If you haven't yet discovered Rosie Flores.....

That's the one Eric.

I’ve mixed and recorded hundreds of live shows (and a local TV interview show connected to monthly concert series) and when I got into the "coffee house" scene, not having been previously connected to it (except as a musician or attendee), it was a serious eye opener. The people I hadn’t paid much attention to or was oblivious of turned out to be some of the best, most talented, and most astonishing musicians I’d ever discovered. Julian Lage, Lucy Kaplanski, Ellis Paul, Anais Mitchell...I could go on and on...the "coffee house" world, or as a talented pro guitar friend called it "the unpopular music business," is amazing. Generally almost nobody makes any serious money (Ellis Paul had a song in a movie that paid for a house, Lage is doing great, Anais wrote the musical Hadestown and won dozens of Tony awards, but those are exceptions) but certainly not for lack of talent. Support that scene...if you don’t have a venue start one...

Steve, are you speaking of Mary’s Drag Queens In Limousines album? I just picked it up a coupla days ago, haven’t cracked the shrink wrap yet. Also just in, Iris DeMent's sophomore album My Life on LP (Yep Roc Records, maroon vinyl).

Eric, get the new Maty Gauthier lp

@slaw: I don’t remember that Steve, but like Rosie (see the below video) my memory has holes in it. I remember faces, but have a Hell of a time with names.

Here is part 2 of Otis’ interview with Rosie, in which she talks about The Palomino (the great C & W/Rockabilly/Punk club in North Hollywood. That’s where The Pretenders played in L.A. on their first USA tour. The joint was packed. I saw a LOT of shows there, and played there myself a coupla times.), Buck Owens, George & Tammy (Tammy Wynette was for years my favorite singer, so it was nice to hear Rosie express the same), Gram & Emmylou, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, many others. Great stuff!

https://youtu.be/m8OP0mb8lso?si=Ry6WknZnZvIBGPfh

@bdp24 ,

I believe you mentioned her a few years ago in a post to draw attention to her.

NRBQ forever.

@tomcy6: Your comment raises a topic that has crossed my mind over the years. Artists or bands who remain favorites of a cult level audience---not ever becoming huge stars, in many cases have longer, more productive careers than do more "successful" artists or bands. A guy like, say, Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Rodney Crowell, Richard Thompson, Jim Lauderdale, or any of the many female singer/songwriters who don’t have Top 40 hits, keep making one great album after another. The above are some of the better known cult audience artists; there are plenty more who are less well known but also very talented, and deserving of a larger audience

An artist or band who have a huge hit record are forever expected to duplicate that success with every subsequent release, and when he/she/they don’t (it’s inevitable), the music business writes them off as has-beens. NRBQ are one of the greatest bands in the entire history of Rock ’n’ Roll, and in spite of never having a hit record have continued to make great music for over fifty years. In those fifty years, hundreds of bands who had a giant record came and went.

The upside for me is that cult artists perform in smaller venues, clubs or small theaters. As an audience members I feel more connection with the artist in smaller venues, and ticket prices are more affordable. The last time I saw The Stones was at The Staples Center in L.A., and I felt like I was watching them on TV. My gal and I left after three songs. Not only was I far removed from the action and sound, but who wants to watch Mick Jagger running from left to right across the stage?

I saw NRBQ in a Portland club awhile back, and though the band members have changed over the years (only pianist/singer/songwriter Terry Adams remains from the classic line-up. Guitarist/singer/songwriter Al Anderson left the band to focus on songwriting, moving to Nashville. Drummer Tom Ardolino died, and bassist/singer/songwriter Joey Spampinato has been under treatment for cancer a long time. By the way, Joey is Keith Richards’ favorite bassist, and he offered him the bass chair in The Stones when Bill Wyman quit. Joey declined the offer, electing to stay in the true Best Rock ’n’ Roll Band In The World), they remain one of the handful of best live bands I’ve ever seen and heard, and continue to create quality albums.

I love Rosie.  In spite of her low profile she keeps playing and singing.  She just won't quit, and she's good!

Great....just threw a couple of her songs on my playlist for later.

Very interesting interview. She's been around...never paid any attention to her.