This post accompanies an interview from the "Songs and Stories" podcast with local musicians Carolyn Sills and Gerard Egan.
Details on the interview, along with info on Carolyn's THIRD annual "Santa Is Real" concert next Thursday, December 19th, at Don Quixote's Music Hall:
Although they’re technically not native Santa Cruzans, I can safely say that we’re claiming them as our own. Carolyn Sills, along with her combo that includes husband Gerard Egan, mix American musical styles – including western swing, surf rock, old pop, and country, and wraps them around a singer-songwriter narrative. It creates a vintage, familiar, and yet completely original sound.
It’s also very much a BAND sound. Although Carolyn and Gerard have been playing together for 14 years, “The Carolyn Sills Combo” is their first, full-length release. This studio effort, recorded locally at Wind River Studios, includes Sunshine Jackson on harmony, as well as Santa Cruz heavyweights Charlie Wallace on pedal steel and slide, and Jimmy Norris on drums and percussion.
Santa Cruz is a big part of their story – they made their way here from Chicago by way of Brooklyn. They also have dream day jobs for musicians: They both work for Santa Cruz Guitars. Gerard is a builder. Carolyn is – in her own words – a “pusher”. (She works in Sales and Marketing.) We recorded this interview after hours at Santa Cruz Guitars – after I was treated to a custom tour. (Yes, this podcasting thing is rough.)
The episode includes clips of “Hey Kid,” “Aces and Eights,” and “Circles” off their debut record. You can learn more about Carolyn, and pick up a copy of the record, at carolynsills.com.
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Santa Is Real - Next Thursday at Don Quixote's
Want to hear Carolyn and her Combo live - along with very special guests Sharon Allen, Sunshine Jackson, and Patty Maxine? Next Thursday, December 19th is the third annual "Santa is Real: A 1950's Christmas Spectacular" at Don Quixote's Music Hall. It's (obviously) a holiday-themed concert, focusing on 1950s Christmas hits, some of the band's originals, and promises of "hi-jinx". This show always sells out. Details and reservation info is at donquixotesmusic.info.
