Welcome back to another addition of
Tuneage Tutelage - New Music Monday. This week we have been listening to
Lisa Bianco.
With a list of influences such as U2, Pearl Jam, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead and Led Zeppelin you would immediately expect to get some full ahead rock and roll when you put in her newest CD Post-Data.
The opening song,
"Tumble Like Weeds" is one of the two songs Ms. Bianco partners with
Holly Rock, the other is
"Whatever The Cost". All of the remaining 8 songs are from Ms. Bianco alone.
Ms. Bianco handles the vocals and guitars with a backing duo of
Dan Duggins on drums and
David Leatherwood on bass with producer, engineer and mixer,
Bryan Russel being credited with keyboards and programming. On the song
"Catch and Weave",
Charlie Seich plays euphonium...OK, I had to go look it up
HERE.
Her songs are powerful narratives layered into a song brought forth by multiple mixes of guitars and vocals.
"All the things that remind me is a tale of fighting over and over, but always reminding yourself "But this won't let me down, This won't take me out or hold me back, this won't trip me up on my knees", she sings in
"All The Things That Remind Me".
"Already Gone" allows Ms. Bianco to show off her soft, tight picking guitar work building to a crescendo of multiple guitar parts in a gripping goodbye to someone lost.
There is pain in her music, and a few songs seemed to languish, but I did myself swaying to the music as it played, even now as I have the CD playing once more
On the eighth song of the CD, Ms. Bianco throws us a curve ball and it is a beauty with
"Falling Leaves". Played on an acoustic I was only disappointed that it only lasted 52 seconds and the last 10 or so were an electronic note held.
You need to show us more of that guitar talent ma'am.
So, with her influences, do we get some hard driving rock and roll? Yes we do.
But there is also the comparisons to Liz Phair which is strong at the beginning of the closing track,
"Post Data / We Communicate", but by the end it is pounding and hard.
Her vocals have Debbie Harry meets Sheryl Crow quality and from the cover of her album she certainly has 'rocker-chick' attitude.
Ms. Bianco was kind enough to answer some questions...
How long have you been playing and what was your first instrument?I have been playing guitar for about 10 years. I starting doing the performance thing for about 7 years or so. But I have played piano since kindergarten and the flute since 3rd grade.
What's the greatest thing that's ever been said about your music?When a fan tells me that they were connected to a particular song. That’s the greatest compliment of all and I think the reason why songs are written.
What's your favorite iPod track this week?“It’s the Same Old Song” by the Four Tops. What a bass line and lyric. The drums on that recording are killer.
What's the most personal song you've ever written and what was it based on?I’d say
“Sideways”. I wrote that song after my aunt unexpectedly passed away. I wrote it with my father in mind, as a way to help him, and anyone really, deal with these situations that occur in life. Sometimes it feels things hit you sideways.
If you could craft an all-star band, who would play in it?Drums: Dave Abbruzzese; Bass: John Paul Jones; Guitar: Johnny Greenwood; Programming: Brian Eno
Do you support any specific charities and how do you give back as an artist?I am actually performing a benefit show in Long Island on September 6th. It’s for the Suffolk Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Also, I played a benefit show for my friend Jax who is participating in the Race for the Cure. Donations can be made:
HERE.
What keeps you awake at night? Usually I have a current song I am working on ringing in my head. Many times I have an idea and have to get out of bed and put the guitar or vocal line down “on tape”...and also many thoughts on where my spirit goes after I leave this body of mine,
What is the most adventurous food you've ever eaten? Eel, Rabbit, Fried Zucchini Flower, Pheasant. Guess you can tell I like to try a lot of things. No bugs. I think that is where I draw the line! Lol.
Do you follow any sports, if so, which ones? I follow the Yankees…I wouldn’t call myself a super fan but I try to stay up on what’s going on. My Parents used to take my brother and I to games when I was real young. I think I was 3 y/o at my first game. I remember the big ballpark lights in the bleachers! We got slammed by the Red Sox all season this year but this past August series we sweeped them 4 in a row at home…sweet!
(OK, Lisa, you have my vote now...LOL...any Yankee fan has a permanent seat on The Couch!)Tell our guests here on The Couch about your writing process please.90% of the time I am playing my guitar and either a new chord structure or riff occurs. If I can get a vocal melody with it almost right away then I keep track of it. I use a little digital voice recorder (about the size of a nano ipod) and I keep track of all new song ideas. Then I usually repeat those chords and find the verse or chorus structure and bridge. The songwriting begins!
I record ALL ideas no matter how minor for a particular song. I then listen to all bits and parts as I walk in the streets or going out somewhere…not just in my apartment during “writing time”. I really like to think about structure and how to make a song interesting without being “too much”. A few occasions I have sung a melody and then picked up the guitar to figure out what the chords would be to fit it.
Thank you and Keep rocking Ms. Bianco.OK folks, the title cut "Post Data/We Communicate" and "Sideways". Please leave your comments and vote in the poll...We all appreciate it!
Charlie Mattera is the creator, executive producer and star of FOX Reality Channel’s latest sensation, Househusbands of Hollywood.
