Reviews

Bob & Wendy’s new album, Your Beautiful Life, is predictably brilliant. What can I say? We’ve come to expect Wendy’s songwriting will be filled with heart-wrenching beauty, that her affecting voice will strip us as emotionally bare as she is, and that Bob’s somber cello or lively mandocello will be the perfect compliment to their thoughtful tunes.” - Glen Starkey

New Times San Luis Obispo

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected SoundsI’ve been listening to, and enjoying Bob & Wendy’s music for several years now. It seems each release is better than the last (and the first one was damn good).They have a nice Alt Country/Americana style that I’ve come to love more and more over time. Wendy’s voice is in fine form and matches the music perfectly. It’s got a touch of smoke and so much emotion.They have a gift for writing intricate and interesting melodies. It’s amazing to me that there are still new songs to be written since there are only 8 notes. So those who can write unique melodies are gods to me.Another thing I greatly admire is being able to write intelligent lyrics (anyone can write pop-tart songs) and Bob & Wendy are masters here as well. I honestly don’t know why these two aren’t super famous.Stand outs: Trace of Longing , Something Strong, Perfect Pitch but they’re all good.” - Amy Lotsberg

Collected Sounds

I wish I could articulate just how much I like "Behind the Blue" - I guess the ultimate compliment is the airplay but I should also let you know that I took it on my last road trip and believe me I have several thousand CD's to choose from! Looking forward to the new one. Bud Bud Johnson Producer/Host ACOUSTIC ACCENTS Tok, Alaska info@acousticaccents.net Radio From The Last Frontier" In the notes that came with this CD it was labeled Americana and alt.country, which is kind of a turn off for me. I don't normally care for that brand of music. So I was hesitant, but I really like this recording! It has a bit of that sound to it, but Wendy Liepman is such a good songwriter and the performances as a whole are fabulous so the genre is really secondary. These are just great songs performed very well. Wendy has a strong, but soft voice that is comforting and Bob's cello is a great addition. One track that seems to stand out is "Still Small Voice". It's a catchy, slightly twangy tune with a melody that is hauntingly familiar. Wendy's voice shines and the simple sounding accompaniment is perfect. I love the lyrics on "The Bed You Made": "You will never go to sleep in the bed you made/you just lie, lie, lie." Actually all these tracks have great lyrics. I also am partial to "In the Thick of It". It's a tad dark and desperate, but it's beautiful with its dissonant underlying cello. This is a great record and these songs will stick with you. Collected Sounds A Guide to Women in Music www.collectedsounds.com Review by Amy - Producer of Collected Sounds I just wanted to thank you again for your great album. I really enjoy your music and so do my listeners. I'm very happy and proud to play your CD. Keep It Country! NSEO 95.2 FM Paris, France ISWM INDIE PICK OF THE MONTH - This songwriting team operates in much the same way that many of their "national" counterparts do. Their music is well-suited to the current contemporary viewpoint, their look is natural yet trendy, and their sound is the kind of "tight" that you only get with experience and wisdom. But what makes this album so special is the apparent harmony (real and implied) that permeates each song. There's a kind of spiritual chemistry, if you will, that just seeps into every nook and cranny. It's not a contrived connection between Wendy and Bob. It's just something magical that happens when they're making music. Whatever you want to call it, it WORKS on this album. Independent Songwriter Web Magazine Feb 2002 issue www.independentsongwriter.com Hello and welcome to the first installment of 'Bennett's Pick O' The Week'. My first Pick O' The Week' is a wonderful album of contemporary folk music. The album is "Behind The Blue" from San Luis Obispo husband-wife folk duo Bob and Wendy. This album is full of so many sweet little notes and beautifully sculpted songs that it really needs to be heard. Wendy's voice reverberates throughout this CD with an intense yet delicate tone. Her lyrics tore my heart out on the first listen. Backed by musical genius Bob Liepman on cello, mandolin, mandocello and vocal harmonies, the songs radiate with a special chemistry few folk artists achieve. I've given up on selecting a favorite song from the CD since it changes every day. But 'Jenevieve' and 'On Paper' seem to be permanently imbedded in my brain. But as I listened to this CD driving through the rolling hills, pines and aspens in the Colorado countryside at a cool 8700 feet in elevation, I found myself lost in the beauty of this collection and the aspens and pines looked more astonishing with each note. Even the llamas at the llama farm I pass everyday seem to perk up their ears as I passed. GET THIS CD!!! Five stars. "Now that should count for something, if you know what I mean." 'Behind The Blue' is available on-line at CD Baby and through Bob and Wendy directly at bobwendy@slonet.org. Jason Bennett / Bennett's Pick O' The Week I'm crazy about your CD, Behind the Blue. I'm on the FAR list and I host a program at two different stations (KWMR and KPFA). This is one of those records that caught my ear immediately..interesting, melodic, different in an engaging way... and needs to be heard. Thanks, Kay Clements - Roadhouse Twang KWMR 90.5 FM Point Reyes, CA potsy@svn.net An interesting concept in alt.country land. A male/female team (maybe husband and wife, maybe sister and brother) that is not based on guitar and vocals, instead based on guitar, vocals, and stringed instruments cello, violin). What strikes you at first is the fragile, crystalline beauty of Wendy's voice ö a surprising tone that, to me, could sound just as good accapella. Next up are the wonderful harmonies produced by both of them, harmonies that rival Buddy and Julie Miller and even the Everlys. Even more remarkable are the songs. Timeless and classic, these songs have the feeling of being familiar yet new, like classics just written. This is a winner to me in all respects and it's hard to pick a standout but I would say the song Bed You Made is my personal fave. A delightful album that makes me anticipate their next one. Scott Homewood - independent music reviewer Freight Train Boogie www.freighttrainboogie.com Can't really tell you how much pleasure I've received from listening to "behind the blue" . . . I love it. In fact, I rated it as one of my top albums of 2001 for the Far Americana charts, despite the fact I've only had it for a couple weeks. I'm starting a new radio program in the next month or so, and I will be spinnin' the heck out of this record . . . it is so warm and true....just beautiful. Gus - www.hayrideshow.com Hi folks. Still not sure when or how your CD "behind the blue" got to me, but wanted you to know that recently I listened to it, and then again, and then again. You'll be in rotation on my show for months to come. The show is "Folkways" on KUT, Austin. I'm only one of 3 hosts, and I've no idea if the other two have heard of you, so this is no reason to quit your day jobs. But I'm impressed! The songwriting is strong, and the arrangements, while sparse, very effective and catchy. Jenevieve" is a bullet, with "Still Small Voice", "That Should Count", "Latest Flavor", and "Imagine That" not far behind. If you get back to Austin, be sure to let me know so we might arrange an on-air visit. Regards, and many thanks.... David Obermann - KUT -FM Austin TX humbug@texas.net Hi Bob & Wendy- Behind The Blue is a Great CD. Charles Duncan's production is just wonderful, reminiscent of the best T-Bone Burnett-subtle,unobtusive & lets the songs come to the forefront. Conservatively speaking, their are at least 4 or 5 classics on there-Genevieve, I Do-string arrangement is haunting..only maybe Sam Phillip's has done something that fine. Count For Something-unique idea-Latest Flavor. Actually, though..I've seen you play on about 3 occasions..it wasn't until I just purchased this album that I realized how great you were. The dynamic duo, or is it the dastardly duo? have been the best local talent for several years, but this is on a totally different level. Jeff Pascal I found your CD on my desk today. Many thanks for that. I gave it a spin and liked it very very much. You're on the show next week ! And since it is examplary for the kind of music we like to promote on our show , we'll give it more of our attention in the weeks to come. Please keep us informed about your future activities. Kind Regards, Rolly Smeets - VRT - RADIO 1 Kamer 3L42 / 1043 Brussels Belgium Keep It Country! NSEO 95.2 FM Paris, France Dear Sir and Madam, This short note to let you know that I received yesterday the CD "Behind The Blue" you kindly sent. Thank you very much! My favorite songs are: - #1 Still Small Voice - #4 That Should Count - #7 Latest Flavor I am enjoying the CD and I will surely be giving it airplay on my show. Again, thank you. Iâm very grateful. All the best, Mathias Andrieu - Keep It Country! B.P. 6101 75061 Paris Cedex 02 France Hi Bob, just got done taping my show, and I was just thinking how nice your album is. Good solid, quality stuff. I'll definitely be playing it the next few months. Thanks for the message, John Smith - WEBR, Fairfax, VA I'm a DJ at KZSU 90.1 FM here at Stanford University. I heard your latest CD "Behind the Blue" and I really enjoyed it. Our "Americana" (country/bluegrass/folk) director reviewed your CD and gave it a solid review as well. His name is Bruce Ross, and he writes: "This is excellent folk music. I like the writing and the musicianship." (Our reviews tend to be to-the-point... Best, Jack - KZSU 90.1 FM Stanford University www.kzsu.org Dear Bob; I voted you guys number one on the 3rd Coast back in November I thought i wrote to you and , actually , thought this may havew been your response ! Hey really LOVE the disc and am playing it it is going into the library too! So the other DJs can get it ! GREAT Great stuff, really a gem of a recording !! Thanks Chris Darling - Us Folk WMPG 90.9 FM Portland ME ctdarlin@maine.rr.com HI Bob, I am not really sure when "behind the blue" arrived at the station. It was in a big pile of CD's that I had been behind in reviewing. I love music but sometimes listening to new CD's can become a bit tedious. Imagine my surprise when "behind the blue" hit the play mode. Y'all had me from the first line of "Still Small Voice" Innovative arrangements, solid songwriting & soaring harmonies, it made my day.It also made my Top 10 for Dec. on the FAR charts. Thanks, Dan Alloway-Folk Fury / KTEP-FM 88.5 / El Paso TX The husband and wife folk duo is one of SLO Town's best loved musical acts, and they've consistently delivered quality albums. ... Overall, the packaging is professional and striking, and the songs are compelling and well-recorded. This is one of those albums that you can't believe was produced locally...it's too good. From the countrified strains of the album's opening track, you know you're in for something special. Locals will especially enjoy picking out the little hometown connections: I followed the wind to California, out where those seven sisters ride." Glen Starkey / Telegram-Tribune / June 28, 2001 Bob and Wendy have been a coffee house favorite on the Central Coast for nearly a decade. The succinct duo of Bob on mandocello, cello and vocals, along with Wendy on guitar and with a voice that can make statues cry, have packed local java joints, book stores, record stores and back yards with their stunning music." Frank Warren / Telegram-Tribune "The duo's original music is a tapestry of thought-provoking lyrics woven gently together with sweet melodies. The couple's first CD, 'Vagabond for Beauty' is winning acclaim for its passion and beauty." KCBX Live Oak Music Festival program 'Vagabond for Beauty' is their latest release and is a compelling collection of well composed originals and a dazzling showcase of this couple's ability." Barnes & Noble Events Bob and Wendy Liepman deliver hauntingly beautiful folk music. Wendy's voice is so clear it sounds almost otherworldly. Their clever musical arrangements make them even more fantastic." Telegram-Tribune I have enjoyed (the CD) tremendously. In fact you are shuffling between Lyle Lovett, Gillian Welch, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan as I write. I am very impressed with the sound of the mix. It is quite stunning. Thank you so much." Bob O'Brien / former owner of Big Music record store When Wendy Liepman opens her mouth, people listen. her voice lingers in the air like exotic perfume long after the last plaintive note is sung, which is why a Bob & Wendy concert feels lika a beautiful memory even before it's over - you know you'll take the experience with you." Glen Starkey / New Times”
Ghost hauntsGuadalupe's Royal Theatre records some new magicGLEN STARKEYShare and Enjoy: Click the links below to share this article with others. Oy, Chihuahua! Bob & Wendy’s new album The Ghost of Guadalupe is a stunner! It opens with the country romper “Trace of Longing,” filled with the kind of amazing lyrics Wendy Liepman is known for: I’ve been shaken to the core/ I can’t take it any more/ I’ve lost my nerve/ I’m in no shape to be showing you/ The kind of love I know that you deserve/ Well you wear a trace of longing on your face/ Though you’re trying not to show it/ When I’m in the mood for love again/ I promise you, you’ll be the first to know it.TAKE A BOW Americana duo Bob & Wendy got a few of their closest friends together at Guadalupe’s Royal Theatre to record a stunning new album, The Ghost of Guadalupe, debuting on Dec. 7 during an album release party in the Steynberg Gallery. PHOTO BY BARRY GOYETTTE The very next track, “Mother Love,” has a Beatlesque sound; then we get a dose of rockin’ country in “Blue Grotto.” Don’t look now, here comes “Legacy,” a haunting ballad. And so it goes. The Ghost of Guadalupe is a tribute to remote, forgotten little towns like Guadalupe, semi-sad places filled with people whose stories are as interesting as they are heartbreaking. It’s the sort of Americana milieu Bob and Wendy Liepman have traversed their entire career, but this album feels special for a couple of reasons.For one, there’s sound magic at work in their recording process. “To reach the studio, we drove southwest from San Luis Obispo, over the Nipomo Mesa and through agricultural fields,” said Wendy. “Looking out at the open space and long stretches of patchwork colors, my mind was in the proper mood to sing those high, lonesome songs. And the best part was that after a productive session we were rewarded with enchiladas from La Simpatia or lobster tacos from Garibaldi’s.”The album was recorded over two years at the Royal Theatre in Guadalupe, a deco-ish movie house that’s fallen on hard times. Imagine a lovely cake left out overnight. Inside, the room has a rich, warm sound, and the musicians just set up on stage and let fly. “We did the normal process,” explained Bob, “laying down basic rhythm tracks and playing over them. In other words, we weren’t all on stage at once.”Still, the cavernous room itself gave the recording a different sound.“It was sort of like doing a soundcheck before a concert,” explained Bob. “It had that live hall sound. In traditional recording studios, they try to get rid of that sound and get the cleanest recording possible, then add that sound back in.”Wendy also noticed that recording on stage, looking out at the empty theater, offered psychological resonance as well as sonic: “Being on stage, you could just imagine all the people in the audience. It felt more like a performance. We also tracked vocals upstairs in the isolation booth next to the projection room. It was formerly the ‘Crying Room’ used by mothers with noisy babes in arms.”The empty theater and frequently empty town also inspired the title of the CD.“Looking out at those empty seats, it was easy to imagine all the people through the years that occupied them,” said Wendy, “and Guadalupe itself is an interesting town. Except for payday, it’s pretty empty, but on payday the town and the restaurants fill up. Some days we’d get down there and except for ag trucks, we wouldn’t see a soul.”“If you listen to the album closely,” quipped Bob, “you can hear ag trucks coming out of the left speaker and Amtrak trains in the right.”Another reason this recording really shines is the session players. In addition to Wendy’s lilting voice and solid guitar skills, and Bob’s gorgeous cello, mandolin, keyboard, and backing vocals, you’ve got a who’s who of local talent: Virgil Cane members Butch Boswell (guitar, vocals), David Radmacher (guitar), and Adam Farber (electric bass); as well as Tim Novoa (drums), Jude Johnstone (vocals), Bette Byers (violin), Piper Heisig (upright bass), and Sal Garza (violin) play on the record.“The other thing that was really cool about this was the energy of working with these younger guys,” added Wendy. “Bob and I have been doing this a long time, so working with and hearing the ideas of Butch and David (Radmacher, who also produced the record) was great.”See Bob & Wendy (with Tim Novoa and Travis Harms) this Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. in the Steynberg Gallery during the album release party for The Ghost of Guadalupe. Butch Boswell will open. The show costs just $10 and includes a copy of the new CD. If you miss the show, pick up the album at Boo Boo Records.“We considered doing the CD release show down at the old Royal Theatre,” said Bob, “but when we were planning it, gas was $4 a gallon; we thought it might be hard to get people to drive 40 minutes. We haven’t killed that idea. We’d still like to invite people to come down for dinner at one of the restaurants, then play a show, and have the reception at La Simpatia.” Count me in!” - Glen Starkey

New Times

Bob and Wendy Liepman recently received their first noise complaint. The San Luis Obispo couple was playing a gig at the Shell Beach Farmers Market when the event organizer told them they had to turn it down. That might have been another day at the office for some local bands, but this was Bob&Wendy—a longtime duo known for melodic (and not loud) acoustic music. The couple had plugged in for this gig, preparing for the eventual launch of a new album, “The Ghost of Guadalupe,” which features Bob&Wendy with help from local indie rockers Virgil Cane. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY JOE JOHNSTON - Bob and Wendy Liepman.BOB & WENDY CD RELEASE 3 p. m. Sunday Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo $10 (includes CD) www.steynberggallery.com Bob & Wendy have been playing their brand of moody acoustic music for years. But the “Ghost” recording sessions, which took place at the nearly 70-year-old Royal Theater in Guadalupe, represents a change in style, with electric guitar and drums added to Wendy Liepman’s songs. The album, featuring Wendy’s guitar work and Bob’s cello, is packaged with art by local photographer Barry Goyette (the cover features on old car dash, with a cassette player and a picture of Jesus). We talked to the Liepmans at their home. The last time we talked, in September 2006, you were recording the album. What took so long? Bob: For one thing, Guadalupe is a half hour south of here. And the other factor is everybody’s busy schedule. That’s really it — finding time not only when David (Radmacher, album producer) could be there to do recording sessions, but when we were available. And when we started bringing in the other musicians and coordinating, you know, Jude Johnstone’s schedule and Butch Boswell’s schedule. In the end, how did the pairing with the Virgil Cane guys change your sound? B: It took Wendy’s songs, and it didn’t change the song itself — it just put them in a different frame. Wendy: It was fun to be able to rock out a little bit. David had a lot of ideas that I wasn’t necessarily sold on at the beginning. He just had us try all kinds of wild things so that we had a huge pallet for him to draw from. You guys went all out on the packaging. What went into that? B: Barry had taken the picture on a previous CD, “Behind the Blue.” And this time he wanted control over everything, which was neat because it made it as much his project as it was our project. Of course, that added several weeks, maybe months, to the project because he’s busy. Are you guys fans of album art? B: Yeah. And I also know from listening to interviews with deejays, they get hundreds of CDs a week, and they say that when they’re flipping through they stop and notice one if they can tell some thought and work went into it. Whose dashboard is that on the cover? B: That was a car parked out in front of the pizza place right down the street from the theater. Barry was just walking by and he looked in there and took a picture. So we don’t know. When you were recording at that old theater, what kinds of emotions did the place conjure? B: To me it was like doing a sound check, setting up before a concert, because you’re in a big hall. The only thing is, the audience never shows up. W: You could kind of sense all different kinds of people sitting in the audience through the years. So, Wendy, what’s the deal behind your mom’s old guitar? W: She got the 000-18 Martin when she was 16 years old, and she was in a few bands with other housewives. She tried to give me lessons when I was about 10, but I wouldn’t practice for her — but I still wanted to learn so she had another teacher teach me. All of the pegs were plastic because it was during World War II and they needed all the metal for the war effort. There are a lot of songs (on the album) about loneliness. When you were growing up were you a Roy Orbison fan? W: I didn’t really know about Roy Orbison until I was quite a bit older. B: Why do you write lonesome songs? W: I don’t know if I ever consider them lonesome. I think I have a love for wide open Western landscape, and the feeling of solitude and being away from the crowd and just kind of wandering. You were 10 when you wrote your first song. What was that about? W: It was, “Come and look inside my kaleidoscope of dreams/It only costs a dime to find what’s real or just what seems.” (laughs) I was a thinker even at age 10. I was writing songs about looking for the meaning of life. I was kind of an intense little kid. You called the album “Ghost of Guadalupe.” Why? W: One reason is that you could sense in the Royal Theatre the presence of all the people that have been there through the years. And except for payday, the town is pretty empty. I was pretty curious about husband and wife recording teams. Who do you guys like better — Captain & Tennille or Ashford and Simpson? W: Do we have to choose? How about none of the above? B: I like Carly Simon and James Taylor. Even though they didn’t record together, they were married. W: I heard on Richard and Linda Thompson’s last album, “Shoot Out the Lights,” one of them was in California and one of them was in London, because they wouldn’t even record in the same room. So they sent it across the ocean to have the other person do their part because they couldn’t stand each other. Is it easier working with your spouse? B: I’ve played with bands in the past. When I met Wendy, I said, ‘Well, here’s a songwriter, she’s cute and she can play. Which means I never have to play in a band again.” Reach Patrick S. Pemberton at 781-7903.” - Patrick Pemberton

Tribune Ticket