Jaimee Harris

Chances are you’ve heard the Austin Music Minute sing praises of Jaimee Harris, not only of her talent and her songwriting, but also of her great support of fellow musicians and bands around town. If she’s not onstage performing alongside them, she’s quite happily in the audience, soaking up every moment of the performance, as any music lover would.

Now it’s time for Harris to take center stage. She’s working on her debut album, Mockingbird Lane, and is kicking off a new residency tonight at the Cactus Cafe. She’ll perform there each Monday night this month, with a special guest sharing the bill. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and Louisa, KY native Tyler Childers will start the night out at 8 p.m. Next week, Betty Soo opens the show, Matt McCloskey opens on Feb. 22nd, and Tahoma on Feb. 29th. Recommended for Monday night awesomeness.

-Photography by Betsy Lackey. - KUTX

Jaimee Harris‘ relaxed and smoky timbre filled Studio 1A with Americana sweetness on Wednesday. Her lyrics are simple yet poignant, and listeners can’t help but lean in. Harris’ compositions will soar though Austin’s intimate listening rooms all weekend. She’ll join Peter Case at the Cactus Cafe on November 20th and play shows at Strange Brew on the 21st and 22nd. - KUTX

About six years ago, I had the privilege of meeting a very talented young lady from the Waco area named Jaimee Harris. She had been performing as a duo with her father (Better Off Dad), and had just released for first solo EP, Farewell to Texas. Although only nineteen at the time, songs like “Quicksand” and “Landmines” showed a maturity that was well beyond her years.

Over the past few years, Ms. Harris has spent plenty of time in Austin playing solo gigs, as well as providing background vocals for various artists, including William Harries Graham and The Painted Redstarts, Charlie Faye, and Dallas singer-songwriter favorite Garrett Owen. Yes, Ms. Harris does love for provide vocal support to others, probably more than any other artist I personally know. Unfortunately, her solo recording career has taken a backseat to the background vocals. I’m happy to report that’s about to change.

Jaimee Harris has begun a Pledge Music campaign to help fund her debut full length album, Mockingbird Lane. And yes, there are rewards for donations, which range from a copy of the new album all the way to an Executive Producer credit on the album. In between, there are plenty of other cool perks, including handwritten lyrics to a song, her covering a song of your choice, as well as house concerts. Of course, I think the most fun one would have to be the Whiskey Listening Party for $250, but that’s just me.

Seriously though, Mockingbird Lane is an album that needs to happen. I’ve long maintained that Ms. Harris could be a presence to be reckoned with not just in Texas, but throughout the nation’s Americana/singer-songwriter scene. Her voice is as commanding a presence as it was the first time I saw her, and her songwriting skills are only getting sharper. I offer this video of the song “Creatures” as evidence of my claims. Enjoy, and if you can afford to donate, please do so. - Ghost of Blind Lemon

Jaimee Harris’ Wrecking Ball
“WEAR SOMETHING PRETTY AND WHITE”
BY WILLIAM HARRIES GRAHAM, 4:00PM, WED. APR. 1
On Thursday, April 2, Emmylou Harris turns 68. That same day, Austin’s Jaimee Harris turns 25, so she’s put together a tribute at Strange Brew to Emmylou’s Wrecking Ball, released 20 years ago come September. The album crossed over Harris from country to indie and was produced by Daniel Lanois, the title track written by Neil Young.
Jaimee Harris, meanwhile, has spent the last couple of years making a name for herself on the local music scene. She’s sat in on Sunday morning gospel brunch with the Purgatory Players at Strange Brew, gigged at Holy Mountain, and sung with Seela, Charlie Faye, Matt McCloskey, Josh Halverson, Ali Holder, Jimmy LaFave, Jonny Gray, David Ramirez, Kalu James, and even my band, the Painted Redstarts.




BY MIKE FICKEL


“The biggest compliment I’ve ever received was from a live music fan,” she recounts. “He said, ‘You’re like the Emmylou Harris of Austin. You’re singing on everyone’s records, singing backup for everyone live, and doing your own thing. And there’s never any doubt it’s your voice.

“‘It’s distinctive, but it blends.’”


Harris grew up in Waco. In high school, she played as a duo with her father in the Dallas folk scene as Better Off Dad. In 2002, her dad took her to see Patty Griffin and Emmylou at her first ACL Music Festival. Inspired, she left Austin writing her first original songs. After attending Colorado State University, she moved to Austin in 2009.

“David Ramirez and I toured together in the summer of 2008,” she says. “David had just left Nashville and decided to move to Austin after some significant time on the road. David suggested I try out Austin as a new home as well. Austin is close enough to Waco that I knew I could afford the gas to run home if I got into too much trouble.”

She laughs.

“I didn’t know anything about Austin when I moved here other than so many of my heroes live here. At times, I still can’t believe I live here. It seems surreal to me that I’ve played places like the Cactus Cafe and Continental Club, because that’s where I’ve seen my heroes play.

“I really hope that feeling never goes away. I believe what makes Austin so unique is its artists’ willingness to work together. It feels like we’re all rooting for each other here instead of trying to climb on top of each other.”

For the tribute to Wrecking Ball, Harris has gathered old friends and new ones, much like Emmylou did when she recorded the album. The house band is made up of Fred Mandujano, Brian Douglas Phillips, Jacob Hildebrand, Jayme Ivison, and Lonnie Trevino. The songs will be sung by Michael Fracasso, Charlie Faye, Charlie Stout, BettySoo, Barbara Nesbitt, Noelle Hampton, Bonnie Whitmore, Kacy Crowley, Daniel Whittington, and Ellen O’Meara.

Harris calls Wrecking Ball a “melting pot.” Its songwriters fill the Americana songbook: Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Anna McGarrigle, Julie Miller, David Olney, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams. Many fans consider the disc to be its songbird’s watershed recording.

“I’ve always really connected with Emmylou’s music and have always been mesmerized by her unique voice,” says Harris. “There’s nothing quite like it. However, I’ve found that her approach to music is above all most appealing to me. It’s kind of a chicken or egg thing. I can’t figure out if I followed a similar path as Emmylou because I admire her, or if I accidentally ended up crafting my career in a similar way.

“I’m a huge fan of her willingness to collaborate with so many artists, as well as new artists. She seems to be such a team player and I really love that about her.


“As for turning 25 years old on Thursday, I will be legal to rent a car!” - The Austin Chronicle

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing Jaimee Harris perform, chances are good you take away something powerful with you. Her lyrics set something in motion that triggers the memory, melts the heart, warms the soul, maybe even strikes that chord within that leaves you a bit forlorn. Harris is an extremely talented songwriter and incredible, passionate singer. But there’s one more thing that makes her extraordinary - she’s a huge supporter of her musical peers. Harris also has a natural skill, instinct, creativity and flexibility that allows her to collaborate with her fellow artists in a number of ways.

Whether she’s at an open mic night at Strange Brew with Kacy Crowley, performing with The Painted Redstarts at Spider House Ballroom or The Continental Club, or catching sets by James McMurtry in The Continental Club’s upstairs gallery, or The Happen-Ins at the Mohawk, she is front and center, completely present for the moment, and continuously inspired by others’ talents.

Make sure you see Jaimee Harris perform with a full band tonight at Holy Mountain, 617 E. 7th St. Doors open at 9 p.m., and Harris and her band play at 9:30 p.m., followed by St. Louis folk/roots/Monk jazz-influenced outfit Mt. Thelonious at 10:30 p.m., and melodic folk/acoustic duo Tahoma at 11:30 p.m. Recommended. - KUTX

February 28, 2015 Peter Blackstock - Austin American Statesman
By Peter Blackstock- American-Statesman Staff

Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/ente...3944680.735658

“And the songbirds keep singing, like they know the score.” As the final chorus of “Songbird” floated into the Erwin Center’s rafters, Fleetwood Mac reached the moment of its swan song, for what might have been forever. It was Halloween night of 1982, and 16,000 Austin concertgoers had just witnessed what turned out to be the last show that Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood played together for a long, long time.

Nobody realized that would be the case when it happened, least of all the band members. They’d agreed to take a break and pursue solo projects after a four-album run from the mid-’70s to the early-’80s that included “Rumours,” one of the biggest-selling LPs of all time. But when it came time for the next Fleetwood Mac tour, not everyone was on board.

Buckingham was the first to depart, agreeing to record the 1987 album “Tango in the Night” with the group but not to tour behind it. Replacements were hired for the tour that stopped at the Erwin Center in fall 1987, but Nicks, whose solo career had flourished in the mid-’80s, left after 1990’s “Behind the Mask.”

All five members reunited to play one song at the January 1993 presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton, who’d adopted the band’s song “Don’t Stop” as the theme of his campaign. But it wasn’t until May 1997, nearly 15 years after that night at the Erwin Center, that all five members played a full show again, recording the live album “The Dance” in Los Angeles.

That album sparked a tour that stopped in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston in late 1997 but not Austin. Subsequent Fleetwood Mac tours were missing Christine McVie, writer of the pivotal “Don’t Stop” among other hits, until she rejoined last fall.


Speaking by phone from California this week, Buckingham said he thinks McVie’s 16-year absence from the band, which involved a move from Los Angeles back to her native England, “had a good healing effect for her, and she sort of came out the other side. She started to appreciate what this particular family, dysfunctional as it may be, had to offer for her, and how much she shared with us.

“Because really, for better or for worse, we as a fivesome have been through things together that no one else has been through. On some strange level, we all know each other in a way we’ll never know someone else who hasn’t been through all that. And I think she really just started to miss it.

“If you want to think of there being a number of acts that can last over a number of years, this could be the beginning of a beautiful last act.”

That ‘final’ show

The band’s sold-out concert Sunday at the Erwin Center marks the classic lineup’s first show at the venue in more than 32 years. The 1982 Erwin Center appearance was ticketed for Oct. 7, but a band illness on that date forced a postponement. The Oct. 31 show, rescheduled for the very end of the tour, thus became a date with destiny for Austin fans.

The 22-song performance opened hot with the “Rumours” rockers “Second Hand News” and “The Chain,” Buckingham bouncing about the stage in a constant kinetic frenzy. “Rumours” tracks provided the bulk of the set, though they also drew from their 1982 album “Mirage” (which was No. 2 on the Billboard charts at the time), as well as from their 1975 self-titled LP and 1979’s adventurous double-album “Tusk.”

A mid-set highlight was the classic ballad “Landslide,” with former lovers Nicks and Buckingham exchanging heartfelt glances and gestures at the song’s end. (“Landslide” later helped Fleetwood Mac connect with new generations of fans when Smashing Pumpkins had a modern rock radio hit with an acoustic cover version in 1994, followed by the Dixie Chicks’ country crossover smash in 2002.)

The whole night felt special, as if the band members knew it was the end of an era. A look back at writer Kevin Phinney’s review of the show in the American-Statesman confirms as much. “After a 5-minute solid din of applause,” he noted in addressing the encore, “the group re-emerged, and Buckingham said that not only was this the last tour date, but it would be the last time Fleetwood Mac would perform together for some time, since they all have some solo projects ahead.”

Asked about the show in our phone interview, Buckingham said he didn’t recall specifics from that night, but in general he was feeling uncertain about the band’s future, in part because he felt like the “Mirage” album had been a too-safe reaction to the envelope-pushing “Tusk.”

“I wasn’t sure where I was going in terms of my function with the band by the time we got done with that tour, because ‘Mirage,’ which had some beautiful songs on it, felt like we were kind of receding back for the wrong reasons,” Buckingham explained. “And it left me as a producer feeling like I was treading water.”

After the 1982 tour, Buckingham released his second solo album, “Go Insane,” and finally left the band in 1987 after working with them on “Tango in the Night.” “I felt that I would have been remiss if I had not been involved in that album, at the time that it came about,” Buckingham told me in a 1993 interview during a tour to support his 1992 “Out of the Cradle” album. “I didn’t feel any need to tour; I felt I had fulfilled my obligations, and that that was the time” to leave.

He had no plans to look back. Our 1993 interview took place just three weeks after the band’s one-song reconvening for Clinton’s inauguration, and “we got a lot of questions about (whether) this is going to mean we’re embarking on a real reunion. And it isn’t that at all. I wouldn’t have missed that time for anything, but I spent those 12 years preparing for being able to do something that I find a little more satisfying personally. There’s really no reason for me to want to go back to that now.”

Together again

Time changes everything, and by 1997, all five members were on the same page again. “The Dance” was one of pop music’s big events that year, a live DVD and CD culled from two performances on a Warner Bros. sound stage in which they were joined by the USC Trojans marching band for the anthemic title song of “Tusk.”

“The Dance” was mostly a recap of the band’s best-known songs with a few new tracks sprinkled in, but for some younger listeners, is was a revelatory point of entry. Austin singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris says she started playing music largely because of the impact the album had on her when she was 7 years old.

“My parents had gotten me a guitar when I was 5, and I messed around with it for a little bit,” she says. “And then ‘The Dance’ came out in ’97, and that totally did it for me — the harmonies, and I thought what Lindsey Buckingham was doing was amazing. So then I sought out to learn like every Fleetwood Mac song that I could.”

Harris is among more than a dozen local artists who will perform Fleetwood Mac songs at a March 13 tribute show at Strange Brew in South Austin. Others performing include Suzanna Choffel, Betty Soo, Matt the Electrician, Charlie Faye and Jon Dee Graham, whose son William Harries Graham is organizing the show.

“This show came about spontaneously when I gave Jaimee Harris some rare Stevie Nicks tracks,” Harries Graham said by email. “Jaimee talked about when she first saw Stevie Nicks stare down Lindsey Buckingham during the outro of ‘Silver Springs,’ singing ‘You’ll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you’ — that she had never witnessed such power in music before. We talked about much how fun it would be do to a Fleetwood Mac tribute.”

Revived interest in the band among musicians they influenced has been widespread for some time. In 2002, indie-rock pioneers Camper Van Beethoven re-recorded the “Tusk” album in its entirety, and a 2012 tribute disc featured contributions from the likes of Tame Impala, the New Pornographers, St. Vincent and Best Coast.

I asked Buckingham if he was familiar with the influence of Fleetwood Mac’s work on contemporary acts. “Yeah, I do hear those references in a lot of groups that are now what you would call indie groups, or alternative music. It’s kind of all over the place,” he replied. “But it’s a nice thing to be able to feel that – because really, that’s what it’s for. You put stuff out there to give something to somebody else’s life, really. And hopefully it takes.”

Locally, jam-rockers Calliope Musicals have been known to play “Rumours” in its entirety onstage, while country-rock band the Whiskey Sisters made the 1975 album cut “Blue Letter” a staple of their live sets in the past couple of years. “I have always been a fan of the songs, the harmonies and the unusual placement of vocals, not to mention the tasteful instrumentation,” says Whiskey Sisters co-leader Barbara Nesbitt.

Harries Graham says he first found his way to Fleetwood Mac after hearing Nicks’ backing vocals on folk-rocker John Stewart’s 1979 hit “Gold,” a paean to the golden age of Los Angeles folk-rock and pop music. “I think the band’s appeal is that whole innocence of the Southern California 1970s vibe of Neil Young, the Eagles, Gram Parsons and the great hope that seemed to feed American culture at that time,” he says.

Or perhaps it’s as simple as this: “Fleetwood Mac are among the titans of rock ’n’ roll,” Harries Graham declares, “but they are not so loud that my grandfather needs earplugs to listen to them - Austin American-Statesman

Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson brought his high-energy show to a near-capacity crowd at the House of Blues in Dallas on Friday night in support of his most recent album "Some Mad Hope."

Supported by Jessie Baylin and Texas native Jaimee Harris, Nathanson started out the show by entering a dark stage with Queen's Flash Gordon playing throughout the room -- a move that brough chuckles of nostalgia from the few audience members old enough to remember the song.

Not being one to kill the mood, Nathanson kept Queen's tempo and started his show with several upbeat songs off of his new album.

Nathanson said the album, "Some Mad Hope," is the culmination of three years of hard work and that the songs went through quite an evolutionary process before being released.

"A song like 'Come On Get Higher,' which is the single, went through three different recorded versions of that song trying to get what actually ended up being the most basic version of the song," said Nathanson.
Nathanson said they spent a lot of time trying to polish the songs, ultimately making them into something they weren't and that once they allowed the songs to stand on their own, whether in the studio or on the road, they then started coming into shape.
So how does he craft those upbeat folk-rock anthems and love songs?
During a short conversation before his set, Nathanson discussed his approach to songwriting and recalled a conversation he had earlier in the day while speaking at Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts -- likening it to speaking at "Fame."
"I was talking to all these musican kids, it was totally rad ... and what it comes down to is the vomit process and then the refinement process. For me, the process of, just, getting it out ... and then cherry pick from the little bits that work," Nathanson said.
Throughout the show, Nathanson cherry picked through his new album to highlight songs such as "Car Crash" and "Come On Get Higher," while peppering his setlist with covers of classics like as Ah-Ha's "Take On Me" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" - the latter a bit of an homage to the singer/actor who was scheduled to play the House of Blues on Saturday night.
In between songs, Nathanson's personality and wit kept the audience intently engaged as he quipped and joked about one thing or another and nothing in particular -- without a doubt the nearly 1,000 in attendance were highly entertained.
In all, the show is an electric, high-energy show by a seasoned veteran of the road. Nathanson live is better than recorded -- which is still nothing short of pretty fantastic.
Oh, and Matt, if you're reading this -- not that you have a shortage of fans -- but if that whole music thing doesn't work out for you -- the House of Blues hosts comedians as well.
- NBC DFW - The Scene

A growing number of Waco music venues and bands hope to turn Friends into customers and fans. That’s Friends as in Facebook Friends, Twitter Followers and MySpace Friends. Online social media sites Facebook, Twitter and MySpace serve as the latest ways of communicating with fans, friends and customers, and local venues are using them to reach people with information on concerts, events, and food or drink specials. Some businesses see them as an expansion of company branding, projecting a persona that will stick in a customer’s mind. Xxx Friend/fan lists, concert notifications, contact information and more — musicians and venues find Facebook a handy option to reach audiences. Xxx With personal quips, breaking news and links to interesting stories and videos, Twitter users can project their personality to online readers. Xxx Bands and performers often rely on MySpace's video player and calendars to keep fans informed and to cultivate new ones. “It’s totally changed how we communicate,” said Kimberly Garth, store manager for the popular Common Grounds coffeehouse on the edge of Baylor University. Common Grounds keeps in touch with its customers through its Facebook page, Twitter account and Web site, a practice that many bands and venues adopt to reach larger, somewhat overlapping audiences. The coffeehouse even has a staff member, shift manager Travis English, designated as its Twitter representative, charged with keeping the messages flowing to Common Grounds’ Tweeps, or friends. The three free services offer slightly different features due to their structure. MySpace (www.myspace.com), the first social medium to catch fire nationally, offers audio and video players that users can fill with songs and video clips. It has links for blogs, fan messages, a calendar and photos. Facebook (www.facebook.com), which grew from a college-centered program to an open membership, has a Newsfeed of Friends’ current comments and shared links to Web sites, photos and videos; games and surveys; special pages for businesses, organizations and causes; a live chat function; and user-posted photo albums. Twitter (www.twitter.com), the newest and fastest-growing platform, allows rapid communication of messages no more than 140 characters long to a user’s Followers. Its continually updating message feed makes breaking news easy to spread, and searchable fields can give users a way to feel a national or international pulse on specific topics. Millions of Tweeps — Twitter users — kept abreast of Iran’s last presidential election through Twitter messages sent by Iranians. All three platforms are free, but users can control access to their personal pages and information by limiting it to approved users called Friends on Facebook and MySpace, Followers on Twitter. Almost as important: They’re accessible on cell phones with the right software, such as the iPhone. Garth said the social media’s different flavors lend themselves to different uses. “Twitter is so much more immediate and has more personality,” she said, explaining that Common Grounds communicates, or tweets, such items as food and drink specials for the day, local celebrity spotting (such as Baylor head football coach Art Briles) and observations of life in general. On Common Grounds’ Facebook page goes information on concerts, benefits, shows and Monday night movies, the latest addition for the venue’s outdoor stage area. Though Baylor’s wired student population is an obvious reason for Common Grounds’ online presence, the coffeehouse sees those platforms as a way to reach a broader audience. Other Waco-area venues see a similar opportunity in the social media. Hog Creek Icehouse Marketing Director Mary Frosch runs Facebook, Twitter and MySpace pages for the Icehouse plus its Web site. She tries to keep the same information, mostly about upcoming shows, posted across the differing platforms, updating them several times a day. She’s run the site’s MySpace page for about two years, adding Facebook and Twitter six months ago. Frosch senses that MySpace may be losing its steam, while Facebook and Twitter continue to grow their popularity. Do the Icehouse’s Facebook Friends turn out for different shows than its MySpace ones? She can’t tell, but has noted that the Icehouse’s general fanbase is getting more diverse. Other Waco music venues with a presence on Facebook and Twitter include rock and punk stage and store Art Ambush, neighborhood bar Hemingway’s and downtown locations Austin’s on the Avenue and Square Bar. While local music venues are expanding their use of social media, Waco bands and musicians are well-acquainted with them. Waco’s David Crowder Band, whose leader and players belong to University Baptist Church, play the electronic networking game on a high level. The band often streams its recording sessions live on its Web site, counts 76,728 fans on its Facebook page and keeps another 26,986 Twitter friends up-to-date on the band’s day-to-day activities and observations. The David Crowder Band also posts its videos to YouTube, with a humorous video series (including one episode titled “Twitter Can Kill You”) running in advance of the Christian band’s upcoming CD, Church Music. Some two dozen local bands can be found on MySpace, with some migrating to Facebook and Twitter. For Hewitt musician Jaimee Harris, the more, the merrier. Harris got her start several years ago performing with her father as Better Off Dad and says social media expand the tool kit needed to build a following. She maintains quite a kit: Two MySpace pages (one from her Better Off Dad days), a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a presence on OurStage, a Web site that sponsors online band contests. “I tend to direct new listeners (and venue owners) to the MySpace (page) because they can get a feel for the number and calibre of the venues I play, as well as the artists I’ve worked and performed with,” she explained in a recent e-mail. “I consistently use Facebook for events because it is extremely user friendly . . . Twitter is faster paced and totally different than either Facebook or MySpace. I definitely use Twitter to send out immediate reminders for shows.” Like Common Grounds’ Garth, Harris found Twitter’s immediacy helpful in sharing personality. “Twitter is also really helpful while touring. Just posting a picture of something hilarious that happened on the road helps the fans feel more involved with what I’m doing,” she wrote. “With electronic media, I can actually start conversations with fans before they ever are able to make it to a live performance.” Incidentally, the two-way nature of social media works in more than one way. How did she find out about the story? A reporter tweeted her. choover@wacotrib.com 757-5749 - Waco Tribune Herald

Local CD Releases Jaimee Harris: Transitions As part of the duo Better Off Dad, Hewitt’s Jaimee Harris wowed audiences in Waco’s various coffeehouses. The duo split up a few years ago, and Jaimee has since build upa n impressive solo career, touring the country. “Transitions” is Harris’ newest EP CD release. The album features Jaimee’s soulful voice and powerful lyrics. With a sound that harkens back to artists such as Patty Griffin, Roseanne Cash, and (yes) Alanis Morrissette, this might be the album that finally launches Jaimee Harris to the top of the “Americana” charts. “Transitions” features music and lyrics delivered by a voice that will appeal to music fans of all ages. Having seen Jaimee perform while she was still in high school, I’m really happy to see that she has progressed as an artist, while keeping the sensitivity that makes her so appealing as an artist and a performer. “Penny Lane” is the strongest track on the album. No, it’s not a cover of The Beatles’ hit. The song is an ode to Kate Hudson’s character from the Russell Crowe film, “Almost Famous.” With subjects ranging from drug addiction to sex, the song would’ve fit perfectly in the film. Another great track on the record is “Cool.” With a groove that is reminiscent of Shawn Colvin, the song describes a young woman’s battle with life and love, while painting a picture of life that only women twice Harris’ age could pull off. The album closes with “Good To Be Bad,” a live track recorded with Austin musician David Ramirez. Harris is featured only as a background vocalist and guitarist. The song is the perfect outlet for Jaimee’s perfect harmonic range. The album is available at: http://www.noisetrade.com/jaimeeharris

-Benn Stimmel - City Review

Girls with guitars seem like a dime a dozen in the city of Austin, Texas, but to categorize musician Jaimee Harris as typical singer/songwriter would be a mistake in the least. Badass with a guitar and killer voice is more like it. I was privileged to have a phone interview with her this afternoon and learn about how she came to the music.

Jaimee Harris: It started when I was five years old. For Christmas I really really wanted a Pegasus. I told all my friends that I was gonna hook them up and fly them around. That was the same year I found out Santa Clause wasn’t real and I got a guitar instead. My dad had always played and been into it and hoped I would get into it too.

.When I was seven I saw Fleetwood Mac. Seeing Lindsey Buckingham play made me realize I knew I would love playing and couldn’t do anything else. Like at career day at school I was always like, “I’m gonna be a rock star!”

Lacey Lewis: When did you start writing?

JH: When I was 14 years old I got into Patty Griffin and realized there was more to music than what was on the radio. I also got into Emmylou Harris. Then I started writing. My first song, ‘Lucky’ was a cheesy love song. My dad was in a band that he played in all through college. When I was 10 I learned covers and would play them during set breaks. I messed around with open chords and liked how they sounded and came up with ‘Lucky.’

LL: Do you still play it?

JH: Yeah I actually do *laughs* I wrote a lot of crap after that. Not all of it was good.

LL: Would you say that any one of your songs best represents you?

JH: I just now got into a real groove. My writing has changed a lot this past year, so there isn’t really a song that best represents me. I get a lot of inspiration with random people literally all over the place. I’m inspired by humanity and our nature as humans. I’m a big people watcher.

LL: When did you make your first album?

JH: My dad had a little studioe at our house. I would record songs to remember them. My first album was in 2005. It was just a collection of all the songs I had written. I want the new record to be more cohesive with a bigger theme. But I still that record.

LL: When are you going to get started on the new album?

JH: I’m working with Brian Douglas Phillips ( of Rattletrap studios). We recorded one song. I want to get started I January. I want to release it in April but probably by summer. It’s called One of the Boys.

LL: Is that the bigger theme of the album?

JH: Yeah, it’s just about being one of the guys. All of my best friends are all guys and I was never super girly.

LL: Do you have brothers?

JH: Yeah, one is 10 and the other is almost 13. Growing up my mom was never into music and my dad was. We had that connection so I picked up his tendencies.

LL: So you’ve basically been living the career day dream of being a rock star?

JH: Yeah. Every time I’m near a mike in a bar or coffee shop, I’m so in love with it.


Check out Jamie Harris whenever you’re in Austin. Keep an ear out for One of the Guys.Download a whole album for free at www.noisetrade.com/jaimeeharris

Check out a preview of what’s to come:
- Best New Bands

By Steve Watkins

Special to DFW.com
Posted 12:37pm on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

The first time I saw Jaimee Harris perform was at coffee shop in Waco. She was about 13 years old, with braces on her teeth, and she had just won and then been disqualified from a singing competition sponsored by Sony (she didn't meet the minimum age requirements).

By the time she was 14, her dad was driving her up from Waco to Funkytown and Big D, where she was playing to packed crowds every weekend. (There's still a video on YouTube from those days, complete with the braces; search for "Jaimee Harris Lucky" -- you'll be glad you did). At 18, she had her first beer on Willie Nelson's tour bus.

"I didn't know how to drink beer," Harris recalled. "I grew up in conservative Waco, Texas, and swore I would never touch alcohol at all. [Willie] asked me: 'What are you doing tomorrow? I'm playing this little gig in San Antonio tomorrow.' Of course the little gig was Willie Nelson's Picnic. So I hopped the bus with Willie Nelson that night. I got to hang out with Robert Earl Keene, David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. About 4 o'clock in the morning on July 5th, Willie Nelson's tour bus drops me off in Hewitt, Texas."

On Saturday, at Buffalo Bros. on University Drive, Harris played to her old Funkytown friends. It had been more than a year since she played the Fort, but people crowded around and even sang along with some of the songs that she wrote before she could even drive.

The show opened with a cover of Jackson Browne's Barricades of Heaven, but Harris quickly followed up with some of her own, painfully good originals. Despite her young age (she's in her early 20s), Harris' powerful voice and emotional performance speaks of the accelerated life of a veteran folk musician. There's a lot of Patty Griffin influence there, but most of what she sings about comes from her own life experiences. She does a song about her little nephew blowing the punch line to a knock-knock joke, followed up by one about living out of her car in Dallas and trying to make a living as a musician.

She also did a cover of I'm Not an Addict by K's Choice that gave me chills, and an original about coming out to her mother.

"The song is called Dear Mom," Jaimee explains, "and it's just kind of a list of my transgressions. I'm drinking gin, I'm in love with a woman, I smoke pot, I smoke cigarettes, I love the Lord, but church makes me uncomfortable. I'm not good with my words when I speak to people.... So my music is an outlet for me to write things that I can't say to people, and I get it out of my system and feel better."

After about an hour, Harris took a break to "transgress" with some cigarettes, while Garret Owens took over the mike for a few songs, which is always a pleasure. Then Harris was back to play until close. Since Buffalo Bros. is a restaurant as well as a bar, the crowd is often indifferent to the performers -- but most of Harris's fans stayed until the last note.

In addition to her touring, Harris takes time to do benefits for some worthy causes like Falling Whistles, a program that helps kids in the Congo. She is also spearheading a unique fundraiser for her friend Julie Main of the Lazy J Paradise (a GLBT campground). Main has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has no insurance. Until June, Harris will allow you to go to her website and request a song.

"I'll do a YouTube video of it," said Harris. "You can donate however much you want, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Julie and her fight."

For more information about Jaimee Harris, check out www.myspace.com/jaimeeharrismusic

For information on Falling Whistles, visit www.fallingwhistles.com

For info on Julie Main, go to createone.tumblr.com - DFW.com

By Steve Watkins

Special to DFW.com
Posted 12:37pm on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

The first time I saw Jaimee Harris perform was at coffee shop in Waco. She was about 13 years old, with braces on her teeth, and she had just won and then been disqualified from a singing competition sponsored by Sony (she didn't meet the minimum age requirements).

By the time she was 14, her dad was driving her up from Waco to Funkytown and Big D, where she was playing to packed crowds every weekend. (There's still a video on YouTube from those days, complete with the braces; search for "Jaimee Harris Lucky" -- you'll be glad you did). At 18, she had her first beer on Willie Nelson's tour bus.

"I didn't know how to drink beer," Harris recalled. "I grew up in conservative Waco, Texas, and swore I would never touch alcohol at all. [Willie] asked me: 'What are you doing tomorrow? I'm playing this little gig in San Antonio tomorrow.' Of course the little gig was Willie Nelson's Picnic. So I hopped the bus with Willie Nelson that night. I got to hang out with Robert Earl Keene, David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. About 4 o'clock in the morning on July 5th, Willie Nelson's tour bus drops me off in Hewitt, Texas."

On Saturday, at Buffalo Bros. on University Drive, Harris played to her old Funkytown friends. It had been more than a year since she played the Fort, but people crowded around and even sang along with some of the songs that she wrote before she could even drive.

The show opened with a cover of Jackson Browne's Barricades of Heaven, but Harris quickly followed up with some of her own, painfully good originals. Despite her young age (she's in her early 20s), Harris' powerful voice and emotional performance speaks of the accelerated life of a veteran folk musician. There's a lot of Patty Griffin influence there, but most of what she sings about comes from her own life experiences. She does a song about her little nephew blowing the punch line to a knock-knock joke, followed up by one about living out of her car in Dallas and trying to make a living as a musician.

She also did a cover of I'm Not an Addict by K's Choice that gave me chills, and an original about coming out to her mother.

"The song is called Dear Mom," Jaimee explains, "and it's just kind of a list of my transgressions. I'm drinking gin, I'm in love with a woman, I smoke pot, I smoke cigarettes, I love the Lord, but church makes me uncomfortable. I'm not good with my words when I speak to people.... So my music is an outlet for me to write things that I can't say to people, and I get it out of my system and feel better."

After about an hour, Harris took a break to "transgress" with some cigarettes, while Garret Owens took over the mike for a few songs, which is always a pleasure. Then Harris was back to play until close. Since Buffalo Bros. is a restaurant as well as a bar, the crowd is often indifferent to the performers -- but most of Harris's fans stayed until the last note.

In addition to her touring, Harris takes time to do benefits for some worthy causes like Falling Whistles, a program that helps kids in the Congo. She is also spearheading a unique fundraiser for her friend Julie Main of the Lazy J Paradise (a GLBT campground). Main has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has no insurance. Until June, Harris will allow you to go to her website and request a song.

"I'll do a YouTube video of it," said Harris. "You can donate however much you want, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Julie and her fight."

For more information about Jaimee Harris, check out www.myspace.com/jaimeeharrismusic

For information on Falling Whistles, visit www.fallingwhistles.com

For info on Julie Main, go to createone.tumblr.com - DFW.com

Solo artist Jaimee Harris debuts full band

When Jaimee Harris was five, she asked Santa for a Pegasus. When Christmas morning came, she awoke to find not the fantastical creature she had requested, but instead, a guitar.

"I played around with it for a bit, but it wasn’t until I discovered Fleetwood Mac two years later that I really began to play," Harris said. "I think most little girls dream of getting married. I just wanted to be Stevie Nicks."

Is that how you would say you got started in music?

JH: When I was fourteen I discovered Patty Griffin and knew songwriting was what I wanted to pursue. Since there were not a lot of opportunities for me to play in my hometown, Hewitt, TX, I began playing in the DFW area.

What are some of your influences?

JH: Like many singer-songwriting folk nerds you run in to in Austin, I have been extremely influenced by Patty Griffin. Her words both cut and heal and her voice is so distinct. Not a day goes by that I don’t listen to Ryan Adams. I have also fallen deeply in love with Emmylou Harris. Not just her voice, but her career. One of the biggest compliments I’ve ever received was from a songwriter in town. In the studio, he joked that I was the Emmylou Harris of Austin because I’ve sang backup for so many different artists in this town. Just like when you know without a doubt Emmylou is singing backup, it’s easy to pick out my voice. I’m not sure I’ve earned that compliment yet, but I’ll take it.

Who have you worked with in the past and what were those experiences like?

JH: My most memorable experience was being asked to tag along with Matt Nathanson and Jessie Baylin on the Texas portion of their tour in 2008. I had already opened for Bob Schneider and Jon Randall, but these gigs were different. Matt’s single, “Come on Get Higher” was huge at the time, so the shows were insane. And of course I treasure every moment I get to work with my great friend David Ramirez, and have ever since we started playing music together seven years ago. It is a amazing experience watching a sold out club stand in silence, captivated by his, well, David-ness. There is no one like him.

Why after flying solo for a while have you decided to play with a full band?

JH: I’ve had people telling me to put a band together for years, but the timing never felt right. Honestly, it makes sense to do so. All of my records are full band. I’m too loud for coffee shops and not loud enough for bigger venues. Things finally fell in place at the right time.
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Who exactly makes up the band?

JH: My guys are great and I am so thankful to have them. I met Brian Douglas Phillips at a bar in College Station completely on accident. I was on tour with David at the time and had heard great things about Brian. Turns out, after we’d popped in his CD for the drive, he was hanging out at the patio of the venue. I stayed in touch with Brian after I moved to Austin and found myself singing in his project. Brian owns a great studio in town, Rattletrap Audio, where I will be recording my next record. Daniel Whittington and I met at Momo’s and discovered we had very similar musical tastes and that we grew up approximately ten miles from each other. I began singing with Daniel, which led me to meeting his father and our shared bass player, Brad Whittington. I can’t help but laugh when I’m around Brad. He’s a well-established writer and is incredibly witty.

What other shows do you have coming up?

JH: KUT and Deadbird Records are including me in an acoustic showcase at the Manor Thunderbird on August 19. If you’re in to mornings feel free to come to the Good Morning Hangover Show at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (on) South Lamar. I go on at 11 am and Tara Craig, (who was) Roaries best female artist 2010, performs at noon. I’ll also be playing at this fall’s Old Pecan Street Festival in Austin. I’m very excited about participating in a songwriter’s round with Daniel Whittington and Lizzy Lehman at Thunderbird (on) Koenig on September 3. It’ll be a great time of story telling and soul bearing.

Catch Jaimee Harris and her full band tonight at Red Eyed Fly. Cover $5. Doors 8pm.
Austin solo artist Jaimee Harris will be debuting her full band tonight at Red Eyed Fly.
Austin solo artist Jaimee Harris will be debuting her full band tonight at Red Eyed Fly.
Credits:
Photo by Carole Kiphen.
- The Examiner

Saturday Night Music Troubadours to play downtown Grand Rapids, An evening of art and food at Bar Divani's Photography Room (Grand Rapids, MI) -- Musical artist David Ramirez is one of three traveling musicians who will play the first public show, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 24, in a new space hosted by Bar Divani and organized by Richard App Gallery. Entry is $25 at the door (Seriously, this is three GREAT musical artists and food handed to you on a plate!!!). Austin native Ramirez, who last year played Hugo Claudin's Mexicains Sans Frontieres venue, returns with Jaimee Harris, also of Austin, and Bay Area player Luke Franks. The three young, yet seasoned, musicians will plant the seeds for what organizers envision as a regular series of performance art specifically selected to complement visual elements on display in a gallery setting. "Ours is not an entirely new approach, but the gallery space we have and the artists who are interested in performing create a unique mix of ideas and appreciation for the artistic spectrum that we would like to make available on an increasingly more regular basis," Rich App said. When not playing in Austin, Ramirez tours the country performing songs off his two works "Birmingham: An Acoustic EP" (2008) and "American Soil" (2009), captivating audiences with well thought-out songs of the heart, with a voice that both whispers and roars, tears and mends. (www.davidramirezmusic.com) Harris carries a unique musical voice, one that has been honed since she began playing guitar and writing songs as a young child. Drawing from musical influences as diverse as Patty Griffin and Muse, Harris's musical palette is broad and deep. (www.myspace.com/jaimeeharrismusic) Franks finds himself on the road in a time of transition, on the heels of his dismantled record label and broken up band. Rather than call it quits and get a "real job", he tossed his possessions in storage, grabbed his guitar and hit the road with his two friends. (lukefranks.com) The Photography Room is located on the main level inside 15 Ionia Ave. SE. The $25 ticket price includes small plates from Bar Divani. There will be a cash bar. Arrive early to peruse the hanging art. For a closer look at the Photography Room, visit: www.bar-divani.com/event_rooms/photography_room.htm - Grand Rapids Now

The first time I saw Jaimee Harris perform was at coffee shop in Waco. She was about 13 years old, with braces on her teeth, and she had just won and then been disqualified from a singing competition sponsored by Sony (she didn't meet the minimum age requirements).

By the time she was 14, her dad was driving her up from Waco to Funkytown and Big D, where she was playing to packed crowds every weekend. (There's still a video on YouTube from those days, complete with the braces; search for "Jaimee Harris Lucky" -- you'll be glad you did). At 18, she had her first beer on Willie Nelson's tour bus.

"I didn't know how to drink beer," Harris recalled. "I grew up in conservative Waco, Texas, and swore I would never touch alcohol at all. [Willie] asked me: 'What are you doing tomorrow? I'm playing this little gig in San Antonio tomorrow.' Of course the little gig was Willie Nelson's Picnic. So I hopped the bus with Willie Nelson that night. I got to hang out with Robert Earl Keene, David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. About 4 o'clock in the morning on July 5th, Willie Nelson's tour bus drops me off in Hewitt, Texas."

On Saturday, at Buffalo Bros. on University Drive, Harris played to her old Funkytown friends. It had been more than a year since she played the Fort, but people crowded around and even sang along with some of the songs that she wrote before she could even drive.

The show opened with a cover of Jackson Browne's Barricades of Heaven, but Harris quickly followed up with some of her own, painfully good originals. Despite her young age (she's in her early 20s), Harris' powerful voice and emotional performance speaks of the accelerated life of a veteran folk musician. There's a lot of Patty Griffin influence there, but most of what she sings about comes from her own life experiences. She does a song about her little nephew blowing the punch line to a knock-knock joke, followed up by one about living out of her car in Dallas and trying to make a living as a musician.

She also did a cover of I'm Not an Addict by K's Choice that gave me chills, and an original about coming out to her mother.

"The song is called Dear Mom," Jaimee explains, "and it's just kind of a list of my transgressions. I'm drinking gin, I'm in love with a woman, I smoke pot, I smoke cigarettes, I love the Lord, but church makes me uncomfortable. I'm not good with my words when I speak to people.... So my music is an outlet for me to write things that I can't say to people, and I get it out of my system and feel better."

After about an hour, Harris took a break to "transgress" with some cigarettes, while Garret Owens took over the mike for a few songs, which is always a pleasure. Then Harris was back to play until close. Since Buffalo Bros. is a restaurant as well as a bar, the crowd is often indifferent to the performers -- but most of Harris's fans stayed until the last note.

In addition to her touring, Harris takes time to do benefits for some worthy causes like Falling Whistles, a program that helps kids in the Congo. She is also spearheading a unique fundraiser for her friend Julie Main of the Lazy J Paradise (a GLBT campground). Main has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has no insurance. Until June, Harris will allow you to go to her website and request a song.

"I'll do a YouTube video of it," said Harris. "You can donate however much you want, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Julie and her fight."

For more information about Jaimee Harris, check out www.myspace.com/jaimeeharrismusic

For information on Falling Whistles, visit www.fallingwhistles.com

For info on Julie Main, go to createone.tumblr.com - DFW.COM

August 5, 2005 debuts the acoustic folk/rock duo, Better Off Dad, at Poor David's Pub, opening for Jon Randall.

Better Off Dad is Chris and Jaimee Harris - a father/daughter folk/rock duo out of Waco with astounding energy and amazing musical talent. They are making their mark as singer/songwriters in the region. Chris and Jaimee have been featured in articles in The Fort Worth Tribune and on WFAA Channel 8's morning show, Daybreak, in the "Why Guy" segment in conjunction with Panther City Coffee Company, where their performance was met with positive response from audience and news casters alike.

As Texas singer/songwriters, Chris and Jaimee bring solid, creative originals to their musical table - which is even more remarkable since many of the original tunes are written by Jaimee. Her talent is much more developed than would be normally imagined by someone who's only fifteen years old. These varied and unique songs have received excellent marks and feedback from the folk music community on http://www.GarageBand.com. Their original songs are highly placed in GarageBand's ranking system. They continue to hold firm and even climb GarageBand's folk music charts.

This will be Dallas' first opportunity to see this remarkable duo in the legendary Poor David's Pub venue, which has helped launch the careers of many top rated musicians and bands. They will be joining the ranks of the now famous, and infamous, bands that have passed through Poor David's doors. They are looking forward to a long and positive relationship with area musical venues such as Poor David's Pub.

Poor David's Pub is located at 1313 South Lamar in Dallas. For more information on the venue call 214-565-1295. Better Off Dad is currently playing other shows around the region in support of their second CD, Great Expectations. They can be found at http://www.betteroffdad.com or through Chris Harris at 254-214-5483 in Waco.

Better Off Dad Launches to New Career Heights at Poor Davids Pub

http://www.prnewsnow.com/Public_Release/Music/41550.html


- PR NEWS NOW

Local CD Releases Jaimee Harris: Transitions As part of the duo Better Off Dad, Hewitt’s Jaimee Harris wowed audiences in Waco’s various coffeehouses. The duo split up a few years ago, and Jaimee has since build upa n impressive solo career, touring the country. “Transitions” is Harris’ newest EP CD release. The album features Jaimee’s soulful voice and powerful lyrics. With a sound that harkens back to artists such as Patty Griffin, Roseanne Cash, and (yes) Alanis Morrissette, this might be the album that finally launches Jaimee Harris to the top of the “Americana” charts. “Transitions” features music and lyrics delivered by a voice that will appeal to music fans of all ages. Having seen Jaimee perform while she was still in high school, I’m really happy to see that she has progressed as an artist, while keeping the sensitivity that makes her so appealing as an artist and a performer. “Penny Lane” is the strongest track on the album. No, it’s not a cover of The Beatles’ hit. The song is an ode to Kate Hudson’s character from the Russell Crowe film, “Almost Famous.” With subjects ranging from drug addiction to sex, the song would’ve fit perfectly in the film. Another great track on the record is “Cool.” With a groove that is reminiscent of Shawn Colvin, the song describes a young woman’s battle with life and love, while painting a picture of life that only women twice Harris’ age could pull off. The album closes with “Good To Be Bad,” a live track recorded with Austin musician David Ramirez. Harris is featured only as a background vocalist and guitarist. The song is the perfect outlet for Jaimee’s perfect harmonic range. The album is available at: www.noisetrade.com/jaimeeharris - The City Review

Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson brought his high-energy show to a near-capacity crowd at the House of Blues in Dallas on Friday night in support of his most recent album "Some Mad Hope."

Supported by Jessie Baylin and Texas native Jaimee Harris, Nathanson started out the show by entering a dark stage with Queen's Flash Gordon playing throughout the room -- a move that brough chuckles of nostalgia from the few audience members old enough to remember the song.

Not being one to kill the mood, Nathanson kept Queen's tempo and started his show with several upbeat songs off of his new album.

Nathanson said the album, "Some Mad Hope," is the culmination of three years of hard work and that the songs went through quite an evolutionary process before being released.

"A song like 'Come On Get Higher,' which is the single, went through three different recorded versions of that song trying to get what actually ended up being the most basic version of the song," said Nathanson.

Nathanson said they spent a lot of time trying to polish the songs, ultimately making them into something they weren't and that once they allowed the songs to stand on their own, whether in the studio or on the road, they then started coming into shape.

So how does he craft those upbeat folk-rock anthems and love songs?

During a short conversation before his set, Nathanson discussed his approach to songwriting and recalled a conversation he had earlier in the day while speaking at Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts -- likening it to speaking at "Fame."

"I was talking to all these musican kids, it was totally rad ... and what it comes down to is the vomit process and then the refinement process. For me, the process of, just, getting it out ... and then cherry pick from the little bits that work," Nathanson said.

Throughout the show, Nathanson cherry picked through his new album to highlight songs such as "Car Crash" and "Come On Get Higher," while peppering his setlist with covers of classics like as Ah-Ha's "Take On Me" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" - the latter a bit of an homage to the singer/actor who was scheduled to play the House of Blues on Saturday night.

In between songs, Nathanson's personality and wit kept the audience intently engaged as he quipped and joked about one thing or another and nothing in particular -- without a doubt the nearly 1,000 in attendance were highly entertained.

In all, the show is an electric, high-energy show by a seasoned veteran of the road. Nathanson live is better than recorded -- which is still nothing short of pretty fantastic.

Oh, and Matt, if you're reading this -- not that you have a shortage of fans -- but if that whole music thing doesn't work out for you -- the House of Blues hosts comedians as well.


http://www.nbcdfw.com/around_town/the_scene/Nathansons_High_Energy_Show_Fills_House_of_Blues.html - DFW: AROUND TOWN

irls with guitars seem like a dime a dozen in the city of Austin, Texas, but to categorize musician Jaimee Harris as typical singer/songwriter would be a mistake in the least. Badass with a guitar and killer voice is more like it. I was privileged to have a phone interview with her this afternoon and learn about how she came to the music.

Jaimee Harris: It started when I was five years old. For Christmas I really really wanted a Pegasus. I told all my friends that I was gonna hook them up and fly them around. That was the same year I found out Santa Clause wasn’t real and I got a guitar instead. My dad had always played and been into it and hoped I would get into it too.

.When I was seven I saw Fleetwood Mac. Seeing Lindsey Buckingham play made me realize I knew I would love playing and couldn’t do anything else. Like at career day at school I was always like, “I’m gonna be a rock star!”

Lacey Lewis: When did you start writing?

JH: When I was 14 years old I got into Patty Griffin and realized there was more to music than what was on the radio. I also got into Emmylou Harris. Then I started writing. My first song, ‘Lucky’ was a cheesy love song. My dad was in a band that he played in all through college. When I was 10 I learned covers and would play them during set breaks. I messed around with open chords and liked how they sounded and came up with ‘Lucky.’

LL: Do you still play it?

JH: Yeah I actually do *laughs* I wrote a lot of crap after that. Not all of it was good.

LL: Would you say that any one of your songs best represents you?

JH: I just now got into a real groove. My writing has changed a lot this past year, so there isn’t really a song that best represents me. I get a lot of inspiration with random people literally all over the place. I’m inspired by humanity and our nature as humans. I’m a big people watcher.

LL: When did you make your first album?

JH: My dad had a little studioe at our house. I would record songs to remember them. My first album was in 2005. It was just a collection of all the songs I had written. I want the new record to be more cohesive with a bigger theme. But I still that record.

LL: When are you going to get started on the new album?

JH: I’m working with Brian Douglas Phillips ( of Rattletrap studios). We recorded one song. I want to get started I January. I want to release it in April but probably by summer. It’s called One of the Boys.

LL: Is that the bigger theme of the album?

JH: Yeah, it’s just about being one of the guys. All of my best friends are all guys and I was never super girly.

LL: Do you have brothers?

JH: Yeah, one is 10 and the other is almost 13. Growing up my mom was never into music and my dad was. We had that connection so I picked up his tendencies.

LL: So you’ve basically been living the career day dream of being a rock star?

JH: Yeah. Every time I’m near a mike in a bar or coffee shop, I’m so in love with it.



Check out Jamie Harris whenever you’re in Austin. Keep an ear out for One of the Guys. Download a whole album for free at www.noisetrade.com/jaimeeharris

Check out a preview of what’s to come:
- Best New Bands

Better Off Dad is a father/daughter acoustic duo from the heart of Texas. ( Jaimee is 15 now. Dad is...older.)

Chris and Jaimee Harris began playing their blend of folk-pop regularly throughout Texas in December 2004 when Jaimee was 14, and they have since independently recorded 2 full length albums.

Chris explains, “More than anything, this project is an opportunity to spend time with my daughter, and to teach her what I know (good and bad) about music and about what's REALLY required for people who want to do it full-time. I haven't scared her off yet, but there's still time.” - indie netunes

Matt Nathanson sure loves his audience and they love him just as much. Nathanson performed at the House of Blues on Friday to a jam-packed room. Nathanson even said that this was probably the largest audience he has played for.

In almost every song, the singer/songwriter had something to say. The folk/rock artist is big on jokes, most of them, ones you would never let your 11 year-old daughter hear. However, if you weren’t 11, you would find his jokes hilarious, his voice earth shattering, and his energy infectious. Nathanson makes it a point to connect with the audience and stays on their level.

Opening the show was Texas native Jaimee Harris, although she currently lists Fort Collins, CO as her home address the acoustic guitar player said she was thrilled to be back in Texas. The personable and charismatic Harris channeled Brandi Carlile’s powerful vocals and Miranda Lambert’s feminine yet poignant angst, but lacks the it factor to prove herself as a country/folk artist.

Following Harris with her soulful and sultry vocals reminiscent of Duffy and Amy Winehouse, before all the drugs, was Jessie Baylin. For any Jimmy Kimmel Live fans out there, Baylin performed her song “Was I On Your Mind” last week. Baylin played this song towards the end of her set and with it was able to fully gain the audience’s attention. Clad head to toe in black with incredibly cool black leather boots, Baylin sung her heart out doing some air guitar as well.

Nathanson came on with a bang, with all the lights out and Queen’s Flash Gordon blaring from every speaker, the guitar player let everyone know that he had arrived. Along with playing hit songs “Come On Get Higher,” “Car Crash,” and “All We Are” from his current album Some Mad Hope, he played audience favorites and requests such as “Maid” and “Angel.” Nathanson also covered songs from almost every genre imaginable including Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” A-Ha’s “Take On Me” and the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have To Do Is Dream.”
Jessie Baylin at House of Blues

Like every musician, Nathanson has his little quirks that are ever present throughout the entire concert. Nathanson continually moves his hips from side to side, but if you have seen his music video for “Come On Get Higher” on VH1, this comes as no surprise. Having incredibly powerful vocals, Nathanson played with his distance from the microphone moving in close and then backing up 10 feet, quite possibly making the sound person go a little crazy, but Stephen Stills did it for decades with CSN. Neither of these quirks were annoying though, nor did they detract from Nathanson’s performance, which is far, far more than I could say about John Mayer’s strange facial expressions.

HOB could not put on a bad show if they tried, and Nathanson’s performance and ability to connect with the audience cannot be put into words. His music moved every person in the room and for a moment had everyone convinced they were 17 again with crazy, mad hope.
- Pegasus News http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/oct/25/concert-reviewmatt-nathanson-house-blues-oc