{TUSK}Kerry, when I think of cool and inspiring people in Denver, you come to mind immediately. For me, you epitomize the rock star - gutsy, gorgeous, and fun. The Informants shows are known for being a good time. In fact, I don’t think it’s possible to go to one of your shows and stay sitting. Hell, even if you don’t dance you are still going to stand up and shake around a little. For the few who haven’t heard The Informants, can you explain your style and what they can expect from a live experience?
Thank you, that’s quite a compliment! To me our style represents the ultimate experience in music, which is cutting loose, dancing your ass off and having the kind of fun you haven’t had in too long (and we hear that a lot). I feel that every time I’m on stage! We’re a high energy band with a rootsy sound that is reminiscent of the old juke joints and roadhouses back in the 50’s. We tend to fall into the blues category and initially we had a jump blues style with the horn section and keys, but we like everything from surf, rockabilly, punk and rock, so you hear all of those elements in our music. We’re very playful and naughty on stage and inevitably it rubs off on the crowd and they want more. One of the coolest outcomes for us is that from the first song to the last, the crowd hits the floor oblivious to the fact that our music is original. People like music they can count on even if they’ve heard it 10,000 times, so they tend to want the old covers.
{TUSK} How did you first get started with The Informants?
I got a call from Mac, our bass player, wondering if I’d be interested in starting a side project with him and his band. His lead singer had a job that kept the band from playing on a regular basis. And at the time, I was just putting my feelers out there for something new, as my rockabilly band, The Mean Eyed Cats, had just disbanded. Mac and I met and talked briefly about what each of us wanted to play, handed each other a disc of about 20 songs we loved, and funny enough, had the same Ruth Brown songs on the discs. It was meant to be!
{TUSK} What’s the best part of being a member of The Informants?
The absolute love and hilarity we share! We’re nuts...but we’re great nuts! We’re good people that have been in the music scene enough to be disappointed, and because of that, we all bring a level of maturity and expertise to the experience, which in turn lets us just relax and have fun. No one ever feels unheard or invalidated, and we’re all very passionate about each other and this family we’ve created. We all really respect each other as talented musicians, which really helps in the creative process.
{TUSK} When did you first start singing?
Publicly or privately? Privately, around the age of 5. I’d sneak
downstairs into my sisters bedroom and play their records...Bowie, while they were in high school. Also, I had a natural love and attraction for big band around the same age. I was addicted to black and white big band movies. Funny though, my dad was in a big band, but I never got to hear or see him play, because he was older, but he talked about it all the time...kind of sad and I hope I never have to stop playing or singing. I also sang in high school and at some friends wedding’s, and then had my daughter, got divorced and life took over until I stopped the madness and started performing in my 30’s, so publicly about 15 years now.
{TUSK} What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Get over yourself Kerry and change the situation.
{TUSK} Do you play any instruments?
Barely and pathetically, I play acoustic guitar, which I played in the rockabilly band. Also I started playing piano recently after 30 years. I’m actually taking lessons from our sax player, Jonny Love. I love the piano!
{TUSK} You always look like your having the best time at your shows. Actually, the entire band does. I think that is a big reason that every one of your shows is so much fun. What’s your favorite part of being in a band?
Wow...uh, being the only chick!!!!!! Well, that and the love I get from those boys on stage. Oh, and singing the coolest songs ever written by the brilliant Mark Richardson. That guy gets me. It’s like he’s writing songs I dream of writing and I’m a lyric freak, specifically dirty, dangerous lyrics.
{TUSK} What was one of the most memorable live shows you have had and why?
My most memorable was the CD release party for our second album “Crime Scene Queen” because my daughter, Joy, performed with me on stage. When she grabbed the mic and started talking to the audience, there was no doubt who’s daughter she was! I would’ve cried if I hadn’t been busy singing.
{TUSK} Have you sang with any other bands?
I have. I initially started as back-up for a blues band and then graduated to the front. I also had a short stint with a Latin swing
band and then on to rockabilly, a Patsy Cline tribute and once in a while I’ll jump on stage if I’m in a bar and the band has asked me.
{TUSK} What’s one of the wildest things that has happened on tour or at a show?
Besides our baritone sax player lifting his kilt and showing his huge balls? Hmmm....
{TUSK} Crime Scene Queen has one of my favorite songs by The Informants, Please Mr. Jailer. What song of yours do you love to perform most?
Yes, that too is one of my favorites. I like slow, painful,
heart-wrenching ballads, like “I’ll Never Know”, which is basically a homicide-suicide song Mark Richardson wrote during his bathroom remodel...ha! I love “Salvation” because of the rich gospel feel and energy, and yet it’s still about heartache.
{TUSK} You are also a professional Career Coach. When did you start your business, True Self Essentials, and how can people work with you?
I’m more of a life coach, as our relationship with ourselves usually determines our relationship to everything else in life, like our careers, what we’re doing professionally and whether we love it or not. How we see ourselves determines our ability to love; how we get it and give it, and even our relationships to time, food, money, and how we get what we want in life. Coaching is super pro-active. On one hand you do get to find out what core beliefs play an active part in your life and where that crap came from, and then you get to the truth and find out what you really need to bring out the best in you and help you move forward. Most people don’t know how to dig that up or change it, but once they do they feel incredibly free and empowered. It also breaks our dependence upon certain situations, outcomes or people, to feel better and gives us the tools to help ourselves.
{TUSK} What is the one thing you have fought for or wanted most in your life?
My own value and self-worth so that I could love myself and do the things I wanted to do like sing.
{TUSK} Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration?
Musically, Mark Richardson & Jonny Love, two members of the band, because of their passion and daily discipline. They’ve taught me that you have to work for what you love and make time for it and do it for you...the payoffs are personal. As a human being, I’d have to say my husband Brooke, as he is truly the most loving, unconditional soul I have ever met.
{TUSK} What is the craziest/weirdest thing that you’ve ever done or had happen to you?
That’s sort of relative really. Shaving my head? I mean it was a blast for me and my husband loved it, but some people would never dare. I don’t know...does stupid count?
{TUSK} With all that you have achieved, what goals do you still have set for yourself?
Now that’s a scary question. Hold on, I have to go journal about that one. There’s more??? So, for The Informants, I really want the notoriety. We bring so much happiness to people...and good taste in music. I also want a European tour and a Blues Cruise tour for us in the next 2 years. For me, I tend to hear and feel what’s next, but have to finish where I’m at and then ultimately I keep manifesting what I want in life.
{TUSK} Your favorite all time musician/band?
That’s not a fair question to ask a musician. So much that makes me smile from the 40’s -80’s. Big band orchestras from the 50’s! How about what I’m listening to right now??? Gossip, The Dead Weather, Yma Sumac (50’s artist).
{TUSK} Kerry, thank you so much or taking the time to be a part of TUSK. It truly means a great deal to me. Since I met you a few years back I have been continuously impressed by you and your talent. You have a way of putting things into perspective and inspiring everyone around you. There is an energy that you emit that makes me personally want to stand a little taller in my own shoes. A way of leading by example and epitomizing the idea of no guts no glory.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for valuing me. This was such an honor and so much fun Denise!
I believe in you...
http://WWW.theinformantsband.com
http://www.trueselfessentials.com
