Amber Lee and the Anomalies

About Me

Amber Lee and the Anomalies have a unique blend of fun, soulful and unusual songs that take you on an imaginative musical adventure. Combining accordion, banjo, drums, and upright bass with female vocals and harmonies, they tell captivating stories about the distortion of time, bumps in the road, rural cemeteries, glowing estuaries, pancakes, and rodeo clowns in roadside bars.
Accordion-ista and vocalist Amber Lee Baker had been playing piano and singing since she was in elementary school. She picked up the accordion as a songwriting tool in 2002 and immediately fell in love with its unique, cross-cultural appeal. The songs that emerged from the accordion were more soulful and inspired than any she had written before. After a few years of writing songs and performing as a solo act, she was inspired to start her own band.
Banjo player Karen Frindell met Amber in college and never could have predicted they would someday be playing in a band together. Karenâ€™s desire to play the banjo started with a snowstorm-induced vision in 2004. Influenced by bluegrass and old-time music, she has enthusiastically brought her texture to the band. Recently, she has been developing her talent as a songwriter and now performs many of her songs in the band.
Randy Meza on drums has brought zest and energy to Amber and Karen's quirky songs. With a lifetime of music under his belt, having been brought up by his passionately musical father, Randy has chosen drums as his instrument. His flexibility with style, rhythm, odd percusion (like the BBQ tongs!) and costumes is a refreshing addition!
On rare occasions, bassist Muir Houghton, adds his eclectic sensibilities and his old-fashioned aesthetic. Muir has been playing a variety of instruments since the age of four and has found his musical home in the upright bass. Incorporating multiple playing styles and techniques, he adds depth and character to the ensemble.
Amber Lee and the Anomalies have been entertaining audiences in venues across Sonoma County since 2006.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/19/2006
Band Website: amberleeandtheanomalies.com
Band Members: Amber Lee Baker - vocals and accordion.
Karen Frindell - vocals and banjo
Randy Meza - drums
Muir Houghton - upright bass

For the tracks posted:
Amber Lee on accordion, keyboards and drum loops.
Paul Lamb on bass.
Influences: Gypsy, Klezmer, and Celtic folk music, Sea Songs, Old-Time Music, Bluegrass... the occasional polka and French Caberet song...
...and the humorous, challenging experience of being a human on this planet.

Artists who have been inspirations are many, and include The Decemberists, Bjork, Beck, Iron and Wine, Johnatha Brooke, P.J. Harvey, Johnny Cash, They Might be Giants... to name a few.
Sounds Like: Your grandma's kitchen.
Distant, dream-like memories of traveling from the Old Country to the New.
Crossing the ocean in a wooden ship by the light of a whale-oil lamp.
Belly laughs and sorrowful mourning sighs.
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Recording, recording, recording....

What a process! I am guestimating that we are about 85 - 90% complete with instrument tracking... just a few more details and then we can mix. Last Friday we had a marathon session wit...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:34:00 PST

Welcome Randy!

I should've written this earlier... but here it is... WELCOME TO RANDY - OUR NEW DRUMMER! He's great! Adds more life and spice and excitement to our songs. We've already played a few gigs with h...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:30:00 PST

Our Unexpected Gig in NYC

The Second Annual Girls' Trip to New York went without a hitch. Actually, it came with amazing synchronicities and opportunities. Karen and I had been planning it since last year, when we d...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:44:00 PST

Karen WON!!!!

So last weekend, after two fabulous gigs on Thursday and Friday nights, Karen and I drove up to Humboldt County to run a half marathon (13 miles) along the Avenue of the Giants. It was a gorgeo...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Tue, 08 May 2007 12:19:00 PST

Write up about me in the Bohemian

I was so pleasantly surprised last week to receive a phone call from a friend... "I just saw you in the paper - nice review!" Here's a copy of it for those of you who missed it. ...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:52:00 PST

Playing Live on KRCB

Our debut live radio performance was last night. After some mellow jitters, and waiting for the neighboring studio users to finish, we launched into a nice 45 minute set of music. It was fun telling t...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 04:55:00 PST

The Black Cat and Boots

Ha Ha! I finally did it. Last night we played at the Black Cat Bar and Bistro - such a fun and cozy road house - and I wore "the Boots." Knee high, stiletto heeled, pointy toed, white lea...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 06:03:00 PST

Halloween - Where its AT!

WOW! I just had the most AMAZING Halloween! I got the inspiration to go play out on the street for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters - I convinced Muir and Karen that they should come along with me and dres...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:43:00 PST

Still Glowing...

Last night I finally played the show I've been planing for months at the Ace with Muir and Karen. It was wonderful! So many of my beloved friends came out to see this debut of me with a backing ...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:03:00 PST

Retreating into the Creative Vortex

As I let go of the rhythm of playing at the Equus Lounge every Thursday and found myself needing a new place to perform, I decided to go within and re-create before my gig at the Ace. This has b...
Posted by Amber Lee and the Anomalies on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:06:00 PST