Laura Green

Green Eyed Blues

Independent

St. Louis’ Laura Green has been performing her own brand of rock, folk and jazz. Influenced by legendary blues women like Big Mama Thornton; and skilled contemporaries such as Bonnie Raitt, Lou Ann Barton and Janiva Magness, Green has spent the last ten years honing her craft. Inspired she began her songwriting in 2014.

In 2016 Green teamed with the veteran blues guitarist Rich McDonough to form The Green McDonough Band. TGMB’s widely acclaimed debut album, included three of Green’s originals, and resulted in a three-week European tour highlighted by an appearance at the Netherlands annual Liberation Festival. The band was nominated for Best St. Louis Blues Band by the hometown “Riverfront Times”. They competed and won the St. Louis Blues Society’s Blues Challenge and represented them at the 2017 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. In 2018 Green released the single “Stronger”, inspired by the Me Too Movement, she donated the proceeds to “empower women who are victims of domestic abuse”.

In 2019 Green began writing “Green Eyed Blues” her debut all-original solo album. Working with co-producer David Torrettta, whose production credits include Chuck Berry, they recorded at the Casa Del Torretta Studio in Saint Louis. The St. Louis based ensemble includes three guitarists including McDonough, Aaron Griffin and Ron Roskowske; mandolinist Charlie Pfeffer; keyboardists Bob Lohr, Bill Murphy and Carl Pandolfi; bassist Art Dwyer, and drummers Rob Lee or Joe Meyer. Also contributing are four additional backing vocalists.

“Bone To Pick”, a song about relationships, opens with Green singing “I got a bone to pick with you…you say that I’m your girl…well, you’re not really thinking, oh you don’t even try, oh I’m not your main entrée, No I’m really just a side”. This theme is explored again on “Pretty Little Thing” with the lyric “you say I don’t think, I’m just a pretty little thing…who’s the one who died and made you king…this pretty little thing is better off without you, bye bye”. Green states “not every song I write is about a personal experience, but many certainly are”. Laura’s vocals make each song another gem. Favorites include “Still in Love”, the fabulous “It Ain’t Easy”, and the funky “A Reason To Sing The Blues”.

“Mama Don’t Cry”, co-written with Torretta, is a topical song about domestic abuse. Green adds “someone very close to me years ago was in an abusive relationship. I wrote this song…to speak to the sadness it brought to her life and to the lives of her children”.  Throughout the recording one can’t help but be impressed by the band, the backing singers, and the overall production.

Not only is Green a seasoned vocalist but she is also a thought provoking songwriter well worth following. She is currently working on her follow-up album to be released in 2021. Best to check out those piercing eyes now.

Richard Ludmerer