Amanda Shaw is only 16, but she’s been a professional musician, band leader, actress, and singer for more than half of her life. She started on classical violin when she was four and had her concert debut with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra when she was only eight, the youngest soloist to ever play with the orchestra. Living in New Orleans with progressive parents, she was going to folk, rock, blues, jazz, and Cajun shows while she was still a kid. Shortly after her Symphony debut, she decided she wanted to try fiddling as well as serious violin playing. She sat in with jazz, blues, and Cajun bands and learned how to play by ear.

Pretty Runs Out is eclectic as all get out with funk, rock, Americana, Cajun, country, and pop influences. Every tune is neatly arranged and tightly played, with Shaw’s surprisingly mature vocals and fiddle mixed up front. The album opens with the title track, a Cajun-influenced country tune that Shaw co-wrote with Jim McCormick, a New Orleans based country singer-songwriter. Shaw delivers the sassy lyrics like an old pro—you can easily imagine it being a hit for, say, Faith Hill—and the Cute Guys supply a solid country rock groove. “Brick Wall” is a New Orleans funk tune with a sultry horn chart. Shaw trades lively solos with “Trombone Shorty” Edwards, while Brint Anderson’s lead guitar is as smoky as a Saturday night BBQ. “I Don't Want to Be Your Friend”, once recorded by Cyndi Lauper, gets transformed into a country Cajun tune with an impressively mature vocal from Shaw that’s remarkably soulful. “Woulda Coulda Shoulda”, a favorite Lauper catch phrase, is the hook line of the tune of the same name, a rocker Shaw wrote with the Cute Guys. Anderson turns in another fine solo and Shaw follows it with a jazzy country excursion of her own. On the instrumental tracks, like the medley of “The Gaspé Reel/Sam’s Slammer/Imogen’s Rudge”, Shaw tears it up with economical solos that show off her ability to slip from Cajun to Celtic to jazz-influenced playing without overindulging in flashy technique.

Shaw also lacks the “ick” factor of many other precocious talents. Pretty Runs Out is marked by her down-to-earth presence, powerfully understated vocals, and terrific musicianship. This is one hell of a debut.

Track List:

01 - Pretty Runs Out
02 - Chirmolito
03 - French Jig
04 - Brick Wall
05 - I Don't Want To Be Your Friend
06 - Garden Of Eden
07 - What's Wrong With You
08 - McGees Medley
09 - Wishing Me Away
10 - Gone
11 - Woulda Coulda Shoulda
12 - Reels - The Gaspe Reel, Sam's Slammer, Imogen's Ridge
13 - Easy On Your Way Out

Download includes front cover