View Cart| Jim Dickinson Is Gone, Amy LaVere Returns from KDHX FM: Aug. 20, 2009 by Roy Kasten Amy LaVere is no stranger to Saint Louis, though she's only had a handful of shows in town. This past June she opened up the first night of Twangfest, filling the cavernous space of the Pageant with her alluring voice, a uniquely Memphis blend of grit and delicacy, and her rhythmically supple (she's an underrated slap bass player) jazz, blues, soul and rockabilly songs. If Hot Club of Cowtown and Alejandro Escovedo hadn't been waiting in the wings, I could have listened to her all night. more... | |
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| Killing Him Didn't Make the Love Go Away from Compulsive Reader: May 13, 2009 by Daniel Garrett "Killing Him" is one of those rare songs that seem perfect upon first listening and forever after. As described by Amy LaVere's girlish, country voice, supported by a sultry bass, the story-song's couple argue until the woman's maddened violence and subsequent incarceration. Amy LaVere's voice is quite pleasant (I wonder how it will age?) in David Schnaufer's "Tennessee Valentine," a country ballad with dance steps; and there is a bit of tango in her interpretation of Carla Thomas's "That Beat," featuring Bob Furgo's gypsy violin and Paul Taylor's percussion, and LaVere's voice is given to spontaneous, thoughtful inflections, but the strong initial impression made by "Killing Him" remains. more... | |
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| Club Culture from The New Yorker: May 11, 2009 by Ben Greenman I don't usually watch TV just because it's free on iTunes, but MTV's new quasi-reality series, "$5 Cover," had intriguing plot descriptions and a high concept: take some up-and-coming music stars in Memphis, film their musical performances, and then build a soap opera around them. I have only watched a few of the episodes, including the one that's free, but I am pleasantly surprised by the show so far. For starters, one of the main musical acts is the singer and upright bass player Amy LaVere—I loved her first album, "The World is Not My Home," and it's voyeuristically gratifying to watch her fume over the way her sometime boyfriend/drummer takes up with another woman. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: Queen Of The Memphis Dream from The Aquarian: January 28,2009 by Martin Halo For Amy LaVere her brand of soulful Memphis-based Americana has captivated audiences with a sweet warm-hearted charm. After the release of Anchors & Anvils back in 2007 the journey has taken her to foreign shores for a performance at Jools in Holland. After recording with famed Bob Dylan producer Jim Dickinson, things for the songwriter forge forward. LaVere will be embarking on a short East Coast leg before rollin'-n-tumblin' back to Tennessee for some well deserved down time. The area performances are noted by a taping at the Conan O'Brien Show on Feb. 2. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere at Borderline from London Times: Dec. 9, 2008 by David Sinclair Amy LaVere cut a striking figure on stage at the Borderline. Leading her trio from behind a double bass, which she played with all the percussive force that that most unwieldy of instruments demands, the slender, dark-haired singer from Memphis put on a show that was enchanting in so many ways. LaVere has been promoting her second album, Anchors & Anvils, for more than a year, and has recently been seen in all the right places, including a support slot with Seasick Steve at the Albert Hall and an appearance on Later... with Jools Holland. The hard work has paid off. more... | |
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| Bass-Slapping Singer Brings Strut and Gothic Meloncholy from Mojo Magazine: November 26, 2008 The sight of little Amy LaVere lugging her double-bass out of some basement club late at night can inspire chivalric offers of help from almost any man. Or rather, almost any drunk. "So I get nervous and tell them no," she says. "But with the amps, anyone's welcome..." Next time in the UK, though, she may be able to afford roadies, give the zoot-cute allure of her October shows supporting Seasick Steve and her spot on Jools Holland's Later...Lavere and her off-kilter blues-country trio (with guitarist Steve Selvidge and her boyfriend, drummer Paul Taylor) rocked and waltzed and tangoed while she imparted strange takes on life that work for everyday everywhere - from a woman mired in the mundane and aching to get away ("Washing Machine") to the one who stabbed her man to death ("Killing Him", with its haunting chorus: "Killing him didn't make the love go away"). more... | |
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| Too Much Talk, But Bluesman Stays Out of the Dog House from Edinburgh Evening News: October 27, 2008 by Martin Lennon DESCRIBING Amy LaVere as a support act would be a mistake. Every single aspect of her music and its performance was first class and, as a headline act would struggle to get much less than 5 stars. The capacity audience at the Queen's Hall this weekend had to make do with a measly half hour or so, but hopefully, she'll come back and play for considerably longer. Accompanied by world class musicians, drummer Paul Taylor and guitarist Stephen Selvidge, the diminutive, but outstanding upright bass player wowed the predominantly standing crowd with songs like If Love Was A Train, That Beat and Killing Him. These songs, which effortlessly blended country blues, torch song and even pop, got her noticed, but it was her breathless and utterly emotional delivery which made her unforgettable and won her a lot of new fans. more... | |
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| Rising star Amy to play special gig in Torpenhow from Whitehaven News: October 16, 2008 by Gillian Ellison As seen on Jools Holland last week, the next big thing, Amy LaVere, is coming to Cumbria. An up and coming star of Americana music, Amy's latest album Anchors and Anvils has played to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. She will be performing at Torpenhow Village Hall (between Cockermouth and Carlisle) on October 20, at 8pm. more... | |
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| Something For the Weekend Meets Amy LaVere from The Sun: October 10, 2008 by SIMON COSYNS THE sun sets on a balmy autumn day in Nashville, Tennessee. All over town, the clubs, honky-tonks and concert halls are cranking up the volume. I venture into a small, packed place called The Basement, on 8th Avenue South, which bills itself as a "cellar full of noise". It's November 2007 and I'm there for a showcase organised by the Americana Music Association. That night, one of the performers makes a vivid, lasting impression. Dwarfed by her giant, upright bass, which she plays with righteous fervour, Amy LaVere sings like a bird but her themes are deep and dark. She's slightly built, with a cloud of raven curls, and looks every inch a star in the making. more... | |
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| Another String to Amy LaVere's Bow The singer's new album is the bassist's latest triumph in a long list of creative achievements from Sunday Times: July 27, 2008 by Dan Cairns When Amy LaVere was young, her mother said of her daughter that she was "the only child I know whom you could drop off, naked, in the middle of New York City with a $1 bill and she'd come out, clothed, with $100". Today, the diminutive 25-year-old singer, who performs with an upright bass that comfortably exceeds her height, is as determined as the child her mother once perceived so acutely. A pint-sized pugilist whose charm-sweetened combativeness recalls the television-producer character played by Holly Hunter in the film Broadcast News, LaVere is on a creative roll. more... | |
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| Flash forward: She grew up in the backwoods and then led a punk band. No wonder Amy LaVere is something other than your usual Southern belle from Observer Music Monthly: July 13, 2008 by Sarah Boden In the late afternoon before her Austin gig, Amy LaVere looks right at home wandering through the cattle stalls at the Star of Texas state rodeo, home of bucking broncos, gunslingers, lasso tricksters and chilli cook-offs. The 26-year-old grew up on the Texas/Louisiana border in a place that sounds like the setting for a Leadbelly song. 'It was called Piney Woods, because it's part of the country where there's nothing but big old tall pine trees,' says LaVere, in her mellifluous sing-song twang. 'The population was nothing ... nobody. We lived down a little dirt road.' more... | |
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| A Southern star is born from London Evening Standard: July 11, 2008 by David Smyth She's only 25 but Memphis based Amy LaVere is so immersed in rock 'n' roll history that she and her upright bass might have time-travelled here from the mid-Fifties. She has jetted in for three dates at Soho's 12 Bar Club and there are several good reasons to catch her. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: Anchors and Anvils (4 stars) Upright Bassist's Second Album. Gorgeous. from Q Magazine: July 1, 2008 by David Smyth Memphis resident Amy LaVere played rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson in Walk The Line, but here she's a crooner, not a bawler. With a creamy voice that seems to be cooing inches from your ear, her collection of tasteful covers (Dylan's "I'll Remember You," Carla Thomas's "That Beat") and a few originals has as soothing a sound as you'll find this year. more... | |
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| Classic Americana from Malton& Pickering Mercury (UK): June 25, 2008 The Band Room is preparing to welcome a singer who has been called a "rootsier, more dangerous Norah Jones" next month. As a follow up to her low-key UK debut earlier this year Amy Lavere is back to tour the British release of her second album Anchors & Anvils in Farndale on July 12 at 7.30pm. more... | |
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| Southern Charm to Die For from the Waster: June 23, 2008 by Martin Halo Since the turn of the 20th Century Memphis has always been a hub for the musical minds, the open cased street beggars, and the ghostly spirits of mythical legends. Originally settled by Scottish immigrants, who forged west through the Application frontier before being over run by the blues tradition buried on Beale Street, the city limits strut with the scars of American art. Its most important characteristic, the railroad, became the lifeline for freed black slaves to migrate north in order to land industrial job opportunities in Chicago during the 1930s. With all Southern trains running through Memphis the line created a hot bed for scorching juke joint moans. Those musicians who were not good enough to get paid in the clubs littered the streets. more... | |
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| Show Reviews: Langhorne Slim/Amy LaVere The Mohawk - Austin, TX 5/10/08 from Jambase: June 4, 2008 by Sarah Hagerman Perhaps the most telling image of the night was the sticker subtly slapped on the side of Amy LaVere's bass. It was that famous picture of Johnny Cash flipping the bird, his face creased in fuck-you rage but his dark eyes laughing underneath the tough exterior. A DIY homage to towering legends and the true grit to weave something original out of homespun traditions, the icon spoke to the deep rebellious undercurrent of Americana that both she and Langhorne Slim ride, constantly challenging the assumptions of their musical heritage while walking the line. Their quirky subversions of country, folk and several points in between swept us up in that tide as the heavy rains let up into a humid night, where we swam in beer and lovelorn tales. more... | |
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| The Majestic and Graceful Music of Amy LaVere from Swampland: May 27, 2008 by James Calemine Amy LaVere ranks as one of the most talented musicians on the rise. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, LaVere was raised in a musical family where she began honing her musical talents. The humble Amy LaVere's voice evokes true emotion. She portrayed Wanda Jackson in Walk The Line as well as appearing in Craig Brewer's Black Snake Moan, which will surely lead her to larger roles in film. LaVere's two albums This World Is Not My Home and Anchors & Anvils encapsulates her depth, aptitude and power regarding her musical ethos. As a Memphis resident, LaVere soon fell in with the nucleus of Memphis musical company when she began working with Jim Dickinson, The North Mississippi All-Stars and the wide network of musicians located in those environs. LaVere is now out on the road opening for the North Mississippi Allstars. She intends to tour until it's time for her to record this fall. In this Mystery And Manners interview, LaVere discusses her musical upbringing, musical influences, the Memphis music scene, literary preferences, Jim Dickinson, Anchors & Anvils, Bob Dylan and various other avenues of interest. Her inspirational voice and talent behooves one to seek out her soulful work. We're proud to have her in our rotation… more... | |
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| South by Southwest Tennessee heats up Texas from The Commercial Appeal: March 18, 2008 by Bob Mehr AUSTIN, Texas -- In 2008, the South by Southwest music conference reached what may be a peak in its nearly quarter-century history. Music experts, casual fans and everyone in between descended on the Texas capital for a perfect storm of day parties, nighttime showcases and after-hours events. If you said there wasn't a single second of the four-day festival where someone wasn't playing somewhere, you'd not be far wrong. more... | |
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| The next big thing: Amy LaVere from The Daily Mail, UK: March 8, 2008 by Adrian Thrills A country-soul belle from Memphis with her own take on classic Americana. She should appeal to Norah Jones fans and anyone who loved Robert Plant's and Alison Krauss's Raising Sand. more... | |
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| Made For Music Amy LaVere also finds time for Hollywood, Sun Studios from Creative Loafing: March 5, 2008 by Jeff Hahne Music runs through Amy LaVere's veins. You can hear the passion she has for it in her voice. She even finds time when she's not performing to give tours at Sun Studios in Memphis -- for the money, but also for the enjoyment. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: Anchors and Anvils from Popular Music and Society: by George H. Lewis OK, so here's a girl who was born in Louisiana, fronted a punk band in Detroit in her teens, drifted down to Nashville, eloped with a bass player, painted houses for a living across Tennessee and Kentucky, landed at Misty White's boarding house in Memphis. By then, she could slap the upright with the best of them and played on Beale Street for spare change during the day while trading stories with Misty at night (Misty toured with Townes Van Zandt and was also drummer for Cat Soko and the Hellcats). Then, to cap things off, she gets a job as tour guide for Sun Studios and winds up playing Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic, I Walk The Line. This is someone who, when she decides to cover a Bob Dylan song on her stellar Jim Dickinson produced album, Anchors & Anvils, certainly seems entitled to do so. From changing her name (from Fant to LaVere), reinventing herself as she roamed the country collecting tall tales and experience, challenging established musicians in a musicians town, capturing the hearts and imaginations of the locals with wistful, almost comic performances laced through and through with huge talent, and recording an album that became the talk of that town, she and Dylan (in his earlier formative years) certainly have some things in common. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere from San Francisco Examiner: November 16, 2007 Memphis-based bass player and songwriter Amy LaVere was recently nominated as best emerging artist by the Americana Music Association. LaVere played Wanda Jackson in "Walk the Line," but her gypsy-jazz-meets-honky-tonk music is about as far from rockabilly as you can get. more... | |
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| American Gypsy from The Santa Barbara Independent: November 15, 2007 by Joel Aurora It's no surprise that singer/songwriter and stand-up bassist Amy LaVere lived in 13 different towns throughout the country before entering high school. The country-jazz-gypsy-funk stylings of her first two albums could have come only from a girl well-versed in Americana. In LaVere's latest offering, Anchors & Anvils, her swooning vocals merge with twangy bass, jazz-lounge percussion, and a deliciously baleful musing on a murder of passion that "didn't make the love go away"?—?and that's just in the opening track. While decidedly unclassifiable, LaVere's style is reminiscent of Norah Jones at her darkest and most world-weary, and the Southern folksiness of Dolly Parton. Wildly innovative and several decades in the making, LaVere's sound is one of the coolest to emerge out of the modern alt-country movement in recent years. | |
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| It's Anchors Away For Amy LaVere from An Honest Tune: October 31, 2007 by Andria Lisle What if the proverbial girl next door traded in her loose ponytail and cut-off jeans for an upright bass and a trick bag of sultry vocals? She'd probably seem a lot like Memphian Amy LaVere, who, at 32, looks like a seventeen-year old Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz, yet sings like the prodigal offspring of Bob Wills and Lotte Lenya. more... | |
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| LaVery Cool from Nashville Scene: November 8, 2007 If Guinness World Records had a listing for the most occurrences in one night of the phrase, "I mean, I'm not a lesbian, but I'd do her," then Amy LaVere's Friday-night set at The Basement, part of the Americana Music Festival, would be the record-holder. (Undercover Spin agents overheard the phrase at least six or seven times.) The sultry, coquettish singer hypnotized the crowd—her prodigious skills on the upright bass and alluring sex-kitten voice were a narcotic combination. Oh, and her music's pretty good too. more... | |
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| IndieBrew presents Amy LaVere from NUVO: October 25, 2007 by Scott Hall Amy LaVere sings with the wisdom of a world-weary barfly and the innocent voice of a small girl, and it's no put-on. "People call my house and ask if my mom is home," the 32-year-old artist admits with a chuckle. "It's not an athletic voice. It's a storytelling voice." But the full effect comes through only in her live show, as the petite, auburn-haired beauty fronts a band while manhandling a towering bass. more... | |
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| Artist offers style and substance on provocative new album from Cordele Dispatch (Indianapolis): October 23, 2007 by Wade Coggeshall Don't let the good looks, intoxicating melodies, and bewitching voice fool you. There's something innately sinister about Amy LaVere's second CD, "Anchors & Anvils," a beguiling set of classic country music with an obvious jazz influence. Maybe it's the devilish stories she tells in her signature voice — seductive and coy all at once. LaVere was inspired to write the sultry "Killing Him," for example, after watching a woman on the news arrested after murdering her husband who was screaming, "Killin' him didn't make the love go away!" Such is LaVere's antithetical nature. more... | |
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| LaVere to perform this weekend from Glen Falls Post-Star: October 20, 2007 by Mike Curtin Sporting an intoxicating blend of jazz, pop, swing, rockabilly and "old school" country, Amu Lavere is an artist destined not to remain on the club circuit for long. Equal parts Brenda Lee, Dolly Parton and Norah Jones, her feathery voice defies pat categorization, as she creates a haunting ambiance reminiscent of a female Chris Isaak. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: Anchors and Anvils Archer Records from Offbeat Magazine: September 2007 by Jeff Hannusch Produced by Jim Dickinson this is quite an interesting one. Amy LaVere is a singer/songwriter/upright bass player (quite a unique combination) who hails from Memphis. (Oh she's an actress too, having appeared in Walk the Line.) LaVere has several different combinations of musicians backing her here, including two violinists. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: Songwriter We'd Like to Get to Know Better from Harp Magazine: July/August 2007 by Randy Harward Amy Lavere's voice is a sweet rasp that contradicts the heaviness implied by the title of her Jim Dickinson-produced Anchors & Anvils (Archer) and that big-ass bass she slaps around onstage. The sweetness pervades the Memphis musician's dreamy pop songs, channeling 1950s proms, Twin Peaks/Badalamenti surreality and just a bit of roadhouse tonk to beguile everyone from truckers to beat poets to ?uestlove and Dickinson... more... | |
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| Amy LaVere Country/Roots from The Philadelphia Inquirer: July 21, 2007 by Nick Cristiano Amy LaVere's second album begins with murder. On her own "Killing Him," the singer observes that "Killing him didn't make her love go away." She uses the third person but sounds as if she's making a confession, her breathy voice riding over a moody, mongrel mix that includes Wurlitzer, steel guitar, gypsy violin, and her own upright bass. From this striking start, LaVere and returning producer Jim Dickinson, the Memphis maestro, build on the artistic success of last year's This World Is Not My Home. Offering up the open-hearted invitation of "Tennessee Valentine," wallowing in the despair of "Pointless Drinking," and closing with an airily beautiful reading of Dylan's "I'll Remember You," LaVere is just as beguiling as she was on This World, but even stronger and more self-assured in terms of material and performance. | |
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| Standup Lass Anchors and Anvils (Archer) from The Boston Herald: July 20, 2007 by Nate Dow LaVere's music is as unique as the pretty and petite songstress, who's half the size of the standup bass she plays. Part sultry torch singer, part racy raconteuse, LaVere both seduces and amuses. Though the three originals, with their '50s rock/country sensibility, stand out, the seven covers - from Paul Taylor's "Pointless Drinking" to Dylan's obscure "I'll Remember You" - are delights as rendered by LaVere with help from legendary Memphis, Tenn., producer Jim Dickinson. | |
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| AMY LaVERE "Anchors & Anvils" Archer from The Washington Post: July 20, 2007 by Mike Joyce Singer-songwriter Amy LaVere has a promising film career; she recently appeared in "Black Snake Moan." But she might have to carve out more time on the road if her new CD, "Anchors & Anvils," gets the exposure it deserves. Produced by Memphis maestro Jim Dickinson, the album generates a fearless energy, as LaVere freely draws on country, pop, blues and jazz traditions with shrewd assurance. What she lacks in vocal power, she makes up with seductive charm, a propulsive upright bass and a gift for noirish storytelling that's impossible to overlook on "Killing Him" and other tracks. | |
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| Folk Rock Rules Amy LaVere, "Anchors and Anvils" - Archer (5 stars out of 5) from Chicago Heights Star: June 21, 2007 by John Everson One of my favorite discs of the year so far comes from stand-up bassist and singer-songwriter Amy LaVere. Throughout her new disc, "Anchors & Anvils," you can hear a twinkle of a quietly rebellious smile as she sings of the mundane frustrations of women locked in a thankless world of dishwashing, laundry and unappreciative louts. The 10-song CD smolders with hidden, understated passions while strolling across a tapestry of classic American music styles. LaVere sings with an innocence that belies the desperation of some of the lyrics and which ultimately makes the performances even more gripping. more... | |
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| In Love With LaVere from Connecticut Post: May 31, 2007 by Sean Spillane Café Nine in New Haven served up another fine show Wednesday night and, unless you were one of the 30 or so people there, you missed out on another gem. Amy LaVere showed she is even more engaging in concert than on her albums, no small feat considering the level of talent she brings to her two albums, This World is Not My Home, released in January of 2006, and her new album, Anchors & Anvils. more... | |
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| The Talk About Amy LaVere --a summary of quotes from the citics from Karen Leipziger: June 25th, 2007 The critics are talking about AMY LAVERE's ANCHORS & ANVILS: "flawless...LaVere's voice, equal parts Dolly Parton, Billie Holiday, Liz Phair and Shirley Temple is a stunningly sensual instrument capable of delivering the line 'Killing him didn't make the love go away' with an egalitarian empathy normally found in God's most noble creatures, such as, say, angles or unicorns. As if her voice and songwriting weren't enough...LaVere also happens to be an ace upright bassist, capable of triple slapping in the style of Willie Dixon and twirling that non-insubstantial instrument like a child's toy...There is an undeniable swagger and croon to the proceedings; it's as if the album's butt is from Memphis but its heart lives in Nashville, circa 1963...This is the future folks: get on board while you can still say 'I told you so.'" (David Meade/American Songwriter) "...a sweet-voiced gal with a slightly twisted world view, playing music rooted in old-school honky-tonk (upright bass, which she plays herself, steel, fiddle, crackin' drums, etc.) singing about revenge and redemption, but also regular stuff — dirty dishes, piles of laundry and broken hearts...There's a bit of gypsy tango, some funky-tonk and breezy-jazz inflections, but mostly this is barroom country played with heart and soul. Definitely an artist to watch." (Blair Jackson/Mix Magazine) "Amy LaVere's voice is so slight that at times you expect her to break in half. But she doesn't need magnum force to make herself heard-the Memphis belle hurls herself fully into every song on this sophomore effort, produced by the legendary Jim Dickinson (Big Star, Dylan, Stones). LaVere, who also plays upright bass throughout the record, glides seamlessly from country weepers ("Pointless Drinking") to wah-wah-rific funk ("People Get Mad") and a Gypsy-fied Carla Thomas cover ("That Beat"), supported by a range of keyboards, violin, steel and Hawaiian guitars, even a sitar. Nothing lightweight about this powerhouse. (Jeff Tamarkin/Relix Magazine) "the riveting opener 'Killing Him' gets right all the keen, human details of a love turned toward darkness...and then transitions into a lovely waltz, 'Tennessee Valentine' that sounds like a country pop standard...LaVere's voice...is supple and youthful, with unaffected traces of Billie Holliday around the edges. When she closes with a smart, unstrained version of Dylan's 'I'll Remember You', it's like hearing the song for the first, even finest time." (Roy Kasten/No Depression) "On her second album, the Jim Dickinson-produced Anchors and Anvils, her sweet, wistful voice inhabits 10 gorgeous compositions, many of which she penned...she's one to keep an eye on." (Abby White/Performing Songwriter)' "an alluring mix of country, blues, torch songs and a hint of Gypsy jazz." (Shay Quillen/San Jose Mercury News) "Amy Lavere has it all: acting chops, musical prowess, and heart-stopping beauty...[Her new album] Anchors & Anvils, a stunning collection of 10 songs featuring her emotionally potent voice set among songs that waver between genres: country, gypsy, cool jazz, pop..."(Glen Starkey/New Times SLO) "The upright bass is not an inherently sexy instrument, but put a bow in the hands of bass-player Amy LaVere and pipe in her intoxicatingly-sultry, diaphanous, baby doll voice and you might just have to recalibrate your impression of the instrument...The album's stand-out track is one LaVere penned—a brazen ode to a murder of passion called 'Killing Him', that in flawless film noir-style sports the sinister refrain 'Killing him didn't make the love go away.'" (Amanda Martinez/Good Times) "jazz-influenced country music that is smart and sexy; filled with spooky love, twangy ache, sultry torch and gutsy blues that is totally unpredictable and relentlessly daring." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) "smart and sweet" (Bob Strauss/Los Angeles Daily News) "5 Reasons To Live: a Memphis stew of R&B, rock, and country-blues produced by Jim Dickinson (Big Star, the Replacements)...sings in a deceptively wispy voice that has a lot of strength coursing beneath it." (Ken Tucker/Entertainment Weekly) more... | |
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| Anchors and Anvils (Archer) from No Depression Magazine: July/August 2007 by Roy Kasten Memphis bassist and singer Amy LaVere's 2005 debut "This World Is Not My Home" showed a promising touch with jazz swing and country boogie... more... | |
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| Americana Artist Spotlight Amy LaVere - Anchors and Anvils (Archer) from Radio and Records: June 18, 2007 There is something about a good-looking woman moving her hand up and down the neck of a standup bass guitar and singing in a sweet and seemingly innocent voice. Such is your first impression of Amy LaVere, but there is more to this talent than meets the eye. LaVere is a well-traveled (she now calls Memphis home) and experienced person who tried out several styles of music before she found the rootsy sound she is most comfortable with. There is also another side to Ms. LaVere's talent: she played Wanda Jackson in the film "Walk the Line" and recently had a part in "Black Snake Moan." For "Anchors and Anvils," LaVere enlisted the help of uber-roots producer Jim Dickinson to find the correct blend of the traditional and the modern for an album that takes LaVere to some sonic places she hasn't been before. "I felt comfortable in doing whatever I wanted to do on this record, "LaVere says. That open-mindedness has allowed her to create an exciting and expressive album featuring such gems as "Killing Him," "Tennessee Valentine" and "Time is a Train." | |
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| Amy LaVere Anchors and Anvils (Archer) from American Songwriter Magazine: July/August 2007 by David Meade As to why Amy LaVere's nearly flawless "Anchors and Anvils" is being discussed in this particular section [reviews] of the magazine and not in the cover feature, I have no idea. LaVere's voice, equal parts Dolly Parton, Billie Holiday, Liz Phair and Shirley Temple is a stunningly sensual instrument capable of delivering the line "Killing him didn't make the love go away" with an egalitarian empathy normally found in God's most noble creatures, such as, say, angles or unicorns. As if her voice and songwriting weren't enough... more... | |
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| Amy LaVere Anchors and Anvils from Womenfolk.net: May 23, 2007 On her beautiful second album, Anchors & Anvils, singer-songwriter Amy LaVere is sure to receive further notice as a talent to watch. Mixing a love for country and rock styles with a talent for writing unique songs (plus, she can play a mean upright bass), LaVere teamed up with celebrated musician/producer Jim Dickinson and has crafted an envious batch of tunes. The album opens with 'Killing Him,' a song one critic has described as a "…sinister ode to homicidal passion that smolders like Norah Jones with a razor in her boot." While decidedly a country tune, there's no twang in LaVere's pleasant, honey-lined voice and the music rolls and whirls with a fine mixture of violin, drums and groovy basslines. | |
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| Goth On Her Side Amy LaVere - Anchors and Anvils from PopMatters Magazine: June 14, 2007 by Roger Holland At the end of 2006, I rated Amy LaVere's debut album This World Is Not My Home as the 11th best country record of the year, and described it as an impressive collection of quirky and cinematic songs that brings together elements of blues, jazz and country into an often dark but always intriguing work. LaVere was, I said, a little bit Jolie Holland—but more indie and less precious—and a little bit Kasey Chambers—but less Australian. Well, plus ça change and all that surrender monkey nonsense. Anchors & Anvils continues where This World Is Not My Home left off. The production may be a little more subtle and sophisticated, but the songs remain pretty much the same. Here a little pedal steel. There a classic country waltz. And over in the corner, a healthy dash of syncopated gothic sorrow. Add a couple of thick cut slices of something I believe we have to call "Memphis funk", and you've pretty much got Amy Lavere's second album right there. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere Anchors and Anvils (Archer) from Relix Magazine: July 2007 by Jeff Tamarkin Amy LaVere's voice is so slight that at times you expect her to break in half. But she doesn't need magnum force to make herself heard-the Memphis belle hurls herself fully into every song on this sophmore effort, produced by the legendary Jim Dickinson (Big Star, Dylan, Stones). LaVere, who also plays upright bass throughout the record, glides seamlessly from country weepers ("Pointless Drinking") to wah-wah-rific funk ("People Get Mad") and a Gypsy-fied Carla Thomas cover ("That Beat"), supported by a range of keyboards, violin, steel and Hawaiian guitars, even a sitar. Nothing lightweight about this powerhouse. | |
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| Amy LaVere from Good Times: June 12, 2007 The upright bass is not an inherently sexy instrument, but put a bow in the hands of bass-player Amy LaVere and pipe in her intoxicatingly-sultry, diaphanous, baby doll voice and you might just have to recalibrate your impression of the instrument. You might recognize LaVere from the big screen—she played Wanda Jackson in Walk the Line and appeared in last year's Black Snake Moan, but currently the nascent actress is out touring behind her recent release Anchors & Anvils, which LaVere describes as a "classic country, gypsy, jazz thing." The album's stand-out track is one LaVere penned—a brazen ode to a murder of passion called "Killing Him," that in flawless film noir-style sports the sinister refrain "Killing him didn't make the love go away." | |
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| Cool Spins: Amy LaVere Anchors and Anvils (Archer) from Mix Magazine: June 1, 2007 by Blair Jackson The tip-off that Memphis-based Amy LaVere's new CD is going to be pretty interesting comes in the chorus of the first song: "Killing him didn't make her love go away." Yep, here's a sweet-voiced gal with a slightly twisted world view, playing music rooted in old-school honky-tonk (upright bass, which she plays herself, steel, fiddle, crackin' drums, etc.) singing about revenge and redemption, but also regular stuff — dirty dishes, piles of laundry and broken hearts. Drummer/band leader Paul Taylor wrote two of the best tunes, "Pointless Drinking" and "People Get Mad," and Kristi Witt two other strong ones. There's a bit of gypsy tango, some funky-tonk and breezy-jazz inflections, but mostly this is barroom country played with heart and soul. Definitely an artist to watch. Producer: Jim Dickinson. Engineer: Kevin Houston. Studio: Zebra Ranch (Dickinson's place). Mastering: Brad Blackwood. | |
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| Amy LaVere Anchors and Anvils from Boudin Barndance: May 29, 2007 by Dan Ferguson The initial attention grabber is that she's a young and extremely attractive female playing the stand-up bass with as much grace as she does authority. That, by its lonesome, places her in rare company. The next grabber is that she's dabbled in films such as I Walk The Line (a cameo as rockabilly filly Wanda Jackson) and most recently, Black Snake Moan. Perhaps most importantly, where her music is concerned, she's gotten the seal of approval from one of the legends in the business, Jim Dickinson, whose production credits span Big Star to the Replacements to the North Mississippi All-Stars and whose sideman roles have ranged from the Rolling Stones to Dylan to the Atlantic Records house band in its early 1970s soul heyday. more... | |
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| From the cradle to the grave anchors & anvils are tied and true revenge devices from Motif Magazine: June 12, 2007 by Dan Ferguson Amy LaVere is young, attractive and plays stand-up bass, has dabbled in films ( I Walk The Line, Black Snake Moan), and has the seal of approval from legendary producer/sideman Jim Dickinson (Big Star, Replacements, Stones, Dylan). Memphis based and possessing a provocative voice as sweet as it is sultry, chanteuse Amy LaVere calls her stylistically adventurous Anchors & Anvils a classic country/gypsy/jazz thing. Couldn't describe it better, myself. Produced by Dickinson, Anchors & Anvils picks up where LaVere's wonderful 2006 debut This World Is Not My Home left off, that being an album anchored in a sea of savory Southern sounds form-fit for her cool breeze of a voice. Visit www.amylavere.com | |
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| Amy LaVere With the Fullbrights. Thursday, June 7, Wilbert's from Cleveland Scene: June 6, 2007 by Duane Verh Back in the day, love-gone-bad drove country crickets like Skeeter Davis to declare the "End of the World" or Sandy Posey to bemoan the fate of being "Born a Woman." But nowadays, Amy LaVere -- delicate and demure as she sounds -- would rather take her man out than take it on the chin. Sure, she seems like a sweet lil' gal who doesn't mind scrubbing, but what's she thinking about? Murder's a good bet -- or maybe stuffing her suitcase and stealing away on the next bus out. more... | |
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| Album Reviews: Amy LaVere Four Stars from Time Out New York: June 2007 by Steve Smith The sound that introduces "Anchors and Anvils," the second album by Memphis singer-bassist Amy LaVere, is a relaxed, enticing Southern-soul groove. Her kittenish coo nuzzles your ear like a lover. Then you notice what she's whispering: "Love weighed on her heart like a marble stone/Flash of a knife, he was gone." A sultry tale of love gone wrong. "Killing Him" includes the plaintative refrain "Killing him didn't make the love go away." more... | |
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| Review: Anchors and Anvils from All Music.com: June 2007 by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr There's an offbeat, off-the-cuff quality that makes Amy LaVere's Anchors & Anvils easy to like. First, there's the choice of songs, like the opener, "Killing Him," with LaVere sweetly singing that killing a love interest isn't enough to make the love go away. This, of course, wouldn't be very funny if a man sang it, but LaVere's straight reading and the melancholy fiddle accompaniment find the right balance. Paul Taylor's "Pointless Drinking" falls into a similar groove, a funny-sad song married to a '50s-style melody. The simple arrangements add to the album's left-of-center appeal, with steel guitars, fiddles, and guitars whipping up a lazy mixture that falls somewhere between old rock and country with perhaps a touch of jazz thrown in. At one moment, LaVere and company cover Tex-Mex ("Overcome"), the next, funky rock ("People Get Mad"). Even on a fairly straightforward song like "That Beat," the band brings a carefree joy that commingles well with LaVere's torch singer vocal. Unlike many singer/songwriters, LaVere has pulled good songs from a variety of sources, and even when she borrows a song from a familiar figure like Bob Dylan, she borrows one of his lesser-known songs ("I'll Remember You"). Anchors & Anvils' off-the-cuff qualities help separate the album from run-of-the-mill singer/songwriter product, and because of this, make LaVere more appealing than the average singer/songwriter. | |
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| Amy LaVere thinks murderous thoughts on Anchors & Anvils from Entertainment Weekly: June 1, 2007 by Ken Tucker LaVere, who played honky-tonker Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, has released her second album, a Memphis stew of R&B, rock, and country-blues produced by Jim Dickinson (Big Star, the Replacements). She sings in a deceptively wispy voice that has a lot of strength coursing beneath it. The stand-out track is ''Killing Him,'' a revenge song in which a woman who sounds suspiciously like a stand-in for Amy LaVere says she murdered her duplicitous boyfriend, but, as she says in the irresistibly catchy refrain, ''Killing him didn't make her love go away.'' Necrophilia at its best. | |
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| Amy LaVere, Throwing 'Anchors & Anvils' from Fresh Air -National Public Radio: May 31, 2007 by Ken Tucker Fresh Air from WHYY, May 31, 2007 · Anchors & Anvils is the jazzy, torchy, after-a-breakup second album by singer, actress and stand-up bassist Amy LaVere. Jim Dickerson, who's worked with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and the Replacements, produced the disc. Click to hear interview | |
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| Amy LaVere Steps Back to Musical Road from Connecticut Post: May 23, 2007 by Sean Spillane Like her debut album This World is Not My Home, which came out in January of 2006, LaVere has been garnering rave reviews for her latest, Anchors & Anvils, which was produced by the eminent Jim Dickinson, who was worked in one capacity or another with the likes of Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder and The Replacements. The experience also made an impression on Dickinson, who is quoted as saying, "Amy LaVere is the most promising emerging artist I've seen in years. She has the whole package — the songs, the voice, the looks. . . . You run across artists all the time that have part of it, but Amy has it all. more... | |
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| Small Town Girl from Aquarian Weekly: May 30, 2007 by Divya Gunasekaran Amy LaVeregrew up in a small, southern town, but her eclectic musical style deserved the diversity of a city. She is certainly deserving of the NYC atmosphere and will perform at The Bitter End on May 31. What kind of musician would LaVere be if she didn't bring with her the different styles of music she explored while moving around the nation? On Anchors & Anvils, for which LaVere is credited with vocals, upright bass, and some songwriting, you will hear a hybrid of country and jazz. While the innocent, unassuming appearance of LaVere leads to expectations of tame lyrics, the girl has a dark side. Sometimes twisted, sinister words are weaved throughout her songs, but a sweetness and sincerity still prevail. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere at Café Nine from The Hartford Courant: May 24, 2007 by ERIC R. DANTON After releasing an excellent debut record in 2005, Amy LaVere brought in some A-list firepower for the follow-up. Legendary producer Jim Dickinson helps out behind both the control board and the keyboards, and ace guitarist Chris Scruggs settles into a deep pocket. Yet it's LaVere's sultry voice and stylistic shape-shifting that makes "Anchors & Anvils" such an engaging album. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere in NYC May 31st In Store at J&R, more later at Bitter End Club from New York Post: May 25, 2007 by Mary Huhn Producer, singer and pianist Jim Dickinson worked his studio magic on Memphis singer Amy Lavere's debut disc, "Anchors & Anvils." The vocalist and stand-up bass player, who fronted Detroit punk band Last Minute in her teens before landing in Nashville's Lower Broadway honky-tonk scene, now plays what she describes as "classic country/gypsy/jazz thing." She brings a band, including gypsy violinist Bob Furgo, to J&R Music World (23 Park Row) for a lunch-hour show at 12:30 p.m. and to the Bitter End (147 Bleecker St.; [212] 673-7030) Thursday evening. marymhuhn@nypost.com | |
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| Big Sound, Little Bucks from Portfolio Weekly: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 by Jerome Spencer I've never written about Amy LaVere before so no risk of repetition here. I am excited about her appearance at The Jewish Mother this Fri., May 25, so I'm writing about her now. Amy LaVere is a little girl who plays a big bass and best describes her own style as "classic country/jazz/gypsy music." You may have seen her scene-stealing cameos in the films Walk the Line and Black Snake Moan, but it's her intoxicating, whispery voice that really takes the spotlight. more... | |
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| What Would You Do For Love?: Amy LaVere from Culture Bully.com: May 21, 2007 by Chris Deline There's some strange romanticism I have with strong female leads and in the Amy LeVere story "Killing Him" I find myself helplessly falling for the passionate murderer. "Killing him didn't make the love go away." Can I say that I've never felt anything similar? Not really, in times gone by I've wondered what would happen if someone would disappear from life despite my immense love towards them, but her tale is that of a true story. Written as a reaction to an evening news story about a woman, who hysterically kept yelling the chorus during her arrest, the tale is as sad as it is romantic. more... | |
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| Short Cuts from STUDIO CITY SUN/SHERMAN OAKS SUN: May 18, 2007 by Bill Bentley Time for a left-field surprise. Amy LaVere's second album is as unexpected an achievement as anything this year. She travels the rootsy side of the road, but never lets that hem her in. Instead, she uses the simplicity of her aura and takes into a third dimension, one where her voice and words and music combine for a shining ride. more... | |
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| 'Anchors and Anvils' promises to be a rootsy-sounding affair from The Daily News, Knoxville: May 17, 2007 by Steve Wildsmith To say that guys attracted to the lovely singer-songwriter Amy LaVere undress her with their eyes wouldn't be such a stretch. After all, if they've seen the Christina Ricci/Samuel L. Jackson thriller "Black Snake Moan," they've already seen LaVere in her underwear. more... | |
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| Singer Amy LaVere's love of upright bass not just a novelty from Knoxville News Sentinel : May 18, 2007 by WAYNE BLEDSOE Singer Amy LaVere couldn't be much more of a part of Memphis. She plays an upright bass and can play some topflight rockabilly. She played the part of rockabilly great Wanda Jackson in "Walk the Line" and has a supporting role in "Black Snake Moan," the most recent film by Memphis director Craig Brewer, and her new album, "Anchors & Anvils," is produced by legendary Memphis producer Jim Dickinson. To top it off, to supplement her music career she has worked as a tour guide at Sun Records for the past three years. "People in Memphis really see through the BS," says LaVere. "There's a high profile of ability and artistry. It's a lot different than Nashville, where there's more demand to pull off something that will sell." more... | |
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| LaVere brings bass and band to Oxford from NEMS Daily Journal: May 17, 2007 by SHEENA BARNETT OXFORD - You may not have heard Amy LaVere's music, but there's a chance you've seen her face. LaVere, a Memphis singer and upright bass player, has dipped into acting. She had a cameo as Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," and she was Jesse in Craig Brewer's "Black Snake Moan." If you haven't seen her there, maybe you've seen her at her day job - she's a part-time tour guide at Memphis' legendary Sun Studio. more... | |
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| Pick of the week from Cincinnati City Beat in Cincinnati, Ohio: May 17, 2007 by John James "Amy LaVere - Anchors & Anvils (Archer/Thirty Tigers) captured perfectly by producer Jim Dickinson, my pick of the week is this second album from the stand-up bassist and vocal seductress with the classic Country warmth and heartache of back porch honey and biscuits, opening with the sly "Killing Him (Didn't Make Her Love Go Away)" and closing with a cover of Bob Dylan's "I'll Remember You"; " (John James/Positively Yeah Yeah) | |
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| CD review: "Anchors & Anvils" by Amy LaVere from STAMFORD ADVOCATE: May 17, 2007 by Ray Hogan There's a lot of space between Lucinda Williams and Norah Jones, but it's that middle ground between earthy and dreamy that Memphis, Tenn., singer-bassist LaVere inhabits so well. "Anchors & Anvils" is her second disc and like her debut is filled with top-flight talent, including guitarist Jimbo Mathus, drummer Paul Taylor and keyboardist Jim Dickinson, who has produced both her discs. Her home and supporting cast suggest alt-country, but LaVere creates pure pop, splitting the difference between down-home earthiness and the nebulous, which her breathy voice is a natural fit for both. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere from Nashville City Paper: May 17, 2007 by Ron Wynn Bassist/vocalist Amy LaVere's musical interests stretch from '20s hot jazz to western swing, honky-tonk, the blues and soul, plus torch songs and pop ballads. While her first release featured the expert production assistance of the legendary Jim Dickinson and served to introduce both her enticing vocals and emphatic bass playing, it didn't present her complete artistic range. But LaVere's new release Anchors & Anvils (Archer) does showcase the complete repertoire, including a superb cover of a little known (except to soul collectors) Carla Thomas tune "That Beat (Keeps Disturbing My Sleep)" redone in vivid gypsy style, another excellent treatment of a Dylan tune "I'll Remember You," and "Tennessee Valentine," a composition co-written by the late dulcimer virtuoso David Schnaufer that emphasizes her country touches. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: Country with a Cathartic Twang from NPR World Cafe: May 14, 2007 by David Dye Amy LaVere has taken many roads on her journey to stardom: She's not only a singer, songwriter and bassist, but she's also acted — most notably in Walk the Line, in which she plays rockabilly pioneer Wanda Jackson. Born in the Deep South and raised in Detroit, LaVere now lives in Memphis, a town that matches her musical persona: a blend of classic country, jazz and gypsy blues. LaVere's 2006 debut, This World Is Not My Home, showcases her cathartic twang while drawing from influences as varied as Billie Holliday, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Dolly Parton. Her new Anchors & Anvils, recorded with legendary producer Jim Dickinson, expands on the sounds and themes of its predecessor, while continuing to demonstrate her talent for luminous, accessible songcraft. | |
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| A second album from Amy from The Commercial Appeal: May 11, 2007 by Bob Mehr From the start, there was never any doubt what Amy LaVere would do. "I knew I was going to be a musician, it was all I really thought about," says LaVere. "As a kid, my family lived in a trailer in the woods of Louisiana -- the kind of place where there'd be deer gutted on my swing set," she says. "My parents would be sitting outside, drinking beer with their friends and my mom would break out the guitar and everyone would listen to her play. I saw what she did to people when she sang. And I wanted to do that, too." The 32-year-old LaVere has been playing music and fronting bands for the better part of two decades. But in a way, the upcoming release of her second solo record Anchors & Anvils (Archer Records) -- which she'll celebrate with an early show at Midtown's Hi-Tone on Tuesday -- marks the real start to her career. "With this album, I feel like my music has really grown and I've grown," says LaVere, "and I'm ready to put it out there." more... | |
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| Amy LaVere "Anchors & Anvils" from Minneapolis City Paper/Nashville Scene: May 16, 2007 by Ed Hurt In an earlier era, Amy LaVere might have fronted a big band, becoming as celebrated as, say, Lee Wiley, or any number of other vocal stylists who had ears for jazz, but performed pop. On her latest, Anchors & Anvils, the Memphis singer gathers up the odd corners of funk and country with the help of a band that includes multi-instrumentalist Paul Taylor, whose Open Closed displays a sharp ear for the deep conventions of Anglophile pop. The records make a nice argument for Memphis eccentricity, even when it doesn't work. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere wants to be your Tennessee valentine. from The Memphis Flyer: May 10, 2007 by Chris Davis At first listen, Anchors & Anvils, Amy LaVere's second release for Memphis' Archer Records, doesn't sound like a radical departure from This World Is Not My Home, a strong solo debut that was never quite as interesting as it could have been. But it's a big step up for the throaty-voiced singer and bassist. Backed by a dream team of A-list musicians such as Bob Furgo (Leonard Cohen's violin player), Chris Scruggs (BR5-49), Jimbo Mathus, Jason Freeman, Paul Taylor, and Eric Lewis, LaVere has never sounded better. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere from Amazon: May 14, 2007 by Don McLeese Amazon.com It's probably unfair to compare every young, sweet-voiced, genre-bending chanteuse with Norah Jones. Though Amy LaVere similarly sounds jazzy and torchy with touches of country and soul, what distinguishes her are the Memphis grooves of producer Jim Dickinson and the edgier sensibility she brings to material such as "Killing Him," "Pointless Drinking," and "People Get Mad." A stand-up acoustic bassist and sometime actress (Black Snake Moan, Walk the Line), LaVere brings a seductive lilt to "Tennessee Valentine" and "Cupid's Arrow," with the funky propulsion of Carla Thomas's "That Beat" and the relentless throb of "Washing Machine" showing that she can be earthy as well as dreamy. An open-hearted rendition of Bob Dylan's "I'll Remember You" closes this solid sophomore effort. --Don McLeese | |
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| On her sophomore release, singer/bassist Amy LaVere doesn't mess around from Charleston Daily Mail : April 26, 2007 by Michael Lipton On her sophomore release, singer/bassist Amy LaVere doesn't mess around. Beginning with producer Jim Dickinson (Dylan, Big Star, Stones), she's assembled a top-notch cast that includes guitarist Jimbo Mathus, steel guitarist Chris Scruggs and violinist/mandolinist Tommy Burroughs. LaVere -- who made her acting debut portraying Wanda Jackson in the 2005 Johnny Cash bio "Walk the Line" -- has a bag that ranges from the haunting opener, "Killing Him," and the gypsy-styled "That Beat" to the slow and brassy country-tinged confessional "Pointless Drinking," the Tex-Mex "Overcome" and the Dan Hicks-sounding "Time is a Train." While the songs are interesting, they mainly serve as vehicles for LaVere. With a childish wisp, she's, by turns, coy, playful and sexy -- sometimes, as on "Washing Machine," all at once. www.archer-records.com. | |
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| A rootsier, more dangerous Norah Jones. from DesMoinesRegister.com: May 3, 2007 by Kyle Munson Check her out. Deserves some of Amy Winehouse's hype. A rootsier, more dangerous Norah Jones. | |
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| Amy LaVere Releases New Album from The Memphis Flyer: March 14, 2007 Fresh from her acting stint in Black Snake Moan, Memphis' own Amy LaVere is still thumping away at the stand-up bass and cranking out new albums. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere "LaVere's musical flame just starting to burn" from Herald-Journal: November 30, 2006 by Dan Armontaitis As a teenager, Amy LaVere hadn't yet developed a passion for the musical influences that play such a vital role on her solo debut album --"This World Is Not My Home" -- released earlier this year. more... | |
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| Artist Spotlight More Than What You Hear from R & R American Update: July 31, 2006 by Jeff Green One of the important new talents in Americana is the petite and very soulful string bassist Amy LaVere, who has made a introspective, intriguing debut album called The World Is Not My Home, recorded in her hometown of Memphis with a strong cast of musicians, including Jim Dickinson on keyboards. LaVere, who, as an actress, who portrayed Wanda Jackson in Walk the Line and who satisfies her love of music history by working parttime as a tour guide at Sun Studios, was noticed by respected Memphis musician, ad-agency owner and label head Ward Archer. "He saw me perform around the area," she says, "and offered me a deal. We've developed a really great working relationship." Asked for her favorite track on the album, LaVere doesn't hesitate: "'Nightingale.' It was [producer] Paul Taylor who thought of the idea of bringing the Mellotron to that song — it's just too cool. Paul is a consummate musician, and I really trust him. He brought great ideas to the table." The World... was made shortly after LaVere closed the books on a six-year personal relationship, and dealing honestly with those emotions resulted in an album that LaVere feels doesn't fully reflect who she is as a performer. "The overriding theme was to encompass everything that I do, but a lot of stuff got kicked off the record just because it took on this moody, sweet vibe of its own, and the rockers just weren't fitting in," she says. "It's kind of disappointing because I don't really think it's representative of my live show, and I've had a little trouble getting clubs to understand that what I do is not limited to this album. This record is just a glimpse of a small part of me." — By Jeff Green | |
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| WANDA JACKSON & AMY LAVERE from The Nashville Scene: Agust 9, 2006 by EDD HURT At nearly 70, Wanda Jackson remains one of rock 'n' roll's most distinctive singers. Best known for late-'50s recordings like the explosive "Fujiyama Mama," the Oklahoma-born Jackson was one of the era's sexiest, funniest performers. Amy LaVere makes her home in Memphis and is a few decades younger, but she's another genre-spanning artist whose music and persona suggest new possibilities for female rockers. (The Louisiana-born LaVere appears as Jackson in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line.) LaVere is equally at home singing her own material or triple-slapping upright bass with Bluff City singer Jim Dickinson. LaVere and company will play an opening set, and then it's on to a collaboration that most likely won't be your father's notion of rock 'n' roll. ( wandajackson.com ); ( archer-records.com/artists/amy_lavere ) Mercy Lounge | |
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| Amy LaVere This World Is Not My Home from Radio ioCountry: June 26, 2006 by Rob Bleetstein there's nothing like getting a cd of an artist you've never heard of and just falling immediately in love with it. that's what's going on with this new disc from amy lavere, which you'll be hearing plenty of on ioCOUNTRY. here's the deal on amy. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere On Sticking With It from Bass Player Magazine: June 20, 2006 by SHELTON CLARK Amy LaVere discovered her muse in the upright bass in Nashville before moving to Memphis and immersing herself in that city's rich musical scene. When her duo the Gabe & Amy Show fell apart, LaVere struck out on her own. Regular local gigs and recording sessions led to her signing with Memphis indie label Archer Records. Her solo debut, This World Is Not My Home, showcases her reedy, torch-song -ready vocals with a rootsy rhythm section and great appearances from former Squirrel Nit Zippers guitarist Jimbo Mathus and legendary pianist/producer Jim Dickinson. She also landed a bit part playing rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line and in Hustle and Flow director Craig Brewer's upcoming Black Snake Moan with Christina Ricci and Samuel L. Jackson. What brought you to the upright bass? more... | |
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| Amy LaVere is the musical equivalent of Lay's Potato Chips from WIVK/Americana Highway: June 19, 2006 by Eric Bohlen Amy LaVere is the musical equivalent of Lay's Potato Chips. The old t.v. commercial said you can't eat just one chip. Well after listening to Amy's new cd "This World Is Not My Home"...you'll find that you can't listen just one time through. Whether it's the spunky rockabilly of "Never Been Sadder" (which really is a sad song in spite of it's thumpin', up-tempo bass line)...the sweet, dreamy journey of "Nightingale"...or "Leaving" which easily could be playing on an Oklahoma honky tonk's jukebox in the late 1950's smack dab between Hank Williams and Patsy Cline without missing a beat....you'll find yourself playing the songs again and again and again. Thank goodness for my cd player's "repeat" function. The only potential problem: can you physically wear out a cd by playing it too much?"-- | |
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| Amy LaVere THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME from Maverick Magazine: June 1, 2006 Amy LaVere is one of the best-looking bass players you're ever likely to come across. She is also a talented singer-songwriter. This is very apparent when listening to her debut album THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME. (Archer Records ARR-.131924)**** Recorded in her adopted hometown of Memphis, Tennessee and produced by Paul Taylor, it is a moody mix of traditional country, artful soul, rock and jazz. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere’s popularity as session bassist on the rise. May 1, 2006 by Cacky Minden Since completing her solo album, "This World Is Not My Home," Amy LaVere has been in demand as a session bassist on two upcoming releases. First, Jim Dickinson's new CD, "Jungle Jim & The Voodoo tiger" (Memphis International) to be released May 30th Click Here To Listen Amy is also plucking her bass on William Lee Ellis's new album "God's Tattoos" (Yellow Dog Records). The album, recorded and produced by Jim Dickinson at his Zebra Ranch, is an eclectic mix of blues, Americana, gospel, world music, and rock. Click Here For More | |
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| Amy LaVere This World Is Not My Home from No Depression: April 2, 2006 by Michael Berick Amy LaVere portrayed Wanda Jackson in the film "Walk The Line", but on her alluring debut disc, she comes across more like a demure roots chanteuse than a rockabilly wildcat. The Memphis-based performer establishes her album's blue mood immediately on the opening "Day Like Any". Supported by Jimbo Mathus'sinewy guitar work, this torchy tune examines a relationship gone wrong, a topic she revisits throughout this ten-song outing. While the lyrics concentrate on romantic woes, the music holds an endearing retro Americana quality as LaVere gracefully mixes the sounds of the backwoods (the mountain-bluesy "Nightingale") with smoky juke joints (the accordion-paced "Take 'Em Or Leave 'Em"). Although LaVere's whispery vocals occasionally grow a little wispy, tunes such as "Never Been Sadder" (which also spotlights her nimble standup bass prowess) and the country waltz title track showcase her sweetly vulnerable voice to greater effect. | |
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| Amy LaVere This World Is Not My Home from Paste Magazine: April 2, 2006 by Andy Whitman Amy LaVere's marketing schtick-a tiny woman playing a big upright bass-certainly grabs your attention. But she holds it throughout most of this strong debut by delivering smart, well-written songs that impressively blur genre boundaries. LaVere's voice is something of an acquired taste; she has the little-girl coyness of a Julie Miller or Kasey Chambers, only without the sass. But her band-led by legendary Southern blues stalwarts Jim Dickinson and Jimbo Mathus-kicks up a righteous, rootsy fuss, and the songs span traditional American music, from the country-noir/samba opener "Day Like Any" to the zydeco shuffle of "Take 'Em or Leave 'Em," and the more traditional truckstop-jukebox anthem "Leaving." | |
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| Amy LaVere This World Is Not My Home from All Music Guide Billboard.com: March 27, 2006 by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. This World Is Not My Home gets a lazy, relaxed start with "Day Like Any," a rhythmically compelling song highlighted by Jimbo Mathus' guitar work and Amy LaVere's country-flavored girlish vocals. "Nightingale" veers much closer to folk, while "Leaving" is straight old-school country. Perhaps the element that stands out most and ties these various styles together under some kind of alternative country banner is LaVere's light, slightly breathy vocal tone. She coos and croons, stretching syllables and adding emotional flourishes, and shows herself to be quite comfortable with the material at hand. And LaVere has surrounded herself with a crack band that includes Mathus, pianist Jim Dickinson, drummer Paul Buchignani, and several other fine players. The songs, mostly written by LaVere and Mathus, are also solid, though the best stuff is on the first half of the album. While This World Is Not My Home will probably be filed under alternative country, the album never sounds like anything that might typically be given that label (she's a female, first of all, and doesn't mumble her lyrics against a clash of twangy guitars). Instead, LaVere's style seems closer in spirit to the simpler values of older country and folk. As an added bonus, the CD design, featuring several black-and-white photographs by Monty Johnson, is absolutely lovely. This World Is Not My Home will serve as a fine introduction to a distinctive singer. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide | |
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| Amy LaVere This World Is Not My Home from CITY NEWSPAPER, Rochester, NY: February 1, 2006 by Saby Reyes-Kulkarni Legendary Memphis producer Jim Dickinson, who lends his piano talents to much of this album, says that singer-bassist Amy LaVere "can triple-slap an upright bass like Willie Dixon on steroids." That's a hell of an endorsement, and it may be true (LaVere played in a punk band as a teenager in Detroit), but here LaVere prefers a picking approach that's as supple asthe arrangements built around her singing. more... | |
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| THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME Amy LaVere from Nightflying: January 15, 2006 by Andy Meeks Amy LaVere plays an upright bass and sings with a poignancy that makes me think of a backwoods Ani diFranco. She wrote about half the songs on this album and Jimbo Mathus, who also contributes electric guitar, wrote a couple and then more... | |
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| AMY LAVERE: "This World Is Not My Home" from FORT WORTH WEEKLY : January 25, 2006 by Tom Geddie With her almost ethereal, little-girl-lost voice and first-class musical accompaniment, Amy LaVere wanders through a melancholy world that¹s seemingly without love. On the title track of her debut c.d., This World is Not My Home, she claims she¹s not from here but seems to know the emotional terrain pretty well: Most of the 10 songs deal with the aftermaths of failed relationships. more... | |
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| AMY LAVERE: "This World Is Not My Home" from LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS : January 20, 2006 by Bob Strauss, Staff Writer Something like this doesn't come along every day. LaVere has an achy, little-girl voice that's a nice fit with the just-this-side-of-naive heartbreak songs she writes. But she also plays a big, stand-up slap bass, which lends a tough, rockabilly punch to arrangements whose eclectic influences include honky tonk, lounge and even a little mystic Celtic. LaVere, by the way, has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line" as early rock queen bee Wanda Jackson. Good casting. | |
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| Country/Roots Amy LaVere This World Is Not My Home ***1/2 from PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: January 22, 2006 by Nick Cristiano "I'm not the girl I once was, I've learned from heartaches," Amy LaVere confides on "Innocent Girl," one of the 10 cuts on her solo debut. She goes on, however, to warn: "My heart's not quite dead." That wounded but resilient spirit suffuses This World Is Not My Home and LaVere's breathy, deceptively delicate vocals, which are as beguiling as the music's evocative blend of country and pop. The singer and bass player, who portrays Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, recorded the album in her current hometown of Memphis; that's where she got the imprimatur of local music legend Jim Dickinson, who plays piano on four tracks. From start to finish, it's easy to share his enthusiasm. | |
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| Amy LeVere and her bass travel the road to stardom from The Tennessean: January 24, 2006 by PETER COOPER, STAFF WRITER Tonight's edition of Billy Block's Western Beat show at Exit/In (2208 Elliston Place, 321-3340) features Amy LeVere, an ex-Nashvillian and current Memphian whose This World Is Not My Home album marks her as an emerging star in the alt-country and Americana worlds. more... | |
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| "...full of heartbreak and disappointment, yet casts an intoxicating spell" This World Is Not My Home (Archer) from Chicago Tribune: Janurary 20, 2006 by Daniel Durchholz On the silver screen, Amy LaVere portrays rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line" and appears in Craig Brewer's forthcoming "Black Snake Moan." But LaVere's greatest role is as herself, a Southern girl thumping a doghouse bass bigger than she is and singing in a woozy, whispery voice that confesses, "I'm no longer an innocent girl/ I've had my taste of this tasteless world." LaVere's rootsy debut is full of heartbreak and disappointment, yet casts an intoxicating spell. | |
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| Amy Lavere At Home In Many Musical Styles from The Hartford Courant Hartford, CT: January 19, 2006 by ERIC R. DANTON Her upright bass is taller than she is, but Amy LaVere on her solo debut makes up in musical ability what she lacks in physical stature. more... | |
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| "Good Stuff" from Performing Songwriter Magazine: January/February 2006 by Abby White Singer/actress Amy LaVere's solo debut, This World Is Not My Home, is a unique blend of jazz and traditional cocuntry that manages to sound both innovative and timeless. Good stuff. | |
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| Newcomer comes out swinging with jazzy country sound from Columbus Dispatch: January 19, 2006 by Margaret Quamme On her first album, LaVere plays stand-up slap bass while singing in a relaxed, girlish voice. Not a usual combination, but the deep, percussive bass provides a fine foundation for a comfortable and unassuming set of songs. more... | |
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| Singer-Songwriter Amy LaVere -- "The World Is Not My Home" (Archer) *** from Detroit Free Press: January 15, 2006 by Greg Crawford LaVere, who lived with her family in the Detroit area from 1989 through 1996, fronted local punk band Last Minute in the mid-'90s while still in her teens. (She was known as Amy Fant in those days.) Since then, she's made a name for herself as a stand-up bass player and singer-songwriter in Memphis, Tenn., and, more recently, as the actress who played rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line." more... | |
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| Talking Bluff City Singer-songwriter finds her groove after moving to Memphis from Nashville Scene: January 19, 2006 by Edd Hurt Alt-country often cultivates an unworldliness that does an injustice to the complexity of the music's roots. While it's true that country, blues and bluegrass have their spiritual side, alt-country can trade lyrical and musical specificity for vague representations of a world that never existed, except on old records. more... | |
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| BASS-THUMPIN' MEMPHIS MAMA SOUTHERN CHANTEUSE AMY LAVERE RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM from The Bulletin: January 17, 2006 by Mark Williams If you're looking for new music in the new year, then check out the new release by uniquely talented songstress Amy LaVere, "This World Is Not My Home," due out on Tuesday, January 17 from Memphis-based label Archer Records. LaVere and her band, the Tramps, offer up a new take on acoustic Americana -- an old-timey mix of pop and country, jazz and folk. more... | |
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| Amy LaVere: The World Is Not My Home A 'World' filled with heartache from Orlando Sentinel: Janurary 13, 2006 by Jim Abbott Singer-songwriter and upright bassist Amy LaVere cultivated her alt-country sensibilities in the bars and honky-tonks on Nashville's Lower Broad Street, where she played for a time in a short-lived roots duo. Although This World is Not My Home is a solo release, LaVere gets some high-profile help on these 10 songs from singer-guitarist and ex-Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo Mathus and producer Jim Dickinson, whose resume ranges from Screamin' Jay Hawkins to the Stones. more... | |
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| "One of the best albums of 2006" This World Is Not My Home from PopMatters: January 12, 2006 by Roger Holland Amy LaVere is another of your typical 21st century renaissance women. Actress by day, singer and musician by night, LaVere's been a Detroit punk, learned to play rockabilly stand-up bass in Nashville, fronted her own band in Memphis, worked as a tour guide at Sun Records, and played Wanda Jackson in Walk the Line. Now, even as she's being cast to appear alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake in Black Snake Moan (it sounds awful, frankly), she still finds time to release her debut solo album. Busy, busy, busy. This World Is Not My Home is an impressive collection of slightly quirky, vaguely cinematic, and deeply interesting songs that brings together elements of blues, jazz and country into an often dark but generally compelling work. more... | |
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| New Music from Chattanooga Pulse: January 11, 2006 by John M. James You may have seen her as Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, but Amy Lavere really shows off her chops this Tuesday with her debut release of This World Is Not My Home. Whispery cool and piney lonesome, this seductive vocalist and upright bass player collected a "down home" comfortable stable of Memphis' best to back her up - featuring Jimbo Mathus, formerly of KnockDown South, on guitar, Jim Dickinson on piano, and Forrest Parker on pedal steel. Look for this terrific 10-track collection of bluesy originals on the Archer Records label… more... | |
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| Smoky, sultry, swingy and sweet from Houston Chronicle: December 23, 2005 by ANDREW DANSBY Smoky, sultry, swingy and sweet, Amy LaVere's debut album is an acoustic gem that prances about in a weird netherworld, somewhere between torch, country, vintage folk and other earthy stuff. Opener Day Like Any has a nice woodsy jazz vibe, punctuated by LaVere's chirpy warble and strong backing by Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo Mathus on guitar and Memphis legend Jim Dickinson on piano. Leaving shuffles along with honky-tonk spunk. more... | |
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| CD Review - Amy Lavere - This World Is Not My Home from Blogcritics.org: December 20, 2005 by Connie Phillips On January 17, Amy Lavere's Debut album, This World Is Not My Home will hit the shelves. Lavere, who pens her own country style music (Half of the ten tracks on This World Is Not My Home were written by Lavere.) and plays a stand up bass, has a soft southern style quality to her voice. She delivers her songs with a manner that fits her genre. Not only for the fact and the way she plays stand up bass, but also for the uniquely feminine quality to her voice she is extremely reminiscent of Alison Krauss. Her musical roots and influences include Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Coming from a musical home, her mother played guitar and her father drums, she spent a lot of time at blues festivals and it shows. You can hear a real blues influence in the music, especially the track, "Set it Down." more... | |
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| Amy LaVere lands role as Jesse in "Black Snake Moan" Cast includes Samuel Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake September 13, 2005 Archer Record's recording artist Amy LaVere has been cast as Jesse who will appear as a friend of Rae (Christina Ricci) in Memphis filmaker Craig Brewer's follow-up to "Hustle & Flow." more... | |
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| LaVere hits a bullseye with Archer from Playbook - Memphis Commercial Appeal: January 21, 2005 by Bill Ellis Amy LaVere, the bass-thumping chanteuse behind local draw Amy & the Tramps, has signed with Memphis indie label Archer Records. Scheduled for a spring/summer release, her countrified solo debut promises the backing talents of Bluff City Backslider guitarist Jason Freeman and drummer Paul Buchignani, plus high-profile guests such as Jimbo Mathus and Jim Dickinson. Paul Taylor of DDT fame is producing with Kevin Houston engineering. more... | |
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| Local Beat from Memphis Flyer: January 20, 2005 by Andia Lisle Hats off to local Rockabilly queen Amy LaVere, who just entered the studio to record her Archer Records debut. LaVere--whom most Memphians will remember as the bass-playing half of the Gabe & Amy Show --signed with the Archer label at the start of the year. more... | |
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| Archer signs LaVere from Memphis Business Journal: January 13, 2005 Archer Records has signed singer and songwriter Amy LaVere, and will release her debut album later this year. The company has begun tracking for the album -- as yet unnamed -- at Archer's Downtown studio, and will do additional tracking at Phillips Recording Service. LaVere, who was raised in a Texas/Louisiana border town, has worked Beale Street and Murphy's in Midtown as part of the Gabe and Amy Show. more... | |
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