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Kate Mann

Home is where the heartbreak is...

About Me


Kate Mann -02- Cowboys Are My Weakness

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Video courtesy of Tom Surber
“Kate's got a back tat that's the size of Oregon and a voice that's twice as big. Armed with a guitar and harp, she cranks out a chicken-wired wall of country rock that'll have your toes tappin' while you watch out for flying beer bottles.”
Jeffrey Morgan
Metrotimes - Detroit's Weekly Alternative
“Kate Mann is much more than a pretty face with an acoustic guitar. She is an artist in every sense of the word, and her music speaks volumes way beyond her years. The New Mexico native's style was shaped by her surroundings of endless skies and vast deserts, giving her a Southwestern disposition that is a little bit treacherous. Affected by such artists as PJ Harvey, Townes Van Zandt and Tom Waits, Mann possesses a gritty and somewhat jagged sound as she enlists unusual chord progressions to accompany her gruff vocals. While she writes with abstract metaphors that could be construed as idiosyncratic, her messages come across compellingly clear. Since her arrival to the West Coast a decade ago, Mann has become one of Portland's most recognizable talents, winning audiences throughout the entire Northwest. Mann's debut disc, November Songs, was released last year. This first outing was recorded live in the studio in a single weekend, and it shows - I mean that in a good way though. The disc captures Mann raw and exposed. The minimalism of each song is refreshing as she takes you on a dark journey to the corner of her soul.”
Tony Engelhart
Weekly Volcano
“Devil's Rope, (Kate Mann’s) second album, shows her confidence growing, her sound toughening, and her future brightening.”
Marty Hughley
The Oregonian A&E Kate Mann’s songs take you on a southwestern journey of the nighttime world with snapshots of love lost and dangerous encounters. Kate grew up at the foot of the Sandia mountains in New Mexico, and the texture of the desert subtly sculpts her music. A deeply resonant, unique vocal quality, atypical chord progressions, and compelling and intelligent lyrics combine to conjure comparisons as varied as PJ Harvey, Lucinda Williams, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave.

A former high school teacher, Kate had an awakening of sorts in 2005 and dedicated herself to music full time. She traded in her car for a van, fixed up her mother’s old 1963 Gibson acoustic, and started touring the Western United States. Her unique brand of moody Americana has been cultivating a loyal local fan base, and she is continuing the trend regionally. Her song “Cowboys are my Weakness” was recently selected as a finalist in the Americana category of the Independent Music Awards, and she received some national airplay for selections off her most recent album. Kate has also been winning fans in Europe, where her first album has gotten airplay and positive reviews.

“Devil’s Rope,” Kate’s second album, was recorded at 8-Ball Studio in Portland and coproduced by Kate and studio owner Rob Stroup. The album, distributed by Burnside Distribution, takes the songwriter into new territory. Whereas Mann’s debut, the 2005 release “November Songs,” was a sparse acoustic recording, “Devil’s Rope” surrounds Mann’s dusky voice and acoustic guitar with aggressive slide guitar and harmonica, rumbling drums, and accordion and classical guitar sounds that conjure images of gypsy caravans. Recording for the artist’s third album will begin in January 2008.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/13/2005
Band Website: katemann.com
Band Members: Kate Mann - vocals, guitar

Sisters in Crime - Reina Collins, Paula Sinclair, and Kate Mann

Kate Mann and The Calamaties - a rotating cast of characters possibly including Bernardo Gomez (upright bass), Jason Mayberry (percussion), Marilee Hord (fiddle)...and that's just in Portland. There are Calamities everywhere!!!
Influences: PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Ray LaMontagne, Patty Griffin, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Mazzy Star, Neko Case, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Power, Johnny Cash, Marianne Faithful, Lucinda Williams, Kristen Hersh, The Be Good Tanyas, Eric McFadden, Jim White...just to name a few
Sounds Like: desert gypsy rock
Type of Label: None

My Blog

I left my heart in small-town Texas

I spent the last week covered in a layer of dust and sweat. A giant Texas centipede crawled up my leg. I slept on the hard ground, and I averaged 3 hours of sleep a night. The "facilities" consiste...
Posted by Kate Mann on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:17:00 PST

Snapshots From the Road

I’ve been "on the road" for nearly a month now, and I am addicted. I’ve met the nicest, most interesting people, seen beautiful country, heard great music, and played with great musician...
Posted by Kate Mann on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:36:00 PST

Musings on Music and Magic

I’ve been sitting in an airport for a couple of hours, and now I have several more hours on a plane. I’m probably somewhere above Northeastern New Mexico right now. The sky outside the a...
Posted by Kate Mann on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:40:00 PST

Highway 64

I wasn't feeling sad. All the same, I found myself in tears this morning as I drove along Highway 64, a 2-lane road between Taos and Chama in northern New Mexico. I was overwhelmed by a delicious mix...
Posted by Kate Mann on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:18:00 PST

Soy de Burque

When I was just a year old, my family moved to Albuquerque. As with many kids, I took my surroundings for granted and eagerly anticipated the day I'd be able to escape. New Mexico's state motto is "...
Posted by Kate Mann on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 06:35:00 PST

Metamorphosis

MetamorphosisWhen it comes to being a a full-time musician, I consider myself to be a late bloomer. Although it seems like forever has gone by, it was not so long ago that I was married, had a job th...
Posted by Kate Mann on Tue, 01 May 2007 07:20:00 PST

104 Degrees

I am dreading tonight's gig. The weather forecast predicted temperatures over 100 degrees and I am scheduled to play outside. I drive from my house to Edgefield on Marine Drive, paralleling the Colum...
Posted by Kate Mann on Sat, 22 Jul 2006 11:58:00 PST

Billy

BillyThe Shop is a cafe in Spokane. The front is almost completely open on warm days. I am there on such a day. I tie the dogs up near the bucket of water provided for them and they gratefully lay...
Posted by Kate Mann on Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:58:00 PST

By the Sea

Searching by the seafor stones, for shells, for pieces of me.Floating in the seaThe waves, they wash, they wash, they wash over me.My blood, my bones, alive, alone.Wandering by the seashe whispers wor...
Posted by Kate Mann on Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:31:00 PST

The Significance of my Ink

For much of my life I have moved forward along a path I thought I was supposed to be on, with little mindfulness toward my intention. I chose careers, relationships, and ultimately a lifestyle that r...
Posted by Kate Mann on Sun, 28 May 2006 08:07:00 PST