Lisa Mann
This blog is about Lisa Mann, Bass player and singer/songwriter. I believe I first heard of Lisa thru Gil Anthony’s radio show. It’s only been a few years that I have been listening to Lisa’s music. I think the one thing that got my attention about Lisa was her amazing Bass playing and vocals. Lisa’s voice has a bit a Southern tinge to it that gives it a Bluesy feel to it. But she can also bring out the raspy and rough side of the Blues when it’s needed. Now her Bass playing in just Top-Notch. Lisa seems to have her own unique sound on the Bass, which really puts the raw feeling into her songs. I have two CDs of Lisa’s “Hard Times Bad Decisions” & “Old Girl” I am not sure which one I like better; I would have to say that Hard Times Bad Decisions is one that people should get if they are just finding out about Lisa Mann because it shows all of her many talents and styles of music that she does so well. Now as far as songs, couple of my favorites are “Two Halves Of One Broken Heart” duet with Andy Stokes. This song is a soulful sad song, Love it. The next few songs all have that New Orleans vibe to them… The other CD I have is “Old Girl” this is an EP. The Tittle song is an amazing song that really shows off Lisa’s vocal skills. “It’s The Monkeys or Me” is a lighthearted song, which has been said that it’s based on a true story. The last song “Around Here” to me is a celebration of Music Legends, possibly ones that had influence Lisa Mann. I highly recommend checking out Lisa Mann’s music, she is one powerful performer. Here is Lisa’s website and other ways to find her music, http://www.lisamannmusic.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/lisamann https://www.facebook.com/LisaMannBlues https://open.spotify.com/artist/119v7X6k46bE5xgwuWawbt 1. How long have you been playing music? I started singing and playing bass at a very young age, I actually walked home from school every day at age 11 & 12 to save my lunch money and buy my first bass. I was in a few garage punk and metal bands, but when I was 19 I decided to play professionally and started doing Top 40 in bars. Of course, I couldn’t be in the bar on breaks- I got to know a lot of dishwashers and doormen! 2. How many bands have you been in? It’s hard to say, because frankly I’ve been in a lot of side projects and done a lot of sub work in the past. But I was in a metal cover band in Seattle called Dixon Hill for a while (named after a Star Trek character), as well as an Irish drinking song band, a funk/ soul band, and a few blues bands. I came to front my own band in the mid-2000’s. We didn’t have a name, until one show we were discussing it while packing up, and during that time three people came up and said “hey, you guys are really good!” So, we named it “Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band.” 3. Where were you born? I was born in Charleston, WV. I moved here to Portland OR as a young teen after my parents broke up, but I can never completely get rid of the accent. 4. Are you self-taught? I am mostly self-taught, though I did take one year of music theory at a local community college. I learned by playing and singing along with records. First my parents’ albums-Deep Purple, Cream, Led Zeppelin- then later my own metal records- Iron Maiden, Dio, Rush, etc. As I’ve learned different styles of music along the way (blues, funk, soul) it was always through playing along with recordings of artists I love. 5. Who are your biggest influences? For blues, I would say most of my influences are the local musicians in Portland OR. I was blessed to hear vocalists like the late Linda Hornbuckle, and local bass players like Marco Savo and Phil Haxton. For major artists in blues, I’m influenced by Little Milton Campbell, Etta James, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bonnie Raitt, and for songwriting, Jimmy Reed. I’m influenced by pretty much everything I hear and enjoy in some way. For heavy metal, my main influences are Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mercyful fate and Dio. But again, anything I enjoy listening to may creep into my performances or recordings. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? I walk in two worlds, in contemporary blues and in heavy metal. But I have performed country songs, folk songs, indie rock songs, Americana. While I mostly make my home in blues, I don’t consider any style necessarily my own. Who knows what crazy thing I may do in the future? I am a musician and recording artists first and foremost, and I like to leave things open for personally creativity. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? My first gig was at a dive called The Satyricon here in Portland OR. I was 16 years old; it was with a crossover punk/metal band called Dead Conspiracy. We opened for a skate punk band from Sweden called Slam. We got paid $13 for the four of us, all in one-dollar bills- I had to ask my cousin for four quarters so we could split the money evenly! 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? If you cook the ramen a little longer, it puffs up, and it feels like you have more. Add a few frozen peas and grated carrot, stir in an egg, and you’ll have a healthy meal! (I think you catch my drift) 9. Do you write your own songs? I write the majority of my recorded material, though I like to throw in a few covers of songs that really strike me or are really fun to play. I have recorded a few songs written by friends, like “Gamblin’ Virgin Mary” by tattoo artist and author Jeff Johnson, and “The Blues is My Medicine” by my dear friend Sonny Hess and the late blues diva Paulette Davis. 10.What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal record collection? I don’t have a record player so mine is more of a CD and digital collection- my husband tells me I listen to some weird music. I can listen to BB King’s Live at the Regal one hour, then Ghost’s Impera the next. I have lots of local Northwest blues artist recordings in my collection, national blues artists, some old school R&B and soul, lots of classic metal, some extreme metal, some world music, some classical, some classic singers like Judy Garland too. It’s all over the map! 11.What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? I would have died of a drug and alcohol overdose at a young age, I am convinced of that. 12.Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? I just love the live version of “You Don’t Love Me” on the Junior Wells album Coming at You. It’s a Willie Cobbs tune that Wells transformed in his studio version to a faster swing with a different riff, then it was straightened out in that live version, with Buddy Guy chanking away on guitar. The drums are Kinda swinging while the rest of the band plays it pretty straight, it’s a really hip version. Whenever we play it live, people immediately get up and dance. 13.If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? I guess it depends on the song- there are a couple of songs that were influenced by Bonnie Raitt, like “You Don’t Know,” and it would be incredible to have her perform one of them. Other songs, like “Old Girl” are more countrified, it would be amazing to hear Dolly Parton sing that one. Hey thanks so much for the interesting questions! -Lisa Mann
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AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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