Jessie Rae

Artist Information

Biography

Joan M. Meyer and Lauren Semler first played music together when they worked in the woods making a living as traveling forest workers. Later they split up while Joan played in an all-women band called TranSister and Lauren played R&B, blues, and rock in a band called Shakabuku. It was while Joan was in a duo called Shards of Lace that she met guitarist Jim Bronson.
To sound off her original music, Joan created her own band in 1998 using the first name of her grandmother (Jessie) and the middle name of her oldest sister (Rae). She brought together the perfect match between Jim’s tasty guitar licks and Lauren’s slide guitar sounds.
Jessie Rae is completed by the soulful, melancholy of the blues cornet played by David Duffield (who has performed with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love, the legendary Memphis Horns), bassist David Rosenberg (a stage and studio veteran who has performed extensively in the Boston and Nashville music scenes), percussionist/vocalist Wendy Owens (who previously performed with Mark Knight and Software, and played drums in an all-women country band called Ann Jones & the Sweet Hearts), and drummer Ken Woodside (who has performed with such acts as Shorty and the Mustangs, Lynn Conover and Billy Kennedy) and can play everything from punk to country.
This conglomeration pulls off the “roots pop with a blues edge and a funky swagger” that so defines the Jessie Rae sound.

Instrumentation

Joan M. Meyer: Lead vocals, guitar, bass
Lauren Semler: Guitar, backup vocals
Jim Bronson: Guitar
David Duffield: Blues Cornet
David Rosenberg: Bass
Ken Woodside: Drums
Wendy Owens: Percussion, backup vocals

Discography

"A Tribute to Jill" released 2000
"The Originals" demo 2001
"Out of the Blue" released 2004

Women Sport Report, an online sports magazine selected the track "Affectionate Soul" from the Out of the Blue CD as a loop to be played on their site located at www.womensportreport.com.

Track "Blue Armor" from the Out of the Blue CD was selected to be on the L.A. Independent Artists of the Month Compilation CD for the month of April 2006.
www.indivisibleproductions.com

Track "Can You Explain" will be played in the upcoming feature film called "The Briar Patch." Check out www.roadsendfilms.com for more information.

Featured on FemaleMusician.com and promoted in their Female Musician newsletter dated June 2005. www.femalemusician.com/june_05_artists.htm

Radio play at Live365.com/Black Dog Radio

Radio play at Midnight Special Blues Radio at www.ms-blues.com; Track "Don't Care"

mvyradio.com: artist listing on Local MusiCafe; Track "Can You Explain"

AA Media Music's Music 4 iPods Podcast Promotion
Tracks: "Affectionate Soul" "Walk with You" "Say What You Mean" "Don't Care" "Blue Armor"

BandRadio Streaming Radio Live; Track "Blue Armor"

Stream radio play at www.musesmuse.com
Radio Muse #1
Host: Jan Best
Track: Bittersweet from "A Tribute to Jill" CD

Radio Muse #10
Host: Ruth
Track: Canyon Blues from "The Originals" CD

Radio Play on KBOO
Show: Movin' On
Host: Jade
Track: Hey There from "The Originals"
Host: Jan

Official Website

http://www.jessierae.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• Reverbnation
• CD Baby

Audio

• Around Here
  Listen   Download
• Blue Armor
  Listen   Download
• Walk with You
  Listen   Download
• Say What You Mean
  Listen   Download
• Can You Explain
  Listen   Download
• Don't Care
  Listen   Download
• Hey There
  Listen   Download
• Go Away
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Don't Care
• Around Here
• Blue Armor
• Say What You Mean
• Walk with You
• Miracle
• Go Away

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Out of the Blue Review [+ Show ]
  

  Artist: Jessie Rae Title: Out Of The Blue Genre: Blues, Rock, Reggae, Pop, Country Label: Indepen...Artist: Jessie Rae
  Title: Out Of The Blue
  Genre: Blues, Rock, Reggae, Pop, Country
  Label: Independent
  Website: http://www.jessierae.com/
  
  The band Jessie Rae, named after the bandleader Joan Meyer’s grandmother (first name) and her sister (middle name), sustain a funky, blues, rock, reggae beat, with dashes of country throughout their infectious new release Out Of The Blue.
  
  Meyer’s vocal style is reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt. With rich and smooth tones full of soul drenched from-the-gut inflections, she follows the one-two punch of the coordinated rhythm section comprised of herself and Phil Hornik (bass), and Kipp Crawford (drums), punctuated by stinging guitar lines from the axes of Jim Bronson and Lauren Semler. Both lead guitar players sound seasoned on all accounts throughout this solid session.
  
  The production and mix are very good accentuating the strong points of the band’s sound and varying styles. The first three tracks are addicting, “Blue Armor,” “Can You Explain” and “Around Here,” are filled with funky hooks that latch on and never let you go. Meyer’s vocals are right on time and perfectly keyed for the music; she sounds laid back but expressive, allowing the blues influence to take precedence in nearly every track. Although other influences are evident in their sound, the blues seems to be the common denominator everything else stems from. This one all-important factor actually makes each track stand on its own with the various flavors added to the mix. “Say What You Mean” would be a nice choice for a single to push the band into the different markets they fit into, which would be contemporary adult, pop, blues and pop for that particular track. Ironically the one instrumental on the entire CD is titled “Affectionate Soul,” which I could see having plenty of great lyrical content, yet the title fits the track very well, it’s a warm and rich tapestry of sounds marked by stellar musicianship.
  
  There is nothing lacking in the variety department on this CD. Everyone uses his or her talents at the optimal level, which in
  fact became obvious to me early on listening to this music. I am glad to say a good chunk of this CD fits darn snuggly into the
  da blues-rock category and amongst others, and that’s alright with me.
  
  © Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com
  
  May 31, 2004
  
  01. Blue Armor (5:09)02. Can You Explain (5:27)03. Around Here (4:38)04. Miracle (5:40)05. Say What You Mean (4:14)06. Affectionate Soul (4:17)07. Walk with You (5:26)08. It Came Down to Me (5:11)09. Ground Zero (4:09)10. Don't Care (3:44)
  
  Rating-8/10
  
  Credits:
  
  Joan Meyer-lead vocals, backup vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, synth
  Lauren Semier-lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, backup vocals
  Jim Bronson-lead guitar, rhythm guitar
  Matt Burnett-keyboards
  Wendy Owens-percussion, backup vocals
  Donna Rae-backup vocals
  Kipp Crawford-drums
  Cliff Koufman-congas
  Ian Manheimer-backup vocals
  Phil Hornik-bass
  

• GoGirlsMusic Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  Jessie Rae "Out of the Blue" Genre: blues reviewed by Heather Corcoran Copyright © 2005 GoGirlsM...Jessie Rae
  "Out of the Blue"
  Genre: blues
  reviewed by Heather Corcoran
  Copyright © 2005 GoGirlsMusic.com
  
  Presented with the flair of a firecracker, the instant bang of reggae, blues, folk and R&B crash together in a vibrant, colorful combination from “Out of the Blue”, the junior release from band Jessie Rae. From start to finish the overall mood of the CD is one, long, energetic jam session complete with an invitation to the listener to join in on the ride and plug in as well. “Out of the Blue” is driven by powerful melodies and lead singer Joan Meyer’s seductive vocals that would get a nod from musicians such as Stevie Nicks and Bonnie Rait. Adventure and passion swings high from songs like, “Walk With You”, a fun-filled tune that will have you singing along and tapping your foot to the beat. A spiritually thrilling tornado of sounds, instrumentation and vibrant energy, “Out of the Blue” is enough ear candy to please the whole family.
  
  

• The Good The Bad The Ugly [+ Show ]
  

  Two Louies Oregon Music January 2001 The Good The Bad and the Ugly S.P. Clarke “A Tribute t...Two Louies
  Oregon Music
  January 2001
  
  The Good The Bad and the Ugly
  S.P. Clarke
  
  “A Tribute to Jill—Jessie Rae
  
  Bassist/songwriter Joan Meyer has a vocal delivery somewhat similar to that of Chrissie Hynde (or more currently, perhaps Aimee Mann), but manages to take her music in decidedly different directions from Hynde, incorporating elements of Jazz and Folk into her presentation. Here, along with Lauren Semler on guitar and Jeffrey Graham on drums, she carves a niche for herself and her band.
  “Something I Said” is a shimmering piece of work, that captures a sort of Roxy Music feel and appends it to a catchy Pop song. “Laced with Sugar” reaches for a mood similar to those devised by Kate Bush, with a “yiyiyi-yihi.” “Safe and Warm” ricochets with an upstroke Reggae rhythm and a rubbery syncopated bassline and a memorable melody, slightly reminiscent to Matthew Wilder’s “Break My Stride.” Very nice. Sounding something like the work of early Heather Nova, “Think Twice” reverberates with incandescent warmth.
  Joan Meyer displays a knack for unique combinations of sounds in association with heartfelt songs. While her productions are fairly bareboned, there is strength and sinew in her music.”
  

• Jessie Rae -- A Tribute to Jill [+ Show ]
  

  Subj: now at www.atnzone.com Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 9:40:58 AM From: bearmanor@home....
  Subj: now at www.atnzone.com
  Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 9:40:58 AM
  From: bearmanor@home.com
  To: joanjessie@aol.com
  
  Jessie Rae A Tribute To Jill
  
  The components that make up this 3 prong acoustic-based band are Joan M. Meyer doing voice, bass, guitar, and keys. Lauren G. Semler on guitar, bass, backing vocals. And Jeffrey D. Graham giving out drums and spoons. Spoons? Don't worry. Our team owes more to an alt-rock Bonnie Raitt than a Jim Croce, and soft rock tracks like the beginning 'Bittersweet' make life worth living. Easy going.
  
  'Something I Said' is filled with twisting bed springs and drums, as the voice asks 'Was it something I said / or was it all in my head'. Sparse
  words float around this beauty, as it does with follow up 'Laced With Sugar', before getting into blues country with 'It's a Pity'. A full service band giving you lots of sounds, styles, attitudes. But mostly a
  gentle kindness you don't hear too often anymore. This is what I carry away from Jessie Rae.
  And I'm very thankful for it.
  
  www.jessierae.com
  

Setlist

Typical set list includes original music by Joan M. Meyer. Music contains elements of sophisticated blues, reggae & R&B. They also have a knack for playing a more mellow, acoustic sound that incorporates folk and rock in the same vein as Robbie Robertson's "Broken Arrow" and JJ Cale's "Magnolia."
The Jessie Rae Band is available to play short sets or long shows, and has the flexibility to perform as an acoustic guitar duo or as a 7-member dance group.

Basic Requirements

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