Karen Davis is a performer and a songwriter with a love for music. For several years she has been leading the way with her band Boomslang and tearing up the rock club circuit in the tri-state area. A Jersey City resident, Davis is a troubadour spreading her poetic lyrics to audiences everywhere with a mellow rock sound with heavy Led Zeppelin influences. Boomslang recently performed at the Ristra Lounge in Hoboken. We recently caught up with Davis.
EM – Where are you from?
KD – I grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y. in Westchester County. It was a good place to grow up if you were, as I was, a little black girl. It’s a suburb, so a lot of the people there were very successful and hard-working. Because of that, I always believed that blackness does not have to be an obstacle to your success.
EM -Who are your influences?
KD – Primarily Pete Townshend of the The Who. I like that Pete doesn’t really solo, but carries songs on chord progressions. I’m a rhythm guitarist, so chords mean a lot to me. Even if I do an occasional solo, I like to play two or three strings at a time; it makes things big and powerful. Pete’s alienated weirdo lyrics appealed to me because I was a bit of an outcast and very nerdy growing up. I also listened to a lot of Yes and Led Zeppelin. The lyrical quality and the complexity of Yes tunes are incredible. Jon Anderson’s voice is light, sweet and irresistible to me. They prove that you can never have too many parts in a song.
EM -Why did you become a musician?
KD – I wanted to hang around cute white boys with long hair. That’s the only reason.
EM -Where have you performed?
KD – I’ve performed all over the place, mostly in New York City, New Jersey and New England. My best gigs to date were opening for Living Color back in the Stone Age, and doing the Black Potato Festival out in Clinton this past July. I’ve played clubs, colleges, fundraisers, and picnics.
EM -What is your favorite day of the week?
KD – My favorite day of the week is usually Sunday, because I get to spend it lying around with my boyfriend. We’re both very talkative.
EM -What are the last three CDs you bought?
KD – The Jeff Beck Group, Neil Young and Crazy Horse and the Best of America.
EM – How would you describe your music?
KD – I hate this question, but like death, it’s inevitable. You know "Gallows Pole" on Led Zeppelin 3? It’s kind of like that on our current CD, Bloody Tales From the Suburbs. It’s acoustic, but I play a lot of double time and use open tuning. There’s a lot of angst, darkness and subtle violence in my lyrics.
EM -Are you looking for mainstream exposure?
KD – We’d settle for freakin’ exposure at this point, mainstream or otherwise, as long as we get to perform in front of chairs with actual, awake people in them. This year has been heinous for gigs. I love performing, but it seems that people aren’t going out like they used to, and the ones that are out did not get us at all. As far as other music business concerns go, I’ll be sending our stuff to independent labels and some booking agents. We’ve also done some internet radio. Exposure – bring it on.
EM -What professional plans do you have for the future?
KD – I need a battery-operated amp so I can play in the street and make some money. I’m also considering hiring myself out as a rhythm guitarist.
EM -What is the best part about your job?
KD – Writing a new song that I really love and can’t wait to play in front of people.
For more information on Boomslang visit www.bommslangband.com. q