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Recent article about Stephanie and LOTC in the Pioneer Press: Local Ladies Honor Great Ladies
LILLI KUZMA Published: December 13, 2007

"Pouring music down the canyon/Coloring the sunshine hours/They are the ladies of the canyon." -- Joni Mitchell, Ladies of the Canyon (1970)
Those last three lines of the title track to Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit album also describe the popular local tribute band of the same name. Based in the flat Midwest, the four "Ladies of the Canyon," Stephanie Rogers, Ingrid Graudins, Becca Kaufman, and Kim Frost, are very talented women who have poured music and good times on audiences since 2002, performing well-received tributes to great female singer-songwriters. Beginning with Joni Mitchell, the group has also created tribute shows to Sade, Blondie, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), and Kate Bush. The group began as a reaction to the Tributosaurus shows at Martyr's in Chicago. Remember the ladies - Realizing that the Tributosarus shows were all about male artists, recalled Rogers, "someone said, "let's do this for the chicks!" Rogers and the other ladies are all very accomplished performers, involved in various solo projects and engagements in addition to this tribute band.

Rogers, for one, has released 2 CDs on her own label, Hipchick Records, and her music was recently featured on WBEZ's "Eight Forty-Eight" show. Her background also includes acting in numerous commercials, and some television and movies, including the TV series, "Stephen King's Golden Years," and a Chuck Norris movie, "The Hit Man." Rogers, a friendly and humorous conversationalist, opined: "Some day I will go back to acting, and redeem myself for having a Chuck Norris movie as my best credit on my movie resume!"

Local color

A Chicago area native, Rogers recalled when she moved back to the suburbs from the city: "I couldn't believe I was moving back to the suburbs, so I dyed my hair purple in retaliation. It was (like that) for about four months. I'm like a hurricane in this town, but people are so nice to me, and even come to my shows." Rogers noted that her husband is much more "normal" and is her biggest fan noting that "he knows that (I'm his) only tie to true eccentricity."
Rogers looks forward to the show at the newly updated Wilmette Theatre, where the co-owners, Sam Samuelson and Carole Dibo, return the compliment. "We're excited about this show. It will be the largest concert we've had so far, from the stand-point of how many musicians there will be on the stage," he said. In addition to the four vocalists, the show includes four to five instrumentalists, and guest vocalist, Jim Fine.
This program is exactly the sort of show Samuelson hopes to have more of. "For live shows, we have a cool room with a good vibe, terrific audiences," he said. "We want to be the place where the insiders want to play, the favored little chestnut."

LADIES OF THE CANYON
With special guest, Jim Hines. Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette. 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17. $20, students and seniors $15. (847) 251-7424. www.wilmettetheatre.com
Copyright 2007, Wilmette Life, Pioneer Press. All rights reserved. REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED.

More reviews: Sonicbids

COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS:

"Your show was wonderful. I cried. I laughed. I rocked-n-rolled. Your writing and singing are amazing." Karee W.

"Steph-
You ROCK!!!!
(I can’t believe how much you rock, really!)
I could go on and on about your fabulousness and talent, but suffice it to say…
Thank you. We had a really great time, and think you are very talented.
Phoebe"

Love a CD with smart lyrics and crafty tunes!
Stephanie has a near perfect voice that she uses to belt and whisper this genre crashing array of songs. Some of it is comforting in its familiarity, some more fresh; and it's all thoughtful and provocative.
  - Amazon.com

"I'm just sitting here listening to your beautiful CD, jeez but I do love it."
  -recording artist David Clement

"Steph...you should be very proud of your CD...it sounds great...the songs all work and you're in great voice."
  - Waterbug recording artist Bruce Roper

"Hey Steph, The CD sounds great!!!! Great production, Great songs, Great Vocals. Hey those guys Danny and Scott did pretty good too!! Let me know when we can schedule a show at Uncommon Ground with you."
  - Uncommon Ground producer Michael Cameron

"You made the party. Completely and thoroughly. Loved you, your band members, your sound guy... just the whole wonderful deal. Several people came up to us and said that this was the best party and the best band they've ever heard. Lucky us." Carol F.

"Girl I have listened to all the tracks available on CDbaby and they are great!!"
  - Producer John Griffin

"You totally rock, and the guys are great!" Peggy K.

I LOVED your Wurlitzer playing. In fact, whatever the first song I saw you play on it...... I was a little late, 9pm arrival, but that first song I saw you on the Wurlitzer was my personal favororite. It was kinda mellow and all too short, but just got in me like a Joni song. Lovely. And, DAMN, I love the Wurlitzer..." Charlie S.