Get ready for more joy to the world—Karling Abbeygate is celebrating the season on AOL Music!
Christmas With Karling, the hip and festive new release by Southern California’s leading rockabilly lady, is one of a handful of albums by legends and contemporary pop stars featured this season on AOL Music’s Holiday CD Listening Party.
While continuing to hold court among the rockabilly faithful via her regular Wednesday night residency “Karling’s Rockabilly Review” at Big’s Bar & Grill in Fullerton, Calif., the British born singer/songwriter and Hollywood Music In Media Award-winner is keeping good company at the online listening party with Scott Weiland, Jersey Boys, The Chipmunks, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Dave Koz, The Wiggles, Kidz Bop Kids, Mandy Barnett, Tony Bennett, Jackie Evancho and The Sing-Off.
Fans can also celebrate Christmas With Karling live at a special holiday event at Big’s December 16 that will benefit the singer’s favorite charity, Save-A-Life Pet Adoption. Proceeds from the recording also go to this organization, which is a non-profit, no-kill, all-volunteer dog and cat rescue and adoption organization. Founded in 1995, S-A-L animals are cared for and protected at a wonderful sanctuary north of Los Angeles until they are adopted.
In addition to three other shows at Big’s throughout December, including two live burlesque performances, Karling’s holiday slate includes shows at Fontana’s Festival of Winter at Fontana Snow Lodge (afternoon of December 10) and the Karling & The Kats Rockabilly Roadshow Christmas Party at B Ryders in Bakersfield (December 23).
It takes a bold soul to emphatically declare, “Santa’s Got A Crush On Me”—but coming from Karling, it’s not that far-fetched a notion. Not even the bearded guy in the red suit can resist the charms of the charismatic singer-songwriter whose electrifying performances are making Southern California a hotbed of Rockabilly and Americana music.
Christmas With Karling is a fun-filled celebration of the season featuring six fresh original tracks and cleverly arranged, new “Karlingized” renditions of five timeless carols and holiday classics: “Jingle Bells,” “First Noel,” “Deck The Halls,” “Silent Night” and “Auld Lang Syne.”
Recorded live (with just a few percussion overdubs) in her home studio over the course of three warm SoCal days in July, Christmas With Karling is the follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2010 full length album Bound For Nowhere, which at one point captured the #1 spot on CDBaby.com. Her track “Miss Fortune” earned a 2010 Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) in the Americana/Roots category.
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After stunning crowds in Orange County with her popular weekly residency, “Karling’s Rockabilly Review,” at Big’s Bar & Grill, Rockabilly sensation Karling has inspired winemaker Michael Cobb of Sort This Out Cellars in Solvang, Calif. to create a tasty Cabernet Sauvignon, Karling’s Rockabilly Red.
The wine will debut at 2011 Viva Las Vegas on April 24, where Karling & The Kats will also perform at 2 p.m. at the Bienville Room in the Orleans Hotel and Casino. The free wine tasting also features a live Burlesque performance by Miss Viva Las Vegas, 2010 Ruby Champagne, along with Big Sandy. Event sponsor Bettie Page Clothing will provide Karling’s wardrobe.
“Karling and her music capture everything we think this wine and winery should be about – uninhibited good times with a classic approach,” says Michael Cobb, proprietor of Sort This Out Cellars. “Rockabilly Red was created to celebrate the rock pioneers who blended rock, blues and blue grass, which gives our wine that same unique flavor. Karling’s Rockabilly Red is an enjoyable ‘lifestyle’ wine, which is perfect for sipping with friends, casual get-togethers, and especially for listening to Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Karling.”
The 2009 red wine is made from Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon at the Sort This Out Cellars winery. The wine is known for its smooth and dry qualities of strong red fruit flavors and the subtle flavors of chocolate and tobacco. Karling’s Rockabilly Red will retail for $25.
Karling’s latest CD, Bound For Nowhere even recently claimed the #1 spot on CDBaby.com. Her hard work in the past year has paid off, as her track “Miss Fortune” earned a 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award in the Americana/Roots category.
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OC’s Latest Musical Coup Follows In The Region’s Exciting
Tradition of Being a Hotbed For The Hottest Sounds of The Day—From Surf Music in
the Early ‘60s to Punk Music in the Late ‘70s-Early ‘80s
Let’s hear it for the OC, the Rockabilly Revival Capital of the world!
Carrying on Orange County, California’s exciting tradition of being a bellwether of emerging national musical trends, Karling’s electrifying weekly performances at Big’s Bar & Grill in Fullerton are singlehandedly making the region a hotbed of Rockabilly and Americana Music.
Karling is bringing the rhythmic joys of Rockabilly to a whole new generation of fans that were born after the world did “Stray Cat Strut” in the early 80’s. Word of her shows, part of a long term residency featuring the rising singer/songwriter’s “Karling’s Rockabilly Review,” have inspired acts in these genres from all around the country to make Big’s an important stop on their national tours. Some of these bands perform with Karling, while others have headlined their own shows.
Each week, the U.K. born singer surprises the crowd with a new line up of events starting at 9 p.m, including the occasional ‘Rockabilly Karaoke’ with the house band and much more.
Longtime and new fans alike are showing their love for Karling’s new album Bound For Nowhere, which recently claimed the #1 spot on CDBaby.com.
During her extensive summer 2010 tour, the heiress to the Rockabilly throne came in second at the West Coast Rockabilly Showdown held at the Orange County Market Place this summer where she captivated the crowd with her energetic line-up of music.
Karling, who was recently nominated for a 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award in the Americana/Roots category for her clever track, “Miss Fortune,” is known for her eclectic sound, earning her comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter. She has even been described as “Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie who’s lunching with the Stray Cats.”
Her 2006 self-titled debut, a critically acclaimed shout out to traditional honky tonk country that earned comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter, won three L.A. Music Awards: Rockabilly Album of the Year, Rockabilly Artist of the Year and Female Americana Vocalist of the Year.
“The cool thing about performing at Big’s is that it’s great for diehard Rockabilly fans and also a place where regular music fans can go and feel comfortable, and have a good time with us,” says Karling. “It’s near Cal State Fullerton, it’s a huge club with a friendly staff, has an amazing sound system, and the owner is a Rockabilly fan himself. The most exciting thing about all this is that a lot of bands do weekly residencies that don’t take off like they hope – but we’re always exceeding our expectations. I love the fact that I have a regular place to play so that fans of the band who haven’t made it out yet can come anytime and enjoy the show. It’s also been fun to vary our set and play with different musicians, like Big Manny from The Blazers. I’m also excited about the idea of incorporating a Patsy Cline segment into the set.”
The charismatic performer’s overwhelming success with her weekly shows may remind Southern California music fans of another musical revival which took place in the 90s. In a thriving club scene memorably captured by the film “Swingers,” groups like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Royal Crown Revue did residencies at The Derby in Los Angeles, which sparked a national craze for all things swing.
Karling’s nearly singlehanded revival of Rockabilly/Americana is just the latest chapter in OC’s rich musical history and its impact on our musical culture. The same way she holds sway over hundreds of fans, legendary surf guitarist Dick Dale created a national sensation from the moment he first played the famed Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa in 1960. Until his arrival, the ballroom drew an average of two to three hundred patrons on a weekend night. Dale’s fascinating vibe, which was part of the era’s “surf music” craze that gave rise to bands like the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, drew close to 4,000 teens with every performance. Dale held court at the Rendezvous for two full years.
Twenty years later, Orange County was the punk rock center of the universe, with local bands like Social Distortion (from Fullerton) and Agent Orange (the first to mix surf music with punk) ruling the roost. The hot punk club at the time was The Cuckoo’s Nest in Costa Mesa, which hosted shows by groups like Social D, 999, The Ramones, XTC, The Damned, New York Dolls, Circle Jerks and Black Flag. The venue was memorialized in the Vandals’ song “Pat Brown,” about a clubgoer who actually tried to run the cops into the ground.
“Punk was big in OC in the eighties, but at the same time, Rockabilly was riding a big wave there, with fans into their classic music and old cars having a great time,” says Karling. “There haven’t been as many good venues in recent years, so it’s not surprising that the popularity of the music goes in waves. I think Rockabilly’s ability to touch people of many generations comes from its being the root of rock and roll. While metal and punk are derivative of that basic rock element, Rockabilly’s history is tied to the organic sound of early rock, which is the foundation of so many other styles. What we play is just honest, stripped down rock and roll.”
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The 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award Nominee
Adds New Tour Dates In Washington And Oregon
Recently claiming the #1 Rockabilly album spot on CDbaby.com, Karling will return to the Northwest in the fall, adding October dates in both Washington and Oregon to her tour schedule in support of her new full-length album, Bound For Nowhere.
Her West Coast tour includes dates in Nevada and several California cities including a co-bill with the legendary Wanda Jackson on October 3 at Mill Creek Cattle Co. in Mentone, Calif. The U.K.-born songstress then kicks off a string of Washington shows starting in Fort Lewis on October 15 at Cowan Stadium with Lane Fernando and continues on to Edison, where she will perform at Longhorn Saloon on October 16 and at La Conner Pub on October 17. Karling will also make a stop in Portland, Ore. on October 18 at Duff’s Garage and end at Anchor Pub in Everett, Wash. on October 19.
On October 29, Karling will appear KBFX-TV FOX 58 News in Bakersfield promoting her Halloween Costume Party that evening at B. Ryders.
Karling will continue her Rockabilly Review on Wednesday nights at Big’s Bar & Grill in Fullerton, Calif, where she surprises the crowd with a new line up of events each week starting at 9 p.m, including performances by the leading lady herself, along with ‘Rockabilly Karaoke’ and much more.
In addition, Karling was recently nominated for a 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award in the Americana/Roots category for her clever track, “Miss Fortune,” and has been profiled for Car Kulture DeLuxe Magazine. She is also known for her eclectic sound, which has earned her comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter.
UPCOMING PERFORMACES:
Every Wednesday Night:
“Karling’s Rockabilly Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
(714) 526-4950
9 p.m.
No cover
21+
October 3
“Ruffneck Days” (with Wanda Jackson)
Mill Creek Cattle Co.
1874 Mentone Blvd.
Mentone, CA
(909) 389-0706
4:30 p.m.
Cover TBD
October 15
Cowan Stadium (with Lane Fernando)
N. Division St.
Fort Lewis, WA 98327
(253) 235-3045
6:30 p.m.
Cover TBD
October 16
Longhorn Saloon
5754 Cains Ct.
Edison, WA 98232
(360) 766-6330
9 p.m.
No cover
October 17
La Conner Pub
702 1st St.
La Conner, WA 98257
(360) 466-9932
La Conner, WA
All Ages 1 p.m.
No cover
October 18
Duff’s Garage
1635 SE 7th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 234-2337
9 p.m.
Cover TBD
October 19
Anchor Pub
1001 Hewitt Ave.
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 252-2288
8 p.m.
October 29
B. Ryders – Halloween Costume Party
6633 Ming Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 398-7077
Time
Cover: $3
21+
November 2
Joe’s Great American Bar and Grill
4311 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA
(818) 729-0805
9 p.m.
No cover
21+
* * *
The Rising Songstress’ Album
‘Bound For Nowhere’ Is One Of The Top
Rockabilly Albums On CD Baby
And Her Act Comes In Second At the
West Coast Rockabilly Showdown
Dominating the Rockabilly scene with her energetic performances and infectious sound, Karling has returned to SoCal after a successful West Coast summer tour in Northern California, Oregon and Washington promoting her new full-length recording, Bound For Nowhere.
The U.K.-born singer/songwriter recently kicked off her Wednesday night residency, “Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review,” at Big’s Bar & Grill in Fullerton, Calif. Each week, she surprises the crowd with a new line up of events starting at 9 p.m, including an upcoming performance on August 11, ‘Rockabilly Karaoke’ with the house band and much more.
Longtime and new fans alike are showing their love for Karling’s new album, which recently claimed the #1 spot on CDBaby.com.
During her extensive summer tour, the heiress to the Rockabilly throne came in second at the West Coast Rockabilly Showdown held at the Orange County Market Place this summer where she captivated the crowd with her energetic line-up of music.
Karling, who was recently nominated for a 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award in the Americana/Roots category for her clever track, “Miss Fortune,” is known for her eclectic sound, earning her comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter. She has even been described as “Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie who’s lunching with the Stray Cats.”
UPCOMING PERFORMACES:
Every Wednesday Night:
“Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
(714) 526-4950
9 p.m.
No cover
21+
August 27
The Pike Bar
1836 E. 4th St.
Long Beach, CA
(562) 437-4453
Time: TBD
Ages 21+
September 19
Redwood Bar & Grill
316 West 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 680-2600
Also featuring Candye Kane
9 p.m.
September 26
“Rockabilly Beer Garden”
Sand Dollar Lounge
3355 Spring Mountain Rd.,
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 485-5401
8:30 p.m.
$25 all-you-can-drink craft beer
October 3
“Ruffneck Days”
Mill Creek Cattle Co.
1874 Mentone Blvd.
Mentone, CA
(909) 389-0706
4:30 p.m.
November 2
Joe’s Great American Bar and Grill
4311 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA
(818) 729-0805
9 p.m.
21+
]]>Dominating L.A.’s thriving Rockabilly scene with her unforgettable sound and lively performances, Karling is heading to Northern California, Oregon and Washington on her summer tour promoting her new full-length recording, Bound For Nowhere.
Drawing huge turnouts of new and longtime fans at her recent CD release show at Joe’s in Burbank, Calif., and performances at Groovefest in Cedar City, Utah, Karling’s ongoing tour includes added shows in Portland and Medford in Oregon; Seattle, Everett, LaConnor, and Anacortes in Washington; and San Pedro in Northern California.
While in Medford, Ore., the leading lady makes a stop at KTVL News 10 for a live performance on Friday, July 9 during the morning segment starting at 6 a.m.
The U.K.-born performer also picked up a mini residency, “Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review” at Big’s Bar & Grill in Fullerton, Calif., for performances on July 28, August 4, and August 1, kicking off at 8 p.m. each night.
Karling, who was recently nominated for a 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award in the Americana/Roots category for her clever track, “Miss Fortune,” is known for her eclectic sound, earning her comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter. She’s even been described as “Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie who’s lunching with the Stray Cats.”
UPCOMING PERFORMACES:
July 8
Johnny B’s
35 S. Bartlett St.,
Medford, OR
(541) 773-1900
Cover: $5
21+
July 9
Duff’s Garage
1635 SE 7th Ave.,
Portland, OR
(503) 234 2337
9:30 p.m.
Cover: $10
21+
July 10
Johnny B’s
35 S. Bartlett St.,
Medford, OR
(541) 773-1900
Cover: $5
21+
July 11
The Anchor Pub
Hwy 2 1001 Hewitt Ave.,
Everett, WA
(425) 252-2288
8 p.m.
No cover
21+
July 14
Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater
2322 2nd Ave.
Seattle, WA
10:30 p.m.
Cover: $10
Playing with Lane Fernando & Burlesque
Ages 21+
July 16
Starbar Lounge
416 1/2 Commercial Ave.
Anacortes, WA
(360) 299-2120
No cover
Time: TBD
July 18
La Conner Pub
702 1st St.
La Conner, WA
1 p.m.
Also playing: Lane Fernando.
No cover
Time: TBD
July 24
“Ranch Party Country Night” hosted by EB’s Beer & Wine Bar
Farmers Market at Fairfax
3rd Street and Fairfax
Los Angeles, CA
Free and open to all ages
8 p.m.
July 28
“Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
8-11 p.m.
No cover
21+
July 30
San Pedro Brewing Company
331 West 6th Street
San Pedro, CA
10 p.m.
Cover: TBD
Ages 21+
August 4
“Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
(714) 526-4950
8-11 p.m.
No cover
21+
August 11
“Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
(714) 526-4950
8-11 p.m.
No cover
21+
August 14
B Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill
7041 White Lane
Bakersfield, CA
(661) 397-7304
9 p.m.
No cover
Ages 21+
August 27
The Pike
1836 E. 4th St.,
Long Beach, CA
(562) 437-4453
Time: TBD
Ages 21+
***
‘Crazy Mable’ (And A Few Others) To Be Revealed At
Karling’s CD Release Show On June 22 At
Joe’s Great American Bar & Grill In Burbank At 8 p.m.
Karling, L.A.’s emerging Rockabilly singer-songwriter, is celebrating the release of her new 14-track recording Bound For Nowhere with a Listening Party on AOL Music through May 9.
On June 22, the U.K.-born multi-talented artist is inviting new and longtime fans to a special Bound For Nowhere CD release performance at Joe’s Great American Bar & Grill (4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, Calif.) at 8 p.m., known for their wildly popular “Dance At Joe’s” swing dance parties.
Karling continues to make a splash on L.A.’s music scene, recently snagging a mini-residency at Weber’s (19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, Calif.) on June 10 at 8 p.m. and July 29 at 8:30 p.m. for its new “Western & Roots Thursday” nights, and on May 14 at 9 p.m. for “Rockabilly Fridays.”
The energetic honky-tonk performer is also gearing up for shows in other West Coast cities including North Hollywood, Ventura and Solvang. She’ll also make a stop in Cedar City, Utah for multiple shows at the popular music festival Groovefest in late June and head up to Washington for shows in July.
Karling’s eclectic sound has earned comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter. She’s even been described as “Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie who’s lunching with the Stray Cats.” In 2009, Karling picked up a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) nomination for “Another Lovely Day,” the charming, easy rolling lament that kicks off Bound For Nowhere, which she also performed at the ceremony. She has also won three L.A. Music Awards: Rockabilly Album of the Year, Rockabilly Artist of the Year, and Female Americana Vocalist of the Year.
UPCOMING PERFORMACES:
May 14
Weber’s Place – “Rockabilly Fridays”
19312 Vanowen St.
Reseda, CA
Also playing: Captain Jeffrey & The Chumbuckets; The Lucky Stars
9 p.m.
Cover: $10
Ages 21+
May 15
San Pedro Brewing Co
331 West 6th St.
San Pedro, CA
10 p.m.
Cover: $3
Ages 21+
May 19
“Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
7 p.m.
Free all ages
May 21
The Wicked Shamrock
14 N H St.
Lompoc, CA
9 p.m.
Cover: TBA
Ages 21+
May 28
Live Culture Lounge
11 W de la Guerra
Santa Barbara, CA
8 p.m.
No cover
Ages 21+
May 29
Sort This Out Cellars
1636 Copenhagen Dr.
Solvang, CA
9 p.m.
Cost: TBA
June 5
“Rockabilly Shakedown”
Orange County Market Place
88 Fair Dr.,
Costa Mesa, CA
1 p.m.
Cost: $2
Children are free
June 5
“Ranch Party Country Night” hosted by EB’s Beer & Wine Bar
Farmers Market at Fairfax
3rd Street and Fairfax
Los Angeles, CA
Free and open to all ages
June 10
Weber’s Place – “Western & Roots Thursday Nights”
19312 Vanowen St.
Reseda, CA
8 p.m.
Cover: $5
Ages 21+
June 12
The Pike Bar
1836 E. 4th St.
Long Beach, CA
10 p.m.
Cost TBA
Ages 21+
June 22
Karling’s Bound For Nowhere CD Release Show
Joe’s Great American Bar And Grill
4311 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA
8 p.m.
Free admission
Ages 21+
Groovefest – Cedar City Utah
June 24
The Grind Coffeehouse
19 N. Main St.
Cedar City, UT
7:30 p.m.
Cost: $3
June 25
Cedar City Main Street Park
200 N. Main St.
Cedar City, UT
4:15 p.m.
No cover
June 25
Mike’s Tavern
90 West Hoover Ave.
Cedar City, UT
8 p.m.
Cost: $5
Ages 21+
July 15
Rockfish Grill
320 Commercial Ave.
Anacortes, WA
8:30 p.m.
Cover TBD
21+
July 18
La Conner Pub
702 1st St.
La Conner, WA
1 p.m.
Also playing: Lane Fernando.
More details TBA
July 24
“Ranch Party Country Night” hosted by EB’s Beer & Wine Bar
Farmers Market at Fairfax
3rd Street and Fairfax
Los Angeles, CA
Free and open to all ages
8 p.m.
July 29
Weber’s Place – “Western & Roots Thursday Nights”
19312 Vanowen St.
Reseda, CA
Also playing: ‘RJ’ from Holland
8:30 p.m.
Cover: $5
21+
Rising Rockabilly songstress, Karling, is making a splash on L.A.’s music scene, snagging her a mini-residency at Weber’s (19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA) on April 29, June 10 at 8 p.m. and July 29 at 8:30 p.m. for its new “Western & Roots Thursday” nights, and on May 14 at 9 p.m. for “Rockabilly Fridays.”
The British-born performer will engage crowds with her energetic line-up of music, including songs from her new album dropping May 1, Bound For Nowhere, at the popular venue– reminiscent of the famous Palomino night spot in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley which closed its doors nearly 20 years ago.
Karling is set to hit additional cities throughout California– including Burbank, North Hollywood, Ventura and Solvang– and to Cedar City, Utah for two shows at the popular music festival, Groovefest in June.
The Los Angeles based performer recently rocked the crowd at the L.A. Derby Dolls halftime show at the April 17 roller derby match in L.A.’s Echo Park neighborhood.
Karling’s eclectic vibe has earned comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter. She’s even been described as “Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie who’s lunching with the Stray Cats.”
In 2009, Karling picked up a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) nomination for “Another Lovely Day,” the charming, easy rolling lament that kicks off Bound For Nowhere, which she also performed at the ceremony. She has also won three L.A. Music Awards: Rockabilly Album of the Year, Rockabilly Artist of the Year, and Female Americana Vocalist of the Year.
UPCOMING PERFORMACES:
April 24
Billy O’s Restaurant & Saloon
2819 E Main Street. Ventura, CA
9 p.m.
No cover
Ages 21+
April 27
‘Dance @ Joe’s’
Joe’s Great American Bar And Grill
4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA
8 p.m.
Free admission
Ages 21+
April 29
Weber’s Place – “Western & Roots Thursday Nights”
19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA
Also playing: Jeffrey Michaels
8 p.m.
Cover: $5
21+
May 1
“Rockabilly Shakedown”
Orange County Market Place
88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA
1 p.m.
Cost: $2
Children are free
May 14
Weber’s Place – “Rockabilly Fridays”
19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA
Also playing: Captain Jeffrey & The Chumbuckets; The Lucky Stars
9 p.m.
Cover: $10
Ages 21+
May 15
San Pedro Brewing Co
331 West 6th St.
San Pedro, CA
10 p.m.
Cover: $3
Ages 21+
May 19
“Karling’s Rockabilly Roots Review”
Big’s Bar & Grill
323 N State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA
7 p.m.
Free all ages
May 21
The Wicked Shamrock
14 N H St., Lompoc, CA
9 p.m.
Cover: TBA
Ages 21+
May 28
Live Culture Lounge
11 W de la Guerra, Santa Barbara, CA
8 p.m.
No cover
Ages 21+
May 29
Sort This Out Cellars
1636 Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, CA
9 p.m.
Cost: TBA
June 5
“Ranch Party Country Night” hosted by EB’s Beer & Wine Bar
Farmers Market at Fairfax
3rd Street and Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA
Free and open to all ages
June 10
Weber’s Place – “Western & Roots Thursday Nights”
19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA
8 p.m.
Cover: $5
Ages 21+
June 12
The Pike Bar
1836 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA
10 p.m.
Cost TBA
Ages 21+
Groovefest – Cedar City Utah
June 24
The Grind Coffeehouse
19 N. Main St., Cedar City, UT
7:30 p.m.
Cost: $3
June 25
Cedar City Main Street Park
200 N. Main St., Cedar City, UT
4:15 p.m.
No cover
June 25
Mike’s Tavern
90 West Hoover Ave., Cedar City, UT
8 p.m.
Cost: $5
Ages 21+
July 29
Weber’s Place – “Western & Roots Thursday Nights”
19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA
Also playing: ‘RJ’ from Holland
8:30 p.m.
Cover: $5
21+
Destined to be Rockabilly’s new leading princess, Karling brings her contagious honky-tonk sound from her new album Bound For Nowhere (set for release on May 1) to existing and future fans alike this spring. The multi-talented, British-born, Los Angeles based performer, accessorized with a microphone instead of a crown (and even a beer bottle or two), is set to hit cities throughout California– including Burbank, North Hollywood, Ventura and Solvang– and to Cedar City, Utah for two shows at the popular music festival, Groovefest in June.
Karling’s eclectic vibe has earned comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter. She’s even been described as “Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie who’s lunching with the Stray Cats.”
In 2009, Karling snagged a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) nomination for “Another Lovely Day,” the charming, easy rolling lament that kicks off Bound For Nowhere, which she also performed at the ceremony. She has also won three L.A. Music Awards: Rockabilly Album of the Year, Rockabilly Artist of the Year, and Female Americana Vocalist of the Year.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
April 2
Weber’s Place
19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA
8:15pm
Also playing: Russell Scott and His Red Hots, The Groovy Rednecks
Cost: $10
Ages 21+
April 6
‘Dance @ Joe’s’
Joe’s Great American Bar And Grill
4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA
8 p.m.
Free admission
April 21
Skinny’s Lounge
4923 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA
8 p.m.
Cost: $3
April 24
Billy O’s Restaurant & Saloon
2819 E Main Street. Ventura, CA
9 p.m.
Cost TBA
April 29
Weber’s Place
19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA
Also playing: Jeffrey Michaels
Time / Cost: TBA
Ages 21+
May 28 & 29
Sort This Out Cellars
1636 Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, CA
9 p.m.
Cost TBA
June 12
The Pike
1836 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA
10 p.m.
Cost TBA
Ages 21+
Groovefest – Cedar City Utah
June 24
The Grind Coffeehouse
19 N. Main St., Cedar City, UT
7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5
June 25
Cedar City Main Street Park
200 N. Main St., Cedar City, UT
4:15 p.m.
Cost: TBA
June 25
Mike’s Tavern
90 West Hoover Ave., Cedar City, UT
8 p.m.
Cost: TBA
MEET THE NEW FACE OF
CONTEMPORARY ROCKABILLY…
KARLING!
THE ENGAGING BRITISH-BORN
SINGER-SONGWRITER RECEIVED A
HOLLYWOOD MUSIC IN MEDIA (HMMA)
NOD FOR ‘ANOTHER LOVELY DAY’ FROM
HER NEW ALBUM ‘BOUND FOR NOWHERE’
Karling’s Eclectic Vibe, Which Has Been Described
As ‘Wanda Jackson Meets Gwen Stefani, Who Puts
In A Conference Call To David Bowie Who’s Lunching
With The Stray Cats’ Has Delighted Audiences
Everywhere >From Europe To San Francisco and New York City
Since the designation “First Lady of Rockabilly” has already been taken by 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson, we’ll have to come up with something unique to describe the hip, contemporary twist that singer/songwriter Karling brings to the genre.
While we’re figuring out a term for the multi-talented, British-born, Los Angeles based performer that’s as witty, clever and buoyant as the songs on her new indie album, we also might wonder about its ironic title. Karling calls it Bound For Nowhere, but in truth, she’s been practically everywhere these past few years, winning accolades and delighting audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe with her enigmatic brand of Americana.
In 2009, she earned a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) nomination for “Another Lovely Day,” the charming, easy rolling lament that kicks off Bound For Nowhere which she also performed at the ceremony. Her 2006 self-titled debut, a critically acclaimed shout out to traditional honky tonk country that earned comparisons to Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and June Carter, won three L.A. Music Awards: Rockabilly Album of the Year, Rockabilly Artist of the Year, and Female Americana Vocalist of the Year.
Over the past few years, Karling and her band have shared the stage with luminaries like Jackson, Wayne Hancock, Big Sandy, The Hacienda Brothers, Deke Dickerson and James Intveld and performed regularly throughout the West Coast and Europe—with dates everywhere from Portland, Oregon to Baltimore and New York.
While she performs throughout California—and recently played in Fresno, Sutter Creek and San Francisco–one of Karling’s most loyal fan bases is in Bakersfield. The band is scheduled to play the 2010 Buckfest in honor of country legend Buck Owens, who hailed from there.
Just as a revival of the Elvis Presley-Sun Session era rockabilly sound inspired the revival in her hometown of Norwich in the English countryside when she was growing up, she taps into the Euro passion for rockabilly regularly; in 2009, she performed in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, Holland and the UK.
“Because we don’t do straight traditional rockabilly,” Karling says, “we also appeal to those who enjoy old country, the Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Hank Williams, Sr. fans as well as the rockabilly crowd. The European crowds are always a little surprised because the songs have an original twist and they are not used to songs that cross traditional boundaries and aren’t duplicates of the old style. People tell me they like my singing voice because it sounds like a 50s crooner but then I can get into hard rocking, high energy stuff that inspires the audience to jump and dance around.”
One of the songs her fans are high steppin’ to lately is the infectious “Crazy Mable,” which draws on one of her favorite hobbies, writing horror stories, and the darker elements of her former musical life as the lead singer of the alt-rock band Karling Abbeygate and the Monks of Love. This is just one element of a background that makes her a fascinating musical enigma. New listeners might assume she hails from Texas or Memphis, since her twang is tweaked to perfection and her voice captures the authentic soul of American roots music.
Mystery solved: Karling’s father, a military man hailing from Coffeyville, Kansas, met her mother while based in Norfolk, England. Both avid old-style country fans, they fed their daughter a consistent diet of Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn, practically from the day she was born. Her friends at school also exposed her to vinyl records their parents had of artists like Wanda Jackson, and Norwich had concerts hosting rockabilly bands where dressing up in circle skirts and petticoats was encouraged.
Those experiences help explain Karling’s evolution as a country/Americana artist. But somewhere along the way, to the delight of the indie rock community, Karling explored that other side of her musical artistry. Based alternately in Portland, Oregon and Las Vegas, Karling Abbeygate and the Monks of Love did numerous tours of America. During these years, she also prepped for her later slew of awards as the band won honors as Las Vegas Artist of the Year by City Life Magazine.
Though she is now billed as a solo artist, Karling is very much a collaborator in both the studio and onstage with her band featuring guitarist Joel Morin, rhythm guitarist Donnie Whitbeck, drummer John Schwartz (who has played with Weird Al Yankovic for the past 29 years!) and bassist Kevin Stewart (Wanda, Big Sandy). “I can have an idea in my head of how I want a song to sound,” she says, “but I don’t know how it’s going to turn out until I bring the guys together and they hear my ideas and then add their own talent and expertise.
“I think I simply have varied tastes in music,” Karling adds. “Growing up, I loved David Bowie, T Rex, The Cars and Nirvana, and later I was an immediate fan of Amy Winehouse. The music I make now is American roots music, where I’m going back and bringing out the essence of where rock came from. If young rockers act like they don’t care about old style rock and roll and rockabilly, they’re fooling themselves because it’s where the music they make today is built from. And before that was the blues. Older fans feel that my songs are honest and like the bare bones vibe because we do it all without a huge production. It’s also wonderful to find fresh ways to make the music relevant to a new generation of young fans. They listen like it’s completely new and have no idea how it connects to an old style of music—but they still love it, and that’s what matters to me.”
Karling sees a strong progression between her debut album and Bound For Nowhere, not only stylistically but because the new collection is comprised of all original material; the first was a ballad heavy mix of four originals and covers of older country songs, a few which were popular but many of which were coolly obscure. Vibe-wise, think Wanda Jackson meets Gwen Stefani, who puts in a conference call to David Bowie, who’s lunching with The Stray Cats. They exchange notes and then write a 14 song album.
While “Another Lovely Day” has received many accolades already and “Crazy Mable” is the song about crazy obsession that everyone’s talking about, the set runs deep and features numerous other classics in the making. Among these is “The Valley,” inspired by some of the great cowboy songs by the late Frankie Laine, who became a fan of Karling’s music before his passing. On March 30, the singer went down to San Diego to participate in a party Laine’s widow is throwing for what would have been the legend’s 97th birthday.
“Looking back,” Karling says, “the funny thing about being in the alternative rock band is that the whole time, there was this feeling I had that I didn’t know how to express. I was missing that rockabilly beat, that train rhythm, and I kept wanting the band to do something like that. Instead, they made a lazy beat and it became increasingly frustrating for me. I guess it was just a matter of time before I would emerge with the style of music that was most true to my heart, and on my own terms. The writing comes naturally to me, and I had started writing songs for Bound For Nowhere when the first album came out and at one point was penning a song a day. But that’s just the start. What is ultimately exciting to me is how they begin to take on a life of their own, and that we get the opportunity to preserve them forever.”
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