Early this evening I’m going to the Iron Post here in Urbana to see my friend Eva Hunter and some other ladies. I’ve been missing Eva in the surrounding climes lately as the shows have been too late or I was sick or some such. Not tonight. Sick or not, I’m going. It’s free and about 3 minutes away by car. And I’ll get a hug.
This is how the show is billed:
Fri., Nov. 25- 5-7 Painkillers
Lynn O’Brien, Eva Hunter and Staci
I’m not sure if the Painkillers is comprised of these 3 or if it is an additional act. I’ll find out.
Some of my favorite girls and guitars:
Eva Hunter
Kate Hathaway
Haley Bonar
Ani DiFranco
Tres Femmes
This is only a partial list, of course, but this is some you may not have heard of. And they all are on independent labels. I have bought CDs from these ladies personally (many are autographed) at coffeehouses and bars, ordered them directly from their own record labels, and a few from the big stores, although I do try to avoid that. I have seen every one of them, except Dar, in concert, and most several times.
I have frequently had people, guys usually, complain about ‘coffehouse chicks and guitars,’ like it is the lowest form of music or some crap. What. Ever. In fact, it does me a favor by their staying away. I usually get to talk to these amazing women singer-songwriters before and/or after the show. I get a postcard or an email saying they are coming to town. They actually care about having me as a member of the audience.
So tonight I’m going to a local bar to see an amazing woman singer-songwriter and friend, and to be exposed to a few new ones. Maybe pick up some good music for cheap, directly from the source. And to get a hug.
Just try that with your overly-testosteroned band at a big venue. Suckers.
If you are unfamiliar with any of the above ladies you ought to check out their music.
Update: 26 Nov 2005
Turns out The Irom Post needs a more informative website. The Painkillers is a completely different band and the ladies didn’t play until 9 PM. So I went home and ate my own food, watched Alice’s Restaurant which I picked up when I returned Lone Star. Then I headed back at about 9 PM.
Kayla Brown was added to the bill to open the show. I saw her this summer at the benefit for The Station Theatre that I attended. I could’ve swore I blogged about it because it is where I won the Kate Hathaway CD in a raffle, but I can’t find it. Unfortunately, she does not have a CD out yet. She said hopefully it’ll be out in March. I told her it isn’t natural for me to see someone twice and not have a CD.
Staci was the next act. She seemmed like she was about 16 years old. Had a friend or two helping her on a few songs. She wasn’t too bad actually. Might turn out to be a decent songwriter. I won’t judge her voice until I can actually hear her. I told Eva, though, that it was seemed pretty odd to be seeing a child perform in a bar.
Next was Lynn O’Brien. This was a very weird move by whoever set up the show. She is a jazz/lounge singer with a guy on piano accompanying her. She sang songs like "Over the Rainbow," I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good," "Satin Doll,"Summertime," and so on. She is actually pretty good, but this was a weird vibe between the others. She is a college undergrad and should improve with a few years under her belt.
I actually got a decent chance to talk with Eva before and after the show. She needs a bit of HTML help with her band emails so I may be trying to help her with that. Of course, the last lady I offered to help with her webpages never contacted me. So, we’ll see.
Eva’s doing a New Years Eve gig at a hotel in Decatur and I’m hoping to go. The big issue is that the hotel is selling a package deal for a room, 2 tickets to the show and 2 tickets to the brunch the next day. This is the main reason I don’t do New Years Eve. It is always set up for couples. Wanting to be a couple is not enough.
Anyway, it was a pretty good show, especially Kayla and Eva.
