Katy Lin & the Moonlight Riders

Somewhere in the City
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Music Mondays// Dave Garrett with Singer Songwriter Spotlight

The idea of an open mic night is definitely not a new concept. However, Dave Garrett has taken a concept that everyone is familiar with and made it fit with the ever evolving music scene in Jacksonville. Every Wednesday night starting around 9pm, at Riverside’s own Rain Dogs, Dave Garrett hosts the Singer Songwriter Spotlight. As you can probably tell by the name, this evening is much more focused on the artists’ original songs rather than the everyday cover. Dave emphasizes that cover artists will not be shunned, but that the night’s aim is to focus on what music people are creating on their own. He has such a passion for local artists and original music, and even though he’s incredibly busy the whole night, he makes his rounds and always stops by me long enough to admire the musician playing with a quick, “She is so insanely good!”.



Now before I say this I want it to be known that I’ve been to my fair share of open mics, so I don’t say this lightly: The Singer Songwriter Spotlight in Five Points is home to one of the most diversely talented group of people I have ever played with. Every so often the perfect combination of community, location, word of mouth, and interest comes together to create something truly edifying. The Spotlight has only been going on for a few months now and the night is already booked with artist after artist, sharing their own music and style. The skill level ranges from humble beginners to seasoned vets, and the musical styles range from folk to shoegaze to classical to indie rock. If you have not yet had a chance to visit The Spotlight, join us this Wednesday night to experience something you won’t hear anywhere else.



Now to give you more details on our night at The Spotlight, I would like to introduce Ricky. Ricky writes on music and comics for Void magazine and used to write for FSU’s student paper, the FSView, in the Arts & Life Section. When I met him, he couldn’t stop talking about music and when he mentioned that he was also a writer, Morgan and I recruited him immediately for SITC. My favorite part about Ricky is that he can pretty much interview anyone, anywhere, anytime. That helps a lot because I am such a sheep when it comes to that kind of stuff. Anyways, we look forward to many more posts from Ricky:

Nice to meet you guys? Well, “meet” in the loosest sense of the word. Onwards.

So what’s the biggest fear any of us have going into an open mic night, regardless of location? For me, and I’m sure for most of you, the thing I always dread about open mics is the chance that somebody is going to come up and completely embarrass themselves in front of a large group of people they don’t know. I don’t know if it’s because I’m relatively self-conscious, almost to a crippling degree sometimes, but if eight or nine people step up to the microphone, and five or six of them are terrible, it can ruin my night. And before this Wednesday, I’d never been to an open mic night at Rain Dogs, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I know that Riverside is a cool part of town, and that it has a pretty great music scene, but it was still an open mic night. Anyone. Everyone. There’s a lot of room for things to go wrong right there. But I was delighted when almost every person that came up to the microphone could not only play, but sing their own songs with a great deal of confidence. I’ve been to open mic nights in college, and usually there’s one or two people that know what they’re doing, and the rest are fumbling with mic stands or singing out of key. The atmosphere at Rain Dogs was completely different.

The first person up was a solo artist by the name of Jameyal (pronounced Juh-meal, for reasons unknown). Stylistically, he definitely had one foot firmly planted in the jam band arena, and the other in more melodic guitar lines. He played three or four songs, and brought an impressive variety of sounds to the venue with just a guitar, a bass, a mini-turntable, and a loop pedal. He went from a ho-down, bluegrass inspired instrumental, to one that blended hip-hop and our favorite 64-bit plumber, to a soul-funk jam with all of his transitions sounding natural. Jameyal didn’t sing, but that was probably by design because of the musical fusion he was trying to create for the audience.

After Jameyal, one of my favorite performers of the night came up: a Seattle import named Katy Lin, who you could tell from her opening chords is an advocate of the great women of country’s heyday, like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Her first song w - Somewhere in the City

Somewhere in the City
SomewhereintheCity.com encourages a lifestyle of community and relationships while supporting local businesses and causes. We highlight People, Places, and Happenings in Jacksonville, Florida.
Somewhere in the City
About
The Team.
People.
Places.
Happenings.
SitCJax Exclusives
#Music_in_the_City Mondays
#igersjax_Thursdays
#Feature_Fridays
Music Mondays// Dave Garrett with Singer Songwriter Spotlight

The idea of an open mic night is definitely not a new concept. However, Dave Garrett has taken a concept that everyone is familiar with and made it fit with the ever evolving music scene in Jacksonville. Every Wednesday night starting around 9pm, at Riverside’s own Rain Dogs, Dave Garrett hosts the Singer Songwriter Spotlight. As you can probably tell by the name, this evening is much more focused on the artists’ original songs rather than the everyday cover. Dave emphasizes that cover artists will not be shunned, but that the night’s aim is to focus on what music people are creating on their own. He has such a passion for local artists and original music, and even though he’s incredibly busy the whole night, he makes his rounds and always stops by me long enough to admire the musician playing with a quick, “She is so insanely good!”.



Now before I say this I want it to be known that I’ve been to my fair share of open mics, so I don’t say this lightly: The Singer Songwriter Spotlight in Five Points is home to one of the most diversely talented group of people I have ever played with. Every so often the perfect combination of community, location, word of mouth, and interest comes together to create something truly edifying. The Spotlight has only been going on for a few months now and the night is already booked with artist after artist, sharing their own music and style. The skill level ranges from humble beginners to seasoned vets, and the musical styles range from folk to shoegaze to classical to indie rock. If you have not yet had a chance to visit The Spotlight, join us this Wednesday night to experience something you won’t hear anywhere else.



Now to give you more details on our night at The Spotlight, I would like to introduce Ricky. Ricky writes on music and comics for Void magazine and used to write for FSU’s student paper, the FSView, in the Arts & Life Section. When I met him, he couldn’t stop talking about music and when he mentioned that he was also a writer, Morgan and I recruited him immediately for SITC. My favorite part about Ricky is that he can pretty much interview anyone, anywhere, anytime. That helps a lot because I am such a sheep when it comes to that kind of stuff. Anyways, we look forward to many more posts from Ricky:

Nice to meet you guys? Well, “meet” in the loosest sense of the word. Onwards.

So what’s the biggest fear any of us have going into an open mic night, regardless of location? For me, and I’m sure for most of you, the thing I always dread about open mics is the chance that somebody is going to come up and completely embarrass themselves in front of a large group of people they don’t know. I don’t know if it’s because I’m relatively self-conscious, almost to a crippling degree sometimes, but if eight or nine people step up to the microphone, and five or six of them are terrible, it can ruin my night. And before this Wednesday, I’d never been to an open mic night at Rain Dogs, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I know that Riverside is a cool part of town, and that it has a pretty great music scene, but it was still an open mic night. Anyone. Everyone. There’s a lot of room for things to go wrong right there. But I was delighted when almost every person that came up to the microphone could not only play, but sing their own songs with a great deal of confidence. I’ve been to open mic nights in college, and usually there’s one or two people that know what they’re doing, and the rest are fumbling with mic stands or singing out of key. The atmosphere at Rain Dogs was completely different.

The first person up was a solo artist by the name of Jameyal (pronounced Juh-meal, for reasons unknown). Stylistically, he definitely had one foot firmly planted in the jam band arena, and the other in more melodic guitar lines. He played three or four songs, and brought an impressive variety of sounds to the venue with just a guitar, a bass, a mini-turntable, and a loop pedal. He went from a ho-down, bluegrass inspired instrumental, to one that blended hip-hop and our favorite 64-bit plumber, to a soul-funk jam with all of his transitions sounding natural. Jameyal didn’t sing, but that was probably by design because of the musical fusion he was trying to create for the audience.

After Jameyal, one of my favorite performers of the night came up: a Seattle import named Katy Lin, who you could tell from her opening chords is an advocate of the great women of country’s heyday, like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Her first song w - Somewhere in the City

I had an amazing opportunity to chat with Katy Lin, from Katy Lin & the Moonlight Riders and what better way to promote this extremely talented group then to share with you, The Seattle Lesbian readers, our discussion of music, juggling careers and sexuality.

McKenzie Morrell: Describe Katy Lin & the Moonlight Riders.

Katy Lin: Upbeat, swamp blues alt country without any vocal twang. Professionals. We play stone cold sober. [We are] musicians who continue to play together because we all love and appreciate the sound that is being created. Good friends. We will engage you with our smiles and our hip shakes, and all the obvious fun we have on stage.

MM: What was the experience like for you, to close the Mural Stage at Pride?

KL: Closing the mainstage at Pride (Fischer green) was unlike anything that I've ever experienced. The day took FOREVER, probably the longest day of my life. Oh my God, the anticipation, and I was pretty much nervous all day! When we finally got up there this sense of carelessness had overcome me. I just wanted to rock out then head to the Wildrose and have my first drink of the day - good ole' shot of KANtucky bourbon. This carelessness must have been equivalent to fearlessness because I had more fun playing that show than any other I can remember. I was all over the place dancing with my guitar. I feel like my performance and stage presence was on steroids. The show, short and charged with energy, ended and I did finally get to the Wildrose - at which point I was flattered by audience members who were surprised by the fact that I was actually there. [It was] my first small celebrity moment!

MM: What do you think draws people to your music?

KL: In regards to the sound...the music...I think it's the simplicity, the clarity. It's not too busy. There is plenty of space for listeners to move into and jive with a rhythm....whether it be Max's lead electric, Bruce's upright bass lines, or my guitar rhythm. It's catchy. Lyrically I'm still fueling from personal experiences and I think that people recognize that and identify with my stories.

MM: When you're not performing, what are some of your other hobbies?

KL: Hmmmm.....when I'm not performing I'm riding my bike, rock climbing, taking my dog on off-leash hikes, and writing. Right now most of my spare time goes into my garden. Does anyone need any summer squash? I have WAY too much. Oh yeah...I also spend a lot of time in the hospital caring for patients. I'm a 3rd year medical student.

MM: Is it difficult to manage being in a band and working at a hospital?

KL: You know...it is. Right now I'm just fresh in the field. Six years of book work is nothing when you are face to face with a real person with real fears and real health concerns. It's funny, right now I feel like such a little kid, I'm playing doctor and learning from the more experienced people around me. Since I'm just ending my 3rd week of clinical work, my balance that I had achieved previously was thrown off a bit. But I am adapting well. The most important realization that I came to recently (like about two weeks ago) is that my patients are my priority. Music is a coping mechanism....it enables me to breathe, take a step back and absorb the chaos, and express myself. In doing so, I dissipate the chaos. Music somehow brings me order. It's that steady pulse, invigorating and, for me, life-sustaining. I would be miserable without it.

The great thing about Katy Lin and the Moonlight Riders is that we are not starving struggling musicians. We play because we have fun and we love getting together. We only play once a month, which is really the only sustainable way to do it, especially if you're not touring. It is very low stress and my musicians are badass, so minimal rehearsal time is required. When I write a new song we need to get together and spend more time working out the parts and such. But after that it's smooth sailing. I must be doing something right to be able to draw the likes of these cats to my side.

MM: What has been your most memorable performance?

KL: My most memorable performance had to be this solo gig that I played at Gilbert Cellars in Yakima. It was a Friday night and the place was packed. What normally happens in a packed bar with lots of alcohol consumption is background music and a lot of conversation. Well this night the room was silent. Every lyric audible, every person I looked at was engaged. Shows like this are a rarity. It must have been three years since I had a solo show like that. And [there’s] something about playing solo...you're just so exposed, no shrouds, nothing to hide behind...solo shows help me fine tune my act and propel me into being a much better musician. Plus, I sold a bunch of CDs - which is always a bonus.

MM: Where can our readers and Seattle locals find out more about you?

KL: You can find out more about me at www.katylinmusic.com or under - The Seattle Lesbian

I had an amazing opportunity to chat with Katy Lin, from Katy Lin & the Moonlight Riders and what better way to promote this extremely talented group then to share with you, The Seattle Lesbian readers, our discussion of music, juggling careers and sexuality.

McKenzie Morrell: Describe Katy Lin & the Moonlight Riders.

Katy Lin: Upbeat, swamp blues alt country without any vocal twang. Professionals. We play stone cold sober. [We are] musicians who continue to play together because we all love and appreciate the sound that is being created. Good friends. We will engage you with our smiles and our hip shakes, and all the obvious fun we have on stage.

MM: What was the experience like for you, to close the Mural Stage at Pride?

KL: Closing the mainstage at Pride (Fischer green) was unlike anything that I've ever experienced. The day took FOREVER, probably the longest day of my life. Oh my God, the anticipation, and I was pretty much nervous all day! When we finally got up there this sense of carelessness had overcome me. I just wanted to rock out then head to the Wildrose and have my first drink of the day - good ole' shot of KANtucky bourbon. This carelessness must have been equivalent to fearlessness because I had more fun playing that show than any other I can remember. I was all over the place dancing with my guitar. I feel like my performance and stage presence was on steroids. The show, short and charged with energy, ended and I did finally get to the Wildrose - at which point I was flattered by audience members who were surprised by the fact that I was actually there. [It was] my first small celebrity moment!

MM: What do you think draws people to your music?

KL: In regards to the sound...the music...I think it's the simplicity, the clarity. It's not too busy. There is plenty of space for listeners to move into and jive with a rhythm....whether it be Max's lead electric, Bruce's upright bass lines, or my guitar rhythm. It's catchy. Lyrically I'm still fueling from personal experiences and I think that people recognize that and identify with my stories.

MM: When you're not performing, what are some of your other hobbies?

KL: Hmmmm.....when I'm not performing I'm riding my bike, rock climbing, taking my dog on off-leash hikes, and writing. Right now most of my spare time goes into my garden. Does anyone need any summer squash? I have WAY too much. Oh yeah...I also spend a lot of time in the hospital caring for patients. I'm a 3rd year medical student.

MM: Is it difficult to manage being in a band and working at a hospital?

KL: You know...it is. Right now I'm just fresh in the field. Six years of book work is nothing when you are face to face with a real person with real fears and real health concerns. It's funny, right now I feel like such a little kid, I'm playing doctor and learning from the more experienced people around me. Since I'm just ending my 3rd week of clinical work, my balance that I had achieved previously was thrown off a bit. But I am adapting well. The most important realization that I came to recently (like about two weeks ago) is that my patients are my priority. Music is a coping mechanism....it enables me to breathe, take a step back and absorb the chaos, and express myself. In doing so, I dissipate the chaos. Music somehow brings me order. It's that steady pulse, invigorating and, for me, life-sustaining. I would be miserable without it.

The great thing about Katy Lin and the Moonlight Riders is that we are not starving struggling musicians. We play because we have fun and we love getting together. We only play once a month, which is really the only sustainable way to do it, especially if you're not touring. It is very low stress and my musicians are badass, so minimal rehearsal time is required. When I write a new song we need to get together and spend more time working out the parts and such. But after that it's smooth sailing. I must be doing something right to be able to draw the likes of these cats to my side.

MM: What has been your most memorable performance?

KL: My most memorable performance had to be this solo gig that I played at Gilbert Cellars in Yakima. It was a Friday night and the place was packed. What normally happens in a packed bar with lots of alcohol consumption is background music and a lot of conversation. Well this night the room was silent. Every lyric audible, every person I looked at was engaged. Shows like this are a rarity. It must have been three years since I had a solo show like that. And [there’s] something about playing solo...you're just so exposed, no shrouds, nothing to hide behind...solo shows help me fine tune my act and propel me into being a much better musician. Plus, I sold a bunch of CDs - which is always a bonus.

MM: Where can our readers and Seattle locals find out more about you?

KL: You can find out more about me at www.katylinmusic.com or under - The Seattle Lesbian

File Under: Alt-folk, rootsy twang, bluegrass
From: Seattle
For Fans Of: Rhonda Vincent, Arlo Guthrie, Lucinda Williams, The Del McCoury Band, the Cracker Barrel, the Boot Scootin' Boogie, cowboy boots with long dresses, rhubarb pie, chai tea, campfires.
Bonus: Katy, the band's leader, is a member of our fantastically gay team. The band played the Seattle Pride Fest this year and are gearing up to release their third album in the near future. - AFTERELLEN.com

Local favorite Katy Reichlin's been bringing down the house these last few months with her soulful, funked-up folk tunes. She brings a crowd and a good vibe, so get here early. - The Gilbert Underground

The Northwest roots-country-Americana scene is thick with talented female singers, and Katy Reichlin is right there with the best of them in terms of quality if not yet recognition.

Reichlin's band, Katy Lin and The Moonlight Riders, has a tight sound that splits the difference between weary and jaunty. And her songs, five of which are available on the band's new release, "Birds On a Wire," evince a keen eye for the American gothic detail that differentiates wheat from chaff in the crowded genre.

"Shotgun wedding on a Vegas night. Elvis singing 'Here Comes the Bride,'" she sings. "The clouds are creeping under the moon. And the wind is whistling to the tune."

Reichlin, who plays The Seasons Performance Hall tonight with the band, honed her skill for imagery as a poet before she became a songwriter. A piano player as a kid, she took up guitar at the University of Ohio because pianos don't fit in dorm rooms.

"I just decided I would learn to play," she says over coffee earlier this week. "I'd struggle through -- you really do have to straight-up suck for about a year -- but I quite literally played until my fingers bled."

After college, Reichlin got restless and came to the Northwest to work for the American Red Cross in Seattle before settling in Yakima as a Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences med student. Along the way, Reichlin, just 28, picked up the musical sensibilities of someone much older, someone plucked from Loretta Lynn's kitchen, dragged through Muddy Waters' swamp and then gussied up a bit down at Wanda Jackson's rock 'n' roll hair salon.

The band -- Maximillian Keen on guitar, Bruce Stimpson on bass and Matt Larsen on drums -- came together through a shared desire to make something that focused on craft and genuine musicianship. So, rather than trying to match the roadhouse-carousing standards of their country and blues forebears, Reichlin and company emphasize musical precision.

"We don't drink, we don't smoke, we're not partying," Reichlin says. "We're true professionals in that sense."

That's not to say they're teetotalers; Reichlin does her best writing after a whiskey or two. But as performers, that clear-eyed professionalism comes in handy. To wit: When the band was tabbed to open for Raul Malo at The Seasons in December, the place was packed for the former Mavericks frontman, and Reichlin was nervous to the point of nausea.

"I opened my mouth and hit that first note right on key," she says. "After that it was just, 'Here we go.'"

Performing live often has that effect, Reichlin says.

"You get fueled by it," she says. "And, in a sense, you become fearless. You ride this high. That's what music is about."

And that's why Reichlin will always perform music, she says. The plan is to keep playing through med school, keep playing through her residency and keep playing as a doctor.

And what if the recognition eventually catches up with the talent, and Reichlin becomes a rock star?

"I'll be Dr. Rock Star," she says. - Patrick D. Muir-ON Magazine