DESCRIPTION:
You can tell a lot about a performer by the way they take the stage before a performance. Miss Tess and her band The Talkbacks exude a confidence that comes along with proficiency and authenticity. Tess is the real deal...a terrific guitarist, singer and songwriter with a solid stage presence. Her music is an old-school throwback with a modern twist on the traditions of Western and jazz Swing, Bakersfield twang, rockabilly and southern soul. That suits lead guitar player Thomas Bryan Eaton just fine as he's got a pulse on all of the appropriate styles. The rhythm section of Nic Wiles and Geoff Henderson were along for the ride on this show but seemed like they'd been there for years. Tess hovered just behind the melody and jumped it like a young female version of Charlie Christian...she's trained as a jazz guitarist and it comes across with bold, vibrant flair. This is a band to be reckoned with on many levels.