Event

Spring House - Woodshed Concert

Springhouse roams the Americana borderlands, from artsong to the roadhouse and places in between.

Chris Kee, principal songwriter and bassist for Houston Jones has formed a new Americana trio with Jane Selkye, writer of Blame Sally's song, "Big, Big Bed" and SF bay area pedal steel star David Phillips.

Chris Kee is the bassist/cellist and principal songwriter for Houston Jones, a six piece "high octane Americana" band with a passel of CDs to their credit. Kee's songs are simple and evocative. His song "Three Crow Town," inspired by a trip through Jane's grandparents' hometown of Longford, Kansas, can hush a festival crowd of thousands and bring tears to their eyes. Jim Lee of Dirty Linen says:

"While the members have always been virtuoso players and arrangers, it's the depth of Kee's songs that adds a defining element to the band."

Selkye's writing is inventive and image-rich. Her dynamic vocals range three octaves and her delivery is distinguished by subtle color and textures. Born in the Lone Star state and raised in California, Selkye's themes and delivery hint at her Bluebonnet pedigree.

One of the Bay Area's star pedal steel players, David Phillips' versatility puts him in a class by himself. He has worked with artists as varied as Tom Waits, Charlie Hunter and Johnny Paycheck. Both Phillips and Kee are touring members of Peter Rowan's Free Mexican Air Force. Phillips has been a featured pedal steel soloist with the San Francisco Symphony. A Georgia native, Phillips is a longtime resident of San Francisco. His southern roots are evident in the turns of musical phrase that color his traditional pedal steel and dobro playing. His inventive improvisational jazz work with Jack
West's Curvature betrays his natural modesty. It is this remarkable combination of tell-it-straight Country and Western style paired with a breathtaking sense of harmonic landscape that distinguishes the Springhouse sound.