On Tuesday November 19, Elise Davis will be performing alongside Billy Buchanan at Eddie’s Attic . We caught up with her recently to talk about her music and shows, and here’s what she had to say.
What is the strangest thing a fan has done for you or at your show?
One of my first full band shows in a pretty good sized bar in Little Rock, I was 16 playing with the first band I was in called The Sandbox Lizards. A homeless woman snuck in the back door unnoticed and dodged paying the cover. We ended up having a draw of about 300 people so up front it was pretty crowded. The woman had GIGANTIC breasts. (That is relevant to note.. I think.) She squeezed through people to the front and I was in the middle of a song. She was dancing looking me dead in the eye, took off her bra, threw it at me with her breasts exposed from her shirt, and her bra landed on the end of my guitar where it dangled for the rest of the song. It was awesome. She got kicked out by the end of the song and was screaming profanities the whole way out. It helped make for a pretty great first show. Second to that was a show I played in a lesbian bar in Arkansas where pretty much every song different girls kept coming up and pouring whiskey shots into my mouth during the guitar solos, and after about the 5th tune this happened during… well, I won’t really get into the rest.
What is the funniest moment you have had as an artist?
There are probably a ton that have just been blurred from my brain with booze and time but the first thing that popped into my head was when I played a pet shop in Dallas. They made it seem like it was going to be some kind of coffee shop gig that was pet friendly. It turned out it was literally just a pet shop with no drinks served of any sort, no mics or pa system of any sort, no people except for one dude in the corner writing poetry. So, I played to dog toys and a dude writing poetry while I drank boxed wine bought from a liquor store down the street.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I recently have been trying to force myself to do vocal warmups for at least 10 minutes before every show. I usually am just kind of anxious, or running into people, or dealing with a sound check, but I have been making myself go in the bathroom and do breathing exercises and vocal warmups. Stretching I have found is also really awesome for relaxing the vocal chords and throat before I sing. Then I drink some whiskey and get to it.
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Honest.
How do you connect with a crowd?
When I write music my ultimate goal is trying to reach my point in a very honest and literal way. That is the style I have always been attracted to the most. Not masking my point just saying exactly what I mean. When I luck out and find out how to do that paired with a good melody and good chorus then I achieved my goal. So, basically connecting with a crowd for me just starts with the song. When I am singing a song I write to an audience I really mean every word I am singing. That is how I hope to connect with the listener, by them listening to what I am saying and feeling connected to it.
How did you decide on your band name?
It’s the name my mama and papa gave me.
What is the best way to write music?
I have written songs I like in several different ways but if I had to say my favorite time to write it would go down like this: In my apartment. When I don’t have to worry about anyone else coming over. When I can put on boxers and a t-shirt, no make up, just totally comfortable. No one I have to talk to. Light some candles. Sit on my couch with my laptop open on the coffee table. (I hate that I no longer use pen and paper but its just too convenient to organize ideas and lay down demos on my computer) A big glass of water/tea/whiskey/whatever, and just escape from everything else.
Thanks again to Elise Davis for taking the time to answers our questions, and make sure to get your tickets to see the concert on November 19th!
Doors at 6:30. Tickets $10 in advance, $14 at the door. A Table with 4 reserved seats is $50. Sales end at 5pm, November 19.
