Cristen Grey and the Moving Dunes: Press

Somewhere there is a land, far, far away where women who play straight ahead rock, tell it like it is and sing with a certain emotional catch in their throat can perform and not constantly be compared to Alanis Morissette, Heart, and/or Melissa Etheridge. Sadly that land is not called "Santa Fe". But that seems to be ok with Cristen Grey, who barrels fearlessly through her original songs in front t of a floor full of (mainly) woman. She claims to be angry, but her songs exhibit the masterful composition of someone fully in control. And of course, the comparisons to las Morissette, Wilson and Etheridge flow like, well you oughtta know...

With a voice that's strong and sometimes haunting around the edges...grey describes as a combination of pop, rock and angry folk-angry being the operative word-although she didn't sound angry when she called to clue me in to what she was up to. When she showed up at my door the next day to deliver her latest recording (Just a little reminder) she was delightfully unpretentious, with out a trace of anger. I guessed she saved the angry persona for the music. If I were still doing radio, I'd toss the recording on the cd player so you could check her out on the airwaves. As I listened, I could hear an intensity, as well as an intention, in her voice-and her band sounds fab, with Brian Widger on guitars and backing vocals, Jose Romero on electric bass and Charis Hurst on drums.

Telling Cristen Grey she can't do something is like putting dried-out wood on a fire. Just ask the Albuquerque musicians she grew up with. They would tell her "You play well...for a girl," and give her an acoustic guitar when she wanted to play lead. Despite these local naysayers, Grey continued to develop her skills until she was playing lead for the nationally touring band All Eyes. These days, fronting her own band, Grey now performs select shows around Santa Fe and doesn't have to prove her skills anyone. "People would freak because I would hold my own against whoever else was playing," she says with an I-told-you-so smile. Her face lights up when she explains that she plays Paul Reed Smith guitars-a very high-end instrument, considered by some better than those made by Les Paul, not only because "they play like butter," but also because guitar legend Carlos Santana prefers them. After years of proving herself, Grey clearly has earned the right to call her band Cristen Grey and the Moving Dunes. Vocalist and lead guitarist, Grey also composes, arranges, engineers and produces her recordings. She even manages booking and publicity for live performances. Grey had the luxury of fronting a solid band. She has worked with backup vocalist Deborah Martinez for more than 15 years. Brian Widger plays a sweet rhythm/lead guitar and assists with Grey's arrangements. Bassist James Griego and drummer Gabe Vigil add a tight rhythm section. Grey named the Moving Dunes after the phenomenon of the sand in the Sahara Desert-when it rubs together in the wind, it produces a humming sound. As it so happens, both the band and the desert sand prefer the keys of G and D. Considering Grey's varied repertoire, it's not a surprise that her influences range from Joni Mitchell to Metalica. The Albuquerque-born musician comes from a metal background and spent years opening for bands like Motley Crue and Poison. She now compares her music to Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette. Grey is currently working on the follow-up to her debut album (Just a Little Reminder), which she plans to finish by the end of the year. "True success is to be able to get to that point where I can convey what's inside you and me truthfully," she said. "And also [to] make a comfortable living doing what I love to do." Currently working a day job, Grey aims to be a fulltime musician. Try telling her she can't make it, and you would just be feeding the fire. CW