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.......Moe Berg appeared to be clapping enthusiastically, but it must've been his twin, because Berg was actually over at Lee's Palace , strapped with a guitar and singing high harmonies with country cutie Shannon Lee Briggs . Berg's promising production client returned to Toronto from Nashville, where she's angling for a deal as some label's Canuck answer to Carrie Underwood. The polished sound of Briggs's pure pop version of country and her girl-next-door charm should have her running Music City. ..... - Now Magazine
SHANNON LEE BRIGGS at the Cadillac Lounge (1296 Queen West) tonight (Thursday, June 8), 1 am. $8. 416-536-7717.
Local songstress Shannon Lee Briggs has received some pretty weird fan mail. "One guy sent me a picture of his johnson dressed up as a cowboy, with a hat and a little bandana," she laughs.
But, while her anything-goes attitude is awesome, don't forget about the music. Her feisty voice caught the ear of Sarah Harmer, who loaned her talents to a few of Briggs's jams. And, since musically she's been compared to Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, it's no wonder she's picked up some of their attitude as well.
"In Toronto, as a girl, you have to grow balls really quickly. You can get manhandled by crowds or yelled at; sometimes you just gotta put it out there."
Briggs's ambition is working overtime, too. With an EP already under her belt, she's looking ahead to a pro-per full-length release, future concept albums about King City and always playing as much as humanly possible.
"Ideally, I will be Shannon Briggs, global sensation. Realistically, my favourite thing in the world is playing, so the more shows I play the happier I'll be."
The farm-raised alt-country singer has only been playing guitar for about as long as it takes to order a pizza.
"I've been playing guitar for about a year and a half. About a month after I got it, I started playing and busking. I was a big fan of playing outside the Royal York Hotel, because tourists are fantastic, but sometimes they tip in foreign currency."
- NOW Magazine
Nothin' Hoidy-Toidy about this girl.
Shannon Lee Briggs pleased the whole crowd at the Cadillac Lounge with her soulful melodies - alternative country style.
She has not played guitar for more than a couple of years, so she must have been doing some cramming in order to keep up with her song-writing capabilities.
She treats her audience like comfortable family friends, making a fun and entertaining show!
Her first CD, Like a Country Rose will charm you, just like her live show.
- Canada Jams
Briggs a true star
Thank you very much for including Shannon Lee Briggs (NOW, June 8-14) in your last issue! She is one of the few artists left who has avoided the pretension and disillusionment of the Toronto music scene. She is a gifted vocalist and performer who presents something genuine onstage, and by doing so elevates herself above the novelty acts most publications flock to. Thank you for recognizing a true star.
Colin Murphy
Toronto - NOW MAGAZINE
Discography
2006 "...Like A Country Rose"
2006-"Carnation"
Photos
Bio
Shannon Lee Briggs makes music that will break your heart, bust your balls, and leave you wondering what the hell happened when you wake up the next morning. Armed with a Cadillac-sized guitar, a disarmingly powerful voice, and a huge personality to match, the 22 year old farm raised girl has been bringing unbridled energy to Toronto stages, winning over audiences, journalists, and making fans out of some Canada’s finest musicians. My songs are a lot like muscle cars, they’re nice and pretty on the outside but theres definitely a lot of horsepower going on under the hood, laughs Briggs.
Fresh from the studio with producer Moe Berg (the Pursuit of Happiness) and Juno winning engineer Laurence Currie (Sloan, The Gandharvas), Briggs is poised to release her full length debut “Carnation” which features help from Canada’s foremost musicians including Jim Cuddy, Sarah Slean, and Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco). I was lucky to work with a group of people who were able to become so committed to something I felt was such a personal project. Having the talent of artists I’ve respected my entire life involved in the record brought me even closer to the songs”
As a relative new comer to Toronto, Briggs spent the majority of her childhood working long days handling wheelbarrows on a King City horse farm. Surprisingly, the static laden radio in the stable proved to be her most inspiring musical influence. The little, red boombox would pick up a million different stations a day, so I was constantly bouncing from genre to genre. One minute it was Lucinda Williams, the next it was Led Zeppelin, that kind of musical joyride makes you concentrate on songs rather than trends. She points to performers who say it like they mean it referring to the unapologetic passion that allowed musicians like Tom Petty and Emmylou Harris to develop devoted fans and lifelong careers. On stage, the sarcastic songstress exhibits an old soul, limitless energy and maintains a remarkably seasoned chemistry with her audience. With a voice that his been compared to Sheryl Crow and Linda Ronstadt, coupled with emotional, inviting songs about small town scandal, regretful lamentation, and epiphany, Briggs is successfully bringing the spirit of the heartland to the city. “Everybody’s got some roots in them, and I just try to bring them back home”.
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