Quick Hit Artist Interview: Leggy Peggy

Leggy Peggy at The Hi Hat

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

Is there a story behind when you knew you wanted to become a musician? I grew up singing my whole life, but what made me peruse learning how to play guitar was when I was hit by a car on my bicycle when I was 21 years old. I suffered from numerous injuries. A broken jaw, 7 shifted disks in my spine and a broken left hand in 3 places. It was while recovering that I made a list of all the things I wanted to learn to do using my hands, if by chance I had lost all ability to use them. First thing on that list was to learn how to play guitar. And I just simply was enamored. Now the rest is history!

What’s your favorite gig/set/tour memory? I have a few, but I would have to say any show when family and friends surprise me and fill a room with love is just the greatest. Also, any show that I have had outside truly moves me. Once I played a house festival in Auburn, CA on a stage that was built between two giant red wood trees. It was over 5 feet high and I think about that gig often.

Own Q&A. I’ll ask myself where I get my inspiration for most of my songs? I am moved to write based on real life moments. Whether it be from a specific incident in which a loved one has passed away, love gone right or wrong, my family, believing in yourself or the messed-up world due to the messed-up government in America and throughout the world.

 I was taught how to play guitar initially from a good friend I met in Venice Beach, CA. Caesar “Cheech” as everyone called him. He was from Peru and his English was amazing. But I’d find him asking what some words meant. I used to write very specific to what the song was about then I found myself using words with double meanings.

 I like my songs to have an open interpretation to apply to many different situations in life. What a song I’ve written may mean to me may have a totally different meaning to someone listening, living in a different place but being able to apply a sentence to something on their mind.

Those are the kind of songs I like to listen to, so I do my best to make each song applicable to many situations.

 As life is what you make of it.

Wild Riot in the afternoon/The Hi Hat in the evening

It was off to Wild Riot's Summer Sessions. I've learned, after going to the prior week's version, that the Summer Sessions is all about music genre mashup. On this specific afternoon you had The Millennial Club and The Colour Coast who bring the indie grooves. Sherif Serag and the Time Travelers and Glam Skanks pumped up the volume.

Weather. So it wasn't as hot as the previously Summer Sessions. Hot, but manageable.

Interesting occurrence. If someone was to blow the electricity, you'd think it would be either Sherif Serag and the Time Travelers or Glam Skanks. Nope, it was the indie grooves of The Millennial Club that blew the electricity. Luckily, Wild Riot was able to find another electric outlet that was working. It just happened to be in a corner that was furthest from the stage. Who says that Wild Riot doesn't come prepared. They brought out multiple electrical extensions and had things up and running in no time.

The Millennial Club

Couldn't help but notice: The Colour Coast was a total family affair. Wives/girlfriends/children. It was a big family affair. Funny moment was when the bassist started to look and play in my direction. I noticed him indicating with his eyes. I looked over to my right and his daughter had a smart phone in her hand. He was obviously wanting her to take a cool picture. I think she was feeling intimidated, because she made no move to take a photo, instead looking a touch shy.

The Colour Coast

You've got to notice fashion choices sometimes. For Sherif Serag and the Time Travelers, we have a 4 member band. Three of the band members were in all black: pants/shirts. One band members decided to go against it all. He wore black pants, but went with a Hawaiian t-shift. And there was a nice wind blowing that brought in the cool air. It blew just enough to bring down the Wild Riot signage that was set against the wall behind the drummer. For the last few moments of the set, the drummer picked it up and put it over his head to show that this was a Wild Riot event. Amusing.

Sherif Serag and the Time Travelers

Sometimes you run into a musician once every 3 years. The bassist for Glam Skanks looked incredibly familiar. I couldn't for the life of me place it. I had to do a little snooping. I went to her Instagram page and noticed only two similar connections. From there, it wasn't difficult to figure out. I'd seen her once before at Hotel Cafe, playing in a band called Spectacular Spectacular. One of my other connections (friend) was playing back-up during that specific night.

Glam Skanks

In the evening, it was off to The Hi Hat. More than a couple weeks had passed since my last stop at The Hi Hat. It was time to return. Leggy Peggy was having an EP release and brought the Americana sounds to the venue. Boots, cowboy highs, Western style skirts. And there was a song, I believe, titled "New Mexico." With that all, it was a singer with her guitar and raspy vocals.

Leggy Peggy

Opening up was The Terns. Per Hannah (Leggy Peggy) it was a family affair as her brother is the drummer for this band.

The Terns