The short-story version of Sacramento blues singer Katie Knipp is this: She’s a little go-getter, she’s got her shit together and she’s not wasting time with making her career happen.
But the long-story version of blues singer Katie Knipp has quite a bit more depth .
The last time I interviewed Katie Knipp was about 2 years ago. She had just come out with her 6th studio album, The Well, she was ALMOST nominated for a Grammy and she had a few of her songs on the Billboard Blues Charts alongside Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Buddy Guy. She is a winner for Best Blues Artist in Sacramento twice over, and she was voted Female Artist of The Year in 2020 and 2021 by the Country Folk Americana Blues Realm.
Now do you understand my earlier comment of “she’s a little go-getter”?
“I would say hitting top 10 Billboard Blues Albums charts with the last 3 albums has been more of a boost!” states Knipp. “It helps with credibility in getting better opportunities for the band."
Fast forward to here and now, Knipp has yet another album for us to feast on with our ears and mind, a live album, no less. Live at The Green Room Social Club, her 7th album, is Knipp and her incredible band showcasing what they do best, performing live in front of an audience. To most bands, playing live is really the end-all of why they create music.
But the long-story version of blues singer Katie Knipp has quite a bit more depth .
The last time I interviewed Katie Knipp was about 2 years ago. She had just come out with her 6th studio album, The Well, she was ALMOST nominated for a Grammy and she had a few of her songs on the Billboard Blues Charts alongside Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Buddy Guy. She is a winner for Best Blues Artist in Sacramento twice over, and she was voted Female Artist of The Year in 2020 and 2021 by the Country Folk Americana Blues Realm.
Now do you understand my earlier comment of “she’s a little go-getter”?
“I would say hitting top 10 Billboard Blues Albums charts with the last 3 albums has been more of a boost!” states Knipp. “It helps with credibility in getting better opportunities for the band."
Fast forward to here and now, Knipp has yet another album for us to feast on with our ears and mind, a live album, no less. Live at The Green Room Social Club, her 7th album, is Knipp and her incredible band showcasing what they do best, performing live in front of an audience. To most bands, playing live is really the end-all of why they create music.
Photo Credit: Bob Hakins
Why a live album? “My first thought was to release an album called The Greatest Hits You’ve Never Heard,” Knipp humorously states. “But after finally getting back onstage after Covid, I had to capture the magical energy of the band that brings these songs to life."
Knipp’s band has some sort of magnetic connection to her, and they hold Knipp’s songs like an attentive lover. “I feel safest when I am with them,” she states. Lead guitarist Chris Martinez bounces off of Knipp’s playing with tandem magic, weaving pure blues chords in and out of her songs. Bassist Zachary Proteau and drummer Neil Campisano create such an intense pulse that one can literally feel it in your bones, and percussionist & woodwind maven Otis Mourning adds such depth and feeling with his horns (sax, clarinet) that meld so beautifully with the music.
For the recording of Live At The Green Room, Knipp used producer Dustin Ryan to come in and mic the stage in such a way that it was very much like a studio. The band then played and recorded at a lower sound level (compared to an actual live show). They had more control over what they got on tape but still had the freedom to really have at it with playing live. “Obviously, no overdubs,” states Knipp. “I think we started one song over, but I told the audience to expect that may happen. It was actually pretty fun to laugh with them and show them my very flaw-filled human side even more than normal.”
For “Live At The Green Room Social Club”, Knipp culls from her past albums and makes the music new, fresh and ALIVE. “I Don’t Sing For You” funks it up and the energy of that song is incredible with each band member doing what they do best. “Ya Make It So Hard to Sing The Blues” is a wonderful takes on domesticity from 2018’s Top 10 Billboard Charter Take It With You. In “Chamomile & Cocaine”, a fabulous song from 2020’s The Well, Knipp uses her epic vocals to state “…been singing the blues since the age of 13.”
Knipp’s band has some sort of magnetic connection to her, and they hold Knipp’s songs like an attentive lover. “I feel safest when I am with them,” she states. Lead guitarist Chris Martinez bounces off of Knipp’s playing with tandem magic, weaving pure blues chords in and out of her songs. Bassist Zachary Proteau and drummer Neil Campisano create such an intense pulse that one can literally feel it in your bones, and percussionist & woodwind maven Otis Mourning adds such depth and feeling with his horns (sax, clarinet) that meld so beautifully with the music.
For the recording of Live At The Green Room, Knipp used producer Dustin Ryan to come in and mic the stage in such a way that it was very much like a studio. The band then played and recorded at a lower sound level (compared to an actual live show). They had more control over what they got on tape but still had the freedom to really have at it with playing live. “Obviously, no overdubs,” states Knipp. “I think we started one song over, but I told the audience to expect that may happen. It was actually pretty fun to laugh with them and show them my very flaw-filled human side even more than normal.”
For “Live At The Green Room Social Club”, Knipp culls from her past albums and makes the music new, fresh and ALIVE. “I Don’t Sing For You” funks it up and the energy of that song is incredible with each band member doing what they do best. “Ya Make It So Hard to Sing The Blues” is a wonderful takes on domesticity from 2018’s Top 10 Billboard Charter Take It With You. In “Chamomile & Cocaine”, a fabulous song from 2020’s The Well, Knipp uses her epic vocals to state “…been singing the blues since the age of 13.”
Photo Credit: Bob Hakins
Knipp takes her music seriously both as a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing keys, dobro, and harmonica, as well as her songwriting, which spans the gamut of blues-inspired subjects such as abuse, sex, drugs, and love and hope. She sings with great exuberance, allowing her deep, powerful, rich, and full voice to be the muse of the lyrics, punctuating each verse with juicy howls, fierce moans, and a "fuck you" attitude, all controlled with sheer brilliance.
“I plan to record my 8th studio album next year, and my new co-producer is Gabe Nelson, who is also our new bassist as of 3 months ago. He was in Cake for 20 years and he has his own band, Bellygunner, as well. His creative mind and gentle soul are the best.”
Knipp is humble about her accolades, but she also knows she has worked her ass off to get to where she is, and she claims that. Her love for her band is definately reciprocated and it shows in the cohesion of what they all do, together and separately, to make Knipp’s music come to life. She offers “a simple thank you for your support. Thank you for listening, thank you for your time at live shows, buying the music, sharing the music. I love you.”
LISTEN:
Live At The Green Room Social Club...go here!
“I plan to record my 8th studio album next year, and my new co-producer is Gabe Nelson, who is also our new bassist as of 3 months ago. He was in Cake for 20 years and he has his own band, Bellygunner, as well. His creative mind and gentle soul are the best.”
Knipp is humble about her accolades, but she also knows she has worked her ass off to get to where she is, and she claims that. Her love for her band is definately reciprocated and it shows in the cohesion of what they all do, together and separately, to make Knipp’s music come to life. She offers “a simple thank you for your support. Thank you for listening, thank you for your time at live shows, buying the music, sharing the music. I love you.”
LISTEN:
Live At The Green Room Social Club...go here!
RSS Feed
