| Press
- Interviews, Articles & Reviews |
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Blues
Rock lead guitarist Laurie Morvan ignites audiences at her
live shows with her incendiary guitar playing, while Laurie's
amiable personality, positive attitude and creative storytelling
are infused in her songwriting style as well as her many
interviews, articles and reviews. |
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Breathe Deep CD review in Elmore
January 2012
Forty Days and Forty Nights
by Jim Hynes
"Laurie Morvan is as relentless as any blues artist...
Morvan’s strength
is her blistering guitar, but again we find her
speaking with
direct
human pathos...
That’s what it takes to
get through
the proverbial 40 days and 40 nights."
Read the entire Elmore review of Breathe Deep |
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Breathe Deep CD review in Blues Revue
Dec 2011-Jan 2012
by Roger & Margaret White
"California guitar slinger Laurie Morvan turns as many heads with her
expressive playing as her long blond hair. With exhilaration and skill,
Laurie’s guitar blazes on her newest CD, Breathe Deep."
Read the Big City Blues review of Breathe Deep |
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Breathe Deep CD review in Blues Revue
Nov-Dec 2011
by Brian D. Holland
"No Working During Drinking Hours immediately sets the stage for a festive
atmosphere. The upbeat blues song begins with a catchy riff sequence
performed by Morvan with Stratocaster flamboyance. The appealing dual vocals complete the signature Morvan sound and groove."
"Morvan’s guitar playing is what the excitement is all about. Her dazzling chops
and fluid licks have that buttery texture at times...The rest of the band deserves
credit too, as the piano, bass, and drums are watertight..."
Read the Blues Revue article on Breathe Deep |
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Breathe Deep CD review by Boston Blues Society
December 15, 2011
by Lady K
"There’s nothing not to like about Breathe Deep, the Laurie Morvan Band’s latest
release of rocking electric guitar blues. The CD contains terrific blues tunes,
written by a strong woman, with an amazing sense of humor, and a sense of the blues, who just happens to play some blistering, SRV-style lead guitar. Makes Lady K want to holler ‘You go, girl!’..."
Read the entire Boston Blues Society Breathe Deep CD review |
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Breathe Deep CD review by Blues Source
October 24, 2011
"...guitarist Laurie Morvan and crew make a strong case for more awards to fill their trophy case. With Morvan’s muscular, yet lyrical, guitar lines leading the charge..."
"...a soon to be classic, No Working During Drinking Hours..."
Read the Breathe Deep CD review on BluesSource.com |
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Breathe Deep CD review by Blues Blast
July 28, 2011
“Morvan...is a stellar guitar player with consummate phrasing and respect for both the music and the spaces between the notes. I love her technique and style. She is one of the rising stars in the blues guitar world and anyone who wants to hear the future of blues guitar should pick up one of her CDs and check her out.” - Blues Blast |
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Laurie Morvan on cover of Williamsport Sun-Gazette
June 13, 2011
The Blues are Back
Festival returns to fairgrounds with music, friendship
"Laurie Morvan, lead guitarist and vocalist for the Laurie Morvan Band,
wails during a number at the 22nd annual Billtown Blues Festival
Sunday afternoon in Hughesville..." |
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Blues Revue Feature Article
Nov/Dec 2010 issue
Powerful Women Play the Blues
by Art Tipaldi
"I believe we musicians have a sacred calling..."
Read the Blues Revue article on Laurie Morvan |
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Random Notes Feature Article
Los Angeles Harbor Area Independent News, CA
October 15, 2010
Random Lengths News caught the Laurie Morvan Band at the 2010 Bayou Festival this summer. Akin to a hound catching a scent, her incendiary playing cut though the zydeco from the main stage and took us across the grounds to the blues stage. We stood there watching in awe as Laurie tore into blues originals like, “Come Over to My BBQ” and “Living in A Man’s World.”
See Random Notes feature article |
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Laurie Morvan on cover of Weekender
Union Democrat - Sonora, CA
August 12, 2010
The cover story highlighted the Fire On The Mountain Music Festival which featured the Laurie Morvan Band, Tommy Castro, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, Michael Burks,Rrick Estrin and the Nightcats, and Nick Moss and the Flip Tops.
See Weekender cover story |
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DownBeat Magazine
August 2010
Fire It Up! CD Review
"...it’s encouraging to hear Morvan bring the guitar heat...
this Californian also sings well and crafts articulate lyrics..."
Read DownBeat review of Laurie Morvan Band Fire It Up! CD |
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Laurie Morvan on cover of Entertainment Guide
The
Sacramento Bee - Sacramento, CA
June 4, 2010
"A blistering blues-rock guitarist with a powerful alto voice... "
Read
the "Ticket" cover story on Laurie Morvan |
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House
of Blues Radio Hour Blues Breaker
"You Don't Know About Me" chosen Blues Breaker
4/24/10 to 4/30/10
Find
the HOB Affiliate Radio Station near you |
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Watch
the show! |
Nationwide
TV special
"Laurie Morvan Band: Nothing But The Blues"
airs on the Big Ten Network - Friday, February 19, 2010
11:00 am PST, 12 noon MST, 1:00 pm CST, 2:00
pm EST |
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Blues
Revue - Fire It Up! CD review
Feb/Mar 2010 issue
by Rev. Keith A. Gordon
"Poised on the edge of a major breakthrough...
sultry vocals, imaginative songwriting, and smoldering fretwork...
Fire It Up! is an inspired collection of original blues
and rock. One spin will convince you that Morvan has the
fire in her heart, the blues in her soul, and the talent
to grab the spotlight."
Read
the entire Blues Revue CD review
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Laurie
Morvan on Cover of Big City Blues
Dec2009/Jan2010 issue
"Thank you to all the fans, they are what keeps me
going...
playing is such a blessing. I love every minute I'm on stage."
- excerpt from Laurie Morvan's interview with Big City Blues
See
larger image
Pictured on cover (L to R): Fiona Boyes, Laurie Morvan,
Cafe R&B's Roach, Cookie "little Koko" Threatt,
Susan Tedeschi and Taryn Donath |
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Elmore
Magazine - Nov/Dec 2009
Article
Where are the Girls With Guitars?
Jim Hynes goes looking for where the girls are, and actually
finds 'em. That devil! The "more feisty gals"
he includes are Laurie Morvan, Ana Popovic, Dani Wilde,
Joanne Shaw Taylor, Fiona Boyes, and Laura Chavez.
Read
more |
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Nashville
Blues Society
November 19, 2009
Fire It Up! CD Review
"Laurie Morvan has the looks, the licks and the voice
to assure her success in the blues world, and listening
to "Fire It Up!" will show you why!."
More
entire CD review
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Blues
Source
November 10, 2009
Fire It Up! CD Review
"Plenty of jaw dropping guitar work...She not only
can lay down a boogie or shuffle with the best of them;
she can also rock or play with tasteful restraint..."
"A highly talented guitarist, singer and songwriter...Keep
your eyes on Laurie Morvan, she's likely already thinking
about the next step in her conquest of the blues world."
More
Blues Source CD review on |
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A1Blues.com
- Blues Music and Interviews
October 22, 2009
Interview and Podcast
posted by A1 Mark
An interview with Laurie featuring songs from the
new CD!
This show aired on KCOR Kansas City Online Radio 10/24/09
7pm CST
and also KCR-FM - Australia
"Laurie Morvan will be talking about her new record
that just came out two days ago called Fire It Up. You will
also be hearing some of the fiery tracks from the record."
Listen
to the interview, read about Laurie, hear some of the new
songs on her latest CD, Fire It Up! |
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Folk
& Acoustic Music Exchange
October 21, 2009
Fire It Up! CD Review
by Mark S. Tucker, (progdawg@hotmail.com)
Edited by: David N. Pyles, (dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)
"Laurie Morvan has fire in the belly and it extends
all the way to her fingertips, gently caressing a tamed
down axe while singing, just before stepping out for bars
and measures of prime soloing, sometimes blazing, other
times just plain sophisticated. ... she sports a great set
of pipes to tell the story of some rather naughty escapades
and desires."
More
on the Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange |
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The
News-Gazette , September 15, 2009
Ellnora Guitar Festival Review
by Tim Barnes
UI Alumna Brings Great Festival To Electric
End
"... Texas-style blue-rock guitar-slinging from the
Laurie Morvan Band. Morvan has all the soulfulness of Bonnie
Raitt and the swaggering, muscular guitar tone of Stevie
Ray Vaughan ... She provided a blistering, high-energy ending
to another great guitar festival at Krannert."
Read
more of the News Gazette Ellnora Guitar Festival Review |
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Illinois
Times, August 6, 2009
BAND SPOTLIGHT | Laurie Morvan Band
"Let's just dispense with all the female blues guitar
player business and forget the tall California blonde girl
stuff and get to the heart of the matter right now. Laurie
Morvan can play the blues. Go check out some YouTube cuts
of her singing and playing and listen to the killer tone
she gets on her classic Fender Stratocaster..."
Read
the Illinois Times spotlight on the Laurie Morvan Band |
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Mountain
Democrat, June 8, 2009
Coloma Blues Live! festival review
by Mike Roberts
"Morvan, who opened the show, also
stole it."
"Rock-tinged blues guitars ruled the day. Many attendees
felt that Morvan, who opened the show, also stole it. The
clear-eyed former athlete brought guns to rival Michelle
Obama, and proceeded to bend them around her Fender Stratocaster
in a scorching set of original blues rock that left the
early arrivals staggering to the CD sales booth."
Read
the Mountain Democrat blues festival review of Laurie Morvan |
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Illinois
Alumni Magazine
March/April 2009, Feature Article
by Dave Evensen
"Ever since she picked up a guitar as a young woman,
she's considered the instrument the 'most wonderful thing
that ever existed' and built her life around playing it...confronted
with the old attitude that electric guitars are a man's
plaything, Morvan overwhelms doubters with characteristic
style..."
Read
the Illinois Alumni Magazine article on Laurie Morvan |
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Catalina
Islander - October 3, 2008 - Front page story
by Dennis Kaiser
Catalina Island Blues Festival review..."Morvan
captured the hearts
and ears of blues fans...humble but powerful talent..." |
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"...some
of this year's Catalina Island Blues Festival had highlights
that surpassed any moment from previous year's festivals.
Female blues artist Laurie
Morvan helped kick things off during the Blues Walk on Friday
night while playing as a special guest with Island resident
musician Roger Connelly and The Blues Merchants.
During a set, Morvan, a tall
blond-haired young woman who can play rockin' blues with
the best of men and make it look easy, jumped up on the
bar during one of her gigs.
Morvan, who is unassuming and easygoing
in person, captured the hearts and ears of blues fans throughout
the weekend. She is an approachable, humble but powerful
talent who promoters said really helped round out this year's
blues festival...."
Read
the entire Catalina Islander review of the Catalina Blues
Festival |
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IllinoisBlues.com
- July 31, 2008
Live Show review: Laurie Morvan Band - Live at The Highdive,
Champaign IL ,Sunday, July 27, 2008
by James "Skyy Dobro" Walker
"Laurie Morvan Band is the most unique
five piece troupe I have seen"
Read
the entire IllinoisBlues.com review of the Laurie Morvan
Band |
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Palladium-Item
- July 31, 2008 - Richmond, IN
by Michael C. Lengel
"Lady Sings the Blues ... for Charity"
Read
the entire Palladium-Item article |
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The
News Gazette - Champaign, IL
Entertainment Guide Cover Story
July 25, 2008
By Melissa Merli
"Is there anything blues guitarist Laurie Morvan can't
do?...Laurie Morvan
is as good with the guitar as she was on the volleyball
court..."
Read
the entire story about Laurie Morvan in the News Gazette |
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The
News-Leader, July 24, 2008 - Springfield, MO
by Phil Dickey
Note: Laurie on front page of Weekend Section with a page
4 Feature Article
"This gal grinds an ax like nobody's
business"
Read
the entire story about Laurie Morvan in the News-Leader |
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The
Arizona Republic, July 20, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ
By Larry Rodgers
Note: Laurie Morvan was the Critic's Pick on the front
page of the Arts & Entertainment section!
"... Morvan is a rising blues guitarist-singer...
known for soaring leads reminiscent of
the late Stevie Ray Vaughan and emotional vocals.... "
Read
the entire story about Laurie Morvan in The Arizona Republic |
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Modern Guitars
Magazine - February 29, 2008
Feature Story by Brian D. Holland
"...smokin' good and a genuine hot item on the
blues scene currently is Laurie Morvan. After listening
to this lady for a while now, I can honestly say that I
believe Stevie Ray Vaughan and even Freddie King would be
smiling from one ear to the other upon hearing her play.
They'd probably become huge fans."
Read
entire Modern Guitars feature story on Laurie Morvan
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Guitar
Player Magazine - October 2007
Feature Article by Dave Rubin
"Riffs - Blues"
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"Morvan singes the strings...reaches lyrical ecstasy
through liquid bends...struts her own stuff in improvised
solos with pugnacious double-stops and tightly coiled serpentine
runs..."
Read
the entire Guitar Player feature article on Laurie Morvan |
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Vintage
Guitar Magazine - October 2007
Feature Article by John Heidt
"Girl With Guitar"
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"Laurie Morvan writes from personal experience...new
CD chock full of great songs and lead guitar..."
Read
the Vintage Guitar feature article on Laurie Morvan |
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Modern Guitars Magazine - Feb. 13, 2008
"I caught Laurie and the band during the semi-finals
after the Venue Coordinator for the Blues Foundation advised
they were the band that truly impressed him from the first
night of semi-finals. Laurie has been feature in issues
of Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar and was on the cover
of Southland Blues in July of 2007. Laurie and the band
represented the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society. Laurie's
self-penned lyrics were exceptional. Her guitar playing
and intensity propelled the entire set along. This is a
band to catch if you are ever in California and they are
playing anywhere near."
Read
Modern Guitars article on the International Blues Challenge. |
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The San Diego
Union Tribune - Jan. 7, 2008
"A gifted singer-songwriter and a fleet guitarist
who rarely overplays, this Long Beach-based dynamo heads
a spunky, no-nonsense band."
Read
San Diego Union Tribune article on the Laurie Morvan Band. |
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DownBeat Magazine
- Sept. 2007
CD Review
Cures What Ails Ya by the Laurie Morvan Band
"... superior pop-blues... favors content over effect
in her music. Morvan's band and guests, including George
Duke, share her vigorous charm."
Read the DownBeat
review of Cures What Ails Ya |
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San
Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group
July 27, 2007
Morvan sets blues on
fire... "A tall, blue-eyed blonde walks
up to the microphone, guitar in hand and confidence in her
soul. Skillfully she launches into a set of hot modern blues
that brings to mind a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughan and
Bonnie Raitt." Read
the full article |
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OC Weekly -
July 13, 2007
"Lean Woman Blues"
"...real, honest-to-goodness blues that
informs the passionate blues rock of singer/songwriter/guitarist
Laurie Morvan... In addition to her feeling-filled vocals
and versatile guitar work-sometimes it's burning
power chords, sometimes intricate single notes-what
makes this inspiring woman so special is her undeniable
self-confidence and perseverance." Read
the full article
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Excerpts
from "Cures What Ails Ya" CD reviews
Full articles will be posted soon |
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| "On 12
original tunes, Morvan singes the strings with fast, clean
chicken pickin,' reaches heights of lyrical ecstasy
through liquid bends, and kicks the rhythm in the pocket with
propulsive comping." - Guitar Player Magazine
"Move over Bonnie Raitt, there's a new blues
singin' guitar picker in town - Laurie Morvan."
- Campus Circle Magazine
"Whether she's throwing down fluid runs with
a crystal clear tone as on 'One Little Thing,'
ripping things up on the rocking instrumental, 'Wiggle
Room,' where she mixes rock and big doses of funk,
or works her way through a slow grinder, 'Keep On
Believin',' Morvan demonstrates a feel for the
guitar that puts her toe to toe with the majority of her
male counterparts. But that's only part of the story.
While she has undeniable talent on guitar she's also
adept as a singer/songwriter. With a voice that sometime
recalls Marcia Ball, while other times evoking a harder
rocking version of Deborah Coleman (another lady who knows
her way around the guitar!), Morvan captivates your attention
just as much on vocals as on guitar... Morvan has crafted
a fine disc of rock oriented blues." - Jazz
& Blues Report
"...you just gotta love this gal that puts her
heart & soul into every lyric and lick on every song.
She's played with some of the best artists out there,
and it shows on this CD - a fiery, hell-burnin'
set of great tunes that solidly grounds Morvan as a new
talent to be reckoned with...We definitely look forward
to seeing her live act. Meanwhile, be sure and pick this
one up for your collection." - BluesSource.com
"There's a lot of talk in guitar circles about
how women just don't seem to cut it... But Morvan
plays with plenty of imagination and doesn't rely
on licks or tricks heard a million times." - Vintage
Guitar Magazine
"...damn, this pretty woman sure can make that
blues guitar wail in this tight, crowd-pleasing album of
all originals." - The Pulse (Chattanooga, TN)
"... Morvan is a flashy, fast-fingered picker
that recalls Stevie Ray Vaughan to my ears. 'Wiggle
Room' is a cousin to SRV's 'Scuttle Buttin'.'
I kid you not. Testosterone-dripping blues fans will riff
off Morvan big time. Dig her solos on the slow blueser,
'Keep On Believin'.' Fitting is 'Where
Are The Girls With Guitars,' a hit-worthy roadhouse
stomper all those country-rock wannabe women wish they'd
written. She says, 'You need a real live woman to
play that guitar, yeah'." - Bluescritic.com
"Morvan knows how to wail the blues like a sharecropper's
daughter with a bad case of sunburn. A red hot blues rocker,
it's going to take more than a bottle of aloe to put her
fire out. Zesty, rollicking stuff that you would expect
from a red hot mamma, Morvan knows how to carry on and you
can't help but to get caught up in her firestorm if you're
any self respecting roadhouse blues fan." - Midwest
Record Recap
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Visit the Archives Section for past Articles, CD and Live
Show Reviews, and Interviews with Fiery Lead Guitarist,
Songwriter and Lead Singer Laurie Morvan.
Archives:
2007
2006
2005
2004
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