kanary

What if Grace Slick stayed hip to the music scene, hooked up with a band that was equally influenced by X and Dolly Parton as it was by Alanis Morrisette? Would hell freeze over? Or would rock music get a swift kick in the behind?
It's the latter, of course, and Kanary is the result of such odd influences. Hailing from Los Angeles, this trio of disparate musicians makes music that is at once traditional in the rock sense and strangely compelling in the lyrical sense. Formed in 1996, the trio includes vocalist and guitarist Leslie Knauer, bassist and backup vocalist Mary Kay, and drummer and Albuquerque native Tony Matteucci. With 3 full length records under its belt, including its most recent release "Haunted" the band has quietly built a strong following in America and Canada.
Most appealing of the group is Knauer's workaday vocals that are presented with sly and often acerbic humor. An early single titled "I Can't Even Think About Getting Married" is the hilarious tale of a single mom with tattered hair who thinks that maybe marriage is the answer to her problems, even though "no one's asking to..." - Kevin Hopper

Having grown tired of the facades worn by the typical Los Angeles rocker--those insufferable airs of supremacy, that smugness which pervades his countenance, the arrogance, the indeifference and the contempt he shows toward fellow man...
Then along comes a talent like Canadian born Leslie Knauer - a real professional, a true gem in this city where the talent is often hard to discover. Knauer and her smoking hot Los Angeles rock band, Kanary, confront point-blank the inherent pain, strife and suffering of modern life in a bluesy fock & roll style. This is music with real substance, and it reflects in many ways the breathless energy and frenetic pace of Los Angeles.
Knauer's raspy, Janis Joplin-meets-Grift's Melanie Herrold voice embodies all that blue-collar stands for: its honesty and its crudity; its pain and its brutality and its life affirming simplicity.
Just as the ancient Greek theater was flanked by the images of tragedy and comedy, so does Knauers music run the gamut of emotion -- the full range of ecstasy and despair. Each song is an expose, a binge, a refelation, a pledge, a confession, delivered with wild-eyed mania, from a singer who has experienced much of the travail, and much of the heartbreak that one might find in the work of Charles Bukowski. Hers is a voice that counterpoints beautifully with the brutal, cannon-like aggressiveness of the rhythm section (consisting of Mary Kay on bass, and Tony Matteucci on drums).
Now in it's 6th year of existence, Kanary exhibits the assurance and professionalism of seasoned vets, while incubating a desire to be mad, crazy, chaotic, impulsive and most importantly, real. They are a sight to behold. Two girls and a guy. Hard roadhouse-style rock music, through beer-glass clanking and wolf whistles. Kanary's integrity is best exemplified in their eagerness to play live...
- Chuck Mindenhall

The crunch and wail of classic rock triggers this power trio whose six-songer catches our ears due to “Something Beautiful.” On this punk-injected tune, all the band’s individual talents shine: the drums sound like top-fuel jackhammers, the bass never lets up and, most of all, Leslie Knauer’s soul-seering rasp has a rich vibrato that makes an impact a la Shelby Lynne and Nikka Costa. Lyrics are very good –crafty and compelling. All in all, this is a band whose love of pure rock drips from the speakers. Specialty labels may dig this. - DemoCritiques@musicconnection.com

1) Tell us about your band, music, style.

We're a 3 piece. Guitar-Leslie bass-Mary Kay & drums-Tony Matteucci. Our sound is minimal, crunchy, rich and full. Stories about our lives,
mistakes, relatives and other assorted characters
that left dents in our hearts and souls.

2) How did you and your band get started?

I saw Mary play at the Lingerie with another band and thought she was the best bass player, I've
got to be in a band with her!!! Mary called on Tony since she loved playing with him in a band a few years earlier. We all get along so well...

3) What type of venues do you play at?

Indoor, outdoor, big, small, they all rock!

4) Tell us about the making of your CD's?

We're pretty rehearsed coz we don't have a big
budget. We get the music for 12 tracks done in 2 days, the 3rd & 4th days are the vocal days, then we mix. It's very live. We all respect each other and listen to the other guy, we've got kind of a cosmic flow going, notheing but live shows are more fun.

5) What artists influence you and your music?

I love Tom Petty's sound and the way he tells stories, the way Courtney Love gets to the point, the way
Janis Joplin got in your face, the depth and sinsitivity of Joni Mitchell, the ass kicking attitude of Alice Cooper,
the poetry of Bob Dylan. Thank God I was introduced to Patsy Cline, Iggy Pop, Concrete Blond & AC/DC too. Music is my church. I stand humble & grateful engulfed
in the world of Rock & Roll.

6) What advice do you have for aspiring women musicians?

Play with all your heart, write as honestly as possible,
the more oopen minded you are, the more creativity seems to flow freely through you. Do it for the love of the art.

7) What do you think about GoGirlsMusic.com?

Thank you for acknowliedging Kanary and all the other chicks that rock, we appreciate it. - GoGirlsMusic