Gina Villalobos - Rock'n'Roll Pony revisited

 

Over the Christmas break I rediscovered my iPod and scrolling through the music contained there I found a few artists that to some extent I'd forgotten about. One that really caught my attention was Gina Villalobos a California based singer/songwriter and her album 'Rock'n'Roll Pony'.

I can't quite remember how I first found her - possibly a suggestion on iTunes or searching the internet somewhere. However I'd found her doesn't really matter. It's the music that matters and when I clicked on play the tracks I'd downloaded 'Why', 'Faded' and the cover of World Party's 'Put the Message in the Box' the sound was so fresh and immediate. Gina has a voice for which the word ache was created. These world weary songs, delivered with that soulful ache and a full band rock Americana sound had me in it's spell again. I remembered how excited I was when I first found her music. 

What had happened to her and this wonderful sound?  Was she still recording? Within minutes I was googling to find out. What I found told me that yes, she still produces music intermittently, an album 'Sola' in 2014 (check it out on Spotify) and a single in 2016. It also turns out that she works in the film industry providing sound effects and scores.

I'm glad to have become reacquainted with Gina Villalobos. The music is, to my ear, life affirming and joy to hear. I'd say if you're a fan of Lucinda Williams and Lilly Hiatt you could do yourself a favour and add Gina Villalobos to your playlist.

https://ginavillalobos.com/     

Rock'n'Roll Pony

Frazey Ford at La Belle Angele...at last

 This was a gig that i thought would never happen. Tickets bought early in 2020 for a date in June that year. So before Covid 19 hit and closed down the world and live music with it. Even this rescheduled date at the end of November 2021 had that 'it might not happen' mood preceding it. A cancellation was only ever a positive Covid test away, for the band, the venue, or me.

I was grateful, then, to find myself at the venue duly masked, queued and reflecting on the last time I'd been at La Belle Angele to see Anais Mitchell weeks after that other disrupter Donald Trump had become American President.

Frazey Ford though was a balm sorely needed in these troubled and anxious times. She's been called Americana and she is but it was telling, for me anyway, that pre-show the music playing was Al Green. It seemed apt to me as Frazey's music now is a soulful and funky groove that the Rev. Green would be proud of. Mainly featuring the music from 'U Kin B the Sun' Frazey moved through her songs backed by a band (key players from the album sessions) that gave life to those songs with soul and sophistication. her songs reflect on life with all its nuances and affirm that life with joy.

As this gig turned out to be my last live experience of 2021 thanks to Covid 19's Omicron variant it was certainly a good feeling to leave with a smile on my face (obscured by a mask).

https://www.frazeyford.com/

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Another hook for this gig was the appearance of support act Gwenifer Raymond. It is not often I see an act that is purely instrumental and this one was mesmerising playing a punk folk blues inspired by 'American primitive'. One woman and a guitar that's all. The sound she creates reminded me of the folk guitar of Bert Jansch and Davie Graham but heavier and riffier. Well worth catching if you get the chance.

https://gweniferraymond.com/

American primitive guitar