Desert Mothers
Desert Mothers
The Desert Mothers were founded during a long run in the twilight near Joshua Tree, California by songwriter/producer Spencer Critchley. As coyotes sang in the shadow of a distant mesa, a white dog appeared from nowhere to run alongside, and soon the first Desert Mothers album, Nowhere Motel, had begun to take shape.
The title track, "Nowhere Motel", finds the singer stranded on a desert highway next to a ruined sign of an ark and a rainbow advertising rooms for the night. Shimmering up out of the heat come the sounds of a steel guitar and a lonely voice.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Appearing in "Nowhere Motel":
Gina Fant-Saez: vocals
Bruce Kaphan: steel guitar, dobro
Spencer Critchley: guitar
Gene Rabbai: electric piano
Byron House: fretless bass
Pat Mastellotto: drums
Tom Roady: shaker, caxixi, dumbek, silver solder hands
WHO THEY ARE:
Gina is a wonderful singer & songwriter and the engineer/owner of Blue World Studios (Austin, Texas), where U2, Sting, Shawn Colvin and many others have recorded.
Bruce is an innovative steel and slide guitarist who has played with David Byrne, Sheryl Crow, American Music Club, The Red House Painters and many others.
Gene has played keyboards expertly with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Vince Gill...
Byron has played deeply grooving bass with the Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Dolly Parton, and many others. He also produced the upcoming album by the Waybacks.
Pat was a member of Mr. Mister, and has played drums incredibly well with XTC, King Crimson, David Sylvian...
Tom has played perfect percussion for The Dixie Chicks, Kenny Chesney, Michael McDonald, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood and many others.
Spencer started his recording life as a songwriter for Warner-Chappell Music and a member of the long lost Canadian band Aceboy, and since then has written and produced music for many projects, including the Emmy-winning documentary Blink.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Not so much!
Your musical influences
Paul Simon, Ry Cooder, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, John Prine, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Hoagy Carmichael, Joni Mitchell, kd lang, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton...
What equipment do you use?
National Guitar, Stratocaster