By Eleni P. Austin
Rosie Flores is returning to Pappy & Harriet’s in July. The celebrated singer-songwriter has been earning her keep as a musician for more than 40 years. A native of San Antonio, Texas, she moved to Southern California during her teens and began fronting her own band, Rosie & The Screamers. After relocating to L.A., she joined The Screamin’ Sirens, the all-girl five-piece were one of the first bands to blur the lines between Country, Rockabilly and Punk. By the late ‘80s she embarked on a solo career. Throughout the years she has steadily released a series of critically acclaimed albums that served up a potent combo-platter of Rockabilly, Blues, Western Swing, Country, Jazz and Roadhouse Rock & Roll. She is currently signed to the Americana indie label, Mule Kick. She has been a headliner at Pappy’s since the venerable venue’s earliest days. She was kind enough to answer a few burning questions.
Eleni Austin: Rosie, you’re originally from Texas, but you came of age in California. Do you remember what your earliest musical inspiration, or influence was?
Rosie Flores: My earliest musical inspiration came from watching television, the evening musical variety shows. I remember seeing Brenda Lee sing and thought she was the best singer in the world. Also, there was so much great music on the radio, which was constantly playing in our kitchen. So, there was music around me day and might. I took it all in so easily. I actually started recording little sessions with my dad at the kitchen table as early as six years old. One of those recordings can be heard at the end of my Rockabilly Filly CD (Hightone Records, 1995). It’s a bonus track, so you have to wait a little bit before it comes on. I also grew up listening to a lot of Jazz standards, and those songs always stayed with me. So, now I have The Blue Moon Jazz combo that I sing with too. I just love music and it really does come from my early childhood, I believe.
Eleni: Your earliest bands, Rosie & The Screamers, and later The Screamin’ Sirens were both a potent amalgam of Country and Punk. What was the impetus for marrying those two wildly disparate genres? Additionally, what were your favorite Punk bands or Country artists during that era?
Rosie: Rosie And The Screamers were a Country Rock band like Gram Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers. We had a Psychedelic edge to us. There was also a jam factor going on! The musicians were phenomenal players. Guitarist Lee Barnes quit too early, sadly, because of drugs. But he should have been on the cover of Guitar Player magazine, he was that good. When I moved to L.A. from San Diego county, I started playing more Country. Writing my own songs, looking for a writing deal. But then I fell in love with Rockabilly and Rock & Roll and then Punk! So, when I heard the Screamin’ Sirens, the all-girl Cow Punk band was looking for a lead guitar player, I showed up and joined the band immediately. Consequently, I spent several years in the L.A. Punk scene, touring all the way to New York City and back. I loved playing with those girls so much. But it wasn’t exactly where I saw myself ending up. I wanted my own ban Punk favorites include X, Fear, The Ramones, Social Distortion, Hickoids, The Runaways and Fishbone. In the Country genre I loved Rank N’ File, Lone Justice, The Blasters, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, George Jones and Gary Stewart.
Eleni: I know you have some new music in the works, The Talismen and The Blue Moon Jazz Quartet. Can you tell me a bit about each project and when they will be released?
Rosie: The Talismen record is in the works now with producer Ed Stasium, who is best known for producing The Ramones. He also engineered Brook Benton’s “A Rainy Night In Georgia,” which is about to be released with a new mix. He’s a great guy to work in the studio with. Most recently, he worked with The Smithereens and also my friends, The Long Ryders, and so many others. So, we’re all excited about the new music. I’m not sure when it’s going to be released, let’s hope in the fall! Also, recording time is being spent on the Blue Moon Jazz Quartet album. We hope to have that out in late Summer. There are a couple of originals, but mostly rearranged standards. I’m very excited about both kinds of music, and thankfully, my fans are liking both sides of me.
Eleni: You have collaborated with a plethora of cool artists throughout the years, Dwight Yoakam, Janis Martin, Ray Campi, Wanda Jackson, Jon Langford of the Mekons and James Intveld (to name a few). Any other musicians you want to make new music with these days? Do you have like, a wish list?
Rosie: Earl Slick, who was the guitarist in David Bowie’s band and played on several John Lennon records. I’d love to collaborate with him.
Eleni: Finally, you’re returning to Pappy & Harriet’s on July 14.I know you have been performing there forever. Do you remember the very first time you played there? Was it when Pappy and Harriet owned it? Or later, when Robyn Celia and Linda Krantz turned it into a world-class venue?
Rosie: I began playing at Pappy & Harriet’s in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s. My L.A. band, Rosie Flores And The Bad Boys. The band included James Intveld, Greg Liesz, Donald Lindley and Dusty Wakeman, who was the owner of the Rimrock Ranch at the time. Jim Lauderdale sang with me on the record we made during that era. We played Pappy’s for four consecutive nights and stayed at the motel there. Pappy invited me to have coffee and donuts with him and his old pals! He and Harriet were both amazing singers, so, they would pop onstage with us and the crowd just loved it. They were so generous with our band and invited us to play there as often as we could. We were a part of the family back then, it brings a tear to my eyes. It was a saving grace when Robyn and Linda took over. They kept the place going and put some real money into maintaining it and growing it into the venue it is now. Many of us long for the simple days, but progress made it an amazing venue for the whole world to appreciate. It’s world famous now!
Rosie Flores with special guests Nocona, Friday, July 14, 2023.
Pappy & Harriet’s Indoor Stage.
Doors Open 8:30pm/ Show 9:30
Pappy & Harriet’s 53688 Pioneertown Rd. Pioneertown, Ca. 92268
