'Hardworking woman' leads hard-rocking blues band
The Valley News Dispatch
By .... Rex Rutowski
Thursday, December 4, 2008
For Fredericka Stover -- aka Ms Freddye -- the accolades are not what matters.
Sure, her band, Ms Freddye & Blue Faze, won the Appalachian Blues Contest and willperform in February at the International Blues competition in Memphis.
And this is a group blessed with some of the most talented musicians in Western Pennsylvania, with a following that includes all ages.
Still, says Stover, a Natrona Heights resident, "It's never about us winning. It is about letting people know we love to play music. We are passionate musicians who get a charge out of the type of music we play and how we can present it," she says.
She says being crowned champions of the Appalachian Blues Contest in September was "a total shock."
"It will give us a chance to show the world how and why we love what we do," says Stover, a registered nurse who signs her name with the tag line "Hardworking Woman."
"I have seen the respect other musicians have for each other when competing. It's not about winning. It's about what you love to do," she says.
And does this band ever love what it does.
"It's more like a party with friends than a performance," says Jason Caliguri of New Kensington, a founding member of the band.
"Music is really spiritual for me," says Caliguri, who sings and plays guitar. "I get to get in touch with my soul as well as taking a little from the souls of all of my influences."
It's also about letting your emotions "come out of your soul," adds drummer John Erskine of Indiana Township.
"This is not your typical blues band. Every song is a surprise every time we play. We don't play the same old blues standards everyone else plays, and if we do, they are played in our own style."
The band offers an energetic blues, R&B and soul show, says bassist and vocalist Keith Gamble of Freeport.
"There is an emotional aspect to the blues that we connect with our audiences on, getting them to laugh, cry and get on the dance floor," Gamble says.
Harmonica player Chris Nacy of Cheswick appreciates being in the company of such strong musicians.
"(I was) always told to play with people that are better that you are, and it is an honor to play with musicians like John, Jason, Freddye and Keith," Nacy says.
"I still look forward to playing each gig as much as I did when we started this band," he says. "We are unlike any other blues band in Pittsburgh because Ms. Freddye is the real deal and not some wannabe soccer mom who wants to sing the blues because she thinks it is cool."
Having played the festival circuit, Nacy says he has seen many of the top female blues singers.
"Ms. Freddye could walk into any juke joint in Mississippi and clean up," he says. "She is the best female blues singer in the 'Burgh."