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LOCAL NEWS
Phoenix Pride's gem - Melissa Ferrick
Phoenix Pride has lined up a
number of entertainers for this
year’s event, country singer Chely
Wright, 70s pop group The Village
People and songstress Vanessa Carlton.
But, if your musical tastes tend
toward gritty vocals and gut wrenching
lyrics catch Melissa Ferrick who
performs on Sunday, April 22.
This singer/songwriter has a
great deal to show for two decades in
the music industry. There is the expansive
body of work, mapped out
over the sixteen albums that comprise
her career to date, nearly all of
which she distributed herself. There
are the stories of the crisscrossed
world and the things she has both
gained and lost in her wake. There is
the fervent fan-base that has grown
with Ferrick, Above all there is the
sound, a voice burnished by breakdowns
and breakthroughs, refined
over the twenty years she has been
doing this.
Ferrick has been putting out impressive
albums since 1993. Her
last, Still Right Here, features guest
spots from Ani DiFranco and Kaki
King. Ferrick’s 17th album, showcases
the signature guitar sound that
Ferrick is revered for, blending seamlessly
with her flawless gritty vocals.
Many feel that this is her best work
to date.
“This is the record I’ve wanted to
make for a long time,” Ferrick says.
“The sound of it — the songwriting
is definitely a step above where I was
a few years ago.”
The growth reflected on Still
Right Here is a direct result of the
emotional topography of Ferrick’s
news / politics / business / opinion
life, shaped by the events of the past
few years. In addition to falling in
and out of love with her partner, she
made the difficult decision to end
the business relationship she’d built
with her best friend over the course
of her career. At the same time, Ferrick
decided to sign to MPress Records
after years of self-distributing
her albums, which at first proved a
difficult to decision to make.
Given the self-scrutiny it was of
chief importance that the record
sound alive. “I really tried to sing my
ass off,” Ferrick says. “I wanted it to
sound like it was all happening in the
room at the same time.” And Ferrick
succeeds, there’s a living, breathing
quality to the songs comprising Still
Right Here.
Album namesake “Still Right
Here” serves as the record’s mission
statement, inspired by a friend who
walked away from a terrible car accident.
“That song is really important
to me, because no matter how
By Staff
hard you try to run away from your
stuff, it doesn’t matter. It’s always going
to knock on the door for you to
deal with.” “Weightless And Slow”
showcases two of Ferrick’s strengths;
the incredible guitar work that she’s
known for which perfectly complements
her soulful vocals as she spins
a tale of love and hope. Another of
Ferrick’s strengths lies in her ability
to mine the contents of her life and
set them to music – “You Let Me
Be” is lo-fi balladry at its best, going
deep into the romantic territory of
Ferrick’s life with guest vocals from
friend and tour mate Ani DiFranco.
Ferrick brings the energy of a
twenty-something to her live performances.
With her youthful good
looks it is hard to believe that she has
been performing for two decades.
The Pride Festival runs April
21-22 at Steele Indian School Park.
Single day tickets are $20. A twoday
pass is $30. Purchase at phoenixpride.org
When Rock & Politics Mix!
Meet singer, song-writer Melissa Ferrick in a more
intimate setting! Join her and Congressional Candidate
Kyrsten Sinema for a ‘mix and mingle’ to raise funds &
awareness about Sinema’s campaign for Congress.
saturday, april 21st, 7 - 9 p.m. at o.h.s.o. eatery
+nanoBrewery, 4900 e. indian school rd.
RSVPs required. Call 602-770-3077 or
email devin@rankinconsultingllc.com
ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 9