A tree-climbing, knee-scraping, fingernail-painting youth named Mary Bue was bribed by her mother to take piano lessons. From this early parental trickery grew a passion for music. From this music appreciation grew a desire to create. Now 25 year old Bue has written hundreds of quirky, melodic, evocative, and frank songs on both piano and guitar and has performed these tunes throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Using insight from her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, imagery from weird dreams, snippets from conversations and inspiration from heart ache, Mary’s songs are far from mundane. She thanks her mom profusely for the bribe . . .
What the critics are saying about Mary Bue:
"Often compared to Sarah Mclachlan's. Bue's songs have more weight, and more grit mixed in with the ethereal wisps." - Michael L. Walsh, City Pages, April 2007
"Mary Bue knows just when to bend a guitar string and exactly how long to sustain a piano chord so each wavers and fades exquisitely. On Bue's third album, the minneapolis artist exhibits this sense of timing with melodies that rise and fall, rock side to side and often batter themselves against the shores of recklessly bold lyrics." - Erika Fredrichson, Missoula Independent, April 2007
"Bue's third album is boldly multidimensional, at times sounding like the work of three different women. Equal parts Lucinda Williams, Tori Amos and Carole King, Bue has managed to make a record of myriad moods and styles that still coheres." - Nathan Dean, Pulse of the Twin Cities, April 2007
“If intimacy intrigues you and makes you into a skittish peeping tom, then be sure to catch Bue at her next performance.â€
- Alan Sparhawk of Low, The Ripsaw News, 2000
“If you say anything crappy about Mary Bue, you will go directly to hell. Dig it: whether you believe in hell or not. You might want to take a minute to gratefully address your version of God, sending a quick “thank you†that Bue is so talented, she has spared you the necessity of doing anything of the sort.â€
- Anna Owens, Transistor Mag, May 2006
“Mary sings in a marvelously sultry and cool voice over a fusion of classical, folk, and ambient piano music. She began turning heads here at home (Providence, RI), but also throughout the country.â€
- Bob Gulla, Providence Phoenix, November 2005
“This 19 year old Duluth songwriter possesses an uncommon gift for singing her soul and is already an accomplished pianist with a knack for dynamics and feel that players twice her age never master.â€- Jim Walsh, Pioneer Press, April 2001, reviewing Bue’s debut CD Where the Monarchs Circled
“Duluthians insist that Bue is a very passionate performer whose lyrics can even make for a moving tribute to her dead cat.â€- The Ripsaw News, May 2001, Homegrown Music
Festival Guide
“When the show ended and she was leaning against the stage, zipping up her boots, I had the urge to run up, hug her and then immediately beg her to sing the soundtrack of my life. Mary Bue's an amazing, must-see talent, and, by far, one of the sweetest voices I've heard live in years.â€- Zosia Blue, from the music blog HowWasTheShow.com, March 2006
“Alan Sparhawk wrote in the the beginning that Mary is an incredible musician, but he said one day she’ll make an album that will blow everyone away. Well, this is it I think. All I know is that if this album doesn’t get her noticed, then people better clean the shit out of their ears.â€- Christian McShane, Chairkicker’s Union, February 2007
reviewing Boat with No Oars
“It is impossible not to feel moved or changed after sitting in Mary’s performance. Her music is breathtaking, her voice is earth shattering, and the beauty of it all is really beyond words.â€- Sarah Reilein, Reader Weekly, December 2005
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