" album will probably be played at CAMP Fest on May 22nd....*yay*......well, minus the strings.....Patrick Riley does his string magic on this song and album like he did on 'Soul on Display'. I feel very lucky to be able to work with the musicians I do....can't wait to begin sharing the new music =)

Have a great weekend everyone
Bonne

April 30th - Des Moines duo show

2010-04-22T12:26:00.004-05:00

Josh and I have been performing shows for The Grapevine LLC and they are always wonderful and fun.

The prior location had limited seating, and so we are going to perform on April 30th at a new location in Des Moines, Iowa. This place is so new - - it's not going to be done by the show date =) Luckily the owner is beyond awesome, and letting us hold the show there....it will feel very underground I believe, as it's RSVP only and that combined with the venue being new - I feel a little like I'm telling a secret that I shouldn't be talking about yet lol

If you want to come, please email Bonita at afinetime4wine@aol.com

It's really a great atmosphere...I went and heard Chad Elliott last month and it really allows for people to connect to the artist. Assuming the artist has material that's meant to connect with ;-) Chad Elliott most certainly does. And I'm not sure if I would have...or COULD have...."gotten it" as fastly and securely as I did at any other show but The Grapevine concert.

I do encourage people to try a concert at least once...if not mine - then Chads. I don't know many of the other artists that perform there enough to say "Go see them!" but Chad, I feel, I can say that about.

You order wine from a catalog that is emailed to you prior to the show. You show up with your own wine glass, your wine is there, you bring your own food to eat. And the intimate feel allows me, for one, to open up much more than normal about my songs....and my story.

I have a hard hard hard hard time talking to people in general. I didn't get into music to entertain - I just love to sing. And love to use singing as a form of therapy. And when I write - - 99% of the time I never know if it's "good" or not...I'm just writing. I am one of the lucky ones that, it seems, people like to hear my therapy =) But it's very hard to talk about what is so important to me - - to a room full of people there to "party" or just dance. I can perform for them....but that's when I tend to do more cover songs. So I can still sing, and enjoy it, but I'm not opening myself up to people who aren't open to receiving it.

But at The Grapevine....people listen. And they're not only listening to my songs, they're listening to why I wrote the song, when I wrote the song, and why I choose the cover songs that I choose.

And that is scary. I've been doing it for 6 months and still shake when I talk/sing sometimes. But the benefit is....I'm honest as I can be...and instead of people thinking I'm a crazy rock n roll girl who moves around on stage......I get responses. And connections. And people "get it". For me? That's been a long road to get to, because I AM more animated than the average singer....it's easy to think I'm just a rocker who thinks the bass is pumpin'.

I'm an emotional singer - not a technical singer....so I get lost in it. Really lost. I actually have wondered...with how well I can channel emotion through my singing, if I'd have made a good actress lol.

But it's been frustrating at times...especially being shy by nature....to have sung my songs....to have my heart out on my sleeve and be close to tears...or so angry I want to fight someone....or so inspired that I'm happy as I can be.......and the response is "Do you know any Pat Benetar - you'd rock that!!".

SO - - it's very gratifying to have someone come up and say "That song reminds me of my friends...." or "I felt that same way once..." or when I do a song....even a cover song...and hear "I've never understood the lyrics until now....".

It makes me happy =) So this is one of the reasons why I look forward, very much, to the Grapevine shows. I love ALL my shows....if I'm singing, I'm happy. But it makes it so much sweeter to know I'm understood. And not just danced to ;-) Although dancing is encouraged too...

April 30th - 7pm
The Blue Room in Des Moines, IA
RSVP to afinetime4wine@aol.com for details

Much love,
Bonne

Video Blog Entry

2010-04-14T12:55:00.000-05:00

Calliope Concert Series show - this Saturday 4/17/10

2010-04-13T16:56:00.006-05:00

Hello,

I've been working on getting moved to Des Moines - but am also anxious to get back to full band shows next month.. To hold me over, we have a duo show this Saturday night at The Des Moines Social Club. Roxi Copland is another singer/songwriter here in Des Moines - she put together The Calliope Concert Series as a way to showcase female songwriters. Bravo to her, btw =) I am the last installment of the concert series...Josh and I will perform and I do plan on doing a few new songs that I plan to have on the upcoming new album. Roxi Copland performs as well - and it's only $5 to get in! I believe I go on at 8:30pm and she will start shortly after 9:30pm.

Have a great rest of the week...

P.S. I have my farmers market dates =) We'll be at the Downtown Farmers Market FOUR mornings this summer. *yay* I will probably be 75 years old and still applying to perform at the Downtown Farmers Market lol....I really really am looking forward to summer!!

Bonne

Callaborating...

2010-04-10T18:12:00.003-05:00

I am excited to say I'm co-writing a song with Chad Davis from Gallery of Voices, called "I Am Not My Thoughts". Chad contacted me a few months ago - he had been working on the tune, but was in need of a singer. I received the file a few weeks ago, and was very excited to receive the file w/o any vocals, and with the lyrics sent separately - - giving me to freedom to not only sing my own melodies but add/delete/change the lyrics to fit my "flow" style and to help me feel connected to the song. It was very easy for me to write to this...I loved the music and the theme of the song "I am not my thoughts" was easy for me to connect to, so I had lots to say lol. My interpretation of "I am not my thoughts" is "...I am what I do". Basically...you can think and talk about things all day long...but most of the time - action is what defines you. I had a great time and am very excited about the song.... He will have the song released on their upcoming new EP, and I plan to put a version on my new album...that's how excited I am =)

Duo Show April

2010-03-31T20:51:00.004-05:00

Hello,

This month I am moving....not far, but still...moving. Sooo, this month is duo shows only to allow me some wiggle room with my time and stress levels lol

The duo shows are myself, and band keyboardist Josh Schryver.

April 9th - Surf Ballroom - Clear Lake, IA - 7:30pm (ish)
$12 Cover

Josh and I will open the night for The Nadas (who just released their newest year-in-the-making album 'Almanac'). It looks like they'll have some special guests that night, another Iowa band, The Envy Corps. Should be a fun night =)

April 17th - Des Moines Social Club - Des Moines, IA - 8:30pm
Calliope Concert Series w/Roxi Copland
$5 Cover

Josh and I will perform in addition to Roxi Copland as the last installment of her Calliope Concert Series that's been going since January. Roxi also has a just released EP 'Black Out The Blue'. Should be a fun night too!

April 23rd - The Bank (formerly Silver Dollar Cantina) - Dubuque, IA - 6:30pm

Josh and I will perform for the dinnnnner crowwwwd at this great restaurant/bar/music venue. This is new for us.... A) we've only played this venue as a full band B) late at night and C) not for people eating food. So hopefully I don't scare anybody with my facial expressions and spitting lol...I may sing with my back turned ;-) Very much looking forward to it though...great food, and great people - both that work there and that live there.

Have a great April everyone - enjoy the weather while it lasts? =) Hopefully it lasts...

Blog Entry - A Great Iowa Musician

2010-03-28T17:54:00.008-05:00

Last night I went and heard a great Iowa singer/songwriter, Chad Elliott.

Check out www.chadelliott.net

It can be very hard, when you're in the music scene yourself, to make it out to support the music scene. I am speaking for myself...mainly. But know others could relate to this.

You're usually either working the same nights as all the other musicians are...or, when you do get the rare weekend night off, you treat it like Christmas, and think very long and hard HOW to spend it....often times the day/night goes way too fast and you don't get to see and do all you wanted to see and do.

At least...that's how it is for me.

So....it can be very hard to make plans. It's like wanting to visit 18 different family members on Christmas - and none of them live together lol.

So I really appreciate it when a busy musician comes to one of my shows.

I double appreciate it when they show up with their significant other, and that person doesn't seem annoyed they're there lol.

Chad was nice enough to make it to a show of mine at The Grapevine a few weeks ago - - so I was very happy I could return the favor - in the political sense.

But more importantly - I thoroughly and truly enjoyed his performance and music.

I'm not a critic lol...and if I had negative things to say, obviously I wouldn't blog about it lol....but I have nothing negative to say about Chad. So I feel like it's okay to blog about it =)

I was so pleasantly surprised...not because I hadn't heard great things about him, cuz I had. But I hear lots of things about lots of people and don't always agree with what I hear. So to hear someone I had only heard good things about and STILL be impressed...that's a small miracle lol....I think his songs are truly authentic and truly heartfelt.

To me - what's great - is it didn't seem at all like he 'tries' to write anything. He just writes...letting it flow as it comes. Yet, at the end of the day, he writes good folk music. With great musicianship and thoughtful lyrics and heart behind the delivery. And he isn't 'trying' to sing like he means it. He means what he sings. That's the #1 thing I notice in a performance...and 98% of the time all I notice is that it isn't there.

Or it's kinnnda there - - with the help of the protection of booze. Which gets discounted immediately in my book. LOTS of people have the balls to do LOTS of things when they're buzzed or drunk? But it's never pure. Even if it's honest - - I prefer pure and honest.

But it was there with Chad. I believed him. And he was sober.

Now I know alot of people 'mean' what they write about...I'm sure Fergie 100% means it when she writes about guys lovin' her ass in Seven jeans. I'm sure they do. But the special part in all of it is when in a world of shallow people - - that someone who is gifted in writing ALSO has the right mind, heart and life experience to write - in my opinion - songs that matter. I hope you check out his music if you get a few minutse.... =) Personal favorites: Red Dirt, Hows the Weather and Same Old Way.

Good night,
Bonne

Video Blog Entry 3-13-10

2010-03-26T12:35:00.002-05:00

RSVP to private duo show - Bonne and Josh

2010-03-23T15:21:00.003-05:00

Posted for The Grapevine, LLC:

We only have FOUR seats available for our PRIVATE CONCERT featuring Bonne Finken & Josh Schryver on Saturday, April 3rd from 7pm-9pm...if you'd like to attend, email Bonita ASAP at afinetime4wine@aol.com to see if we still have open spots!!!

3/12/10 Video Blog

2010-03-21T21:32:00.002-05:00

Here is one of two video blogs from the weekend of March 12-13th.

Two new shows

2010-03-16T11:50:00.006-05:00

In Picture:
Josh Schryver, LC and Rachel of 102.3 FM, Bonne Finken, Adam Ross and Jamie Mahan in the New 102.3 FM studio on 3/13/10

We have two new shows being added into the schedule....

One if July 23rd at the Friday Concert Series in Ames, IA called "Ames on the Half Shell". They have an awesome band shell and a different band performs every Friday evening (5-8pm) during the summer.

This will be my 4th time performing at it....although only the 2nd time as 'Bonne Finken and the Collective'. It's a favorite summer show of mine.

Also, on May 22nd, 'Bonne Finken and the Collective' will perform at an indoor music festival being put on in downtown Des Moines, IA. Details to come soon...I believe this will be in the Court Center (the 3 story building on 3rd and Court Ave - which houses People's, Liars Club, Sinners & Saints and Heroes). All venues will participate and you can buy one ticket to get in and see all the bands - - which will have staggered start times to allow multiple shows with one ticket =) Again...I'll post more details as I have them, along with the other bands/artists that will be there.

Josh is in Costa Rica until April 2nd - so I'm planning on checking out some local live music while we're on a band vacation....Chad Elliot and Toaster are currently on my list...if anybody reads this and has show suggestions, I'm very open to them. Performing so much has kept me out of the live music scene loop - - time to get caught up =)

Much love,
Bonne

Radio Interview/Show today in Sioux City, IA

2010-03-13T09:02:00.000-06:00

The band will be on New 102.3 FM out of Sioux City this morning...then we perform at The Chesterfield tonight.... I believe there's a "Listen Live" link for anybody out of the area that wants to hear us stumble for words for 10 minutes =)

Bon

Video Blog Entry

2010-03-11T17:12:00.001-06:00

The Argus Leader newspaper Sioux Falls, SD article

2010-03-11T07:47:00.006-06:00

LOSE EXPECTATIONS BEFORE LISTENING TO BONNE FINKEN
by BryAnn Becker - March 11th, 2010

Nothing can stand in Bonne Finken's way.

The 30-year-old singer/songwriter from Des Moines moved out of her apartment to save money to record her first album, "Soul on Display." Finken, a single mom, stayed with friends and family for about a year, and the album was released in July.

When some musicians and fans had different expectations for how "Soul on Display" should have sounded, Finken responded with her new album's title, "Expectation Fall," to be released this fall.

"Basically, just drop your expectations," Finken says about the title - don't expect her sound to be pigeonholed into any particular genre.

Bonne Finken and the Collective will perform Friday at Club David. The Collective consists of Josh Schryver (keyboards/piano), Jamie Mahan (bass guitar) and Adam Ross (drums).

Like many aspiring musicians, Finken always had wanted to be a singer. But it took a brush with cancer for her to pursue it.

"When I got the cancer, it did drive home (the thought), 'What do you want to do?' " Finken says.

Finken was diagnosed with cancer in her early 20s. During her last round of treatment, at age 25, she realized she had a second chance at life. She remembers going through a major surgery in May 2005 and then getting the "clean bill of health," she says.

"It didn't hit me that I had a second shot at life," until after her doctors said the cancer was gone, Finken says. "I got the thumbs up, so to speak."

Finken began singing in a series of bands: rap group Tandem Dynamics, R&B pop group Final Mix, rock group 3 a.m. and disco band Wheningroovia.

She learned cover songs of artists, including Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Donna Summer and Top 40 musicians, including Alicia Keys and Kelly Clarkson.

When Finken recorded her first album, she pulled from the styles she had learned in those four bands. On the track "Sweetness," Finken used a hip-hop chorus that she wrote while in Tandem Dynamics. Fans have commented that "Childhood Dreams (Shades of White)" sounds like Janis Joplin.

"I didn't think, going into it, 'It will be an alternative rock or R&B album,' " she says

The result is a debut album that crosses multiple genres.

Some people who associated her name with those other bands were surprised that "Soul on Display" didn't have a sound that matched, for example, Final Mix. "Those were popular bands," she says. "Somebody knew me as the '3 a.m. girl' and expected (the album) to be more rock."

Finken still plans to stick with her soulful style that may include rap, funk, rock and pop elements in any given song.

"I do feel like I want to keep doing things how I want to do them," she says. "I feel pressured to (stick with one style), but...I'm not going to."

(Note - 'Soul on Display' was released locally in December 2008 and nationally July 2009)

This weekend - Sioux Falls and Sioux City

2010-03-09T20:54:00.003-06:00

I'm very excited for our shows this weekend...both are in new venues and I finally got my hitch and the wiring for it 100% done and ready so we can all ride together, and just pull a trailer.

We've been alternating between using the Authentic Records van (not the best option....only because there's a fee AND uses diesel gas...boo...although we have been grateful for access to it for some of the longer trips) and using two vehicles. So I'm excited that we get to ride together, especially since it'll be a full weekend, but with my own vehicle. It feels like another stepping stone.

Friday - March 12th - the band heads to Sioux Falls, SD to perform at a new venue, Club David. It sounds like the city has been looking to revamp their music scene, and has high hopes for the venue and bands that are being brought in so it makes us all that much more excited to go perform =) We perform from 9:30pm until around midnight.

Saturday - March 13th - the bands heads to Sioux City, IA to perform at The Chesterfield. We have been hoping to get an opening slot for a few months now - - it's a great venue and an opening slot lets us show the venue owners what we're about without the pressure of getting people out to hear an unknown band lol, and we finally got the opportunity. It happens to be timed when we'll be driving back through from Sioux Falls so it feels meant to be =)
We have one hour and so we're excited to jam pack it full of our favorite tunes. We perform 8:30pm - 9:30pm

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend - more video blogging to come once I get time to edit all the clips lol. I plan to have time on the road this weekend =)

Take care,
Bon

Duo Shows this Week

2010-03-03T14:33:00.005-06:00

Hello!

I am posting this late, I know...it's been very busy recently! And it's gonna stay busy lol

Wednesday March 3rd (tonight) Josh and I head to Iowa City, IA to play a set before The Nadas take the stage at The Mill. They're beginning a tour to promote their new album, and we're going to be opening a few shows for them over the next month or so. Tonight is the first one of them.... We go on at 8:30pm

Thursday March 4th - Josh and I will open The Nadas show at The Maintenance Shop in Ames, IA - we go on at 8pm

Friday March 5th - Josh and I will perform our monthly show at The Grapevine in Des Moines, Iowa. (for information on future shows - please contact Bonita at afinetime4wine@aol.com)

Saturday March 6th - I record final vocals for the song 'Little Things'...which will be the first song completed for the new album, Expectation Fall

Sunday March 7th - The Oscars air...my votes:

Best Picture: Avatar Hurt Locker would win if James hadn't taken 15 years to make a nearly perfect movie that includes creating a new form of animation...that's a trump card in my opinion...no matter what year it released - it should win
Best Director: James Cameron for same reasons as above
Best Actress: Meryl Streep This has been a hard one in my opinion...I'm glad Sandra Bullock is nominated and she will probably win...but Meryl Streep took on an icon who has an annoying-at-first manner and way of talking and made me forget it was annoying by her 2nd scene. That's amazing.
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges I would have believed Crazy Heart was a documentary if I had been told that. He was that good.
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'nique (sp?) She. was. amazing. And with such a hard hard role and gross character to play - yet I looked forward to her coming back on screen during the movie just because she was the driving force that made the entire movie believable. In my opinion lol. I get sick to my stomach and/or want to cry just watching 15 second clips.
Best Supporting Actor: Guy from Inglorious Basterds He was a charming nazi and made me believe he had a fun, childlike side to him - - but remained intimidating and like he deserved being in charge. Who the hell could pull that off?

Des Moines Register - Feb 25th Datebook Article

2010-02-25T15:18:00.003-06:00

Des Moines Register - Datebook Article - 2/25/10

Scenester: How a singer found her voice

Bonne Finken, 30, is the frontwoman for Bonne Finken & The Collective. She opens for The Nadas March 4 at the Maintenance Shop in Ames.

Finding her own song: At 21, Finken was diagnosed with cancer. The scare was enough to motivate her to finally take to the stage. "I asked myself 'What do I like to do?' I like to sing," Finken said. "I'd always dreamed about it and written my own songs since I was 15. Live is short, do what you want to do."

First album she ever bought: "I want to say Paula Abdul's 'Forever Your Girl.' It might have been on tape."

What having her own band means to her: "I guess that I earned some stripes is one way to put it," Finken said. "Good is the only thing that comes to mind. It's hard, but I wouldn't trade it and go back."

Working on a new album: Finken's debut, "Soul on Display," came out in 2008. She recently started work on a follow-up, "Expectation Fall," which she expects to finish in six to seven months.

What she's been listening to lately: Regina Spektor, Breaking Benjamin, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. "This is It" (the Michael Jackson concert film) opened me up to a lot of old songs I used to listen to all the time."

Show she's looking forward to: Keri Noble, Friday at the Des Moines Social Club. "She has a song on Kelly Clarkson's new album, and her voice is amazing from what I can tell."

02/19/10 Video Blog

2010-02-21T23:54:00.002-06:00

Hello! Well, I had a fun weekend...here is one of the blogs from it. Another one will be posted soon. THANK YOU to everyone who came to our show Saturday night - and THANK YOU to Kansas City band The Brisbanes for making the drive in to play with us. You rock.

This blog is from friday -the rest of the "scratch tracks" for the new album have been recorded. I explain what "scratch tracks" are in the blog =) It is a scary process...it's like if you've been working on a painting in your house all by yourself for 6 months and it's the first time you start letting people look at it....but you're not done yet....and so they're looking at it UNfinished....which is scarier than if you could unveil the finished product....

Bonne Finken - 2/12/10 Video Blog and SAT SHOW

2010-02-18T08:30:00.005-06:00

FULL BAND show in DES MOINES, IOWA this Saturday night - FEB. 20th at VAUDEVILLE MEWS downtown.

Kansas City based rock band, The Brisbanes, open the ALL AGES show at 6pm. We go on at 7:30pm. $7 cover gets both bands and again, this is an ALL AGES show!

The band headed to Burlington, IA - - we performed at an elementary school as a way to promote music in the school system. It...was....wonderful!! I can't wait to go back again..

I did get a chance to explain to the parents and children that I began singing in elementary school...that's where I started to learn terms like alto and soprano and that you could change the key of a song, etc. It started with things like choir..and that grew into show choir and solo competitions in high school...and I began writing when I was 15.

I believe we need music in school the same as we need an athletic program in schools...and it was great to have an enthusiastic audience.

I had AWESOME DANCERS and I ended up signing a gazillion posters after the show lol which was a ton of fun....it was surprisingly fulfilling for me and I hope at least one kid or one parent got a little more insight into the world of music. It isn't parties and booze...not if you're serious anyways. ANYTHING could be turned into a party....medical school included. But you'll not get very far if you do that no matter WHAT venue you venture down. Music just has the unfortunate stereotype.

About a year ago I also spoke at an alternative school, where teenagers thought if they wanted a life in music they didn't need to finish high school. I got to talk with them about how wrong of a mindset that is.... I think I really really really like doing the school speaking gigs...I remember being that age well. I remember thinking the same things. So I feel like I am good at knowing what to explain away.......I hope I'm right. To as much of a point as I can be. It's fulfilling...and scary...to know I'm talking to developing minds...... But in a way, I guess we're all still developing....

Here is the blog from that day....thanks again to all the students!!

video blog entry

2010-02-10T22:23:00.002-06:00

2-5-10 Video Blog - Back into the Studio

2010-02-09T23:41:00.002-06:00

Music in Schools and Shopping

2010-02-07T09:17:00.004-06:00

I''m putting together my video blog entry of this weekend...it was an interesting one =) And will post it later today or tomorrow....but I decided to write since it's early Sunday morning and I can't go back to sleep...

The downside of recording an album...there's always something to think about. So the second I wake up, I literally need a sleeping pill or exhaustion to shut my mind off enough to fall asleep.

I wish everyday was like these past two have been...I like being busy when the days are filled with things I really, really want to be doing. Or...filled with things that make huge steps towards what I really, really want to be doing.

Friday started around 7am and ended around 10pm....I went into the studio to work on the new album until it was time to then head to Copper Creek Golf Club and perform for the Hearts for Haiti benefit.

Yesterday I shopped for my upcoming album photoshoot...which normally I hate shopping (well...I like the shopping part...just not the crowds that usually come along with it.....I think stores should book appointments lol....) but it went so smooth and easy and well that I really didn't mind it? This is what the picture is of....my sweet, sweet new shoes (and clothes....buuuut mostly the shoes).

Then I performed at The Grapevine with Josh Schryver again...and had a great time =) This has become a form of home for Josh and I to do our duo shows at.....you can contact Bonita at afinetime4wine@aol.com if you want to get in on a date! You bring food and a wine glass...she sells wine...and you listen to Josh and I up close and personal :-) We performed the new song "Little Things" and...I think...it's a good one? It's fun, but heartfelt...and we had a lot of people specifically mention it afterwards...which is pretty awesome :-) Especially since it's the first song I cuss in lol.... :-O

I have some special video of this, so that'll be posted outside the blog entry.

Anyways....I'm going to go find coffee now....thanks for reading and the main reason I logged on was to talk about our performance this Friday.

The band heads to Burlington, Iowa to perform for a school there....where they want the parents of students interested in music to attend and be able to hear us and talk with me after. I feel super honored to have been asked to do this...and hope I don't mess it up lol

Have a great Sunday....(and go Colts!)

Bonne

Hearts for Haiti Benefit Show - This Friday

2010-02-01T16:26:00.011-06:00

(benefit performers: Josh Schryver, Bonne Finken, Mike Butterworth)

Hearts for Haiti Benefit

REPEAT BLOG

My favorite male vocalist and manager - Mike Butterworth of AUTHENTIC RECORDS band The Nadas - asked if I'd donate some time to share a show with him for a benefit show called "Hearts for Haiti" and of course I'm excited to do this. The show will be Friday, February 5th at Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill from 6-10pm.

Check out their website HERE

My favorite piano player Josh Schryver will be donating his time as well on the piano and I start singing at 7pm - - Mike goes on around 8:45, I believe.

I plan to slip Mike a request slip while he's playing asking that he sing Sonia Dada with me. Just for the record.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Bonne

Video Blog Entry - Travelling from NE to WY

2010-01-29T13:11:00.002-06:00

2009 Intrepid Media Book Collection

2010-01-28T16:38:00.006-06:00

So...I just got notice of something pretty cool :-)

I did an interview last year with Tracey Kelley of Intrepid Media after the release of the 'Soul on Display' album.

She just told me the interview made the 2009 Intrepid Media Book Collection.

Page 23-28 is the interview and her comments and you can read it PDF-style by CLICKING HERE

Thank you Intrepid Media...and THANK YOU Tracey Kelley :-)

Much Love,
Bonne

'Hearts for Haiti' Benefit Show

2010-01-26T23:06:00.007-06:00

Hello! We arrived safely back from Utah.....here is a picture of Josh and I with the Orion Festival founder at The Spur in Park City, UT.....and I have more videos to post. I think that will be our 'thing' this year.

If you've read any past blogs, you know I believe myself to be horrible at Facebook, even worse at Twitter, and pretty much a full on failure at sending blast emails to fans reminding them of shows and what I have going on. I don't mean to be bad at it....it just doesn't come natural for me.

However....I DO enjoy the video blogging. And it helps to know it's up to you whether or not you want to push "play" or not :-)

So I'll begin to blog my song writing, rehearsals, studio sessions, and shows....and the traveling in between. I'm fairly certain, at some point, I'll need to change my website address to www.joshschryverwithbonnefinken.com - - Josh is not only a fantastic pianist but he's fun and made for video blogging :-)

So...now...onto what I'm here to talk about tonight....

My favorite male vocalist and manager - Mike Butterworth of AUTHENTIC RECORDS band The Nadas - asked if I'd donate some time to share a show with him for a benefit show called "Hearts for Haiti" and of course I'm excited to do this. The show will be Friday, February 5th at Copper Creek Golf Course in Pleasant Hill from 6-10pm.

Check out their website HERE

Josh Schryver will be donating his time as well on the piano and I start singing at 7pm - - Mike goes on around 8:45, I believe.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Bonne

Video Blog - Day 3 (on the road to the Orion Fest)

2010-01-19T15:26:00.002-06:00

Video Blog - Day 2 - Killing time in NE

2010-01-18T12:04:00.001-06:00

Bonne Finken - Video Blog - Day 1

2010-01-16T12:01:00.001-06:00

So there are readers out there....

2010-01-11T14:43:00.008-06:00

Hello and Happy Monday :-)

The pictures are of Josh and of myself at the World Food Festival in 2008. I'm doing alot of talking about Josh and I in this entry so it felt appropriate... :-)

See the difference in how we're dressed compared in 2008 to how we're dressed at the same festival in 2009 CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO CLIP

Gotta love Iowa.

I just read my blog comments, and it was super interesting to see people responding to things said in my last entry.

Blogging feels alot like writing a note, putting it in a bottle, and sending it out to sea....you never know if anybody ever reads it.

The only real way to know is if someone leaves a blog comment. Truthfully, the majority of my comments - up until this past entry - have been from friends and family, venue owners urging me to do more promotion than I do, and bitter former bandmates (although I'm pretty sure 'bandmate' is more appropriate....singular) leaving 'annonymous' comments.

None of which really encouraged me to continue blogging.

Granted:

1) I always love hearing from friends and family.
2) The push from venue owners are usually 90% the reason I remember to put out a Facebook invite. Which is a good thing.
3) Wrong or right - I do get a weird kick out of the bitter comments.

But......it still didn't encourage me.

Now? I am a little encouraged...................................which could be seen as good or bad lol.

I not only had two people attend last Saturday nights show directly because of my blog....but I got two movie recommendations and an offer to help me stay on the P90X track.

Boom.

(I need to officially get on the P90X track first....I'm standing by my "When I'm home from Utah" mantra...figure I can't do Plyometrics in a minivan? lol...and I have lots more excuses where that came from)

So what I'm learning............blogging can equal not only more people at shows, which is an obvious benefit.....but......inside tracks on movies...annnnd fitness encouragement.
...
...
*sweeeet*

So to catch up on what happened over the weekend:

Josh and I performed at The Grapevine and had another wonderful, wonderful show for some wonderful, wonderful fans/people.

Co-Owner Keith Crowe made the amazing comment to the crowd that anybody who didn't already own 'Soul on Display' could come buy it, listen, and if they didn't love it, he'd buy it from them. I feel like not even someone PAID to promote me could make that form of amazingly supportive statement...and it makes me so grateful to be able to perform in that type of environment.

Our next show there is February 6th - you can RSVP to Bonita at afinetime4wine@aol.com if you're interested in attending.

It is limited seating, and is first come first serve....and it really is a pretty cool thing to do on a Saturday night. You bring a wine glass and food...and buy a bottle of wine and listen to musicians who are 5 feet in front of you. So very intimate. I'd say 'Try and go!' even if Josh and I are not the performers. I know they have other artists such as Mary McAdams, Bella Soul and Chad Elliot...I'm sure any of the shows are worth catching!

We performed 'Be Inspired' for the first time and it went over well...although part of it going over well could be in part to the join introduction of a wine they were sampling called 'Inspire' lol. But I'll take what I can get... ;-) It was the first time I've been nervous to sing a song in months. I better get used to it though, since lots of new material will start being tested out at upcoming shows........yikes.

I actually liked singing this song with just piano...more than I did when singing it with a full band at practice. I think it allows the song lyrics to be 'heard' more....and for once, these song lyrics were written with no attempt at masking the meaning of the song. It's called 'Be Inspired' and it's meant...to...inspire lol :-) It's hard to be inspired by a song if you can't hear it....note to myself for the studio.

Josh and I also are working on 4 more new original songs to be added in for the Orion Festival next week. 'Little Things', 'I Can Be Mine', and 'The Best' are some new songs of mine written AFTER the release of 'Soul on Display'.....and so they have very fresh emotion in them. We're also planning on adding in Josh's 'Mr. Passive Aggressive' which I'm SUPER excited about. I keeping urging Josh to sing it.....but he compares his singing with me there to my playing piano while he's there. And I get that. lol So I'm just excited that we're performing it. If you want to hear the current full version with Josh doing the crooning you can check it out by clicking here

He gave me the okay to do my thing to it and add it to the yet-to-be-titled Album #2......so I may be taking him on it. It's a fantastic song.

I'm signing off now....have a great week :-)

Bon

New Years Resolution

2010-01-08T06:23:00.004-06:00

After a year of being 'nicely urged' by my manager and PR representative to blog, twitter and facebook - - and my resisting....my new years resolution is to do just that. Minus the twittering. Add the P90X work out program =)

It only took a year, but I am finally seeing how my talking about where I ate last night and how I feel about the movie 'The Hurt Locker' can help people understand me...and therefore, help understand my music.

I didn't use to understand it. But - I'm shy. lol.

So being shy, by nature - - it's been hard for me to wrap my mind around sharing details I usually only share with my boyfriend, family and close friends. It felt like I was taking away from their relationships, honestly. To declare thoughts and share details that are usually held so private.

BUT....I've been sold because I have always loved to write. And I am able to write alot when I feel like it's placed correctly. I'll use that as my 'Fair Warning' and if people actually do read what I say - especially clear thru - I feel like A) I'll be impressed and B) I'll want to know who they are to be able to meet and high five them :-)

I have had an interesting life, that does inform my music. Which I plan to slowly begin to talk about as I start my journey into blogging (and into Facebook...for those who are Facebook friends...!) I had a form of diary up thru high school...and only quit because my evenings became more filled with sneaking cigarettes and studying 'Dazed and Confused'....which led to the ultimate diary killer: my I-wouldn't-change-for-the-world unplanned pregnancy.

So the songs I wrote, even the ones that are on 'Soul on Display', were mostly written on half-used napkins while driving in my car or pieced together from calls I left myself on my answering machine, where I'd be singing the intro or melody lines to myself.

I'm getting better at sitting down and writing. It's how I've done the majority of the material for the upcoming album. And so I do feel like there's a different feel to the songs. More fluid....more topic driven than general thought driven - since I'm now able to sit down and write a whole song while one frame of mind is in action.....vs writing a song a verse at a time over weeks, where your emotions are allowed to (and almost always will) change.

I plan to perform two of these songs this Saturday night, at our (private - sorry) show at The Grapevine. The Grapevine is owned by - quite possibly - THE best live music supporter I've ever met. Grand statement, I know....but I'm serious. Bonita Crowe should give live-music-supporter lessons lol. I hear lots of people say they love live music. It's a staple on myspace and match.com profiles....you hear it almsot as often as you hear 'I love movies'.

But for alllll the people who claim to love movies/live music...I really only know 3 or 4 who REALLY love movies/live music. And they're usually the same people.

People who understand the art and passion that goes into films/music, and get wrapped up into the story lines and how a movie/song came to be and the editing process and release dates.

These are the people who truly do support the indie film scene because they know 'The Hurt Locker' is just as good as, if not better than, than main stream movies like 'Avatar'. And will do the leg work to hunt the indie films out...and will spend the extra money it takes to travel out of state, even, in attempt to experience and support it. Since these movies are not as easily accessible as the mainstream or big studio movies are.

See how easily the indie film scene can be compared to the indie music scene?

These people usually, however, also know that loving 'The Hurt Locker' doesn't mean you don't love 'Avatar' (sidenote: I did love it and it should get best picture at the Oscars this year, hands down. But.....it's a 10 year in the making film that would win in ANY year it was released. So it's just bad luck and timing to the other films out this year. End sidenote.)

Bonita is one of those people - in the live music category at least :-) She doesn't just say 'I love live music' because it makes you sound less like a couch potato to say it. She says it because she - loves - live - music.

So it's an honor that she happens to like and support myself and (pianist) Josh Schryver. It means we get to hang out with her and her infectious attitude, we get to perform for wonderful fans who took the time to plan and commit (THANK YOU!!) to attending a show, annnnd we get to drink awesome wine.

So it's a natural favorite....and a very inviting environment to test out some new songs :-)

I will write about those songs when I write about the show.....now, hears to hoping the show goes as well as past ones :-)

Stay safe this weekend - the roads sound terrible.....and hope you're having a wonderful new year......

Much Love,
Bonne

Orion Music Festival - venue change

2009-12-30T18:41:00.002-06:00

Hello and Happy (early) New Year!

The band and I are heading west in January....we'll be performing across Nebraska and Colorado (and possibly Wyoming) to make our way to the Orion Music Festival in Park City, Utah.

The festival is featuring 40 artists from around the world, and takes place right as the Sundance Film Festival heads to town. We're very excited and honored to have been asked to perform! Just a note in case anybody in Park City reads this - - We'll still be at Cisero's on January 19th. However, the January 20th venue changed from The Downstairs to The Spur. Same time and street...just down a couple of doors :-)

Much love,
Bonne

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T17:09:00.003-06:00

Here is Josh, Adam, me and Jamie at Penn Central Mall pre-performance this month...and it's the closest thing to a Christmas Card-like photo I could find :-) Happy Holidays and New Year - - we're looking forward to seeing you in 2010!

Much Love,
Bonne

p.s. work on album #2 has officially....started.... :-)

Orion Music Festival

2009-12-08T08:55:00.004-06:00

So the highlight of our January so far is our mini-tour...where we will be playing through Nebraska and Colorado to end up at the Orion Music Festival in Park City, UT....Bonne Finken and the Collective actually received TWO performance showcases. January 19th and January 20th. January 20th is the night before the Sundance Film Festival starts in Park City, and so we're hoping for some unfamiliar-yet familiar-faces in the crowd ;-) This festival was featured in Salt Lake Tribune by music critic David Burger CLICK HERE

Live Performance Clip - 'I'm Thinking' 11/27/09

2009-12-05T16:08:00.003-06:00

Vaudeville Mews Show footage by Rounding Third Productions info@roundingthirdproductions.com

BE newsletter article

2009-12-04T13:19:00.001-06:00

BE in the spotlight!
community member making a difference

At 30 years old, music has always played a huge role in Bonne Finken's life. She began writing songs at the age of 10 and sang in a hip hop band in 1998. In 2000, at the age of 19, she became pregnant with her son and knew music had to take a back seat to motherhood. Being a young, single mom would be hard, so she made the decision to set her dreams aside and took a job at a successful insurance agency. In 2004, an eye opening experience would forever change life as she knew it. During an annual routine exam, Bonne was diagnosed with cervical cancer. By the time it was discovered, it had progressed to a point that her physicians advised immediate treatment. The fear was this cancer had the ability to spread rapidly; her bladder, and other areas of her body, could soon become affected. She had 4 surgeries over a nine month span, the last resulting in a hysterectomy. Six weeks later, in July 2005, her post-op exam brought unbelievable news. The cancer was 100% gone! After receiving a clean bill of health, she knew she wanted to sing again. And she's been singing ever since. She began singing in cover bands, ranging from disco to funk. However, she was a passionate writer and knew she had a story to tell; singing someone else's music never fully satisfied her. As time passed, and she became a better, more mature singer, scouts from the show 'Rock Star' approached her with the offer of appearing on their show. Staying true to herself, Bonne followed her gut and politely declined. She knew she wanted to write and sing her own music, not be on television singing someone else's. This offer gave her the confidence she needed to finally follow her true dream, which was to write and record her own album. Soul on Display was released in early 2009 and is Bonne's debut album on Authentic Records.

"...more artists should be so bold.....cultivating years of influences from rock, R&B, and funk, Finken's music unveils emotional purpose unafraid to face the experiences of life, supported by a backbone of experimental rhythms and enhanced with fresh melodies. Strong vocals and insightful lyrics stem from a vibrant spirit evident in Finken's live shows and on her new release" -Tracey Kelly, Intrepid Media

What defines Bonne the most isn't the fact she's a single mom, or a cancer survivor, or a talented singer/songwriter; it's her courageous, soulful spirit. She knows who she is and what she wants in life and she isn't afraid to go after it. She's grateful for everything she's been through in life and knows it's shaped her into the woman she is today. Her advice to others is simply, stay true to you. No matter what life throws at you, no matter who comes or goes, stay true to what you believe in. In the end, good things will always come to you. It may not always look the way you had envisioned it, but the good will be there....and your story may have the ability to inspire someone else.

Bonne Finken
www.BonneFinken.com
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/soul-on-display/id323919685

Vaudeville Mews 11/27/09 Live Video Clip

2009-12-04T12:12:00.002-06:00

Vote - Best of Des Moines....

2009-12-03T12:26:00.005-06:00

I feel I need to let everyone know this.... You can go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BZHBGHN and vote for your favorite restaurants, stores, *coughandfavoritebandcough* here :-)

It's fun to fill out....I slightly miss the old days when you had to do it by hand and mail it in...but this seems easier :-)

Much love,
Bonne

Two Des Moines Shows this weekend!!

2009-11-30T17:13:00.004-06:00

Hello! Thank you to everybody who made it out last Friday night to the Vaudeville show....it went great and I, for one, had an awesome time :-)

Video will be posted soon.....and now onto this weekend:

Friday
December 4th, 2009
FULL BAND SHOW
Vaudeville Mews (again....yay!)
Downtown Des Moines, Iowa
11pm-1am
Cover is $8
*This is the after party site for the band The Nadas after their annual 'Nada Silent Night' show that is put on to benefit Toys-For-Tots. Anybody who brings a ticket stub from their show will get into our show for free!!

Saturday
December 5th, 2009
BONNE AND JOSH only
Grapevine, LLC
Urbandale, Iowa
7pm-9pm
RSVP required -- as of right now 2 seats are available, please contact Bonita at afinetime4wine@aol.com for details
This is a GREAT venue with a fantastic host - it's a very intimate show and one of my absolute favorites to do....plus the wine is fantabulous...it's worth an email to Bonita even if you don't come this Saturday, just to get on her mailing list!! :-)

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving - - thank you to everybody for their continued support and I'll see you soon!

Much Love,
Bonne

Vaudeville Mews - November ALL AGES SHOW

2009-11-16T11:13:00.011-06:00

Bonne Finken and the Collective - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines - 11/27/09 at 8pm - ALL AGES

Roxi Copland - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines - 11/27/09 at 7pm - ALL AGES

Daphne Willis - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines - 11/27/09 at 6pm - ALL AGES

Thank you to Angie and everybody at Mahoney's in Cedar Rapids. We played the town for the first time last night and I wish my camera had undead batteries in them so I could have gotten some pictures!!

The band will perform next on Friday, November 27th at Vaudeville Mews for an all ages crowd with both Roxi Copland and Daphne Willis. The show starts at 6pm and we perform 8-9pm. Cover is $8 for all three bands.

During our show, we will be performing all of 'Soul on Display'....a few of my favorite cover songs...and at least one new original song :-) So I'm very excited!

Hope to see you out there!

Love,
Bonne

Bright*Giant

2009-11-14T13:19:00.003-06:00

Also....the band Bright*Giant has their EP release tonight at Vaudeville Mews. Their website is www.bright-giant.com and it's a seriously awesome 5-song EP. My personal favorite is a song called 'Forget-Me-Nots' but the whole thing is great. So had to put a plug out there for them.... :-) Enjoy your Saturday!

Bonne

Be Social - Cut for a Cause tonight

2009-11-14T12:47:00.004-06:00

Thank you to everyone who came out last night - - and thank you to the sound system which cooperated on the first try =-)

*Special Thank you! to both Skyler and Lowell*

Tonight just myself and guitarist, Mike Hall, will be performing for the BE women's "Be Social - Cut for a Cause" event in Clive, Iowa.

From 4-6 we will be at Rick Mosley's Hair in Clive, Iowa - where their generous top professionals will be cutting hair to be donated to create wigs for adults and children who have lost their hair due to medical conditions or treatments.

For those who want to come donate, but don't have hair to lose, please feel free to donate a scarf or hat!

Appetizers and drinks are courtesy of Trostel's Dish. So after the 4-6pm haircutting party - - we'll head over to Trostel's for the "post-cut" party with more music, food and drink from 6-8pm.

Please check out www.bewomenonline.com for more details if you haven't heard of this already - and hope to see you out there!

Much Love,
Bonne

Mothers Pub in Ames, IA - Full band show tonight!

2009-11-13T11:10:00.005-06:00

Bonne Finken and the Collective will be heading to Mothers Pub in Ames tonight to play from 10pm to 1am. It's going to be a full weekend, and this will be the kick off. I'm still getting over a cold, but I've sang with worse, lol....so I'm still looking forward to performing! :-)

Now my random thoughts.........
I've been slowly buying pieces to put together a full sound system of our own....and tonight is going to be night one of using it. I'm a little nervous...as it's been tricky with all the sound needs of this band to get a monitor system in place that would work for everybody.....but I'm also a little satisfied.

I won't stay on this subject too long...feel free to stop reading as this is just me getting something off my chest.....but truthfully I use to get crap from a few members of the old bands I sang for because I didn't own my own sound system.
Annnd because I only had one microphone instead of numerous ones. ...and only one microphone chord instead of many. Like I wasn't a real singer because I didn't have these things....when I would have loved to have all those things...but I was a young single mother who used my money from singing towards rent and daycare...not effect pedals and monitor systems. I couldnt'. And it's why I had to sing in other peoples bands. And put up with bad monitor systems lol. Fine. But why would that take away from my singing ability?

My thoughts on this was always that anybody with some money or a credit card can buy a sound system. And an instrument of their choice. Or microphones. Anybody.

It's like if you want to be seen as a golfer.....just go buy top of the line clubs and a bag and clothes and buy a membership to a club. *poof* You look like a golfer.

Even if you don't play THAT well...you just know how to play....but you know - if you go to the course regularly and talk about it and buy the toys and gadgets then in the eyes of everyone else (especially those who DON'T play golf) well - you're a golfer.

And I'm done. I had alot more typed out and deleted it lol. Bottom line is - - it's taken me around 2 years lol BUT....I now have the sound system. Our band has played around 100 shows since 'Soul on Display' came out without owning a sound system...if this means we haven't been a singer/keyboardist and pianist/guitarist/drummer/bass player up until today.....then I guess we just seroiusly fooled a whole lot of people lol

So please come out and witness my first night as an official singer....and Josh Schryver's first night as a piano player.....and Mike Hall's first night as a guitar player.....and so on and so on....at Mothers Pub - Ames, IA - 10pm :-)

In case Mike at Mothers Pub is reading: We had a run through of the system at practice this week and so far so no-feedback....

Much Love,
Bonne

Ames and Cedar Rapids

2009-11-09T21:01:00.003-06:00

I have a cold now....and I'm fully blaming lack of sleep. But it was a fun weekend, that pretty much started on Wed night of last week :-)

Wed night I saw Papa Roach, Saving Abel, Jet and Red all in the same night all in the same place. For Alternative Rock fans, that's a pretty big night. I did well until the headliner, Papa Roach, came on - - and I couldn't enjoy the show because the sound got cranked to brain-explosion level annnnd the drunks were out in full fashion by then.

What I love:

I love rock music. Alot. I love rock shows. It's hard to beat the energy and straight forward music and great lead singers and the excited crowds.

What I don't love:

I don't love people who can barely stand up trying to yell along with the talent.

I also don't love the people who are paying zero attention to the band. Especially anybody who isn't paying any attention yet would call themselves a 'fan'.

In general, I don't understand the person who goes to a show to get wasted.
I just do not. If I'm gonna get wasted, it's usually in a situation where being oblivious is the only option for a decent time. Not during the once in a lifetime chance of hearing a band I claim to love. Freakin' weird to me. So, you really love it sooo much, you hope to never remember it? And you paid money for that. Awesome.

But whateva - it was still fun if I take a step back. And the bands still made their $29/drunk...so that's good.

And yes, I know, I'm teetering on sounding like a prude.

Sidenote: Yay! Yankees...sorry I missed it, but I was with you in text

I also got a blink of sleep after our show in Dubuque Friday night to make it to the Iowa Football game on Saturday. I'll leave that at that.

But now I'm fighting for the right to taste food...although I'd win any sneezing contest out there. I guarantee it. ;-)

We play at Mothers Pub in Ames, IA this Friday night and at Mahoney's in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. Mike Hall and I also will be doing a special acoustic set for the BE Women on Saturday. www.bewomenonline.com is their website :-)

Much love - keep warm,
Bonne

Video Clip from World Food Festival 2009

2009-11-06T13:48:00.002-06:00

It was FREEZING outside!....but here is a clip of 'Possibly Impossible'

Silver Dollar Cantina

2009-11-03T12:42:00.003-06:00

Hello!

I'm back from vacation with a fresh mind and new tan - Josh gets back Thursday - and then the band heads to Dubuque, Iowa to perform at the Silver Dollar Cantina.

I'm SO ready for it...I missed performing tremendously......

Here is a picture of two ladies I met at the Surf Ballroom who told me they'd be at the Silver Dollar...yes - I remembered =-)

We start around 10pm - see ya then!

All Ages Show - Vaudeville Mews - Fri, Nov. 27th

2009-10-20T22:33:00.003-05:00

Please mark your calendars....I'm very excited about our (possibly) only full band performance this winter in our hometown, and it's FRIDAY, November 27th at Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, IA. It is an ALL AGES show...so please, teenagers I met this summer at Farmers Market, come on out!! :-)

Due to the all ages invite, we'll be starting early, and the $8 cover will not only be for our band, but we're sharing the evening with other great female acts....here's the lineup:

Daphne Willis & Co (Chicago, IL - acoustic/blues) 6pm

Roxi Copland (Des Moines, IA - jazz/pop) 7pm

Bonne Finken and the Collective (Des Moines, IA - alt pop/rock) 8pm-9pm

I'm very excited about it...and hope to see you there!! Ok...I'll be on vaca soon...see everyone in November!

Band Vacation

2009-10-13T11:27:00.005-05:00

(Photo of Bonne Finken taken by Ket Quang of Haute Foto)

That's right....the band blocked time from shows to get in some vacation time. Josh is already gone....I think his plane left immediately following the World Food Festival this past weekend and he's gone until NOVERMBER! :-(

So...everybody is getting caught up on some relaxing. I sing the National Anthem at the Des Moines Marathon, get to make a Vikings game, and then I go into hiding in Phoenix, AZ until November myself. Which is good timing because I've been a little extra hard on my back recently and need an excuse to just lay around.

I hope to get rested, relaxed, tanned and I also hope to gain a pound or two from overeating.

...can't WAIT =-)

I did just get the first few dates to a tour worked out - we'll be going on our longest tour to date in January 2010. I'm sure January is a genius time to travel through Nebraska, Colorado and Utah...? ;-) Hey....if it was easy everyone would do it, right?

So I'm very excited to have that to work on when I get back, too.

I am looking forward to some fun shows in November - - the one I'll mention is FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27th in Des Moines, IA at Vaudeville Mews. We'll be doing a new thing....an EARLY and an ALL AGES SHOW!!! Good friend and musician, Ms. ROXI COPLAND, will be starting the night off at 6:30pm. We go on around 7:30pm.

We'll hope all the shopping the day after Thanksgiving drives you to come relieve some stress that evening via Bonne Finken and the Collective.

Much Love,
Bonne

World Food Festival 2009 -- thinking optimistically

2009-10-09T13:30:00.007-05:00

photos of Bonne and Josh from World Food Festival 2008

I've been getting asked about whether we're still playing or not.....per the scary weather predictions... As of right now? Yes. Yes we are.

See you *more than likely and hopefully* tomorrow night =-) We'll be the bundled up ones up on a stage in the middle of the east village...trying to sing/play instruments =-)

Bonne, Jamie, Josh, Adam and Mike

Bonne's first blog

2009-10-06T15:41:00.003-05:00

Bonne Finken and the Collective:
Josh Schryver, Bonne Finken, Jamie Mahan, Adam Ross
(Mike Hall not pictured)

So....I think this may be the first time I'm happy that I have a blog. I've not been angry to have one up to now...just not crazy excited about it and probably would get a 'D' in the world of blog grades. If blogs were graded.

As shy as I am, and as hard of a time as I have promoting myself, I feel like I have a valid concern right now.....and want to vent to someone other than my poor, patient and awesome boyfriend, family and friends.

In the past week I've had some things to vent about....like my new mixing board not working - or about my numerous arguments with the guy at McDonalds over why they can, I bet, sell me only 2 nuggets. Someway. Somehow. This s**t is possible. I'm not asking for 8,000 of them. I'm asking for 2. For the love of God.

But now I'm going to vent about the mother of them all.....

The weather.

I'm torn in what to wear during a show this Saturday night.
Yes. That's it. But it's not as simple as it sounds.

The weather says a high of 52...low of 33...and we play at 8:30pm. Gonnabealilcold.

My first thought is to just trust the weatherman is wrongola and go about my week carefree.

But..I feel like the way my life is structured, that's almost life-negligence lol. Since everything is a domino effect.

I can't get sick...period.

But....I also can't stand the fact of being held back in my movement on stage.

Do I protect against the cold - or do I protect against my enjoyment of the performance.

I know, I know....tough call.

Layers seems like the easy answer - but it's not. I zone out and will no doubt lose or ruin the layers that get taken off. So 'Pay more attention, Bonne'. BUT, I don't want to mess with that either...if I'm conscience enough to know where I'm laying a sweater, then I'm too conscience to be putting on a true performance.

These are the thoughts that go through my head. I remember a past bandmate commenting to me 'Bonne, does your head hurt?' and yes....yes it does lol.

Plus, It's very tricky to find clothing that allows me movement w/o showing alot of skin on stage.

So I think....just stand still weirdo.

But.....I've tried the standing still trick and I feel like I'm reciting a monologue put to a melody line, which puts me in a bad mood.

So....I'm looking into athletic gear. I see runners out in the middle of winter and while I'm no athlete, I may have to start dressing like one.

...but is the first time I look like I'm going to aerobics class going to be at the World Food Festival. lol Well...I'm not sure yet. I'm. just. Not. Sure.

I'm going to go hunt down a glass of wine and a cigarette now and try not to think about this.

Thanks for reading lol Any suggestions please send to bonnefinkenmusic@gmail.com

God Bless,

Bon

This weekend...

2009-10-02T10:11:00.004-05:00

(Adam Ross, Jamie Mahan, Bonne Finken, Josh Schryver, Mike Hall)

I think this is the first picture I've gotten that has all five band members in it...lol It's from Cunninghams Journal in NE. (note to self: Need new band promo photo shoot) Thanks to everyone at the bar, we had a good time and plan to see this winter.

Josh and I will be performing a private show at Grapevine LLC Saturday night from 7-9pm. Josh, Jamie and I will be at AK's in Beaverdale Sunday evening - starting around 8:30pm.

Then we go into full band mode for the World Food Festival next weekend, which I'm very excited to be performing at. We play 8:30pm to 10pm Saturday, October 10th in the heart of the east village. Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts go on before us from 6:30pm to 8pm so it should be a fun night of music!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Bonne

Mothers Pub Tuesday night w/Roxi Copland

2009-09-28T15:38:00.006-05:00

(pictured: Josh Schryver, Bonne Finken, Jamie Mahan of Bonne Finken and the Collective)

Hello!

We made it back from Nebraska - and tomorrow night (Tues, Sept 29) we have a trio show in Ames, Iowa at Mothers Pub and we're sharing the night with wonderful singer/songwriter/musician Roxi Copland

Roxi starts at 8pm I believe, and then we start at 9pm(ish) :-)

Hope to see you out there!

Much Love,
Bonne

Cunningham's Journal - Nebraska

2009-09-22T15:16:00.008-05:00

Hello! Bonne Finken and the Collective will be returning to Cunningham's Journal this Friday AND Saturday night, in Kearney, NE.

Weather permitting we'll be outside from 7-11pm in the Courtyard....but it sounds like it could be kinda chilly, in which case, we'll be on the stage inside starting around 9pm.

We're excited to return...I plan to stock up on the local BBQ sauce while I'm there, so that alone is worth the 5 hour drive ;-)

Have a great week
Bonne

Recording and Nebraska

2009-09-18T13:14:00.008-05:00

Hello!

Soooo....I decided to write some today, as we have some fun stuff ahead...

I did get confirmation that we will have a 2nd show in Des Moines, IA this fall after all. As previously posted, the band plays October 10th at the World Food Festival (main stage - 8:30pm). And I thought that would be the only show here at home until after the new album is recorded...however...a 2nd show IS going to be put on - mainly due to the amount of people who asked for one at the downtown farmers markets. So a) Thank you for wanting a show and b) to hopefully make it as convenient as possible to come, the show will be the Friday after Thanksgiving - Friday, November 27th - we will be putting on an earlier than normal and ALL AGES SHOW at the Vaudeville Mews. We'll be sharing the night with the talented Roxi Copland. She will perform at 6:30pm and we will go on at 7:30 pm. Door price is only $8 - so this is a great time to see the band locally before we go into hiding at the recording studio - no matter your age :-) Speaking of recording studio....

Tomorrow - Josh, Mike and I will be heading into the studio (www.sonicfactorystudios.com) to work on the first song for the new album a little early :-) I'm VERY excited, as it's not only the first song going on yet-to-be-titled-Album-#2, but it also was written with a very special purpose that I will reveal later lol..... So it's double exciting....

NEXT weekend (9/25/09 and 9/26/09) the full band heads to Kearney, NE again to play the super fun Cunningham's Journal. *weather permitting* we will be outside in the courtyard and start at 7pm. Otherwise, we start at 9pm and will be on the indoor stage.... So please COME OUT and see us again! :-)

Have a great week
Bonne

For the Surf Ballroom girls =-)

2009-09-14T22:48:00.006-05:00

This past Saturday we got a last minute call to go to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA and open for The Nadas. So Jamie, Josh and I headed to Clear Lake after performing all morning at the downtown Farmers market....we got Scott Dawson to jump in on drums and we did a full set of music and had a blast. I promised to post a picture from the night....so here it is...and more to come in the gallery...we all signed our names on the infamous green room wall full of autographs from past performers...pretty fun stuff =-)

Write more soon....thanks to everyone reading...

Much love,
Bonne