Melissa
Neels
It's
always a pleasure to discover a new musical talent.
A recent visit to Mike & Mins in Soulard
introduced to the Bluesnet to the sizzling sounds
of the Melissa
Neels band. As talented a vocalist and songwriter
as she is at lead guitar, Melissa was kind enough
to spend some time telling the Bluesnet her story.
Please welcome Melissa as our Spotlight artist, and
enjoy the interview.
BN:
Thanks for spending a few minutes today with the Bluesnet.
We really enjoyed your perfomance at Mike & Mins.
Are you from St. Loui
MN: Yes, I am. I grew up in South County, and
attended Oakville Senior High School
BN:
When did you discover you had a love of music?
MN: I always loved music! My mom always listened
to Cream, Janis Joplin. I started taking guitar in
the second grade, but that only lasted a month or
so. Then I was re-introduced to the guitar in the
7th grade
BN:
Are there any musicians that really had an influence
on you?
MN: When I was 15, my mom took me to see Bonnie
Raitt at the Muny. She had wrote a note to Bonnie,
and she had one of the security guards deliver it
to Bonnie. At the end of the show, there was a woman
in the crowd calling my name. She said Bonnie wanted
to meet me! It was great! Bonnie was a really nice,
down to earth person, and she told me "keep playing
those Blues". A year later Bonnie was playing at Riverport,
and we went to see her again. My mom wrote a note,
and we were asked backstage once again. So meeting
Bonnie was a big moment, she's a big influence to
me!
Stevie Ray Vaughn, Susan Tedeschi, and Joanna Connor
were also influences. I went to see Joanna Connor
when she was playing at Generations.
When I got to the show, it turned out to be cancelled.
The guy at the door mentioned that Joanna was staying
there at the hote, and offered to call her room for
me. It ended up that she invited me to her room, and
I was able to meet her, and she even gave me a slide
guitar lesson! Locally, Patti Thomas of Patti and
the Hitmen is one of my mentors. I also really like
Lisa Campbell! I had a high school teacher who taught
me some Blues scales, and I would play along with
songs I liked from Cream, SRV and others...I really
liked playing "Crossroads"
BN:
When did you start wanting to perform?
MN:
I'd been in a basement band in high school, but hadn't
really played out much. Some bands just wanted me
to play guitar and sit in the corner, and I didn't
want to. Now, with my band, we do the kind of music
I want, and I have a lot of musical freedom. As a
songwriter, I want to get better and better, to keep
writing & performing more originals.My family is very
supportive of my music. My Mom Judy goes to all my
gigs, she's my biggest fan. Both my mom and dad really
support me. My aunt Joan comes out often...I'm getting
a nice little following! My Grandma Norma was a big
influence on me. She loved to dance, I remember her
doing the Jitterbug and the Imperial. She used to
listen to Fats Domino and Elvis, and she even let
Ed Putney (of Eddies guitars) and his band practice
in her basement.
BN:
Is your music a full-time venture for you?
MN:
No, I work nights at Chrysler on the assembly line.
I've been doing that for 6 years, building minivans.
I plan on playing out more, really love playing down
in Soulard. I
want to give Blues more exposure, so I'm playing at
places like Mike & Mins, Hammerstones, BB's,
Generations,
and The Broadway
Oyster Bar.
BN:
How long have you been with your current band?
MN:
I've been with this band for 2 years. I'd love to
take this band on the road someday!
BN:
Melissa, we hope you achieve all your dreams. Thanks
for taking time out to give this interview.
MN:
You're welcome!
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