No capos, No tuning, No excuses in Santa Barabara

Saturday, August 25 Santa Barbara, CA
Trinity Backstage Coffeehouse
1500 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
In the Round with some of my FAVORITE songwriters:
Kate Wallace, James McVay, Douglas Clegg.
This show is a tribute to one of the most fun/spontaneous song circles ever. One crunchy Sunday morning at the Kerrville Folk Festival we got to passing around a little nylon string student guitar with the credo: no originals, no capos, no tuning, NO EXCUSES. One crappy little guitar and about 100 cover songs later we had heard from virtually every songwriter on the ranch and had sung enough angelic harmony to convince a body that it was recess in heaven. Expect a similarly divine show, except this time we will have any number of amazing guitars/instruments to accompany the choir.
http://www.trinitybackstage.com

Caren's new self produced CD, "Everything" is not only a brilliant example of her accomplishment as a songwriter and musician, but is also a lively demonstration of her skill as a collaborator.

Combining her distinctive slide and rhythm guitar chops with Peter Tucker on drums and Chris Kee and Edo Castro on bass Armstrong provides a strong yet supple spine for a collection of songs that both move and groove. Select soloists flesh out these funky bones: Lloyd Maines' Dobro weaves magic throughout "Ode to Billy Joe", Darol Anger's fiddle uplifts the joyful "HeartStrings" and laments "If That is Heaven". Percussion whiz Joe Craven appears on several tunes, perhaps most distinctively as the Human Beatbox on the cautionary "All the Help". Robert Powell brings his signature textural touch, playing electric and steel guitar, and in particular with electric sitar and Ebo on "Just Another Song". Glenn Houston's lead guitar sizzles on the anthemic road song, "Ride" and serves up a helping of sass on "That is Why You Like Me". Shirley Muramoto's koto part on "Origami", about transformation and possibility, is almost painfully beautiful. Caren's fluent guitar chops and soaring vocals provide the heart and soul for every song, with her passion for singing harmony in rich evidence throughout.

There are several ways to get "EVERYTHING" on to your playlist. Click here to order your own copy to have and hold, OR to visit C-tunes to purchase song by song or to purchase a hifi digital download of the whole CD for a little over ten bucks.

EVERYTHING Song Descriptions

That Is Why You Like Me Caren begins as she intends to continue, with some sassy slide guitar, and a spunky attitude. Joe Craven swings along on regulation motel trash can and brushes. Glenn Houston’s swaggering guitar adds just the right touch to this toe tapper, with Chris Kee doing his best tuba impersonation on the acoustic bass.

HeartStrings This harmony rich anthem reminds us all to Go for the Joy. Robert Powell contributes one of his signature texture tracks on electric guitar. Peter Tucker (drums) and Chris Kee (acoustic bass) chug along with Caren on this lively two step that promises to have you dancing and singing along from the first flourish of Darol Anger’s lilting fiddle.

Ride A rousing story/road song with a colorful cast of characters, from Hell’s Angels founder Sonny Barger, to roller derby queen Toughie Brasuhn. Anyone who likes to put their foot to the pedal or their hand on the throttle will appreciate this classic tale… Glenn Houston sizzles on lead guitar, Peter Tucker drums, Chris Kee acoustic bass, Robert Powell pedal steel.

Origami Starkly lush, Shirley Muramoto’s koto rises like a cloud of perfume to open this romantic, delicate flower of a song. Caren’s evocative vocal is accompanied by her plush open D finger picking and Edo Castro’s pulsating fretless bass. A spellbinder that suggests that we are all just blank paper waiting to be folded and unfolded by the infinite possibilities of love.

Follow You Down Joe Craven sets the tone of this head bobbing groover with a snappy whack on his bongos and then is quickly joined by the band. In typical smart ass fashion Caren hangs a tongue in cheek lyric on a groove so perky that it takes a while to notice the truly pathetic nature of the story unfolding in the lyrics. Peter Tucker drums, Chris Kee acoustic bass, Robert Powell lead guitar.

All the Help Is it a tape loop? Is it a sampler? No, it’s Joe Craven, human beat box kicking off this highly original call for humility and compassion. That’s right folks, he’s making all those percussion sounds with his mouth. In ONE take. Darol Anger’s syncopated fiddle and Henry Salvia’s wailing B3 are the spice that complete this funky funky stew.

Savasana “Inhale love, exhale forgiveness” What else is there to say? Only that this inspiring song appeared to Caren while practicing yoga, Sav = corpse, asana = pose. The pose of the dead. The ultimate surrender. Chris Kee on bass, Robert Powell on pedal steel, Joe Craven on shaker.

Just Another Song Ok, every CD is entitled to one atmospheric, angst ridden rant and this would be it. It wouldn’t be right if it didn’t have some trippy electric sitar played with an Ebo by Robert Powell and some exotic percussion (too extensive to list) by Joe Craven. Edo Castro bumps fretless bass on the bottom. Certified authentic Redhead angst provided by the small but mighty Caren Armstrong.

I Light a Candle One of Caren’s most requested songs. An offering of Grace (especially after that last one). A small, personal song and a beauty. Glenn Houston adds a layer of elegance with his acoustic guitar lead.

What the Devil Won’t Do What does a girl have to do to get some space?? Caren gets out her slide guitar and her attitude with help from Peter Tucker drums, Chris Kee acoustic bass, and Henry Salvia B3 organ.
If That is Heaven Loss and bitterness often walk hand in hand. Stark, slow, poignant and made more so by Darol Anger’s mournful fiddle. Anyone who is mad at God is welcome to join Caren as she shakes her fist at the sky…

Ode To Billy Joe A fresh and funky remake that still asks the question: “What DID they throw off that dang bridge???” Lloyd Maines makes this version about ten degrees cooler with a signature Dobro part that winds and weaves it’s way through all five and a half minutes of this track. Peter Tucker drums, Chris Kee acoustic bass, and Henry Salvia accordion.

Everything Caren picks up a storm on her new 1/2 size papoose guitar. This little gem wraps up the CD and well, Everything. “When you know that you don’t know, then you know Everything…”