About This:
The SF Bay area has produced more than its share of excellent roots rockers. Starting in the 80s with Chris Isaaks, and all through the nineties, San Francisco audiences were treated to breakout artists like the Counting Crows, Train, Chuck Prophet, John Wesley Harding, Penelope Houston and Barbara Manning, to name but a few. Spanning that era, and appearing on bills with all of them, and playing together with many of their members as well, has been Oakland’s Naked Barbies. Lead by singer-songwriter Patty Spiglanin, the Barbies are remarkable both for longevity, and for the passion its music inspires in a small but fiercely devoted fan base. The band combines major mode country refrains with a bluesy twist, punched up with straight ahead, Mersey Beat drumming, bass lines that that would not be out of place at a Def Leppard show, flavorful keyboards, and the occasional ripping guitar line or honking harmonica solo. The Barbies are like a musical sponge, soaking up every sound around in turn of the century America, and squeezing it back to an appreciative audience with soul, humor and plenty of punch. Patty Spiglanin’s voice is a revelation: warm, sexy, clear as a bell and packing a big venue wallop. For more than fifteen years she’s been backed by former law-firm co-worker and sometimes songwriting partner Mike Conner (who plays anything that doesn’t have strings), happy-go lucky drummer Dan Lashkoff, and the master of the fretless bass, Evan Eustis, the latter two providing backup vocals as well. Rounding out the crew is a rotisserie of lead guitarists – 6 so far, if you count the return of guitarist #2, Ben Decker, who reprises his role on several tracks on Stay Naked, the band’s current release and their fifth CD. Unlike the current trend of auto-tune fakery, Stay Naked was recorded organically -- most of the tracks were done on the first take with the original live vocals. It’s the sound of a real band playing in a way that only comes after years and years of playing together – tight and loose at the same time and with a joy often missing from studio recordings. It is more reflective of their live show, including several interesting covers that they have been doing for over a decade, including John Lennon’s I’m Losing You and the English Beat’s Save It For Later. Seventeen is more than an eternity in band years, but on their newest recording the Barbies lavish the listener with the energy and commitment of a fresh beginning.