July 2005

By Mark Rankin

Once upon a time there was a singer who wrote songs that included lyrics so personally attached to his mind, central nervous system, and body that he was horrified to sing these songs publicly... He did anyway and became a life long ''... wrangler of emotions...'' (Quote: Joe S. Harrington, The Edge, CBW, 2002)

In the Summer of 2001 I had just moved to Portland to share a home with my brother Dave. We partied this town down many a night... Ha! The memories... While Dave was on tour with 6gig, however, I found myself drawn to The Breakaway Lounge on my way home alone one hot night. I walked in to find The Maine Songwriters Showcase. The Maine Songwriters Association (MSA) was then in its infancy of 30 or so members. I like all kinds of music and wanted to check this out. I wanted to play too, having performed up and down the east coast of the U.S. over a twenty-three year span and being a Maine Native, I felt I might have found a place to hang my hat.

It was then as I ordered a beer that a young pretty woman stepped up on the stage and greeted her audience," ...I'm Abi Tapia, and this is The Maine Songwriters Showcase...'' She went on to explain that the event was a weekly happening put on by MSA and included all local singer songwriters and all original music. She started her set with Back to Back, and then with a liberating song, Calamine Lotion, that included the line," I've got a bullet here for you to bite..." These lyrics were so intimately personal I bought her CD straight-away and have enjoyed it ever since. Great talent in expressing music and clever lyrical content.

Now Hailing from Austin, Texas Abi Tapia is undoubtedly part of one of the richest music scenes in the world. She travels nationally still, and landed in Portland in June to play a show at Acoustic Coffee on Danforth St. for an MSA Showcase (Abi will always be considered local). She's still absolutely terrific.

Abi Tapia's new fully and tastefully produced CD, One Foot Out the Door is now released and available at Bull Moose Music, CD Baby, and at her site, abitapia.com. I'm unwrapping the CD... hehehe...the package is of big label quality and is hard to unwrap... rrrrrrrrrrrrr!...there!(relief)... the plastic wrapper hits the floor( this is better than sex! hmmmmm....well ...?) The CD is in the player! (The anticipation is making me crazy!)

Ah, sweet acoustic guitar that has obviously been produced by experienced hands and ears (Chris Cage at Moonhouse Studio for production, and Jim Wilson of Yes Mastering, both hailing from Austin Texas). Tapia sings, " I think Love is like employment at will/ anyone can leave at any time for any reason/when I said I quit I guess what I meant was/ I want a raise and another weeks vacation." and the chorus," I cried wolf you came runnin' I knew you cared for me..." Cried Wolf is a work to be enjoyed by listeners everywhere. The music on this song is of the best of quality... WOW!

Music lovers, you just have to hear these strong backbeats and melodies. Nothin' To Hold Me Down is a solid tune as well and speaks of Tapia's love of the road, and to hell with the run down house, life, and general confines most people conform to one way or another,"... I just like the feeling of drivin' to some place unknown where there's nothin' to hold me down." Iowa slows things down, and that's always a perfect moment for Tapia to use her pipes to blow the listener away... Where was I? Big Front Porch is Tapia beholding to a dreamer that spends the late afternoons with sunsets, stories, and music... Happiness. Then, Calamine Lotion, "I am here with my calamine lotion/you are there with your broken heart..."Later, the chorus," Baby, listen to me to me/ I know it's going to be all right/ You are strong despite the fact/ that you never learned how to fight/ I've got a bullet here for you to bite." What an intellectual approach to express the idea. Tapia really puts it out there with no shortness of cleverness. For a While is an example of the thematic rambling recurrences as Tapia's restless side moves this awesome tune into reality. Selective Memory is a song of dealing with hurt. The Way to My Heart is a cupid's arrow thing, and Hand Over Your Heart is confrontational. A girl can only take so much and the scene takes place in a bar. Tapia's character has been in a relationship with the bar tender and wants an answer... Now! " ... She fired off 2 more shots (whiskey no doubt)/ and told them all to get on the floor... Hand over you heart and no one gets hurt..." Drive Away, and Lone Star are Break up songs. Somewhere to Go speaks of her home. "...Got no devil tryin' to make me a deal... " Chorus," So come on inside I've got nothin to hide but I don't have much to show/ What there is to be seen it ain't pretty it ain't clean/ I'll admit that I've started slow/ But at least I've got some place to go.

''August 13th, at Acoustic Coffee, Abi Tapia comes back home again as part of her national tour (that never seems to end).
Thank you Abi Tapia for your inspiring dedication and talent from the,'' wrangler of emotions'' (aka Mahhhk!). One Foot Out the Door blows my hat completely off!