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 BROWNListen to our new song "Icarus" Live at the Crystal
Portland's PILAR FRENCH is one of those unexpected talents who can mow you over with intelligent, passionate songwriting, as well as give you a groove to rock out to. She's a varied musician, and not just because she plays guitar and bass, depending on the situation. One minute she's loungy, smoky and silky. The next she's belting out a bluesy tune thats slightly askew. Another moment she finds her in a funk vein, and then she's somewhat ethereal and most definitely intimate and intense.
Pilar calls it twisted funk and blues, but there's more to it than that. This veteran insider of many local bands and styles may spend much time with the backbeat and the danceability, but Pilar has an arty, introspective side as well. She can be reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich singing Cole Porter, Nicolette Larson, Steely Dan, Maria Muldaur, Dave Matthews with touches of soul, and the occasional shot of more esoteric artists like David Sylvian or Sarah McLaughlin.
All this could be the result of a varied background. Pilar's musical path has taken a meandering and slightly comical, kooky road at times. Before moving to Puddle Town, she played in several bands while attending college in Chicago one of which opened for Spin Doctors. After college, she briefly played gigs at a dude ranch in Colorado.
French has lived in Portland for 13 years, becoming deeply ingrained in the music scene through a variety of bands and musical partnerships. She started in similarly bluesy, funky bands, including Soul Patrol Mission. The goal was to play in the coolest spots we could find. "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."
Next was the six-piece blues band Swerve for two years, then Pilar spent time with local art songstress KATE MANN in Ginger Lovely. Soon, Pilar found herself working with singer LARA MICHELL, (Carmina Piranha, Dirty Martini) in a Duran Duran tribute band, which led to her joining Michell and Nicole Campbell's goofy cover band, Guilty Pleasures and One Hit Wonders. The band has torn up the house with regular, raucous gigs at Imbibe in recent years.
These days, her funk, blues and delicate personal tunes are combined in her own solo career as well as in the vibrant Pilar French Intention, comprised of a multitude of musicians including drummers Bevan and Eric Kotila, guitarists Robert PeArt and Jeff Koch, instrumentalist Joshua Slamp, vocalists, Jenni Price, Amanda Price and Reina Colins, and violinist Deb Katz.
The Intention has made its mark at various Pacific Northwest venues including the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, the Bite of Oregon, Robin Hood Festival, Crystal Ballroom and Doug Fir.
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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)
Wonderful show at the Rose Festival last night! I loved it all. It's cool that you added Josh's songs too. And Renee was a nice addition too. Looking forward to the next show!
We want to play on this festival and we..re joining a bancontest on www.dooload.de. We need your support and points. Click on the Banner above and vote for us! Thank you very much!
Wow, great music... Gonna have to definetly check you out live. Great "Pass the Mic" the other night too... School of Rock was amazing! Thanks for the friendship.