NUVO Spoke 1990S, Jensen Attended the Columbia Anna Statman,” Jensen Says
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
nine local women talk songs and success Whether they are by Leslie Benson, photos by Julie Curry and Kris Arnold strumming guitar chords, wielding violin strings or exploring the human condition Grunge-era distorted guitars says. “I still have stacks in my closet and Shirley Manson-esque that I will always keep, but I’m not a through oral story- vocals erupt from Indianapolis ‘user’ anymore. I loved Tank Girl, native Jane Jensen — a gritty Death and Delirium — they were my telling, Central Indiana singer-songwriter unlike the favorite characters.” ballad chokers heavy on store A fearless “Tank Girl” in her own shelves these days. She’s vin- right, Jensen has tackled the music nurtures a fertile field tage ’90s, when alt-rock world head-on. She’s played CBGB reigned, and female musi- with Green Day and Red Rocks with cians began breaking molds. Bad Religion. A few more achieve- of women in jazz, Her songs move. They have ments of note: Jensen’s Burner CD pre- attitude. But the lovable Jensen’s viously won the best alternative album songs seduce as much as charm. award from Just Plain Folks, a national blues, country, folk and I think Joan Sometimes they stir trouble. organization based in Indianapolis, “My first musical obsession was and she signed for a stint with down and dirty rock. Jett will still be Mick Jagger and Rolling Stones,” Interscope before becoming 100 per- “ Jensen says. “I’m still obsessed.” cent independent. “When I was with kicking ass long After moving to Chicago in the early Interscope, I was signed by a woman, Recently, NUVO spoke 1990s, Jensen attended the Columbia Anna Statman,” Jensen says. “Still, [the College for music and theater, where music scene] is mostly populated by after Britney dark industrial act Ministry had a stu- men, and it can feel like a boys club.” to nine local female dio. Jensen recorded her first CD at But Jensen’s in her own “club” — Spears has a Chicago Trax and ended up babysit- songwriters with stories to tell and ting Al Jourgensen’s daughter. the chops to back them up. “Of the musicians who have lobotomy. From an alt-rock edge, Jensen newer popular female artists, I really began introducing industrial ele- like KT Tunstall and Amy found individual and ments, like programmable instru- Winehouse,” Jensen says. “I don’t ” ments into her music, though the respect label/producer-driven pop songwriter could still hammer out music written by a writing team for a alternative routes to licks on her guitar. “When I moved to female vocalist… I think Joan Jett will New York and started recording still be kicking ass long after Britney Comic Book Whore, all of the Chicago Spears has a lobotomy.” success about what influences really came out in my The straightforward Jensen recent- music,” she says. “The music I am ly returned to live in Indianapolis. doing today is all acoustic based … She just finished recording her third matters to them most it’s pretty organic.” solo CD, Rockabye, at Pop Machine A self-proclaimed comic book Recording Studios with Eric Klee and and how they’ve man- “nerd,” Jensen’s Chicago days also Marc Johnson. Look for a CD release found her reading graphic classics. party at the Melody Inn in early “Pretty soon I was a total fanboy for September. aged to make music a Neil Gaiman and Jamie Hewlett,” she full-time profession. 14 cover story // 07.18.07-07.25.07 // NUVO For Indianapolis singer- list, the guitarist has allowed her But that was after overcoming about nurturing other indepen- songwriter Ann McWilliams, a Midwest upbringing to seep into bouts of stage fright. dent artists. Her nationally syndi- beat-up cowboy hat and a 14- her music, playing originals like “The first thing that happens cated radio program, City of Music year-old Santa Fe guitar are “Love X 7,” about her old guitar, when you get nervous on stage is (www.cityofmusic.com), aired for the most comfortable things to covers of Neil Young, Lucinda that everything goes south,” nearly six years until 2006 on sta- to put on at the end of the Williams and the Pretenders. McWilliams says. “So what I do is I tions like WKLU-FM 101.9, where day. On the long journey from “You have to adapt to your envi- never think about a show before- it began, and WTTS-FM 92.3. For a past full of bar gigs with for- ronment,” McWilliams says, “and I hand … I become sort of my alter- the independent, world-wise mer band Miles to Go to the do a combination of both [covers ego, and it’s just as comfortable show, she paid $200 per hour with all-ages festival shows now, and originals]. It’s a good thing.” now as [the real me].” the help of outside donors and McWilliams finally knows The former French horn play- McWilliams performs regional- funds from the live shows she put what works for her. er and pianist found music as ly for audiences large and small, on to help with programming. “I’ve brought a bluegrass her means of self-expression while promoting the arts as the “Independent musicians, if essence into my music over throughout school. It triggered marketing director for the they’re good enough, should the past year and a half. It’s her decision to join the DePauw Indianapolis City Market, sup- have a platform on radio,” fitting,” she says. “I real- University orchestra in porting locally-grown goods. “My McWilliams says. ized, I can get really old Greencastle, Ind., and to sing in goal down the road would be to “The fans want it. That’s the and still do country!” the band Plaid Descent during have a musician here every day,” bottom line. The gatekeepers say Switching from the origi- the mid ’90s. Eventually, she says. “It would be good for the they want to support it, but they nal music purveyor school McWilliams would even perform market and the community.” have no idea what it takes.” of thought to a more open set at President Bush’s inauguration. McWilliams is most passionate Independent musicians,if “ When I get to sing, they’re good enough, “I like to do hard- should have a plat- grinding blues. form on radio. She peppers 150 left,” she says, “and I’ve” only jazz on top of been selling them out of the trunk ” everything, of my car.” Next, her mission is to whether she’s record a gospel album. playing in a fine- “I did a play called Crowns about tailored Motown women wearing hats and going to revue or a gospel church, and it was all gospel SEE THEM LIVE: show with one music,” Williams says. “I did most of her six bands. of the songs in the show [of which, Ann McWilliams Indianapolis Art Center “When you hear a few will be re-released, with a www.annmcwilliams.com Wednesday, July 25, 7 p.m., free, all-ages Ella Fitzgerald twist, on her upcoming album, “Groovin’ in the Garden” • Conrad Hotel or Billie including ‘On the Battlefield for Easley Winery Friday, July 27, 9 p.m., free Holliday … you My Lord’]. It’s gonna have a mod- Tuesday, Sept. 18, 5-7 p.m., free, all-ages • Jazz Kitchen hear a human ern back-up band with saxophone Saturday, July 28, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., $10, 21+ instrument,” says singer Brenda and trumpet. It’ll be exciting • Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Sunday, July 29, 7 p.m., free Williams, “[and] you try to mimic praise music.” Carrie Newcomer the styling.” The music Williams records and www.carrienewcomer.com For Williams, singing for her performs full-time — joyful, easy- Concerts on the Canal, with Krista Detor father in church at age 6 was just the listening jazz and standards — is Presented by the Indiana Historical Society Jane Jensen beginning. She won Mrs. Montana not the same music she listens to Thursday, Aug. 2, 6-8 p.m., reserved table seat- www.janejensen.net ing: $25 for tables of four people; $35 for www.myspace.com/janejensen and became second runner-up for in her car. “I have some really old- tables of eight people, all-ages • Rockabye CD release party, sponsored by Mrs. America in 1984 — and that school rap [in there now],” she NUVO was before her career really began. says, adding that she’s thinking Late August or early September, date and loca- “Everything kind of happened about covering some of the tracks Cathy Morris tion yet TBD shortly thereafter,” she says. That with her band, the Soul Providers. www.cathymorris.com • Acoustic set included opening for Ray Charles. “When I get to sing, I like to do • Canal Lunch Concerts Spin Nightclub “I was well received,” she remem- hard-grinding blues, and I love Wednesday, July 18, 11 a.m., free, all-ages Friday, Sept. 7, 10 p.m., 21+ bers. songs like ‘The Thrill is Gone’ by • Greensburg Concert Series with the Lake Now a grandmother, Williams B.B. King,” she continues. “He Sanatee Trio says her “children have taught [me] makes the guitar talk! I also love Saturday, July 21, 7:30, free, all-ages Jennie DeVoe so much about life.” She’s watching Otis Redding’s ‘Sittin’ on the Dock • Conrad Hotel www.jdevoe.com her grandchildren grow up, realiz- of the Bay.’ At the end, I whistle. I Sundays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free, all-ages • The Rathskeller • Cathy Morris quartet ing the importance of teaching call it my talent.