Newburyport -Today caught the band Liz Frame and the Kickers at The Newburypot Farmer’s Market last week and then sat down with its founder Liz Frame to find out more about them.
NBPT Today: We notice from your bio you have been preforming for a while, how long have you been with your current band and how did you all find each other? You seem to have great chemistry, is that something you have had to work on or did you meld naturally?
LF: The Kickers have been together, in its current form, for about a year and a half. Initially, when I got back into performing live, about three years ago, I was just going to open mics around town by myself. It was at one of those open mics, hosted by Imagine Studios, that I hooked up with Kristine Malpica, our percussionist. Kristine, in addition to being a great player, is the founder of Imagine Studios. So, for a few months, it was just she and me. Later, she introduced me to John Longo, our guitar player. A few months after that, at a gig the three of us were playing, we met Lynne Taylor, herself a real presence on the singer/songwriter scene. She had been invited to the gig by Kristine, loved what she heard, and wanted to be a part of it. The addition of her bass playing and her stellar background vocals really ratcheted things up a notch!
From the very beginning the four of us really locked into the Kickers sound. It was fun from the first note, and I think that’s really evident every time we play in front of an audience. Obviously some shows are better than others, but no matter how well we may or may not be playing, no matter how big or small the audience is, we always end up having fun! And for me, that’s what it’s all about. I know the rest of the band feels the same way.
NBPT Today: How often do you all preform? What has been your favorite venue to date?LF: Right now we are pretty lucky. We play out at least once a month. But sometimes things get pretty hectic. Next month, for example, we’re out there four or five times, which is a little too much, I think. I don’t want people to get tired of us! But generally, we average one or two gigs a month, which was my goal. It keeps us fresh and on our toes.
As far as a favorite venue, I’d have to say maybe the Powow River Grille, in Amesbury, when it was still around, and maybe the Newburyport Farmer’s Market. Always a good crowd there, and lots of kids getting into the sounds, which is nice.
NBPT Today: Your music is described as Country, do you like that label?
LF: Sure, I have no problem with it, although it isn’t really descriptive of my sound these days. When I first started performing seriously, many years ago, I really was really very country, in the strictest sense – ala Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, etc. But my stuff has changed over the years. Now, I think there is a slightly stronger pop sound to my songs, maybe more Americana or Alt-country. I don’t know. I like to call it “Rootsy.” That’s the best description, I think.
NBPT Today: Your vocals are super soulful, what are some of your influences, who might we see on your personal playlist?
LF: Thanks! I’ve always been a giant fan of Linda Ronstadt and people like Aretha Franklin. K.d lang knocks my socks off! I love Fionna Apple. She is a real talent. But my musical tastes really run the gamut. Right now I’m listening a lot to a guy named John Grant, who used to be the lead singer for a band called The Czars. He has a luscious voice and a twisted, gorgeous ear for lyrics and melody. I’m really lucky because the man in my life, in addition to putting up with my obsessions, is also completely obsessed himself with music. He always finds artists I’d never know anything about and turns me on to them. John Grant is one of them. Other constant favorites of mine are bands like The Band, The Black Keys, Alice in Chains, and singers like Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, Jim Lauderdale.
NBPT Today: How often do your write music and what is your inspiration for your lyrics? When you write to you write for your own voice / range?LF: I pretty much write every day, usually first thing in the morning, and I’m usually working on more than one song at a time. Lately I’ve been super productive and have been finishing songs quickly, one right after another. It’s been great! But I’m usually not quite that productive. If I can write a song a week, I’m happy. When I do write, I always do so for myself first. But I’m also actively trying to land myself a publishing deal, so I also write with the hope that another performer will hear one of my songs and want to cut it. That would be nice! My songs tend to be pretty
commercial, in that they have broad appeal, but I never tailor my material to fit the style or voice of another artist. I’m not interested in that.
And as for inspiration, lately I’ve been writing a lot of upbeat love songs, although I’m not sure why! I tend to gravitate to darker themes. But in general, I think my mind is truly wired to write songs, so I find inspiration in just about anything, especially in words, in turns of phrases, in syntax and rhythm. I’m kind of a sticklerfor lyrics. I feel like I owe an audience a good lyric, something interesting and that rhymes. I have no patience for lazy songwriting, and you hear a lot of that these days, especially out of Nashville. It’s like the songwriter can’t be bothered with finding two words that rhyme. That really irks me!
NBPT Today: What are your musical goals? Where will Liz Frame and the kickers be in 5 years?
LF: Oh boy. I’m not sure. Right now I’m really intent on getting myself a publishing deal, and I’m lucky in that I have some industry connections that will be helpful. But I’m also striving to get a cd recorded and released, and that’s something that is going to happen before the end of the year, I think (and hope!). I pretty much don’t think too far into the future. When I got back into this, I set very small, immediate goals for myself, which all came to pass – like playing out more, hooking up with other musicians, etc. Everything has pretty much happened the way I had hoped, and I’m just really trying to stay in the moment with all this. If I don’t, I start to obsess and fixate, and that isn’t good for my brain! It doesn’t let me be creative. And it isn’t fun!
Use the Player Below to hear some of Liz Frame and The Kickers current songs!
When Liz is not fronting for The Kickers you can find her in her shop on Pleasant Street here in Newburyport. Stop by Fancy Smancy and say hello. Or stop one of her upcoming shows!
