AKS- Piano, Guitar, Mando (ish), Hand Claps, Bad Ass Recorder Solos,
Steve McCormick- Guitars and many other stringed things; often w/ Fren Asken- E. Guitar; Todd Beauchamp- A. Guitar;
Tom Felicetta- Bass;
Christopher Allis -Drums;
Andrew Kamman- Drums; Tim O'Gara- Soul Swaying;
Occasional cameos: Richie Hayward, Stan Behrens, Joe Karnes, Eric Lynn,
Bryan Head, Steve Whalen, Jinsoo Lim, Ed Tree, Richard Dodd...Many more! Just ask about all the talented artists I've been honored to work with.
..
Influences
Rural Pennyslvania spaces, acoustics in churches I no longer go to, dark bars, open roads, stars in Texas, the passing chord in Warren Zevon's " Desperados Under the Eaves", the first notes of "Pictures from an Exhibition", playing the grand piano for a packed house at the Kennedy Center, Jack Daniels straight up, Topanga Canyon, Tina Fey, Dara Torres, Gilda Radner, Bob Costas, baseball, Tape Op Magazine, sundays in bed watching football, trouble, tabasco body shots, the smell of summer mint and grass from my parent's patio, merlot in Big Sur, pinot in Monterey, Ujjai Pranayama, Frank White and his guru ways during his life both on and off the yoga mat, swimming laps in Big Stacy Pool in Austin, or the clear waters of Jamaica, Route 15, sushi, people who love food, music, books, intellect, laughing;
the vibrations of a cello, the whir of a leslie, the sex of a baritone guitar,
songs i wish i'd written.
So even if I don't sound like any of the following, they are climbing the walls in my songs somewhere:
Tom Waits, Jeff Buckley, Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Leonard Cohen, John Prine, Elvis Costello, Dusty Springfield, Warren Zevon, Grant Lee Buffalo, Grant Lee Phillips, Bob Schneider, Patty Griffin, Michelle Shocked, Little Feat, Lowell George, Randy Newman, Robbie Robertson, The Band, Steve Earle, Peter Gabriel, Rickie Lee Jones, Victoria Williams, Richard Thompson, Maria McKee, Morphine, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Eliza Gilkyson, Portishead, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Dead Can Dance, Krishna Das, Lucinda Williams, and of course John Gorka
Listening to: jason mraz, brandi carlile, twilight hotel, topanga mountain tree-o, brett dennen, nathan, gordie sampson, fishtank ensemble, devotchka, northern mississippi allstars, fred eaglesmith, los lobos (kiko), neko case....
Movies: Raising Arizona, Rushmore, Bottlerocket, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, Wings of Desire, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Fight Club, Blazing Saddles, Snatch, Spirited Away, Wallace and Gromit, Nightmare before Christmas, The Princess Bride, Donnie Darko, The Incredibles, Last Temptation of Christ, Edward Scissorhands, my ex still swears by The Postman, so I'll add that for him with apologies to all movie critics everywhere..
WINNER - NEIL YOUNG CINNAMON GIRL CONTEST May 2007-
AKS version of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" was chosen from all submitted to be on a Neil Young Tribute Cd (American Laundromat Records) due out in the fall. This is a huge honor, and all proceeds used for Breast Cancer Recovery. See top friends for more info...
Both CDs - SEAMLESS and LIKE AN ENGINE have been licensed by MTV
KCSN RADIO's "TIED TO THE TRACKS" Listener Favorite ("Little Cowboy") 2006
Touring with John Gorka - opening for and singing with ..ed dates 2007-
Spicer on PETER CASE TRIBUTE CD "A Case for Case"
Featuring John Prine, Dave Alvin, Victoria Williams, Gurf Morlix, Joe Ely, Mike Martt, Peter Mulvey, Amilia k Spicer, Chris Smither, Marvin Etzioni, and MANY others to benefit the Hungry for Music Foundation.
Benefit shows included McCabe's and SXSW at the Cactus Cafe with Joe Ely, Peter Mulvey, James Mcmurtry, Pieta Brown, Bill Kirtchen, many others.
"Each song is directed like a film that jumps off the wide screen
to capture its audience. She has the ability to write songs that vividly paint
descriptive characters and plots, rich in literary detail and poetic imagery." Performing Songwriter Magazine
"Released in 2003, Seamless has garnered much acclaim in the time
since, and it's easy to see why. Balancing between beautiful and ballsy, the
songs score a knockout on all fronts, lyrically and melodically. ... Seamless
is sumptuous.” Evolution of Media
"With a stunning and angelic voice that channels the best attributes of Stevie
Nicks and Emmylou Harris without mimicry, Amilia K Spicer demonstrates her considerable
talents on Seamless. The L.A.-based Spicer delivers intelligent-pop gems like
the smooth yet pensive title track and the gorgeously understated Falling In"...the
familiar strains of warm Americana suit the songs, which are as finely crafted
as anything we've heard from an independent artist in quite some time." Indiemusic.com
"Her lines are wonderful and stand out: 'listen in for the occasional wind but it just shut up'; 'looks like a page nobody read, lost in the hallways of his head'. Wonderful stuff. I love this stuff. I want to meet her. I want to pick her brain and find out where this stuff comes from. " The musesmuse.com
"Seamless is a plush peach of an album. Amilia draws you in for a bite with her silky voice and carefully crafted lyrics. Recommended." Sing Out! Magazine
"Seamless, like Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water, sucks you in and doesn't let go until the last note ..a formidable singer, songwriter and pianist, this gifted young artist seems destined to gain wider acclaim. " Flint Journal
"A fearless performer... in bars, at folk festivals, in house concert settings and in venues surrounded by classical musicians, Spicer has something smart to say." San Antonio Express-News
“Moving Mountains”, by Amilia K. Spicer, originally a Pennsylvania country
girl and now resident in L.A., was my overall favorite, both vocally and instrumentally,
on this dreamy lullaby-like track. She’s a singer I could easily imagine doing
a complementary duet with Daniel Lanois." Songs for a Better Planet
I like hats. I'm a Steelers fan. I swim as often as possible.
Been touring, writing, recording, with a strong inclination for Texas. I sortof disappeared from LA for awhile. I'm back and loving the community of talented people I call friends. The business of music can be a soul-kill if you aren't careful, so I had to figure out how much i'm willing to compromise for my art (not much as it turns out). If life is about balance, hollywood vertigo can mess with the one quest that matters - finding joy. I aspire to live in the state of Namaste. I hear the weather is nice there.
Currently working on a new album (3rd), and a film project. Yes, this in-progress CD is taking a long damn time. Bear with me. Am a sometime- writer for SINGER MAGAZINE, have been a featured columnist for NEW TEXAS MAGAZINE. Current release SEAMLESS took top honors at 2005 DIY music awards (Song of the Year, Producer of the Year with Ed Tree) and was named TOP 12 INDIE RELEASES by INDEPENDENT SONGWRITERS MAGAZINE.
I am a piano player, professional hooligan, have a happenin band here, though mostly tour solo. I sing with some pals around town, and love the whole harmony singin thing on great songs.
Other Recent studio work:
BILL MORRISSEY'S Best Of (Rounder Records), SONGS FOR A BETTER PLANET ("Moving Mountains"), BRIAN WILSON Compilation ("Your Imagination", with Tom Prasada-Rao) PETER CASE TRIBUTE "A Case for Case" ("Never Coming Home") TIM O'GARA ("Sticky as Tobacco")
A bunch of my tunes have been in movies and TV shows- HBO, Showtime, and several
indie films. TV stuff from SEAMLESS: "Falling In"- Roswell
"Near Apart"- Party of Five and Joan of Arcadia
"Seamless"- Dawson's Creek
"Like an Engine" was the theme song for the main character
in a movie called Footsteps. Even over a coupla sex scenes. Uh huh.
Talented folks/cool projects I've sung or played with or for: John Gorka, David Knopfler, Jimmy LaFave, Lowen and Navarro.
see amiliaspicer.com for more amazing and impressive hoopla. BYOB
HA HA Spicer, You're funny.I can't flap my arms that long,and a jet pack is not an option.I'll wait 'til Friday nite and listen to your CD. She has an 8 o'clock gig at McCabes and 10 at Rm 5. Hang in, Gary Q.
Hi Kid, She is there Friday 13th (good luck with that) 10 pm. She is on my top friends list.Give her a listen,you will like her stuff.She is your kinda gal a key board player.Jason Wilber introduced me to her music. All the best, Gary Q.
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
Ciao,amilia Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, Band, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, be really one whom is worth rather a lot! I hope to listen soon to you, in italy .. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music all the best.. from italy.. and good life.. every day neal
Hey Amilia! Hope the east coast is treating you well - at least you're not breathing in the smoke-filled L.A. air!
Due to work, this summer's road trips have mainly been up to San Francisco, although I did manage to throw a party in Milwaukee with Los Duggans playing in July.
Just spoke to my friend Scott who may be moving from Taos to Austin (he's planning on going back to school) so I'd anticipate more frequent trips to that neck of the woods!
We are back from tour and playing Saturday night at the Continental Club with our good friends the Mother Truckers-we hit at 10PM! hope u can amke it down- Shurman
Hey Amilia!! Whats happenin'? Our band 'A Priori' is performing at Cinespace this Fri night for the 'Bohemian Shindig'... 3 rooms of music n art n $4 beerz!! COme on down n let us rock you right!! Info on the big flyer on my page!! Whatdya say?!! Hope u had a killer weekend!
