The Big Apple hosts thousands of young aspiring wanna-be's hawking their talents and looking for the next big break. One shining light in a city full of flickers is Paris Hampton.
Hampton is a singer, backed by Robert "Chicken" Burke on drums, Jeff Allen on bass, Miche Fambro on guitars, and possibly the best known member of the band, Tim Bright, also on guitars.
Outside of the New York City area, music fans might notice Bright's contribution on Lisa Loeb's Tails disc as a member of her backing band 9 Stories. And, there in the "Thank Yous", lies Paris Hampton's name. It's a small world...
With the connection to Lisa Loeb, it's not surprising that the music bears more than a passing similarity to that on Tails. But while Tails sticks to a specific genre of music, Ms. Hampton ventures out and touches more bases - an alternative bluesy sort of feel encompasses her performance.
Hampton, who has been collaborating on material with Bright since March, has only had a few shows under her belt but has already drawn the attention of several major label representatives. The lilting, airy sound which emanates from each song blends well with Hampton's vocals to produce music which comes from the heart and soul. Highlights of the evening include the drifty opening song "Moonshine" and "Broken Glass", which has all the makings of a top 10 hit - a haunting, memorable hook leaving the listener yearning for more - without sacrificing that magical quality known as integrity.
Immediate comparisons that leap to mind are Joan Osborne and Tori Amos, sans piano. For now, Paris Hampton will have to settle being compared to other performers. With continued live performances like these, it won't be long until other artists are being compared to her.
