Lara Michell

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"Lara Michell first came to the attention of the Portland rock cognoscenti in the mid-'90s as the fluid-fingered guitarist in the all-gal band Carmina Piranha. It was a dynamite group, one that stitched together advanced pop smarts, stellar playing, a bit of gypsy fire and a little tango, all with the inspired recklessness of any punk band." -- The Portland Tribune
Recognized for her mesmerizing and unusual acoustic guitar work, haunting voice and dark, beautiful songwriting, Lara has released three solo records to unanimous critical acclaim throughout the region.
"Her most recent, 'Ruby Red' is a colorful and enticing affair. The music bounds in agile fashion from rock that 's equally brainy and brawny to more plaintive moments in which Michell plumbs her emotional well, framed by her superb fingerpicking." -- The Portland Tribune
"Tracks such as the opening energy blast 'House on Fire' and 'Scratching' revel in the sound of dirty, distorted guitar chords. 'Something I Can Use' alternates restrained verses set on a vaguely near-Eastern motif with a ride-of-the-Valkyries chorus, recalling the feminine goth-metal of former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur. But even amid the moments of guitar aggression, she's most effective keeping it pretty and breathy, playing the calm center of the storm. And the album is well-balanced, with moments of ruminative gravity framed by Michell's fine acoustic picking ('Outside the Inside' and 'Sinking') and one ultra-catchy mid-tempo compromise ('Blooming')." -- The Oregonian
Lara is also a member of chamber-pop quartet Carmina Luna, pop collective Dirty Martini and 1930s swing jazz sextet The Stolen Sweets, all based in Portland, Oregon.