Tennesse Tuckness
When I go out to hear live music in Amarillo, which I often do on nights off. I find myself hoping that Tennessee is playing somewhere I can catch her. I don䴜t remember exactly where the first place I saw her perform was but I am hooked.
An amazing bluesy voice with accomplished guitar picking skill, as well as an amazing set list of originals and covers makes for one great night for listening to live music in a smoky Amarillo bar.
I have said in describing Tennessee Tuckness for many years that she is a mix of Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, and I am obviously still saying that today. The music she sings and writes comes form the heart there is no other place that it could come from.
For those of you who have not heard of or heard of her I am glad to introduce you to Tennesee Tuckness. I had a chance to interview Tennessee this last week and here䴜s what she had to say.
THE INTERVIEW:
Where were you born and raised?
Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas and left home at 17.
Who was your first musical experience?
Emmy-Lou Harris while learning to play guitar but it was the Mama䴜s and the Papa䴜s, Janis Joplin growing up as a child.
Who was your strongest musical influence?
Stevie Nicks, Buckingham-Nicks (greatest album ever)
Do you remember the songs that first made you know you wanted to be a performer.?
Stevie Nicks and Bonnie Raitt tunes and 䴝you䴜 know that Bonnie Raitt had at least 9 albums under her belt before she made it huge (with her year in the Grammys).
How many years has it been since your first show in public?
I heard someone say I was a legend. Aren‰¥út legends older people? I‰¥úm not ‰¥þolder‰¥ÿ. (Ha Ha.) I must say it‰¥ús been a very long time since my first public show‰¥Ï.Denton, Texas 1986 particularly the Texas State Fair in Dallas.
What was the first cover song you played?
Emmy Lou‰¥ús ‰¥þWayfaring Stranger‰¥ÿ when I was 15.
Skipping ahead a little bit in time, but tell me about your son Travis‰¥Ï‰¥Ï..
I hear you are just a little bit proud of him.
Travis is my one and only son. He left home at 17 and has been gone ever since (except for visits). I wrote a song called ‰¥þOn His Own‰¥ÿ (1998) which talks about him leaving and making his way to the west coast. He‰¥ús out in Los Angeles currently. His love for music and his hard drive of sleeping, breathing and playing music led him to the hearts of one of his biggest musical influences ‰¥ã Blind Melon.
Travis is Blind Melons‰¥ús new lead singer and also co-songwriter. They are finishing up a new album and they hope to be touring by fall (‰¥ù07). Blind Melon has a huge worldwide following so it will be so exciting to see the world grasp Travis T. Warren as the band‰¥ús new lead singer. So far, blogs that I have read are very positive and the fans cannot wait for the arrival of the new Blind Melon. And of course I am now one of Blind Melon‰¥ús newest biggest fans. And yes, I‰¥úm very proud of Travis and I think Amarillo will be proud‰¥þ‰¥ã he did this ALL‰¥ã‰¥þon is own‰¥ÿ.
Who is your current line up? Players who play with your full band now‰¥Ï‰¥Ï ?
Gary Thomason (lead guitar), Dave Freyer (bass), Lance Allen (drums) and every now and then Gary Bass (acoustical lead).
Do ya䴜ll see playing together for a while?
I can only hope so. We䴜re all busy and have many other things going on but when we play together we have so much fun.
Where do you play most?
I䴜ve been so fortunate to land a weekly Thursday night solo gig at Bourbon Street Cafe and have booked several weekend shows with the full band there as well. The band plays at Bodegas also several times a month. I love the venues and the people that work there 䴋 they䴜re great to us 䴋 they treat us really well. That makes a lot of difference! I hope to get into Golden Light Cantina soon. It䴜s been on my list of things to do but just haven䴜t done so yet.
What is your favorite setting for playing in public?
I love great ambiance, smaller rooms but I also like performing outdoors 䴋 such as The Block Party which is always so much fun and I play a wonderful annual benefit held at Las Tiendas (great venue) for the Ambucs Organization in May. I must say too, performing at the Globe-News Performing Arts was an absolute thrill. The acoustics are dreamy.
You have seen a lot of venues come and go‰¥Ï‰¥Ï‰¥Ï played a lot of bars over the years‰¥Ï.. patios and events here. Tell me some of your favorite.
I tell you ‰¥ã one of my favorites that has come and gone was ‰¥þCafe Americana‰¥ÿ‰¥ÿ‰¥ã the original off of 6th Street. They served the greatest pizza and catered to live music. I would love to see more patios come into the music scene. I recently played at Jo Mama‰¥ús on 16th Street in the backyard and it was really cool ‰¥ã tiki torches ‰¥ã it reminded me of someplace you would find in Austin including great people.
Also, Memorial Park is a wonderful place to house a musical event. The city probably wouldn䴜t think so, but the gazebo is great for a stage and the park is so beautiful anyway 䴋 I think the park is a wonderful backdrop for a musical event.
And I LOVE Polk Street and merely downtown at nights. The weekends are so lively and active and colorful with the sounds of music bellowing out of the different clubs and such. There䴜s a lot of energy going on there.
What albums do you have out now you are listening to?
Aretha Franklin, Ryan Adams, Blind Melon, John Mayer䴜s Continuum Album
Anything coming up soon as far as your own albums?
Yes‰¥Ï.I‰¥úm finishing up my 3rd release ‰¥ã this particular project has been on-going for about 3 years? It will be a worthwhile piece. Johnny Reverb Holston and Marc Durham have been helping develop, produce and record the album. I think the music is really different from my other two releases, a bit more profound - lyrically. Production ‰¥ã more harmonies, rhythms and collaborations.
Is it living up to the history you have seen playing these years you have?
I think the music scene is alive and well today especially for solo artists. I have heard people talk that there really are not enough live band dance clubs around 䴋 for instance the now extinct Caravan.
What is the best way to describe your music?
Acoustical indie folk rock
Finally tell me some of your favorite places you have played outside of Amarillo?
Cafe J䴜s in Lubbock䴜䴋 I played there ongoing for 4 years. It was a great experience. I was very comfortable there.
How about in California?
The Hard Rock Cafe in Studio City was very exciting. Also a musical fest ‰¥þPhoenix Rising‰¥ÿ (2003) near Arroyo Grande, California. Travis‰¥ú then band ‰¥þRain Fur Rent‰¥ÿ and I were on the same billing. Also, I had the opportunity to play the State Bike Rally in San Pablos, California. It was quite an experience. Also Sweet Springs ‰¥ã a little club in San Luis Obispo along with Travis and CriticNue (Amarillo native Heath Seager‰¥ús band) - that was a blast. I was just a micro city gal from Amarillo, Texas amongst a world of fine California musicians and friends.
What do you honestly think of the Amarillo Music Scene?
Thank God for the players and the talented musicians who love to play and create and show their talents off to the people of Amarillo and especially visitors to the city. I‰¥úm so thankful for the venues who support live music and that are willing to really work with the musicians ‰¥ã especially local musicians being that as I am. Those musicians who have made Amarillo even ‰¥þbigger‰¥ÿ such as Susan Gibson and regular returning artists such as Lyle Lovett (one of my favorites) and I have to include the Amarillo Symphony as well ‰¥ãextremely hard working musicians.
You can find out more about Tennessee Tuckness, shows and such @
www.myspace.com/tennesseettuckness