Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman - Art and Music Behind the Redwood Curtain

 
I have never been to a private house concert. At first, I felt a bit awkward in this home settled in the hills of Humboldt. From the outside the home appeared humble and small, the inside was a recently remodeled designers dream with a large, single level, open floor plan perfect for a cradle to grave home. Perfectly polished light pine everywhere, hard wood floors and huge picture windows overlooking the bay. A stage had been setup in a alcove off of the living room, that seemed made for a small stage area.

As people settled in, a friendly loving peace came over the room, old friends greeted each other and introduced new. The hosts served little plates of gourmet cheese and crackers, local brews and wine. The sound man slipped into the corner and local Americana-folk singer-songwriter Jan Bramlett and bassist Craig Carroll stepped on the stage. The two put on a terrific opening set sharing really sweet original tunes. Carroll is a lively multi -instrumentalist. Bramlett is quite the storyteller about her humboldt life in Manilla where she serves on the community services board.  The two can regularly be found playing at Old Town Coffee & Chocolates and at the Wine Spot in Eureka. 

After a brief intermission New Yorkers, Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman took their places on stage. Savoca behind a large drum and Heitzman at the acoustic guitar. Savoca easily transitioned from a sexy powerful rasp to her voice in one song to a voice gentle and soft in tone, drippy and smooth in the next. She carried us on a lyrical spiritual-like journey through the night. The song "Last night on Earth" off her new album Promise, had me in very deep thought. It reached a part of me deep to the heart.

Savoca first met Pete Heitzman at a jam session and she immediately recognized him as an ideal musical partner. His playing comfortably wraps itself around her words.  Heitzman is clearly a well seasoned guitarist. He bent the strings of his guitar in ways that are typically reserved for a stratocaster electric guitar creating mind blowing sounds that are a harmonic complement to Savoca's beautiful voice. Their web site bio describes Heitzmans playing as transcendent, with a broad pallet of tones and textures, he paints ideal landscapes for Savoca's engaging songs." I wholeheartedly agree.

Between songs the two told stories and joked with the audience. Overall the music of Savoca and Heitzman reminded me of sweet sticky honey comb stolen fresh from a old oak in a meadow on a breezy warm summers day.  I loved every minute of the concert, When these two come back to Humboldt and play a larger venue, find them, It will be a concert not to be missed.

For more information on Karen and Pete check out their web site at http://www.karensavoca.com/