Indie Rock, Twang & Twilight: October 24 at The Starry Plough Berkeley, w/ Laura Benitez & the Heartache

Two female-fronted acts take the stage on this autumn evening, sharing original songs of love, life, and the pursuit of damn good whiskey.
 

Laura Benitez and the Heartache use the three chord tools of country music to tell the simple, unvarnished truth about love, too much whiskey, and the call of the road. Their songs range from honky-tonk shuffles to rock 'n' roll numbers to sweet old time waltzes, and cover everything from unwed motherhood ("Me or the Baby") to mean drunks ("Don't Wake the Devil"), with a whole lot of heartbreak in between. Their twangy honesty shines through in straightforward arrangements, crystalline harmonies, and spare instrumentation. Beware their catchy hooks and sweet melodies - these stray puppy tunes will follow you home and become your most steadfast companions. www.laurabenitezandtheheartache.com

California songwriter Deborah Crooks' lyric driven and soul-wise music draws on folk, rock, and Americana and is often compared to Lucinda Williams and The Cowboy Junkies. Her music ventures into everything from funk and reggae to rock and blues, reflecting her expansive and eclectic tastes, a sound which has evolved over her years studying writing and poetics at The Naropa Institute, voice with Chloe Goodchild and Mysore V. Amba Prasad (India), and cowriting and collaborating with her Bay Area peers. She’s released three CDs and several EPs of critically noted original music, including 2015’s Something Special, which reflects both her California Roots and global peregrinations. “Quite simply smart and engaging music." — RockWired Magazine www.deborahcrooks.com