The First Step

GoodTime Danceable Blues Funk! "Blues with Grooves". The most creative description we've heard is "Bonnie Raitt meets K.D. Lang at Brickhouse". Prominent influences include Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robben Ford, Jonny Lang, Elton John, James Taylor and Motown. You'll hear it all, because this band is a genre-buster.

Debra Farris Band's upbeat style is one good time; positive, and very danceable. Debra Farris Band's music has a broad appeal, not just for their multitude of styles; Debra sings universal themes where everyone can find common ground. In a single performance, you will hear everything from blues to jazz to ballads and reggae. The band plays a variety of originals and favorites, and there is something for everyone. Notable at a Debra Farris concert is everyone having a good time, whether they are dancing, tapping their toes, nodding heads or just smiling. There is something about Debra's songs and delivery that makes everyone feel good.

The Santa Barbara based 4 piece band is has played hundreds of pubs and clubs from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles, as well as area festivals, weddings, private parties and corporate events. The band also plays unplugged for a quieter, more intimate performance, perfect in smaller settings. The band usually books one month is advance, and is quick to respond, commit and post bookings on the web. Booking information, performance schedule, song cuts, and more information can be viewed at www.debrafarris.com.

The band assists with it's own promotion, boasting a 350 person volunteer email fan base, as well as postering, website postings, and flyers. They also have multiple CDs and T-shirt merchandise, with contests, drawings and gifts to patrons at each gig. Debra works with each venue to create a set list and mood appropriate for the setting. Debra has recorded and released 4 albums on her Indie label "Share The Ride Music", as well as many commissioned songs, soundtracks and radio jingles. Debra also performs solo without the band. Debra has opened for Alligator Blues Artist Coco Montoya, Cougar Estrada, drummer with Los Lobos, and women's music favorite Tret Fure, as well as sharing stages with Artists Burleigh Drummond (Ambrosia). Charlie Hitchcock (Particle People), Kenny Edwards (Linda Ronstadt Band), Karla Bonoff, Kenny Loggins & son Crosby, Freebo (Bonnie Raitt Band), Bluegrass legends Tim and Molly O'Brien, David Piltch (K.D. Lang Band and Holly Cole Trio), Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), and Pseudopod (Interscope Record's Best College Band in America). Debra also Composed, Directed, Produced and Arranged for the 2003 Cabaret 4 Choice Project. http://www.cabaret4choice.org

Most recent to past recordings: Blues Cat 2004, Cabaret4Choice 2003, LIVE at Kraftbrau 2002, LIVE 2000, Comes The Dawn 1998, Luminous Cocoon 1993.
DFB has streaming tracks on several websites including debrafarris.com, CD Baby, Seven South Recordshop, IUMA, Sonicbids, and radio airplay through Clear Channel's New Music Network.

I am really proud of this CD, and I think it stands apart from the rest of my work. This particular band (Deb, Mike, Bob and Andrew) has been together for two years and has really got the nuances of my songs, as well as showing a diversity of styles. There are several blues/funk numbers, a Country crossover song, a ballad, a ROCK song, a latin thang, a reggae tune, a gospel song and an alternative style piece, inspired by Ani DiFranco. I was able to direct each player to flush out the specific parts I heard and ask for them...And the guys played it really well!

The production of this CD came in two parts over two years. The first sessions in the studio in Summer 2003 yielded 8 songs which we were going to use as a demo to get more live gigs. Rad did the cover art, and I made homemade copies and peddled them at pubs, clubs and festivals and other live gigs. The CD was amazingly popular! It became obvious to me that I could not keep up with the homespun production, and needed to send the CD out to a duplication company who would spawn me 1000 copies and let me get back to playing and writing music! Then came the idea that we should add more songs on, as 8 songs didn't really seem like a full length CD.

So we went back in the studio in Summer 2004 and ended up adding 5 more songs. We had only intended to add 3 songs. The first song we did was a warmup song (Roaster's Blues) and it was a hot take so it made the CD cut.

The 3 intended songs were "Didn't Come By it Easy", "Good Luck" and "Almost Home". We recorded those. Then we did a studio live session where we just counted off and played all the rest of the DFB songs in our setlist, for the record, to use as a feedback and learning tool. The First Step was a song in that studio live batch that stuck out as an amazing take, so we added it as well to the CD.

With a total of 5 new songs, we had created this fresh new sound! Lastly, I wanted to change the arrangement on "Love Will Bring Us Back Alive" to have more of a reggae feel. So we went back in to the studio one last time, changed a few things, brushed up the cover art, and sent it off to the duplicators. Sha-Zam! Here it is! We hope you enjoy it!

p.s. All Debra Farris CD's and OTHER cool merchandise is also available at www.debrafarris.com... CD's, T-shirts, Mugs, bumper stickers......

Here are a few recent Press Reviews for DFB:

Michelle Gysan - VP Marketing, Lightwave Systems, Optical Pickups.
"Debra Farris is an extremely gifted alchemist, stirring blues, rock and soulful rhythms into magical compilations. Dynamic, uplifting and unforgettable, her music stirs up so many facets of human emotion. One to watch closely for certain, as her career ascends."

Patricia Rushton - Harper, Composer at Mixolydian Music.
"Debra Farris Band isn't just another tight club band; Debra Farris stands out as a Singer/Songwriter of extraordinary talent and originality. Her lyrics move me. Although these songs come out of her own experience, they are universal themes. Debra Farris is singing about my life, your life and how we feel ... Debra Farris is best known for her powerful, high-energy songs, but this versatile artist has a special gift delivering a sensitive and beautiful ballad such as 'The Way'".

John Mooy- Sound Engineer, Guitar Tech., Musician, Guitar Tech for CPR (David Crosby Band), Dishwalla, and Kenny Loggins.
"Debra Farris Band sounds 'Funkin' Great!"

Rad Schreiber - Performance Photographer, Graphic designer, Artist- Radical Approaches.
"Okay. I have been listening to music intensely for the past 3 months on the road. All I got to say, Debra, is you are a music Guru!! Your music alchemy is really HOT. I can't tell you how GREAT that is. It is really distinquished. You are up there with the greats! I was listening to Fleetwood Mac. They had terrific blend. You have it too! I never get tired of your music. It always inspires and feeds me."