Chick Power!
by Pat Ferris

The last couple of weeks have been spent hanging with three of the most dynamic touring female artists in the country.  

Three areas of the country, three styles of music, three approaches to performance and three approaches to business give a lot of insight on what creates a successful band.

Carolyn Wonderland
Carolyn Wonderland from Austin Texas is a fiery redhead with an incredible voice and stage presence, with guitar chops that have inspired listeners to refer to her as the "Stevie Ray Vaughan" of female guitarists (Daisy Rock Guitars http://www.daisyrock.com/artists.htm).

Originally from Houston, Carolyn has won just about every award that the Houston Press has to offer -- including best female vocalist 7 times out of the last 8 years -- and has just had her jersey 'retired' as she still plays in Houston a great deal, but has relocated to the Austin area.

With a sharp wit, a taste for whisky, and an incredibly tight and talented band backing her, Carolyn has a personality and Southern charm that immediately mesmerizes every audience, every time.

Carolyn has opened for and toured with giants in the industry such as B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Allman Brothers, Delbert McClinton, and Guy Forsyth, and most recently Buddy Miles at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, where Carolyn has been a main stage performer for the last 8 years (she's only 28). This year's tour to Sturgis was filmed by the USA Networks and is to be aired on Labor Day 2001.

<HotBands> What is your musical influence, and where did you get your start?

<Carolyn> I guess my family...everybody on my mother's side plays music. The first single I ever bought was 'Will the Wolf Survive' by Los Lobos which is where I got my taste for music. I started playing gigs solo when I was 14, and that's when I hooked up with Calvin, who didn't treat me like a girl...he treated me like a guitar player which was very nice. He convinced Teri Greene to jam with him and Big Al Betis. When I saw Little Screamin' Kenny and the Sideliners, at 15 is when I decided I wanted to be a rocker, write my own songs, play guitar, etc...I mean writing real songs...I had been writing since age 8, but it was very different...not rock and roll. I'd get out of school and head to jams everywhere in Houston which is where I ran into a bunch of like-minded folks.

<HotBands> What would you say is the most important thing to you as far as music goes?

<Carolyn> The free drinks! :-) Seriously, playing live is what drives all of us because we are on the road all of the time. Since Eldridge has become part of The Monkey's, we have all become more comfortable in the studio. Eldridge is a total recording genius and since all the equipment is at the house now, it's a lot easier to record without having to worry about costs, etc. But the live scene is still the pulse of all of us because you never know what type of crowd you're going to have...everything is different every night and it's FUN.

<HotBands> How long have you been performing professionally?

<Carolyn> As I said, I started solo when I was 14, and have had this band in its different incarnations for 10 years this year.

<HotBands> What do you want to do musically...I mean what do you see as your zenith as far as your musical desires?

<Carolyn> I want to learn more stuff. I look forward to having everybody's influence that plays with us rub off on me so I can broaden my horizons in all aspects of music and become a better songwriter and guitarist. I really don't see myself retiring, and don't envision myself as being old and not able to play...I want to be playing up to the very end, and God willing, that will be the case.

<HotBands> How would you classify your music?

<Carolyn> Schizophrenic drinkin' music! We're all over the place...I'd like to say we're a rock and roll band, but with today's definitions, I have no idea what that means anymore. We do everything from blues, country, zydeco and surf to Latin, and even jazz.

<HotBands> What is your take on internet music?

<Carolyn> I think the internet offers a lot of possibilities to level the playing field. Right now, large corporations decide what is popular to the most part, but the internet makes it easier for folks like us. The internet turns people on to great live stuff which is music you'll never find in the stores, and music is to be shared. I feel music isn't yours once you do it...it's more like I'm an antenna and I'm receiving it and therefore I'm lucky to have it and should spread that luck. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that great song-writers don't deserve a buttload of money, it's just that there just has to be a better way for artists to collect royalties.

<HotBands> How often do you tour, and how often do you have new records?

<Carolyn> We tour in the spring, summer and fall and record in the winter when it's too cold to be out. I learned that lesson from the birds...there's no sense in being in the North when it's too cold or in the South when it's too hot. We're pretty much on the road three to 8 weeks at a time with three to four week breaks in-between, but in Seattle, we did 12 shows in 10 days.

<HotBands> What do you recommend to artists that are just starting out?

<Carolyn> Play like nobody's listening...laugh at yourself often and have low expectations about financial freedom. If you live cheaply, it's a cool life. Listen to everybody you can any time you can and play with new people as often as possible. Always keep a list of what it is you're doing, what time of year it is in the area you're playing. Always anchor your weekends first when you're booking a gig and time the festivals so you're in town.

<HotBands> Thank you

For more information on Carolyn Wonderland, CLICK HERE

Melissa Reaves
From the mountains of Boone, North Carolina comes another totally amazing artist. Melissa Reaves, 1999 Lilith Fair winner and our featured artist from September of 1999, takes an a totally unconventional approach to guitar. At a recent show, an audience member was telling me he had seen several of the Carolyn Wonderland/Melissa Reaves shows on their Northwest tour last month, and his favorite part of every show was "the look on the faces of the audience 30 seconds into Melissa's first song."

Playing an Ovation guitar (a round-back acoustic guitar) Melissa uses the natural tones of the guitar and enhances them with an array of stomp boxes, or sound effect pedals, that allow her to create layer upon layer of sound...in essence, creating a phantom band trapped in digital delay pedals. The layers are ever-evolving, like a constantly changing painting of sound. Melissa's voice is one of the most powerful and soulful voices I've ever heard, and her style is performance art. Each performance is different to add an avant garde touch to her shows.

As mentioned earlier, Melissa is a former Lilith Fair winner, and in January 2000, Melissa was chosen to participate in a "Women of the Millenium" showcase at the MIDEM conference in Cannes, France and toured in both England and France which included opening for Robert Plant.

Where Carolyn Wonderland is flirtatious and hard-partying, Melissa is stone sober and rather reserved, but the Southern politeness and charm is present with Melissa as well. There is no doubt that she transforms the audience with her incredible abilities on guitar and the sheer power of her vocals.

<HotBands> Where did you get your start musically, and who were your earliest influences?

<Melissa> I started playing music as a violinist at the age of six .....(my mothers desire).  I played the violin in school orchestras, and  took private lessons for about sixteen years. I played the violin in some of my early rock-n-roll bands...pre-guitar and singing.  My influences? My motherss COOL Mo-town albums; Aretha Franklin, The Supreme' s, Herb Alpert, and a lot of classical influences: Wagner, Vivaldi, Bartok, Bach, Hayden and Handel

<HotBands> What is most important to you as far as music goes? Playing live?

<Melissa> I,ve come to learn or /and believe that they are equally important!  The impact that the live show has on someone to prompt them to take a piece of that experience home with them should be as much fun as the show was!  The CD, granted will be a different experience but should be just as stirring, if not more!

<HotBands> How many years have you been performing professionally?

<Melissa> Nine or Ten

<HotBands> Where do you see yourself going musically?

<Melissa> Hopefully continuing to experiment,  and just trying to stay outside "the box" while still remaining acceptable for most folks! 

<HotBands>Where do you want to be in the next five to ten years? 

<Melissa> Still enjoying my music and not letting the industry side of things get the best of me.

<HotBands> How would you classify your music?

<Melissa> That's a tough one!! I 'm learning and experimenting so much that I don't stay with one thing very long .... but the first two CDs are a mix of rock.n.roll/blues, groove.  As far as what I'm doing now, it's mostly live with the delay pedal.  I describe it as experimental guitar rock.  I've had a lot of people compare it to Kellar Williams whom I've yet to hear, but that's what they say!!  I started to scratch the surface of what I'm doing now with the delay stuff ON "Sentimental Anthem " near the end of the CD but I've had some time to really explore all of that much more and its really taken shape.

<HotBands> What is your take on internet music, Napster,

<Melissa> I think everyone should have access to the music they want to enrich there lives with. Unfortunately, we live live in a society that honors people with money.  I own Napster CDs.  It hasn't stopped me from purchasing the real CD with all the art work, liner notes and just better quality in general. Overall, I think its just progress and we'd be turning back to the dark ages to try and thwart internet music and all its forms.   Eventually, we'll find a way for everyone to be reasonably happy....

<HotBands> How often do you tour, and where has that taken you?  Also, what was your greatest thrill ?

<Melissa> Roughly 100-250 dates a year. Well, geographically its taken me to 45 states and two foreign countries; England and France.  I've had many exciting moments thanks to music, but the opportunity to open for Robert Plant was definitely up there at the top of my list.  Hanging out with him and seeing his interest in my pedal style and that whole aspect of my show was really great...what an honor!   We hung out and talked for about 30 min. or so.

<HotBands> Each person is different, and responds to different advice, so what would you recommend to artists that are just starting out?

<Melissa> Well I I would have to say to keep it fun however you can!! keep the road fun!  Get out of the motel room the club or the van and see some of the interesting places you're visiting, and meet the people. Keep your music interesting to yourself first, then to your band mates and the audience will follow.  It's most important to stay true to your creative self! It's only rock-and-roll!!!!!!  Thanks Pat, for everything!

<HotBands> Thanks again!

For more information on Melissa Reaves, CLICK HERE

Holly Figueroa
A budding new talent in the last three years of the Seattle music scene is singer/songwriter Holly Figueroa. Holly came on board on the last show of the Wonderland/Reaves tour to not only promote her newest CD 'Dream in Red' which was recently featured on NPR's 'All Things Considered,' but to help make sure the send-off for Carolyn and Melissa was successful.

When I asked her if she would be interested in doing the show, I mentioned that it was a Sunday night, so there was no guarantee on what type of money would be made. To this, she replied: "Money has never mattered whether I play or not...it never has and never will", which (to me) is the attitude of a real winner in the music business. I recall another quote from one of our former featured artists that said "If you think playing music will make you rich, it will...although not necessarily financially".

Holly is a calm, and very focused businesswoman. She is the founder of Indiegrrl.com, a full-time mom and still has time to crank out CDs and tour on a very hectic schedule.



<HotBands> What is your musical influence...when did you get your start and when did you decide to make music your career choice?

<Holly> I haven't made the decision yet on whether I want to do this for a living. It's a passion that drives me. I started singing show tunes at about age 5...stuff like 'Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, etc. My mom used to sing all the time, so I grew up singing what she sang, and singing in church choir.

<HotBands> What would you say is the most important thing to you as far as music goes? Playing live, recording, money (ha-ha), or the social aspect?

<Holly> I like playing live...the process of growing as a musician. I feel I do that more in front of people than alone.

<HotBands> How long have you been performing professionally?

<Holly> I started in college as a backing vocalist for cover-bands, then moved on to the blues in the early '90s. About that time, I moved on to my biggest passion of song-writing, but that was also about the same time Susan Tedeschi was starting to make it big, and it scared me because I didn't want to live the life of being on the road with a blues band full time. The drugs and alcohol are too easy to fall into if you're around it all the time, and the blues is all about that, so my song-writing took a different direction

<HotBands> What do you want to do musically? I mean, you're the founder of Indiegrrl.com, so is your passion for performing or for supporting?

<Holly> I started Indiegrrl because there was no musical community for women when I relased my 1st CD in 1998. These days, Indiegrrl runs itself through our own label, and I'm more or less just a figure-head at this time. I want to pursue the performing and writing end of things. I have a team of people working to help me at this time. It took two years of working 14 hours a day on Indiegrrl to get to this point, so now it's time to work on my music.

<HotBands> How would you classify your music?

<Holly> At Amazon, they classify me as a 'singer-songwriter', but I don't classify myself...I leave that for the listener.

<HotBands> What is your take of online music? You made a lot of money early on at MP3.com; how would you contribute your success there?

<Holly> In the early days of MP3.com when they first came up with the stations, there were about 60 of us in the MP3 community, Indiegrrl and others that would spend all day listening to each others music. MP3.com put the clamps down on that and now only 'unique' users that listen to your music count toward the money. In the early days, it was a lot easier to make money there. As far as the direction of online music, I think the RIAA doesn't have a grip on reality! They need to get out a little and find out what people want. Right now they are protecting a few major artists and don't know what the consumer wants. The other day, the music news headlines said that CD sales dropped 4.4% last quarter despite the silence of Napster. I wonder if the RIAA is considering we're in the worst recession in the last ten years, or maybe because indie labels are gouging into their market because what they are feeding us sucks ass! I never bought as many CDs in my life as I did when I was a Napster junkie!

<HotBands> You were recently featured on NPR's 'All Things Considered'. What are your immediate plans for your latest CD 'dream in red' and upcoming tours?

<Holly> I'm leaving on Aug 31st for the East Coast for the CD release in New York and Boston on a 7 day tour, a mini-tour through the Midwest (where the CD was released two weeks ago) in September, and in October, I'll be on the road for 27 out of 31 days up and down the West Coast.

<HotBands> That's a pretty busy schedule for a full-time mom! Do you have any advice to artists facing the uphill climb to success?

<Holly> Remember it's a process that doesn't happen over-night. All the lucky breaks come from lots of hard work. Network with other artists at all levels. I have a lot of younger women that I help mentor...that makes me feel good to help others, but at the same time, there are others that are my mentors that I get advice back from. It's all about helping each other in music and in business. Nobody can do this on their own...it takes a team.

For more information on Holly Figueroa, CLICK HERE

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