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Mieka
Pauley plays the Paradise Lounge in Boston tomorrow night.
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| Youthful singer-songwriter boasts
veteran resume
By Linda
Laban
Friday, March 4, 2005
Mieka
Pauley is driving to New York City for a show at the Living Room, an
all-genre singer-songwriter music venue.
``It
used to be a cool vibe but a crappy venue. But now it's moved a couple of
blocks and it's awesome,'' said Pauley, who has played the Room before.The
singer-songwriter seems to have played everywhere at least once, including
many venues here in her hometown, where she will perform tomorrow - this
time co-headlining the Paradise Lounge with pop singer-songwriter gal Toby
Lightman.
Impressively,
the 24-year-old, who was born in Massachusetts but grew up in Florida,
Colorado and Ohio before returning for college, played on the same bill as
Eric Clapton last summer at the Tweeter Center and has shared the stage
with Wyclef Jean and the Black Eyed Peas.
However,
Pauley said breathing the same stage air as big stars isn't as memorable
as playing with lesser-known troubadours such as Edwin McCain and Citizen
Cope.
``It's
just about good music-lovin' audiences,'' Pauley said. ``It's awesome to
play in front of people who are open to good music rather than just a big
name.''
Aside
from performing, Pauley found time to record a self-titled full-length CD,
which she followed last year with an EP. Her next step is to find a record
label. That shouldn't be too difficult, especially after Pauley made a
name for herself last summer when she won the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival
songwriting contest.
``It's
not winning so much,'' Pauley said. ``The exposure comes from people
coming from all over the country and watching the performance. There's a
certain amount of prestige in winning, but the real benefit I get is
playing on the main stage at the festival this year,'' she said of the
contest's prize package.
As far
as singer-songwriter festivals go, Pauley already has played the peach:
Newport's famous folk festival.
``I
still can't believe I actually played it,'' she said of her 2003
performance. ``A lot of the festivals I haven't heard of till I play them,
but Newport I heard of a long time ago. It's beautiful. You're looking out
at the audience and straight into the blue of the ocean. That's what I
love about doing festivals: the scenery - and meeting other artists,
too.''
( Mieka Pauley performs at the Paradise Lounge, 969
Commonwealth Ave., Boston, tomorrow at 9 p.m. $10/$12 day of show.
617-562-8800. )
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