Michele Lundeen
San Diego, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
The moment still shines through like it happened last night. Michele Lundeen is standing on the front edge of a Beale Street stage, having just unleashed one of her up-against-the-wall vocal assaults and the packed house at B.B. King’s sits in stunned silence. Her hand is on her hip as her eyes prowl back and forth across the room. Still, no one moves. Michele commands attention and it’s almost as if the audience knows better than to make the first move.
That’s the sense that comes through in this long-awaited recording by Michele. She’s a soul-deep singer with a penetrating presence. Her music has a force of its own, with vocals that hit you smack dab between the eyes and knock you a few feet back. There is nothing subtle about Michele’s music. She confident of what she’s doing and it shows. It doesn’t matter if Michele is singing country blues, mixing up some mean-street funk, locking into a Memphis groove, or launching into some high-energy blues and R&B, the music here will rub you raw.
This is all by design. Michele knows that too much music today is so homogenized and filtered that it can’t stand up on it’s own. But she makes music that is fierce and powerful, music that reflects what’s inside her. And, if you’re trying to compare her style to someone, don’t bother. This is pure Michele Lundeen, a singer/songwriter with an irrepressible song inside. This music can’t come from anyone else.
Michael Kinsman - Hoodoo Productions/Staff writer San Diego Union Tribune
- CD Liner Notes
"(at the Marriott) ...Trolley Stop Bar for the jam hosted by Memphis' own Billy Gibson Band. ...Michele Lundeen from San Diego (and editor of the Blues Festival Guide) ...showed (she has) what it takes in the vocal department. (I enjoyed backing Michele on guitar at the Rum Boogie Café the following Sunday with Billy Gibson.)
T-Bone Erickson Editor www.Blueswax.com
- BluesWax.com
"The best part of the North Tahoe Blues Fest was powerhouse Michele Lundeen... with a voice reminiscent of Janis Joplin...she was wonderful!"
(in concert with Chris Cain & Charlie Musselwhite) - Tahoe/Truckee Weekly
"Together the band is hot...with Michele it takes off. It’s hard to match “The Queen of Steam” for whitewoman, blackwoman, bluewoman blues. This little gal from Oakland, who grew up as a shy underprivileged daredevil, defies racial or social stereotyping, from teen talent shows to big band vocals, folk, bluegrass, soul, country, rock and blues, Lundeen’s voice grew in depth and expression along with her experience. She describes it as her persona, everything that she is. And who’s to argue? When she sings, everybody gets inside of the blues. Nobody...and I mean NOBODY can sing “I’d Rather Go Blind” like she sang it on that three-trailer stage.”
Prof. Helen Valborg Freelance Writer (Solar Cookoff, Taylorsville, CA )
- Reno Blues Society Bluesletter
"Michele Lundeen is turning up the heat. See her on stage for even a nanosecond and you'll see the way she throws herself into her music. It's easy to see why she's been dubbed the Queen of Steam."
Michael Kinsman/HooDoo Productions - San Diego Blues Fest - San Diego Blues Fest Program
Michele Lundeen killed us with her smokin’ hot blues. From ballsy barn burners to bittersweet ballads, Michele lives up to her name, the Queen of Steam. Anyone looking for a serious female blues artist needs to look no further. She’s the real deal and she’ll steal your heart with her knockout talent and killer smile. Come see her in San Diego or find a way to get her booked at a club/event near you!
...Reviewer Joan Hunt (April 05 w-Tommy Castro at Belly Up) - Joan Hunt
"Girl, I remember you...you sing that way, down South, anywhere, they’ll go wild...they’d love you.”
Magic Slim (after opening 2nd time for Magic Slim & The Teardrops) - (Bluesman) Magic Slim
"You lit up the stage...what I saw at the blues show was chemistry on a mass scale...and the crowd participation you engaged, I was literally on the edge of my chair. So thank you for your talent and for your sensual, sexy, hot blooded contribution... You embody the spirit and soul of the true blues genre.!"
Rich Giglio
(San Diego IBC kickoff concert)
- Rich Giglio
"Leather-lunged power, wise-beyond-her-years instinct and soulful-beyond-her-skin-color melisma to wonderful effect. The gal is a dynamo for sure."
Buddy Blue/"Blue Notes" Night & Day 2/17/05 - San Diego Union Tribune
"If one half of this gal is funkied, the other half has a penchant for blue-eyed soul balladry... on "You're Gonna Make Me Cry", Lundeen has found her voice, demonstarting a keen understanding of the nuances, control and respect for the tradition..."
Paul Wong II-Editor/Blue Ink 3/05
(Blues Lovers United of San Diego) - BLUSD
Discography
SONG INSIDE ME
Milestone Music (self-released)
Produced by Michele Lundeen & Johnny "V" Vernazza
Recorded: Route 44 Studios (Rohnert Park, CA)
Engineer: Harry Gale
Audio Design (San Diego, CA) Engineer: Ben Moore
Mastered: DigiPrep by Dan Hearsch
Duplicated: Disc Makers
Michele's 12 track debut CD, SONG INSIDE ME, includes nine self-penned originals.
Along with Michele's own seasoned band, several San Francisco Bay Area, luminaries guest including: Johnny "V" (guitars), Roy Rogers (guitar), Ed Early (Elvin Bishop's trombone man), Sue Palmer (piano), Austin Delone (keys), Gary Silva (drums), Steve Evans (bass), Tom Poole (Etta James trumpet man), Dave Stone (sax), Vernelle Anders and Gail Muldrow (background vocals).
SONG INSIDE ME was a 2005 San Diego Music Award's "Best Blues Album" Nominee AND one of the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge 2006 "BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD" Final Four!
SONG INSIDE ME is traveling the airwaves on Triple A and college stations and online across the USA, Canada and the Virgin Islands and internationally in Australia, France, Belgium, England, Spain, Israel, the Netherlands, Belgrade, Italy, Russia, Ireland, etc. It's been reported to the Living Blues Charts many times, made an "2005 Essential 100," several Top 25 and Top 10 and Top 5 charts as well as the Roots-Blues Top 50 charts for 10 weeks (late-Fall 06-Winter 07).
Airplay: Among many stations around the world, "Featured Blue Blood Artist" and in rotation on syndicated www.bluesdeluxe.com 2x broadcast on 100 stations across the USA, Virgin Islands and Canada, etc.
Contact for complete list.
All CD sample clips here and at www.michelelundeen.com and www.cdbaby.com/Lundeen
SONG INSIDE ME for sale online at link through www.michelelundeen.com - www.amazon.com, www.cdbaby.com/lundeen - www.bandvillage.com
Photos
Bio
The "Queen of Steam"... one of San Diego's premier, award winning artists!
"A soul-deep singer with a penetrating presence" (Michael Kinsman/San Diego Blues Fest)
"Powerful singing and Blues swagger." (Bill Rulmann/All Music)
Audibly and visually entertaining!
• Blues Foundation "Best Self Produced CD” Finalist
• San Diego Blues Challenge 1st Place Winner
• “Best Blues” Nominee San Diego Music Awards 2011~2010~2009~2008~2007~2006~2002~2001~2000
• San Diego Music Awards “Best Blues Album” Nominee
• Cover story Southland Blues Dec 2008
(award winning publication based in So. CA area)
• Headlined National Women in Blues Festival (NC)
MICHELE LUNDEEN “Queen of Steam”
Hi-Energy Blues - R&B - Mean Street Funk - Memphis Soul
Prepare for an unforgettable show when versatile singer, songwriter Michele Lundeen and her band hit the stage. A soulful, mesmerizing vocalist, Michele effortlessly blends classic and contemporary Blues, Memphis soul, jump swing, Texas boogie, roots rock, rhythm & blues, sultry jass, New Orleans funk and more into a satisfying musical stew.
While her energetic, infectious style is truly all her own, Michele Lundeen has been compared to artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Etta James, Aretha Franklin and shades of Billie Holiday. Reaching into the audience with emotional vocals and body language, she’s been dubbed "The Queen of Steam" for her electrifying vocal and stage presence –– she commands attention with talent and warmth. She also enjoys including the audience in an entertaining, musical romp. Among notable events, Michele headlined the 1st National Women In Blues Festival (Wilmington, NC); was like a Pied Piper at 2012 Gator By The Bay Fest (San Diego); raised temperatures at the Colorado Belle Blues & Brews Fest (Laughlin, NV); had people racing to the San Diego Blues Fest Stage; packed Rollin On The River (Reno, NV); rock ‘n rolled ‘em right on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and let the good times roll for thousands at TGIF Carlsbad “Mardi Gras in August” Summer Concert (2012).
Before relocating to San Diego in 1997, Michele entertained the northern Nevada-California area for several years where she still has a strong fan-base. Michele leads her seasoned band, Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak, who, along with being the support act for dozens of national touring acts such as Elvin Bishop, John Lee Hooker, Debbie Davies, Kim Wilson, Coco Montoya, and more, have performed at top local venues and a variety festivals as well as private/corporate functions. This entertaining crew is equally at home in outdoor, all-age festival settings as well as large or intimate club venues offering Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak (blues & variety), Madame LeRoux & Krewe (New Orleans R&B show in costume!), or a rousing, heartfelt Etta James/Koko Taylor Tribute.
Michele is a multiple San Diego Music Award “Best Blues” nominee (most recently 2011). Michele and her band also represented “Blues Lovers United of San Diego (BLUSD) in the “International Blues Challenge” in Memphis, TN, after placing first in the BLUSD regional Blues Challenge. Her debut CD, Song Inside Me was Nominated San Diego Music Award “Best Blues Album” and also one of the “Best Self-Produced CD” Final Four in the Blues Foundation’s prestigious International Blues Challenge (IBC) category. The 12 track CD features nine of Michele’s self-penned originals, showcasing her passionate, dynamic, versatile vocals and entwining her old-school R&B and blues based roots (plus a love of Gospel) around each track. Receiving airplay across the U.S., Canada and abroad, Song Inside Me has garnered positive reviews and countless new fans. As a songwriter, Lundeen’s lyrics are poignant, sometimes tongue 'n cheek with arrangements that are down-home yet catchy and danceable.
Her current, 4-6 piece, veteran main band consists of vocals, guitar, bass, drums plus saxophone and/or keys with 3-4 part vocal harmonies. A full horn section and/or keys can also be added on request. Michele is also often sought after as a featured artist for special event showcases and can mix up great chemistry as an acoustic duo or trio. Whether a full-on band or vocals and a piano, Michele and crew know how to add just the right flavors to accent a multitude of events. We have P.A. if required.
(Song lists, press on request)
Whether club, private, corporate or all age festival setting, one thing is for sure… you can count on a red-hot, personable performance and top-notch musicianship from this award winning artist and her band!
Growing up in Oakland, CA, music was always the centerpiece and staff of life for Michele. Influenced by artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Tina Turner and moved by that commanding, Gospel/Soul/R&B sound, her own musical expressions exude attitude and confidence but... especially honesty. A gifted interpreter of songs, Michele's hi-energy, live performances help tell her song's stor
Links
