What a show!! We have been eagerly waiting to have The Painted Horses on The Event Santa Cruz Radio Show (on KSQD 90.7) and the wait was worth it! What a great show. They world premiered a bunch of songs from their self titled upcoming album (coming out sometime in October, 2019).
The extra surprise was the performance from Laura T. Lewis
From The Painted Horses website:
It was in the Santa Cruz Mountains that Denys Kozakis developed his sound and songs before joining bassist Jon Payne, and vocalist Natosha Wengreen, to form The Painted Horses. After releasing their debut album, Ponderosa Pines (2015), The Painted Horses set out to roam the hills of California and the Pacific Northwest. With their thoughtful and beautifully written songs, they won over audiences wherever they played.
After a few years of performing live, The Painted Horses (now Kozakis and Payne) decided to return their focus to recording. Their sophomore album will be self-titled and was recorded and produced by Marc Daniel Nelson and Ken Caillat(who produced many notable albums including the legendary “Rumors” by Fleetwood Mac) at Prairie Sun in Cotati, CA. Mastered at The Bakery in Los Angeles, CA by Eric Boulanger, this album adds a rock-n-roll element to the Americana and folk stylings of the debut LP. This album features many amazing musicians and friends including long time drummer Jeff Wilson, Lorenzo Loera on keys, Dan Talamantes, McCoy Tyler and Deren Ney on guitars, Jason Crosby on violin, Pat Hull, Dorota Szuta and Leigh Jones on backup vocals.
With this new album, The Painted Horses can now further their impressive resume including a debut album/song feature on CMT’s “The Edge”. In addition to playing multiple music festivals in California including American River Music Festival, Redgate Ranch Music Festival, and DIO Fest, the band had the pleasure of playing renowned music venues such as Slims (SF), The Chapel (SF), Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma), Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley), Leos (Oakland), Kuumbwa Jazz Center (SC), Moe’s Alley (SC), and several shows in the Fillmore Poster Room (SF). They played with bands such as Poor Mans Whiskey, Jamestown Revival, The Brothers Comatose, Pert Near Sandstone, Kate Davis, Honey Honey, The Wild Reeds, Hey Rosetta, and many more.
From the Laura T Lewis website:
Raised on the northern fog banks of the San Francisco Bay, there was always a drum kit in our living room and a half-finished clay project in the basement art studio. I was regularly scolded for singing at the dinner table and dancing in the outfield (I wasn’t cut out for sports). Every early memory has a soundtrack.
My younger brother, Luke, started playing music first. It became the trellis on which he and our father grew closer and more alike until Dad passed away in 2005. I found my voice while trying to stay closer to them both after my dad was gone. It has since become my therapy in hard times, my release in good, and the most effective connector to like-minded friends.
I left San Luis Obispo, my home of 13 years, for Portland in 2017 with two (somewhat arbitrary) science degrees, a teaching credential, a divorce settlement, thicker skin, a sad story, and a drive to find my music community. Thank you, Portland, for warmly welcoming one more wayward Californian. I’ll do my best to keep it weird.
My resume has grown in the last 3 years to include music festivals (Solaura Festival (Mendocino) and Comatopia (Yosemite Valley)), music venues (such as the Poster Room at the Fillmore (SF), Mississippi Studios, Doug Fir Lounge, The White Eagle, Secret Society (PDX), The Belfry (Sisters,OR)), house shows, bars, several wineries, a few breweries, lots of weddings, hotel lobbies, and private events. I have toured up and down the west coast and look forward to doing so again –as well as expanding my tour map– with my debut album “High Above the Brushfire” in hand.
I was lucky enough to have my brother, my sweetheart, and several new friends join me in the studio to make this record. It was a joy to create and I am so thrilled with the product. I really hope you like it too.
