Dawn Richardson, Ray Ruiz, Mike Gallant, Reuben Rye, Kent Brown, Mark Schuh, Jason Cole
Influences
Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Meshell Ndegeocello, Carole King, Mary J. Blige, Rickie Lee Jones, Cris Williamson, The Pixies, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Tribe Called Quest, CSNY, Erykah Badu, Amy Ray, Missy Elliot, Heart, Nas, De La Soul, Stevie Nicks, Luscious Jackson, Sade, Lauryn Hill, Sting, and... my childhood teachers Alfa Radford, Sarah Houk, Jan Bennett, Joe Cabral.
Kaitlin McGaw grew up in Boston and graduated with honors from Harvard University before moving to San Francisco. Like fellow Harvard grads Bonnie Raitt, Rivers Cuomo, and Yo-Yo Ma Kaitlin left the academic realm to pursue music (though recently someone called her a "genius" behind her back). From the young age of four, Kaitlin was always jumping on stage to perform, joining children’s music performers RosenShontz onstage (uninvited) to sing and dance with them at the first live show she attended. She was on stage throughout her childhood, only slowing down while at Harvard where she studied African-American Studies, followed by literary research in post-apartheid South Africa. The spark of the love of music and performance was reignited upon her relocation to San Francisco, where she starred in cutting-edge theatrical productions before venturing off on her own to pursue songwriting and vocal performance.
Kaitlin is known by audiences for the power behind her voice. Much like San Francisco icon Janis Joplin, Kaitlin can draw in listeners from the first few notes, with the sultry soul and heart she puts into the delivery of the story of the song. Currently she is performing in every style from hard rock to hip hop, children's music to lounge music, for audiences of all ages. Most recently she performed upstairs at the Fillmore for the Smashing Pumpkins residency. She combines a vast and edgy vocal range with hip-hop rhythms and blues. She has trained with Raz Kennedy (Metallica, Counting Crows), Dwayne Calizo (Experimental Performance Institute), and Bonnie Hayes (Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray). San Francisco should keep their ears out for this one; a true “San Francisco Treasure.”
Something for everyone: Kaitlin shares her haunting original songs with band The Simple Things. She fronts the rockin’ cover band Suite Love Express, and enchants with the punk/lounge tribute duo, Reubenesque. Kaitlin wrote/produced Alphabet Rockers, children’s music that parents and teachers are turning up loud and proud.
Awesome! Congrats to you as well. Yes, it's a bigger undertaking than I initially thought. And takes WAY longer than I thought, too. I definitely respect the process a lot more now! Can't wait to hear yours. Love your kids stuff, by the way. x.o.
Good news: the Sunday Contra Costa Times rated my June 11 show at the Plough & Stars a "best bet" (page D5, May 25). They even put my pic next to Death Cab for Cutie and Brad Paisley. Not bad company to be in ...
As the paper says: "Berkeley musician Steve Taylor-Ramírez takes his Latin-infused neo-folk, across the Bay to San Francisco's Plough and Stars pub, 9 p.m. 116 Clement St. Free. (415) 751-1122, http://www. theploughandstars. com."
We hope you can make it. Espero que allá nos vemos.
NEO-FOLK SINGER STEVE TAYLOR-RAMÍREZ AT PLOUGH AND THE STARS, SF, MAY 14
Troubadour Steve Taylor-Ramírez brings his critically acclaimed folk, acoustic soul and Latin hillbilly tunes back to the Plough and the Stars Pub, 116 Clement Street (at 2nd Avenue), in San Francisco, on Wed., May 14, starting at 9 pm. There's no cover charge, and he'll play two sets. http://www. myspace. com/thestevetaylor
The Plough and the Stars SF was voted “Best Irish Pub” by the SF Weekly and bills itself as “Home of Traditional Irish Music in the Bay Area.” Visit http://www. theploughandstars. com.
It’s a nice place in a lovely part of town, and the Guinness is great. We hope you can make it!
yo homester...im done with all the training stuff...or better yet "pico experience" haha. anyways u r sooo loved here. have fun in portland or seattle or wherever you're going! see u soon! btw, are these the new pics??
ciao Kaitlin, i read your comment that you saw brighter stars six minutes ago, well i see the same looking at you and listenin to your cool music ! Fabio
Early March will be an inspiring time in the Mission District of SF as artists and performers launch a series of activities, at four venues, to celebrate International Women's Day (March 8) with music, dance, feasting, poetry and more.
FESTIVITIES BEGIN AT 7 PM ON SUNDAY, MARCH 2, at Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th with INMANCENCIA, a magical ceremony of dance, improvisation, performance art, astrology, music and healing. $10 cover. http://www. dancemission. com
THEN FROM NOON TO 5 PM ON FRIDAY, MARCH 7, healers, drummers and performers will gather at the corner of Mission and 16th St. for a community offering called LIMPIAS DE LUNA NEGRA.
ON THE NIGHT OF FRIDAY, MARCH 7, singer/songwriters MamaCoAtl and Pepa Quiroga will pay tribute to LAS MUJERES EN SU LUNA in a concert that plays with concepts that have become politically incorrect. It’s at L's Café, 2871 24th St., and starts at 8 pm. $10 cover. www. myspace. com/mamacoatl, www. myspace. com/pepaquiroga
Festivities will conclude on SATURDAY, MARCH 8, International Woman’s Day, at Galeria de la Raza, 2857 24th St., in a spoken-word event called LA ULTIMA PALABRA, starting at 8 pm. $8 cover. http://galeriadelaraza. org.
Hey Kaitlin how's things? I'm writing this new tune with computerized drums. It's a challenge alright. Kinda fun though. As long as the mind is occupied, I'm good. Kinda... I think David needs to get out more.
