Lila Nelson serves it up without hype
By Valerie Warda
July 18, 2006
There is no hype in Lila Nelson’s entertainment style. She makes you feel like you’re sitting in her living room jamming, throwing in a witty tale or two between lyrical numbers. Not all up-and-coming songwriters or singing artists can seem like they’re in conversation with an audience. Lila does that – and more.
Perhaps hosting her radio show for several years (“Meet me in the morning” Sundays at 9 a.m. on 104.3 KHUM) helps her role as commentator, not just singer. She holds her audience whether she’s tuning up her guitar strings again or switching harmonicas. We are hers, we are here, we listen and smile. No stiff segues; her comfort is contagious.
Make no mistake, though, about her intent. Lila’s songs about life, love and war are thought-provoking and edgy. Although listeners may occasionally chuckle at her proclaimed birthing of a new genre – folk porn, her songs more often focus on the simple lessons important to all of humanity. “Simple songs, serve it up.”
On her new EP, “High Gloss and Low Sheen” (referring to porn ‘zines?), the opening track, “Hold it in your hand” serves it up…competing with the “racket in my head” is the “melody of a simple song.” The perfect piece of advice for those of us traveling the maze of relationships is tucked into the chorus, “If it ain’t broke, don’t break it. If it don’t feel right, don’t fake it. If it comes crashing, give it a place to lay and hold it in your hand.” Lila’s heartfelt emotion delivers.
Growing up in a family of writers, painters, and artists, Lila had no formal musical training. Her brother gave her a couple of chords and lessons on the guitar, but she moved on her own impetus as a songwriter and guitarist.
Playing in coffeehouses by the time she was 17, she admits, “I started out very shy being onstage.” Her presence developed easily as she learned to work with her natural performing talent within the controlled environment. Lila realizes her theater experience while attending CSU Humboldt undoubtedly aided her training and says she really enjoyed the small venue and the mainstage theater productions.
Probably her greatest influence and support came early in her career via Loudon Wainwright III. She wrote to him and their continued communications inspired her style and writing. “He helped influence my personal, ironic lyrics, my ‘sound.’ ”
On Lila’s cd “Still Got The Farm” (2004), her sound hovers near the ground with a real, down to earth grittiness. Starting with simple childhood joys of “Poolfilling” and “The Fourth Grade Spelling Bee” she moves along to the more poignant “Fresh Paint.”
“…it’s not a good war to fight, show me a good one that’s not about ego, might and people dying so that flags can keep flying and you’ll get your name on a wall.”
Powerful dynamics are also at play in the title track. Talk about yards, cows and fire seem to mean much more.
“…feed me the seeds that fly over the lumber mill and plant themselves – ravishing radishes that nip at your wayfaring realm.”
Summing up her style on that cd are the zen-like lyrics of “The Bodhi Tree.” Sitting on a bench under the bodhi tree, she writes, “I’ve got a lot of questions I’m not afraid to ask, but when it comes to answers I’m afraid of that.” She’s not alone.
And she doesn’t always perform alone. She’s most recently finished touring with Brian Joseph and has enjoyed touring in the past with Casey Connor. Nashville’s Amelia White, who has described Lila’s melodies and rhythms as “fresh” and her voice having the “quality of a willful child with secrets to share,” has also shared stages ‘round the country with Lila.
In the studio, her husband Ian Caliendo (whom she met at college) accompanies Lila on several recordings playing mandolin, electric guitar and the mbira, an African piano-like instrument. He also produced and co-engineered “Still Got the Farm.”
Here at home on a live, local stage, her fans can enjoy her participation in this week’s 28th Annual Humboldt Folklife Festival. Lila’s singing and lyrics are featured in Wednesday evening’s Songwriter’s Showcase. She is also an emcee for Saturday’s events, bringing the final days of the Festival to a close. For more background and data on Lila, check out her website at lilanelson.org. Watch for her future engagements and productions; we have not heard the last of Lila Nelson.