Songwriter heads home to Sandpoint

SANDPOINT — The first time Niccole Blaze played the Panida Theater, she booked the venue on her own dime for a CD release concert for her first collection of songs titled, “Despite the Dents.”

That was then. This Thursday, Oct. 10, four CDs and countless road miles later, she comes back to the Panida stage with the duo Blaze & Kelly as part of the Pend Oreille Arts Council Performance Series. In the decade and change since the singer-songwriter made her move from Sandpoint to Boise, she has turned music into her full-time career.

She also made a slight change to the letters of her last name, which originally was spelled, Blaese. Doing so instantly corrected a common mispronunciation that always seemed to come out, Niccole Blasé — not the strongest stage name in the world.

Blaze cut her songwriting teeth in Sandpoint in the late-1990s, with the help of musician friend and guitar player Tim Dougherty. They polished up her original material and did their first gig in 2000, raking in a whopping $50 between them.

“We thought it was the best thing in the world,” said Blaze. “It was like we hit the Lottery.”

With Blaze & Kelly, she now plays an average of 20 shows a month. For a time, the venues ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. One memorable example of that combination came when the duo played a VIPs-only private concert in the exclusive, box seat area of Bronco Stadium at BSU one evening, followed the next day by an outdoor show situated next to a chicken coop.

“There have been some strange environments, but that was the weirdest one,” the songwriter said. “It was one of those real Idaho gigs.”

All of which might explain why Blaze & Kelly are known almost as much for their comedic stage presence as they are for turning out songs that speak right to the heart. But it’s the songs, Blaze, pointed out, that have paved the way for their continued success on the touring circuit.

“Our message is about self-awareness and self-acceptance,” she said. “The reality is: Be yourself and let the truth shine.

“And if you’re moving forward with your message in mind, if your motivation is to share your music and your message, doors will open to reinforce why you’re doing it,” Blaze added.

One need only look back at how far Niccole Blaze and Mo Kelly have come since first meeting in Sandpoint in 2002, to see that theory in action. In the early years of their artistic partnership, the two musicians -Blaze on guitar and vocals, Kelly on bass and vocals — played “anywhere and everywhere” to make ends meet.

“From 2005-2008, we wore ourselves ragged by playing any show we could get,” Blaze said. “Now, we’re more selective and the universe is rewarding us with all the right shows because of that.”

Shows such as opening for Olivia Newton-John, the Green Cards, Shawn Colvin and Karla Bonoff. Sharing the stage with big name acts sometimes means getting to meet your heroes, something that took some getting used to for the duo.

“You’re expecting them to be gurus, but they’re not gods — they’re just people with a lot of talent,” said Blaze. “Some of them you don’t get to meet, some you do, and some of them you wish you never got to meet.”

They were thrilled to make the acquaintance of Graham Nash when they opened for Crosby, Stills & Nash in 2010. He was the perfect English gentleman, even going so far as to emerge from backstage during their set to watch as they raised their voices in harmony.

“There he was, standing on the side of the stage with his eyes closed, listening to us sing,” Blaze said. “Your first thought is, ‘Whoa! Graham Nash is standing there listening to us!’ Of course, your second thought is, ‘Don’t screw up now!’”

Blaze & Kelly now savor the gigs where there are dressing trailers and green rooms, but they haven’t left the world of small clubs and tiny stages completely behind.

“Music keeps your ego in check,” Blaze said. “You can be playing in a grand concert hall where they treat you like royalty one night and playing in someplace like a pizza parlor the next. It keeps you humble.”

Although she stressed that the trajectory of the Blaze & Kelly story is “not about climbing the proverbial music ladder,” the songwriter is enjoying this latest career plateau.

“Hopefully, our next level is to do more shows like the POAC concert at the Panida,” she said. “This opportunity has been a gift that let’s us come back home to Sandpoint and share what we’ve been doing for the last 10 years.”

Tickets for the Oct. 10, Blaze & Kelly concert are $16 adults, $12 POAC members and $8 for youths 18 and under, available online at www.artsinsandpoint.org or at Eve’s Leaves, Eichardt’s Pub, Winter Ridge Natural Foods, or the Panida box office on the night of the show. The music begins at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.

To learn more about Blaze & Kelly, listen to song clips and view the duo’s upcoming concert roster, visit: www.blazeandkelly.com.