THUNDERSTORMS, Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams, MIDNIGHT, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jane Siberry, SPARKLERS, The Waterboys, Patty Griffin, Bette Midler, Rickie Lee Jones, Shelby Lynne, WATER, Ryan Adams, Tori Amos, Pat Conroy, "The Royal Tenenbaums", HIGHWAYS, The 1970's, Relationships, SNOW FALLING, A good coversation good-LOVE bad-LOVE sad-LOVE true-LOVE no-LOVE
Sounds Like
An Alt Country/Hard Rockin' Diva with a Killer Live Show! Pamela with a dash of the above influence's thrown in.
Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Pamela McNeill is always writing, for she is, at heart, a songwriter. With her fourth album written and almost completely recorded, she had plans. Instead, fate intervened, her course shifted, new songs were born — and we are the better for it. The resulting “Heartaches and Miracles” recognizes the sorrows and celebrates the fleeting joys in this life.
In the winter of 2009, Pamela and her community of friends were sideswiped by the tragic unexpected passing of a close friend. Consumed by this heartbreak, Pamela needed to mend. As she began to work through her emotions and heal, these very personal songs began pouring out. Pamela told her husband, co-producer and musician Dugan McNeill, that their originally planned project would have to wait a bit. Inspired by the raw emotion and intensity of the songs she had written, she thought, “I need to do this now.”
This labor of love is an inspired work — about a particular place in time, in the wake of one of life’s uncertainties. It returns to the heart of the matter and the truths uncovered in times of hardship and despair.
Throughout the healing process, Pamela responded in the best way she knows — through music. She wrote most of the songs at the piano; a “lifesaver” when she was young, it again gave Pamela the genuine, basic connection necessary to express her soul’s longing. Authentic in intention and inspired by Pamela’s singular writing voice, the album addresses the trials in life, and the unexpected benefits to enduring such trials.
From the shimmering anticipation of “Miracle” to the plaintive, yet hopeful refrain of “Rainbows”, Pamela conveys heart and soul. She knows hardship, survival and redemption — and sings of them in “Not Giving Up”. Perhaps even more importantly, she knows that everyone just wants to be heard.
In her soul-searching journey, the message is clear: within the heartaches, miracles can awaken and surprise you. In “I’m Ready” she realizes, “It took the tears from a heartache to finally see the beautiful meaning of life’s mystery.” With the voice of a fiery angel, Pamela brings it all home — and in telling her story, she tells our story.
- Juanita Hickerson
Press:
"Country-rock siren Pamela McNeill cooks like grease on the griddle.”
- Mpls/St. Paul Magazine
“Pamela McNeill writes the kind of tunes the Dixie Chicks used to record before they got angry.”
- Minneapolis Star Tribune
“…Amazing…”
- St. Cloud Times
“Pamela McNeill stole my ear every time she sang. Very hot.”
- Michael Johnson – National Recording Artist (“Bluer Than Blue”)
“Fans know Pamela McNeill loves them every bit as much as they do her. Warmhearted as the day is long, McNeill gives of herself both onstage and off.”
- Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet
“The first time we saw Pamela McNeill perform, we thought, 'Wow! Who is this woman who sings like the love child of Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde?' We still think the same and are now also amazed at her brilliant and beautiful songwriting.”
- Lori Barghini & Julia Cobbs from FM 107's the “Lori & Julia” show (WFMP 107.1 FM Minneapolis/St. Paul)
“The World Beyond” (from “Nightingale”) is a KILLER song! I absolutely LOVE this song and I don't say that very often.”
- Brian Oake - Cities 97 (KTCZ 97.1 FM Minneapolis/St. Paul)
“…McNeill packs one helluva punch. The style is originally home-cooked, countrified rock done to a smoldering turn. The execution is emotive, articulate, full-throated vocals. And a world of stage presence.”
- The Pulse of the Twin Cities
“With a voice that is alternately smoky and raspy, sweet and clear, McNeill cuts to the heart of the human condition.”
- Duluth News Tribune
Ruby Jane and Mark O'Connor: Virtuosos of the American Fiddle: http://www.poptech.org/blog/mark_oconnor_and_ruby_jane_smith_virtuosos_of_american_fiddle
Ruby Jane Article in New York Times!! http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/who-do-these-guys-think-they-are/ AND Check out the new pictures and video! Let me know what you think! Ruby Jane
i will be home in 2 weeks.For some time off before I deploy over seas to Afghanistan in mid Nov. I will be deployed for 7 months. I get really bummed Pam cause i have missed so many of your shows due to the fact i am im the marine corp u were my fav teacher from IPR and i am happy with the sucess u have with ya career i hope in a yr an a half i get a chance to see u perform
I was going to go camping over the weekend, but this is definitely NOT camping weather. So me and some friends went to check out Dueling Pianos. Those guys are amazing - they can play just about any song that's been on the radio between 1950 and 2005.
Speaking of music, I wanted to let you know about a show we have @ Station 4 on Friday, October 16th. We are debuting a project called Sonic Transformations. It is a series of audio-visual performance pieces. The first one is called "AN OBJECT TO CRAVE". It features live music and visuals based on a short story about life, love, loss, fantasy, obsession and death.
Another group of mine, The Magnetrons, which plays an exciting and innovative Livetronica set (i.e. STS9, Disco Biscuits, The Histronic) will also be playing. The night will be full of creative, interesting, high-energy music, good drinks and good times.
Here's the info:
Blood Root Mother - "An Object to Crave" w/ The Magnetrons & Thought Thieves Friday, October 16th Station 4 201 E 4th St St Paul, MN 55101 9pm / $5 / 18+
" IMPOSSIBLY beautiful woman and equally glorious music! A landscape of beautiful sandy beaches mixed with a steady diet of be-bop, folk, afro-latin, soul, blues & gospel music gave MAYA the ingredients to create her own sound which resonates through a variety of genres." - Featuring Deacon Jones (John Lee Hooker); Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan), Frank Luther (Levon Helm); Skip Edwards (Lucinda Williams); Jerry Jumonville (Dr. John); Tony Gilkyson (Chuck E Weiss); Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar (Carole King); Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis), Marcy Levy (Eric Clapton); The Reverend Lois Dejean's NOLA Gospel Choir, Sir Tony Martin, etc... " - Produced by Fabian Jolivet -
