Biography

For northern California Americana artist Natasha James, it’s all about the groove; be it a blues rocker, a Tex-Mex toe tapper or a country tune, she comes through with a production that captures the right feel for the song on her latest CD “Tequila Time” on Highway One Records..

Three songs are written by Herman Eberitzsch, who frees up James artistically to explore new avenues of expression, which result in some of her gutsiest performances. Their irresistible Latin arrangement on kiss-off song “Cheetah on the Run” is pulsing with accordion and sassy fiddle: “Like the sun without the moon/Like a song without the tune/Like the rivers that all run dry/You’re gonna miss me when I say goodbye-bye”. His countrified “Boy Do We Drink” is one of several drinking songs coursing through this record, and James flavors it with her nostalgic Doris-Day-Que-Sera-Sera sound: “Sometimes I think the day puts a spell on the night/When everything goes wrong and nothin’ comes out right/Sometimes I think the day winds us up too tight/No matter what we do it’s another wasted night”.

James does have a knack for conjuring up some of music’s most celebrated singers, and these are her coolest vocals moments. Flashes of Kim Carnes(Bette Davis Eyes) phrasing slithers in like the slide guitar in “Get Out of My Way”: “I was thinkin’ about you/I was thinkin’ about me, too/You got a ways to go before I’m gonna/ Walk my road with you/Hey baby won’t you get out of my way”. In “Straight to Hell”, James tells the story of the darker side of drinking and other bad choices, with a Loretta Lynn straight-shooter approach: “The moment that I saw you I knew/I was along for the ride/It was the worst possible choice/But that’s something I do very well/I got an uncanny ability with amazing accuracy gone/Straight to hell on the wings of a bottle/Straight to hell with my angels by my side/Straight to hell in fifth gear at full throttle/Straight to hell with my eyes open wide”. A downright Bonnie Raitt bluesy performance is given in “If You Think This is Love”, one of her best on “Tequila Time”

In the end, when she’s found the right song, the right vibe and the right muse to inspire her, Natasha James sings her way to feeling right at home.

Check out her website: www.natashajames.com



Biography
NATASHA JAMES is known for taking Roots music styles, turning them on their head, combining them, and coming out with tunes that are completely unique but totally familiar (Music Connection, Aug 2008) at the same time.

On her debut album, BAD JUDGEMENTS, she had the pleasure of working and recording with old friend and monster sax player, MARTIN FIERRO (Thelonius Monk, Jerry Garcia, Zero) and reknowned keyboardist AUSTIN DELONE, among other stellar talents. That CD launched the hit single, "The Restless Kind," (#10, ACQB), and got her music compared to Van Morrison (Americana Media Guide, Aug 2008) and her voice to Janis Joplin crossed with Joan Baez (Music Connection).

TEQUILA TIME, the latest release from this prolific troubadour from Northern California, finds her once again pushing the edges of the Roots Americana movement, and upping the rock ante. NATASHA JAMES once again has some stellar musicians in her line-up. They recorded 17 songs in 4 days, including getting tones, she said on KRCB in an interview and live performance this month (Mindy's Mix, KRCB, 91.1 FM, Rohnert Park, CA). Players include DAVE AGUILAR (Norton Buffalo), with whom she did a duet that night, IAN LAMSON (Elvin Bishop), STEVE EVANS (Coco Montoya, Elvin Bishop), HERMAN EBERITZSCH (Malo, Lee Oskar), and WOODY VERMEIRE (Commander Cody), all engineered by RONNIE RIVERA, who also plays the drums in this stellar line-up.

This band gets people up on their feet from rock, country, bluegrass and blues persuasions, all knocked out by the originality of the tunes and the quality of James' voice; at times like Bonnie Raitt, at times like Janis Joplin and Emmy Lou Harris (Music Connection). We saw kids as young as 15 outside a club stop and stare in at the windows, swaying to a James' original! While the record is great, the live performance is where this band REALLY shines...these guys are players, and it shows.

TEQUILA TIME debuted on the Roots Charts at #20 in the country, #19 in the state, and #23 internationally. Not bad for a sophomore record! Immediately, the write-ups starting pouring in....The Alternate Root (April), The Bohemian (April), The Sonoma Index Tribune (April), New Music Weekly (June), All Music Guide (June), Roots Rock n Blues (May), Music Connection (May)... TEQUILA TIME is available in most retail outlets and online everywhere. The video of the title track I hear will be out shortly on national television.

P.O. Box 1926 Boyes Hot Springs, California 95416
www.natashajames.com / highwayonerecords@yahoo.com Contact: Natasha James natasha@natashajames.com www.myspace.com/natashajamesmusic
Natasha James
“People are still talking about the Natasha James concert on the Malécon. We'd like to see the San Felipe Tequila Festival grow and grow and hope Natasha will return for the next one,” said Kat Hammontre, the event’s promoter.
"Thanks for a great show!" Sooz Sykes, Goddess Grove stage, HARMONY FESTIVAL
"It's hard to top Natasha's live show." James Berry, SONOMA VINTAGE FESTIVAL
"Natasha James kicked a**” Chris Loh, IRON DOOR SALOON
"Great songs, great singing, great stage presence, great musicians!" Charlie Cowles, TALL TOAD MUSIC
“the lost sister of Bonnie Raitt and Loretta Lynn” – Music News Nashville
“country steeped in blues and tex-mex with a nod to Janis Joplin and Emmy Lou Harris" – Music Connection
Publicity Phone: 213-924-4901 dougdeutschpr@gmail.com
Radio Promotion Phone: 602-896-9910 www.gbwhp.com
Distribution Phone: 415-457-9080 www.CityHallRecords.com
Featured Shows:
IRON DOOR SALOON
Fri. & Sat., Sept. 17-18, 2010 – 8:00 PM Groveland, CA www.iron-door-saloon.com
BAJA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 – 3:00 PM
Downtown, Ensenada, MX
www.bajajazzfestival.com
RIVERWOOD INN
Saturday, October 9, 2010 – 9:00 PM
Phillipsville, CA www.riverwoodinn.info
COUNTRY MUSIC MESSE BERLIN 2011
Postbahnhof
Fri-Sun, Feb 4-6, 2011
Bluebird Cafe Stage & CountryMusik.net Stage
Berlin, Germany
www.countrymusicmesse.de
Natasha James owns all masters and publishing rights of her material.
Band Members:
Natasha James – vocals & rhythm guitars
James Harman – lead guitars
Herman Eberitzsch – keys (Lee Oskar)
Woody Vermeire – violin (Commander Cody)
Marius Pelsma – bass
Ronnie Rivera – drums (eng. Lisa Marie Presley)
Kerry Daly – backup vocals
Awards:
2009 LA Music Awards – Country Album of the Year
2009 Music Connection – Hot 100 LIVE Artists of 2009
2009 Live365/Women’s Radio – Best of the 2000’s – End of Decade Albums
2009 New Music Weekly – AC/HOT AC New Artist 2009 2010 LA Music Awards – (Producer’s Choice) “Country Songwriter of the Year" and "Country Artist of the Year” Nominee
Featured:
April 2010, That Nashville Sound May 2010, Songwriters Monthly
June, 2010, Outlaw Magazine
July, 2010, Nashville Country Club
Natasha James has appeared: