1-4 band members, depending on venue. Lara (guitar/vocals), Michael Benson (percussion), Tim Murphy or Gary Kristoph (bass), and assorted fantastic guest band members Joe Beck (guitar), Pierce Campbell (mandolin, guitar) or Paul Neri (guitar).
Influences
Too many to accurately list, but including: Shawn Colvin, James Taylor, Cheryl Wheeler, Ruben Blades, Victor Borge, Dar Williams, Tracy Chapman, Phil Collins, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Kris Delmhorst, Melissa Etheridge, Michael Franti, Peter Gabriel, Vance Gilbert, John Gorka, Don Henley, Elton John, Jennifer Kimball, Bobby McFerrin, Joan Osborne, Ellis Paul, Livingston Taylor, Jimmy Buffett...
Sounds Like
Lara Herscovitch is above and beyond the pack… her voice remains a constant plus, clear and smooth like expensive liquor. -Northeast Performer
Nothing is forced with this sincere performer… incredible objectivity, honesty and imaginative storytelling. Her voice and instrument are beautiful and are guided by her accomplished songwriting. -Indie-Music.com
one hell of a find. -New Haven Advocate
pure musical poetry. -the Courier
Juror Number 13 is among the best folk releases of this year and possibly many years past. –Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange
wonderful voice and delectable six string picking… Fresh and invigorating. -Music Morsels
the more you listen, the more you will like what she does. -Green Man Review
Herscovitch's voice is great. It's crystal clear and soothing... immediately charming and the lyrics, well, funny, smart, clever, etc. Great... interesting and unique. -Collected Sounds: A Guide to Women in Music
perfect wordcrafting. –New Haven Advocate
Lara live at the Huntington Folk Festival, Acoustic Live! showcase (acousticlive.com), August 2007, Huntington NY:
Lara Herscovitch is a unique and charismatic singer and songwriter: her original music is a skillful blend of acoustic/folk flavored witih pop, and at various times blues, jazz and Latin styles. Her songs are smart, poetic and witty, and 'masterfully' (womenfolk.net) merge soulful melodies with 'perfect wordcrafting' (New Haven Advocate) and 'keen intelligence' (The Chronicle). 'Fresh and invigorating' (Music Morsels); in sum, she is 'one hell of a find' (New Haven Advocate).
She is 'a remarkable performer' (WSHU Public Radio), 'sings with a voice clear and smooth like expensive liquor' (Northeast Performer), and 'whether complemented by her band or going solo, Lara charms her audience with warmth and humor' (Rhapsody In Brew). Always engaging with a wide variety of audiences, she tours solo and with her band.
Where She’s Been
“Herscovitch is doing a fine job of building up a rabid fanbase” (smother.net) – she has played along the East coast from Vermont/New Hampshire to Florida/Louisiana, at notable venues including the Bitter End, CBGBs Lounge, Towne Crier, Acoustic Café, International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Connecticut Folk Festival, Music for a Change (U. Hartford), WUWF (FL), Fredricksburg (VA) Songwriter Showcase, Tulip Festival (Albany NY), and Huntington Folk Festival (NY) (detailed venue list available). She has opened for John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, Vance Gilbert, Ellis Paul, Aztec Two-Step, Eric Anderson, and David Roth (Patty Larkin upcoming), and has shared the stage with Joe Beck, Sloan Wainwright, Mustard’s Retreat, and Radoslav Lorkovic, among many others.
the Person
Lara was raised in New York and lives in Connecticut. She narrowly escaped law school, and trained instead as a macro social worker. She has worked in the US, Latin America and Asia, on behalf of disadvantaged individuals – focusing on education, community development, human services, and the environment. Designed as a socially responsible company in keeping with her spirit, Herscovitch’s la Rama Records (“the branch”) uses recycled products and donates a percentage of CD sales to nonprofit environmental organizations.
Awards etc.
*New England Foundation for the Arts / New England States Touring (NEST) and Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism Performing Artist Roster member
*Plowshares Singer-Songwriter Contest Finalist 2007
*Unisong International Songwriting Contest Finalist 2007 (2006: 2 Honorable Mentions)
*Solarfest Singer-Songwriter Competition Finalist 2007 & 2006
*John Lennon Songwriting Contest Winner 2006
*Billboard World Song Contest 3 Honorable Mentions 2006
Thanks for bringing me into your musical domain, Lara. Your onstage energy is infectious, and Juror Number 13 is one strong album. I love the variety. See you soon I hope.
Congratulations! Your song "Sylvia's Eyes" won an honorable mention at this years Woody Guthrie Festival. I was really glad to see your name listed. I throughly enjoy listening to your songs. I look forward to seeing you at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.
Lara, congrats on Telluride! I was SO excited to see your name on the list. I finally listened to your CD on my way out to Tucson earlier this month, and I was so impressed. Your voice is SO true and always right-on and pure and perfect (what pitch and tone!), and also sounds exactly like you--smart! (if that makes sense!) Beautiful. I could listen to you sing forever. And I love the writing too. "The Day The Jury Got Away" cracked me up. I kept meaning to write and tell you all this, and then there you were in the Telluride Finalists! Woo-hoo! I'm spending 5 weeks in Tucson (am in the middle of it)--more on that later. Just wanted to say congrats, you SO deserve it and I hope to see you at Song School again! Robyn
Hey.. How have you been? Want to hang out at Kerrville again? I bet they'll have bracelet shops. We will be there for Newfolk.. hangin for the weekend. Hope we get to see you Mwah Michelle
Hi Lara, Long time since I heard from you. I hope all is well. I would like to take this opportunity to say hello. I wish you and your family a blessing Easter. Hugs**
Thought I would share this lovely song with you...
We are Sons of Westwood And we hail to Blue and Gold True to thee our hearts will be Our love will not grow old, FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! Bruins roam the hills of Westwood By the blue Pacific shores And if we chance to see A man from USC Every Bruin starts to roar. U...C...L...A... UCLA, fight, fight, fight! (repeat verse)
I am starting to feel bad about having my name as UCONN girl. I think I may have jinxed them. You gave me a complex...
I might have to change my name now so I have to think of something catchy that incorporates UCLA in it somehow. And while I'm at it, I should write a letter of apology to Jim Calhoun.
aye how things going? your page is looking slick! anyhow, i just got some awesome new tones from www.hottones.info for FREE! they have the sweetest stuff!
Thanks for being an important part of our 2008 Folk Alliance Showcase Room! Your performance was great, and we hope it was as much fun for you as it was for us and the audience.
Michael & Brenda, Creative Moondance Treasures, Inc.
