KARA GRAINGER
SHIVER AND SIGH
ECLECTO GROOVE RECORDS EGRCD 514
LITTLE PACK OF LIES–SHIVER AND SIGH–LOST IN YOU–SHUT DOWN–I’M NOT READY–NO WAY YOU CAN HURT ME NOW–HOLDING OUT FOR LOVE–C’MON IN MY KITCHEN–YOU’RE THE ONE–BREAKING UP SOMEBODY’S HOME–OVERDUE FOR THE BLUES
Kara Grainger and her brother, noted harpman Mitch, were born and raised in Australia, and honed their blues chops hitting every festival they could, traveling up and down the beaches of that country’s east coast, fronting a Sydney-based band known as Papa Lips. Now based in Los Angeles, Kara has just released “Shiver And Sigh” on the Eclecto Groove label, featuring five originals and some very well-chosen covers that show her vast diversity gleaned from all the different sounds and styles she’s encountered since those busking days back home. It is an exercise in blues, with flourishes of folk, soul, and roots.
There is also a virtual “who’s who” backing her on this project. To name a few, Jimi Bott and James Gadson are on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Eli Fletcher and Josh Sklair on guitars, Mike Finnigan on keys, and Hutch Hutchinson on bass.
Kara writes songs that we all can relate to, representing life’s ups and downs and how one copes with the cards they are dealt. And, she does so in a very mature, wise-beyond-her-years way. The leadoff cut is a prime example. With a her slide leading the charge, she catches her smooth-talkin’, two-timin’ lover in his own “Little Pack Of Lies.” Others, such as “Lost In You,” the title cut, and “You’re The One” all find Kara wearing her heart on her sleeve and baring her soul to her lovers. The latter of these does so over a funky, original vibe augmented by Lenny’s percussive beats, Mike’s understated organ, and a sweet sax solo from Paulie Cerra.
We had several favorites, too. Mike’s acoustic, barrelhouse piano adds spice to Kara’s slide-driven tale of a woman who’s been used and abused by a lover and reaches the breaking point, and there’s “No Way You Can Hurt Me Now.” She goes waaay down to the alley and plays the “other woman” to the hilt in the soulful “Feel Like Breakin’ Up Somebody’s Home,” while she and brother Mitch swap some intense licks 0n the Delta-fied “C’ Mon In My Kitchen.” And she closes the set with just herself and her acoustic guitar, with the somber story of another woman hurt one time too many, who seems always “Overdue For The Blues.”
Kara Grainger is a triple-threat on the blues horizon—a killer vocalist with tremendous playing ability and thoughtful, well-crafted original songs. “Shiver And Sigh” brings her full-circle from her festival days Down Under, and is sure to captivate listeners everywhere! Until next time…..Sheryl and Don Crow.
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