Pilar French - Les Paul Girl of the Week #11 - 7/18/07

[Alex]

Congratulations to Pilar French from Oregon for making Les Paul Girl of the Week #11!

Tell us about your musical experience

Portland's PILAR FRENCH is one of those unexpected talents who can mow you over with intelligent, passionate songwriting, as well as give you a groove to rock out to. She's a varied musician, and not just because she plays guitar and bass, depending on the situation. One minute she's loungy, smoky and silky. The next she's belting out a bluesy tune thats slightly askew. Another moment she finds her in a funk vein, and then she's somewhat ethereal and most definitely intimate and intense.

Pilar calls it twisted funk and blues, but there's more to it than that. This veteran insider of many Portland local bands and styles may spend much time with the backbeat and the danceability, but Pilar has an arty, introspective side as well. She can be reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich singing Cole Porter, Nicolette Larson, Steely Dan, Maria Muldaur, Dave Matthews with touches of soul, and the occasional shot of more esoteric artists like David Sylvian or Sarah McLaughlin.

All this could be the result of a varied background. Pilar's musical path has taken a meandering and slightly comical, kooky road at times. Before moving to Puddle Town, she played in several bands while attending college in Chicago one of which opened for Spin Doctors. After college, she briefly played gigs at a dude ranch in Colorado.

French has lived in Portland for 10 years, becoming deeply ingrained in the music scene through a variety of bands and musical partnerships. She started in similarly bluesy, funky bands, including Soul Patrol Mission. The goal was to play in the coolest spots we could find. "We played on top of skyscrapers in downtown Portland and on the Portland Spirit. We played cheesy 80s tunes on acoustic guitars and the accordion."

Next was the six-piece blues band Swerve for two years, then Pilar spent time with local art songstress KATE MANN in Ginger Lovely. Soon, Pilar found herself working with singer LARA MICHELL, (Carmina Piranha, Dirty Martini) in a Duran Duran tribute band, which led to her joining Michell and Nicole Campbell's goofy cover band, Guilty Pleasures and One Hit Wonders. The band has torn up the house with regular, raucous gigs at Imbibe in recent years.

During the last two years, Pilar has also been found playing bass with Portland veterans, JUSTIN CARROLL AND THE TIME BEING, and THE NICOLE CAMPBELL TRIO.

These days, her funk, blues and delicate personal tunes are combined in her own solo career as well as in the vibrant Pilar French Intention, comprised of drummer Bevan, guitarist Robert PeArt, and bassist Todd Aschoff.

Bevan is classically trained, and has played in a variety of bands, including Kerosene Dream, THE VERY FOUNDATION, FRAN GRAY.

PeArt is graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology and has played in several bands around town including THE RACHEL TAYLOR BROWN BAND.

Aschoff learned to play bass after salvaging an upright that was broken in pieces, putting it back together himself. He also plays drums, and is lead singer/drummer for TOO LOOSE CAJUN BAND.

What would you like people to know about your band? Got a Website?

Our website is www.myspace.com/pilarfrench . My band just released it's debut album Butterflies. We have been critically acclaimed in the Portland Tribune and Oregonian's A&E. We are known for strong song-writing that combines fundamentals of blues, funk and jazz with indie-alt rock.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Lucinda Williams, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dave Matthews, U2, Radiohead, Buddy Guy.

What do you love most about your Les Paul?

The neck, the neck, the neck . . . I never question the action.

Funniest thing that happened to you on the road, stage or backstage?

Playing a large gig on a big stage and watching fire dancers run around only to see one of them throw a fire baton too high, get it stuck in the rafter and cause a fire in the middle of our set. . . We kept playing while people struggled to put the fire out. Didn't miss a note.

Where do you see yourself a few years from now?

Touring the US and Europe, hopefully Australia and New Zealand too.

To learn more about her, check out her MySpace profile at www.myspace.com/pilarfrench

[ashbass]

Wow. No guitar shoved up her crotch or ass. Must be here based on talent alone. Nice.

[Led Zep Fan]

Originally Posted by ashbass

Must be here based on talent alone. Nice.

What!?!?!

[guitarguru]

Originally Posted by Led Zep Fan

What!?!?!

[Led Zep Fan]

I was being sarcastic, as if talent mattered for a "girl of the week".

[GuitarGal]

Very nice~

[socreddy]

Haha pwnt. See, this girl is cool, some of the others are. Well, let's say that the one lacking clothes might be better suited as a model for guitars.