by Joe Fielder
It's been more than a year since we last interviewed LA singer/songwriter Angela Correa, who performs w/ her band under the moniker of Correatown. And, hell, they've been playing the FREE Monday night residency at The Echo all month, so we figured we were far overdue.
acorrea (8:11:18 PM): Hey, Joe! It's Angela
RFSL (8:11:23 PM): Hi, Angela.
RFSL (8:11:32 PM): How the hell are you? How have you been?
acorrea (8:11:52 PM): I've been good... It's been awhile, right?
acorrea (8:12:16 PM): Thanks for taking the time to do a little catch up.
RFSL (8:12:38 PM): Sure thing. How have the residency shows been so far?
acorrea (8:12:57 PM): They've been pretty fun...
RFSL (8:12:57 PM): I've been out of LA but reading tweets from the bloggerati and photogs about them.
acorrea (8:13:10 PM): I wasn't sure what to expect, you know?
acorrea (8:13:45 PM): in terms of turnout and what not- but it's been really fun each. The line ups have been wonderful. I've really enjoyed the bands we've played with.
RFSL (8:14:02 PM): Who have you played with so far? What have been some highlights?
acorrea (8:15:49 PM): The first night was really fun. We played with The Voyeurs, Eagle & Talon & Bandito Royale. AND it was my birthday the first night- so that was kind of unique. Kim & Alice were super sweet and sang "Happy Birthday" from stage... and The Voyeurs were completely on fire... a really good start!
RFSL (8:17:02 PM): Excellent. Happy belated birthday.
acorrea (8:17:16 PM): Oh thanks, man!
acorrea (8:17:19 PM): The second night was presented by Kevin Bronson/Buzzbands and that was really exciting for me. I'm such a fan of his blog, you know. And every singles band that night was REALLY AMAZING! Summer Darling, Square On Square, and a new band around town called The Rhone Occupation. They were especially fantastic that night.
acorrea (8:17:55 PM): This past Monday we played with Charlie Wadhams -- and I have to say I just completely swooooooooooon over his music. He's just the dreamiest songwriter.
acorrea (8:18:15 PM): I would say so far the highlight of our residency has been playing with so many bands that I LOVE.
RFSL (8:18:31 PM): That's great. What's the plan for the final night next Monday?
acorrea (8:21:31 PM): Well... the last night should be a real doooozy. It's got a line up two of my very favorite singers... Joanie Mendenhall from San Diego (and she's been playing in the band for all the residency shows) and Leslie & The Badgers (just a fantastic ensemble of players!), and then Grizzly Owls ( a band from Bakersfield). Personally I think it's really awesome to have a strong night of female fronted bands. Leslie Stevens and I were talking about how cool it is that The Echo has had two female fronted bands in a row for the Monday Night Residency...
acorrea (8:22:32 PM): We also have made a point of working up and learning a lot of the new songs I've written over the past year/ and recorded.... so we're playing pretty much all new material for these shows. With a few oldies thrown in...
RFSL (8:22:30 PM): Speaking of Leslie & The Badgers, Mouse just did a feature on them for us recently. Great band.
acorrea (8:22:44 PM): Yeah, really talented folks! acorrea (8:23:21 PM): Actually I just played at Largo's Little Room last night and i asked Leslie to sing a harmony with me on a song... she's got one of the most lovely voices in town... and her songs just kill me.
acorrea (8:24:00 PM): It's been pretty nice having a great group of people presenting the shows each night as well...
RFSL (8:24:05 PM): Sorry I missed that.
RFSL (8:24:22 PM): Oh, yeah. It was Web in Front, Buzz Bands, Classical Geek Theatre...
RFSL (8:24:26 PM): And who is the last?
acorrea (8:24:35 PM): Travis from Web In Front, Mouse from Classical Geek Theatre, Kevin from Buzzbands... and the last is LA Underground.
RFSL (8:24:51 PM): The mystery man, himself.
acorrea (8:24:57 PM): exactly. ;~)
RFSL (8:25:06 PM): So you mentioned you're working on new material? You recording any time soon?
acorrea (8:27:27 PM): Well, actually I just recorded a batch of 6 new songs this Summer, all produced by Dan Long. And I'm REALLY thrilled with how they turned out... I've written the last few songs and I'd love to finish recording them and round out the 6 as a full album of 10 or 12 songs... but money and time are factors. It's pretty sweet though because my publisher has sent advances of the recordings out and KCRW has really been supportive already. They've played 3 of the 6 tracks. It's mostly Anne Litt~ and she has just been wonderfully supportive!
RFSL (8:28:06 PM): Cool. Do you have any of those tracks on your myspace page?
acorrea (8:29:45 PM): Nope. I haven't put them up yet. I probably should right? I know one has been floating around as a download in the blogoshpere- "Valparaiso" but I'll send you a copy of the songs to check out! I imagine if I can scrounge up some $$$ when I get back from touring that in January/February we'll finish up the album.
RFSL (8:30:13 PM): That would be rad.
RFSL (8:30:26 PM): Yeah, so you're heading out to Europe for awhile?
acorrea (8:30:42 PM): YES!
acorrea (8:31:21 PM): Totally looking forward to that- I leave at the beginning of November to go meet up with Tom Brosseau in Spain.
RFSL (8:31:43 PM): Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK... Wow.
acorrea (8:32:05 PM): I'll be playing guitar with him and singing in his set.. and will either have opening sets, or a few songs in his set wherever we go. He's being very generous!
acorrea (8:32:49 PM): Yeah... it's crazy how much territory we are covering but Tom has been touring the UK & Europe very frequently for the past few years... and he has a pretty great following. So I feel very fortunate that he's taking me out with him this go around.
RFSL (8:33:14 PM): I almost caught your show w/ him in NYC a few weeks back but got stuck in bad bad traffic.
acorrea (8:34:27 PM): Oh wow! That would have been so crazy to see you! Sorry you got the traffic block! Honestly, it's been a challenge to learn his new album, and prepare for our residency (and work all our new songs out as a band) /// especially because there are only 3 permanent members of the band playing the residency shows.
acorrea (8:34:53 PM): But it's all kept me VERY BUSY, which is far better than having not enough going on, you know?
RFSL (8:35:06 PM): So next Monday is the last chance for folks to see you play in LA for awhile then.
acorrea (8:36:38 PM): Yes... so I'm really hoping our friends and maybe people who've never seen us play will come out. It's especially cool because the band is really lush and dreamy sounding because Wendy Wang & Joanie Mendenhall are playing all these amazing keyboard parts & singing all these fantastic background vocal parts! I'm in freaking dreamland whenever we play.
acorrea (8:37:38 PM): So I'll be spoiled after the residency ends... And Dan Long (our producer) has been very sweet and filled in on bass... so yeah, the first thing we have to do when I return from tour is find a new full time bassist.
RFSL (8:38:49 PM): Sounds like a great night.
acorrea (8:38:49 PM): I have an Origami Records in store on Dec 12th when I get back.... and I'll also be accompanying/singing with Tom Brosseau on Morning Becomes Eclectic on Dec 4th... but yeah, this Monday 10/26 is the last FULL BAND Correatown show for awhile!
RFSL (8:48:28 PM): So, cool. That's all I've got for you. Thanks so much for your time! Hope the final residency night goes great.
acorrea (8:49:05 PM): Thank you. Joe!!!
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