Sometimes blues and folk duos get lost in the bustle of rowdy drinkers in neighborhood bars, but this was never the case for Letter to Memphis. The dominating smokey vocals of Devon Cahill quickly caught the attention of every shot-slinger in the place, even though they were only playing cover songs.
Recently, Cahill and Gene Starks (guitarist) made the push to original song writing and booking shows as an opener. The next step, they say, is to tighten up and get into a studio to lay stuff down. "The move to song writing has been an adventure, but its been great," Cahill says.
As Letter to Memphis progresses, it is well worth your time to drop in on one of their sets and give Cahill's projecting voice and Starks' meditative guitar a listen.
Letter to Memphis pumped out thirteen originals in the last couple months on the search to find its sound. "Its coming across as blues and folk with a touch of jazz," Starks says. There are no official records up, yet, but a solid live set from Plush is available online.
Saxophonist and flutist Randy Reese jumped on board, expanding Letter to Memphis to a trio and creating a more expansive sound on stage. Occasionally, a stand up bass is present as well.
Devon Cahill started in musical theater around the age of six. Stage presence is a common practice for her, but she says, she finally feels like she's found her true passion since she and Starks started working as a duo. Gene Starks studied classical and jazz guitar in college and has been playing for about twenty years.
Letter to Memphis opens the Heavy Anchor on Friday, September 14 at 8 p.m. for the Skekses and the Hobosexuals.
