Richey and Kimbrough light it up at Larry's

Taylor Rau
DM Staff Writer

Prepare, Oxford. Tonight Proud Larry's will host the music and performances of Will Kimbrough and Kim Richey, two of today's rising stars. From Nashville, Tenn., a.k.a. Music City, to our beloved Oxford, their talent will continue to entertain.

"We're really lucky to have both these artists playing here," said Spencer Campbell, the talent buyer for Proud Larry's. "It's great to see artists like these in a small venue."

And artists they are. Kim Richey, now nationally acclaimed, has recently released her much-anticipated third album, "Glimmer," to critical praise. With an eclectic combination of country, jazz, and perhaps even a hint of blues, she has made her mark in the music industry. Richard Corliss of Time magazine described her "as having a country voice - as singer and songwriter - worth spending time with; a mind worth creeping into and curling up in for an extended stay."

Before making her debut as a singer, Richey had an extensive background as a songwriter, which would explain the fact that she helped to co-write at least 14 of the tracks on her latest album. Her voice has been described as subtly assertive, less country twang than cool jazz, and captivating. Equally as captivating are the lyrics to the songs that Richey sings. She speaks of love, of the precarious balance between whining and wisdom, and of the numerous ups and downs that life has to offer. The tone of her music, introspective and at times cynical, carries with it a soothing bite that will echo in the listener's head long after the amplifiers have gone silent.

"When I work on a record, I hear the songs a certain way in my head and the challenge is to have them come across that way to the listener," Richey said in a press release from Mercury Records in Nashville. " I've been lucky to work with some great producers, but with Hugh, the songs found that 'magic place' where others get to hear them the same way that I do." "Hugh," is record producer Hugh Padgham, who got together with Richey in New York and London to produce Glimmer.

Meet Will Kimbrough, a man described by Waxysilver Record Co. as one of the best guitarists in the history of rock and roll. Perhaps he needs no introduction. Kimbrough brought his music to life on the strings of his guitar through the '80s and '90s, playing with some of the hottest acts in alternative-country and rock; he was most notably the guitarist in the legendary Todd Snider and the Nervous Wrecks. More recently, Kimbrough has toured on the road Matthew Ryan, Josh Rouse, Allison Moorer, Garrison Starr and, one will see, Kim Richey.

This -- Kimbrough's first solo album release -- has been pleasing the critics with its variety of pop and blues. And, while his record company is far from unbiased, some describe his guitar playing on this as "stellar." To lay out a sorry excuse for a pun, I guess this is his time to shine.

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to come out for the show, which begins at 9:30 p.m at Proud Larry's. Tickets are $7 and available at the door. For further information, call Proud Larry's at 236-0050.