You’re that damn good! No, really.

By: Forest George

This idea came to me from my experiences watching different bands. Richmond Music is very subjective, because everybody tries to play and find a gig. Depending on which part of the city you’re in, you’ll find a collection of different bands playing somewhere.

Today I want to focus on just a fraction of Richmond Music with the female singer. As a male of the human species, most of us are awestruck by the female singing voice. It doesn’t hurt if they’re drop-dead gorgeous either. They also have a childlike ambition when it comes to their singing. The good ones appear to have the most fun, and use their talents to help their respective bands.

It was hard to rate these women, as each one was talented in their own way and it was almost like comparing apples to oranges. I have, however, attempted to formulate a short list of my top-ten female singers, and the bands they respectfully play for.


1. Sarah Gleason: The lead female singer of The Velvet Maria’s, fronted by lead/rhythm guitarist John Ran Smith. Without Gleason, the band would still be a very powerful country twang group with the talents of lead guitarist Paul Pearce, drummer Jorge Santamaria, and bassist Michael Skiffington. With Gleason, however, it allows them to cover a wide range of songs that would not fit the group’s motif. Songs like “Come Together,” “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” (duet with John Ran Smith), “Mustang Sally,” “Never Been to Spain,” “Me and Bobby MaGee” and “Drunken Angel.” This beauty has the looks of Grace Slick, the (in theory) drinking habits of Janis Joplin, along with the Janis Joplin wardrobe, and the voice of a rough and tough angel. She’d probably try any cover once, and may throw some original material on us soon.

The Velvet Maria’s


2. Krista Crandall: If you had come up to me fifteen years ago, and told me that the then Krista Bolton, class of Douglas Freeman 1996, would end up as one of the female singers in perhaps the greatest cover band in Richmond, I would have called you crazy. Sure she was talented in 1995-96 when she got rare opportunities to do solo High School Musical songs, or even more rare Pep Rally singing spots, but hearing her belting out flawless covers of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here for the Party,” “All Jacked Up,” and “Redneck Woman” just amazes me. Without her, The Wrest already had a very talented, female vocalist with Jane Cooper, but Crandall’s wild, crazy, impish, and hyperactive nature should not be ignored for its sheer entertainment value alone. The current Friday-night female singer of Pat O’Brien’s fronted band “The Wrest” has been providing excellent country covers of Terri Clark, Gretchen Wilson, Blondie, and even Katrina and the Waves for about three years.

The Wrest


3. Sister Sweet: It would be hard to separate the duo of Tina Marie and Jessica Salomonsky, as they both have the same great look, and about the same talent. These two guitar-wielding beauties not only have amazing singing voices, but they love to write songs, and change songs to fit their singing style. The best example of their rearrangements would be the Beatles’ “Drive My Car,” which becomes more atoned to their styling, which resembles Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crowe, and a pinch of the Indigo Girls. It doesn’t hurt they both have the Sheryl Crowe look down to a tee, and provide grace and beauty with their singing, guitar playing, and their appearances. Along with Tom Crosby on bass, and Mark Henderson on drums, and maybe a few more surprises in the future, Sister Sweet is becoming a force upon the Richmond Music scene.

Sister Sweet


4. Rachel Garfi: A newcomer to the Richmond Music scene, this already sassy 19-year old New Jersey girl, raised in Powhatan has turned some heads with her country singing voice. She is currently the protégé of Crazy Linda Sheridan, whom the two formed the abstract singing combination of Royal Pain. In that singing group, Sheridan provides the rhythmic guitar, and crazy cover songs, while Garfi provides her own craziness and amazing covers of Gretchen Wilson and rare Terri Clark covers. She also provides a country western cover of Britney Spears “Toxic.” Along with Sheridan, a third member of the Royal Pain crew is their manager/guitarist Shane Parch. With Parch and Sheridan, Garfi is also attempting on writing and singing original country music titles on her own.

Royal Pain


5. Jane Cooper: Without either female vocalist, The Wrest might still be the greatest cover band in Richmond. Pat O’Brien and Tommy Hughes are great singers and both are masters of the guitar, with Hughes also a master of the bass, banjo, and mandolin. Percussionist Jim White is also an amazing singer, and Stu Grimes is an excellent drummer. Of course, a perfect cover band needs a female singer, and Cooper filled the missing piece of that puzzle starting in 1999. Unlike Crandall, Cooper is more laid back in her nature, although still vibrant with energy. Vocally, however, she is more mature and her singing subtext is slightly different. Cooper currently provides entertainment at Sharky’s as the “Wednesday night chick.”

The Wrest


6. Jennifer Vaughn: Although the wife of Hamburger James’ lead singer and acoustic guitarist, Andy Vaughn, isn’t an actual member of the band, her Janis Martin/Wanda Jackson style of voice was used on Hamburger James’ album “Last Plane to Memphis” and on their live shows. As a band primary focused on the Rockabilly era of music that included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and other great artists; Hamburger James brings the spirit of the 1950’s Elvis Presley to Richmond. Some may be historically inclined to hear a female singing style that was around before Janis Joplin, which is very similar to a style female country stars kind of use today. So while (Jennifer) Vaughn isn’t used much, she rocks it down with her husband and friends.

Hamburger James


7. Casandra Cossitt: Although, an older and more mature woman, Cossitt brings the old school, country spirit of Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells to Richmond. Cossitt and her sister, Octavia Carpin, have written some very cool original old-style country music like “The Ballad of Katie Gallows,” “Walk Away,” and Evil for You.” These two sisters, along with John Hanor (lead guitar), Mike Tighe (fiddle), and David Stover (drums) have created “Buttercup.” With their old style state fair country outfits accompanying their music, they truly are throwbacks to the artistic styles of Cline, Wanda Jackson, Janis Martin, Merle Haggard, Jim Reeves, Hank Williams, and other fine old school country artists.

Buttercup


8. Susan Greenbaum: A former businesswoman, who decided to move to Richmond and focus on songwriting. Greenbaum is a known veteran in the Virginia area, and is a masterful singer and songwriter. She’s been around for over ten years, and for people who enjoy Joan Baez would like Greenbaum’s singing style. She has released several albums and is a local fixture of female music entertainment. She portrays an interesting, and entertaining persona, along with her singing.

Susan Greenbaum


9. Linda Sheridan: It’s hard to describe Linda Sheridan with the written language. The mother of three kids always the itch to entertain, and did so in her wild partying youth in the 1970’s and 80’s. She is truly abstract in nature, with an obsession for both music and art. Admittedly crazy in nature, Sheridan would sell you on head-turning, abstract craziness. Doing weird, unexpected covers like Clarence Carter’s “Patches,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Sprit,” the German version of Peter Gabriel’s “Shock the Monkey” (“Schock Den Affen”), and the German version of the Beatles’ “I want to Hold Your Hand” (“Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand.”) When she is not doing comedy pieces, her amazingly low bass voice works on old blues songs and Beatle covers with Shane Parch. Always expect the unexpected when dealing with Linda Sheridan.

Royal Pain


10. Judy Guy: A singer, and recorder player for Richmond’s Irish Pub band Uisce Beatha, a band that just loves to sing for their friends, the patrons of Rare Olde Times. The band specializes in old Irish Folk Songs, along with covers of almost anything, including the Beatles, the Everly Brothers, Tom Petty, and much more. The band includes Jim Guy on vocals and guitar, Dan Guy on vocals, guitar, bohran, and great William Shatner impersonations, Ed Tatum on lead guitar, and sometimes Matt Davis or Sajji Hussain on the bass. (Judy) Guy impresses on Irish Folk songs, and did an impressive cover of “White Rabbit.”


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