Vox/songwriting/guitar PILAR FRENCH
Over the years many Portland musicans have been and continue to be part of the Intention . . .
Multi-instrumentalists JOSHUA SLAMP, JEFF KOCH, ROBERT PEART and TODD ASCHOFF ;
Drums TONY HOWARD, ERIC KOTILA, BEVAN, JOE EVERS;
background harmonies (on a great day) REINA G. COLLINS and sometimes AMANDA AND JENNI PRICE; Violin DEB KATZCLICK ME FOR MORE DETAILS
PILAR FRENCH: Butterflies
Eclectic rock, tinges of Portland Indie, blues, and funk.
U2, the Police, Sting, Johnny Lang, Brand New Heavies, the Meters, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Mavis Staples, Stevie Ray, Nora Jones, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Chris Whitley, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Melissa Ethridge, Lucinda Williams and any girl with a guitar including my local buddies--Nicole Campbell, Lara Michell, and RACHEL TAYLOR BROWN
She is Pilar French. And, sometimes her band performs as the Pilar French Intention and other times French/Slamp, depending on whether she’s sharing the bill with bandmate/singersongwriter, Joshua Slamp. She is a singer, a songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist as comfortable playing solo with an acoustic guitar in an intimate setting as she is rocking out with her band on a festival or club stage. And Pilar is never content to limit what she's singing about…be it lost love, human perseverence, or politics.
She's a deep mix of styles and insights. Funny, brainy, sexy, articulate and precise with a desire for serendipty.
"I do use music to show my emotions but I also try to write thought-evoking music. Maybe you read the lyrics and you think it's about something totally different than I do. Maybe it's intel-rock-tual. A thinking person's music. If you want something you can marinade on, you can listen to multiple times and discover something different every time you listen to it…that's what my music is."
She has lived in Portland for thirteen years, having gone to college in Chicago and coming from deep Midwestern roots.
"I am completely influenced by blues. It's the root, a fundamental musical style and it pervades my music but I'm inspired by a lot of different musicians."
In Portland she joined a number of bluesey, funky bands including Soul Patrol Mission.
"We played on top of skyscrapers in downtown Portland and on the Portland Spirit. We played cheesy 80s tunes on acoustic guitars and the accordion."
"Swerve," a six-piece blues band took up the next two years. She played with singer Kate Mann and worked with singer Lara Michell from Stolen Sweets and Dirty Martini. Pilar joined Michell and Nicole Campbell in a raucous cover band known as "Guilty Pleasures and One Hit Wonders."
Pilar has played bass in several other bands.
She released the album "Butterflies" in 2007 and her new album, "Alive" will be released in September 2009.
"This time I wanted to express my passion more, my vision of what I was feeling when I wrote the songs. I think I've evolved as a musician and found that one of the things I like to do when I write a song is to have a lot of layers and changes and to take the listeners to unexpected places."
Although she performs solo, she maintains a working band, "Pilar French Intention" which currently features Joshua Slamp (www.joshuaslamp.com) and Jeff Koch (Garth Michael McDermott, Scott Gallegos) on bass and guitar, and Tony Howard (Pinehurst Kids, Garth Michael McDermott) on drums.
CD Reviews:
"It is rare when an album strikes me at first listen. Even rarer for me to go 'HOLY S$$ this is good - this is something different.' On her first outing, Pilar French has made a brilliant pop album. Butterflies delights the senses with hooks, diversity, musicianship....as it uncocoons a vibrant new voice, Pilar French."
- Lisa Lepine ProMotion Queen, arts consultant
“Butterflies” may be her first solo album, but years of playing in various — and varied — outfits have given Portlander Pilar French a confidence and polish that can’t be faked.
- The Portland Tribune, May 4, 2007
"As far as grooving goes, Pilar French is one of this town’s more melodic acts to catch. French’s intelligent, passionate songwriting lends itself to a sultry, longing, lounge-like sound that is smooth and gravelly all at once. It’s a sound spawned from her background in the local music scene, which has helped define her music after years of playing with musicians from several musical genres."
The Stonewailer (www.thestonewailer.com), May 15, 2007
"Pilar French and her band make music from a blues and folk influenced perspective. Their spaced out radio ready rock is a crowd pleaser and regularly finds them on stages at concert halls and clubs. In addition to her work with the band, Pilar French performs as a solo singer /songwriter."
Mastanmanmusic.com (www.mastanmanmusic.com)
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Good evening "Pilar French". Thanks for being our friend, your music is very enjoyable, and the production quality of the recordings really shine, GREAT JOB!
i know times are tough for everyone, but please check this out, or if you dont want to stay and hangout, at least donate $5 to a good cause. the families of the guys that keep you safe every weekend while your out clubbing down town, are suffering from a horrible tsunami in american samoa. your $5 could help save a life!! please think about it. thank you for looking!
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD, WE DID IT. ABSINTHE ROSE IS ON ITUNES! HELP US OUT IF YOU GOT 2 BUCKS OR WRITE A REVIEW ON THE ITUNES THAT IS FREE AND IS WELCOMED!
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THE SONGS!
Take care of each other and thank you
Kimbo Rose Workman and the team from SCREECH OWL RECORDS!
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, as we get ready for our monthlong tour of the Great Northwest! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Look for us in Washington, Oregon and California between October 15 and November 15, when our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
Check out my new demos---I'm Coming Home and Give Me Shelter
If you like what you hear, I'm going into a studio in December to make a full album and I want you to hear it. SO, if you want to get a copy, message me your email or mailing address.
Hello, ive been asked to being in MTV series.I am gone start a new mtv series!! But need a girl to be my GF on the show. Because, this show goes about a couple! Anyone interested being in MTV ?
Thanks for the add. Hey, folks, enjoyed your tracks a lot! Great playing and singing here, and fine tunes of course. Let me tell you that with my surprise
your fine music has more than something in common with our own sound and inspiration! Do you think so? Pier
Hello i..ve been asked to being in MTV series. I am gone start a new mtv series!! But need a girl to be my Girlfriend on the show. Because this show goes about a couple!!! MTV asked me to find a girl. Anyone single and intersting being in MTV ??
