Lisa Lim: Press

"Checkout the link for this article promoting an upcoming show with Comedian R. Bruce & The Lisa Lim Band at The Loft.">> THE LISA LIM BAND JOINS COMEDIAN R. BRUCE AT THE LOFT IN FREDERICKSBURG 'TOO MUCH BUTT' WITH R. BRUCE

>> LOCAL BLUES-ROCKER PICKS UP SPEED WITH HER DEBUT CD AND SEVERAL PLANNED PERFORMANCES GUITARIST LISA LIM REVVING UP
Blues guitarist Lisa Lim kicks into high gear

Date published: 2/28/2008


BY BEN SELLERS


As a woman, there are some songs blues singer Lisa Lim would prefer avoid.

"I feel a little awkward doing Mustang Sally," said the local musician and guitar teacher.

As a performer, though, she's always willing to indulge her audience. "You're gonna have those few people in a crowd who just aren't gonna be satisfied unless you do that song," said Lim.

"In Fredericksburg, you kind of deal with that mentality a little bit, depending on the venue. Someone's always gonna scream 'Skynyrd,' 'Wilson Pickett.' I worked with a blues version of 'Sweet Home Alabama.' I don't do it all the time, but if someone screams 'Skynyrd,' I'll break out with that. I try to be careful how I approach it, because I still want to put my own spin and twist to it, but I try to be respectful."

For traditionally male-sung tunes, such as The Commitments' "Treat Her Right," Lim will often adapt the lyrics to reflect a woman's standpoint. "I always introduce it as 'Treat Him Right,'" she said.

Word changes aside, Lim said it has at times been an uphill struggle proving herself in the male-dominated blues-guitar world. "I think a lot of female musicians experience that," she said.

"For me, it's always been, I grew up with the boys playing--they were accepting of me, of what I could do, and they encouraged me--but they kept it challenging."

However, "I can't really say anything negative toward the guys that I've worked with," she added. "They've been incredibly supportive."

One such supporter was Billy "Doo Dah" Robinson. Lim met Robinson at the 2005 Blues in the 'Burg festival downtown, and kept in touch until his death Dec. 30 last year.

"You couldn't help but like him," said Lim. "He was just such a decent, kind man--and he was just a huge blues enthusiast. He was always throwing stuff my way and trying to turn me on to blues artists that he thought I may not be familiar with."

That same year, Lim, a longtime instructor at Picker's Supply, left to launch her own business, Lim's Music.

"Picker's Supply is a family to me, and they will always be my family," she said " But I felt, at the time that I left, that it was time for me to make a change."

That change opened up the opportunity for her to work on her debut CD, "Crazy Feelin' This Way," released late last year. Lim recorded the album with an assortment of hand-picked musicians at Glenn Nicholls' newly opened Fun Studio off Harrison Road. "Glenn Nicholls welcomed me with open arms," said Lim. "There wasn't like a time line--he gave me as much time as I needed to go in and get it done."
Once again, Lim credited Robinson with introducing her to Fun Studio. "I give him a lot of credit for getting the recording done and finishing my CD--I just feel like he kind of put everything in motion for me," she said.

With a series of shows lined up, including one Saturday at The Grapevine Cafe and one next Thursday at The Loft (see this week's it! for details on a Loft show happening earlier that night), Lim's on her way.

In August, she plans to join in a benefit to help Robinson's widow with his medical expenses.

The event, which organizers plan to hold at The Pirates Den in Fairview Beach, will correspond with an alumni reunion at James Monroe High School, from which Robinson graduated. "It's gonna be a big celebration down there," said Lim.

"We're hoping, with it taking place the weekend of the class reunion, that the alumni will come down and partake in it."




Ben Sellers: 540/374-5423
Email: bsellers@freelancestar.com









What: Lisa Lim Blues Band does originals and classic covers Where: The Grapevine Cafe, 622 Kenmore Ave. When: Saturday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cost: Free Info: 540/371-8880 Web: grapevineva.com; lisalimmusic.com


Date published: 2/28/2008

Lisa is proud to announce she signed a two yr. endorsement deal with GHS strings. Check out www.ghsstrings.com
Lisa has been using GHS boomer strings on her guitars for the past two decades. She proudly endorses GHS strings.

Lisa Lim will be one of 20 Virginia artists on the upcoming Illumina Records 2007 Rocker's For Life Compilation promoting awareness and prevention against drunk driving.

Guitar women rule Posted by roboblogger Oct 24, 2006 | Permalink
Oct. 24, 2006 5:35 pm Local blues musicians Lisa Lim and Gaye Adegbalola have been interviewed for Sue Foley's upcoming book "Guitar Woman," which celebrates female guitarists in all genres of music.

Teacher picked in guitar contest finals.
Lisa Lim, a former Picker's Supply music instructor, won the local Guitarmageddon King of the Blues competition last week. Lim will now move on to the district competition in Rockville, Md.

Guitar Centers nationwide hosted the in-store finals on April 4. Other sponsors of the contest include Gibson, Levi's and Napster.

If Lim succeeds in the districts, she will advance to the regional finals in New York City and then to the grand finals, to be held this June in Chicago.

The grand prize winner will receive a one-year Gibson endorsement, a trip to Los Angeles to record with esteemed guitarist turned producer Pete Anderson and assorted prizes and shopping sprees.

For a local like Lim (or probably anybody, for that matter), this is a very big deal. But the Stafford County native is no stranger to music. She has been playing guitar along with many other instruments for 28 years, and once toured full-time with the band Real to Real.

Lim has taught music for the past 14 years at Picker's and at her newly formed company, Lim's Music. She is expecting to release a CD in the next year.

ZACK ZORN is a rising freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Who mentored your music career path
Post #13

Group: Members
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From: U.S., VA, Fredericksburg
Member No.: 13712

I don't really know...I certainly have my role models in the industry, not that I've meet any of them. My parents are fairly supportive. I guess most of the credit would have to go to my guitar teacher, Lisa Lim. She taught me how to play guitar, and I could always bring her songs, she'd basically give me some input, help me add guitar parts and jazz up existing parts. She's awesome. =D

Girls with Guitars
"Women Who Rock"
Before there were Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne, there was Lisa Brown of Fredericksburg.
Brown, who now goes by her married name, Lisa Lim, started playing classical piano when she was 7 years old, but she said she always had a desire to play the guitar.
"My mom has pictures of me at 3 or 4 years old with a toy guitar for kids," she said.
She began playing guitar at age 10.
Her piano instructor eventually told her she had to choose one instrument. So she dropped the piano and never looked back.
Since she knew no girls who played guitar at the time, Lim said she played with guys, who treated her like a sister.
After graduating from high school, Lim played with several all-girl bands, including one called the East Coast Crew.
One night while performing at a bar in Orange County, Lim said, her band's lead vocalist was punched in the face by one of the men in the audience because he couldn't accept females playing hard rock.
Lim now spends her time teaching guitar and piano at Picker's.
"As a guitar instructor, I noticed more female students coming in with an electric guitar and saying, 'I want to play, and I want to be the lead guitar player,'" she said. "It reminds me of when I was young."
But teaching men seemed to be a real obstacle, she said.
Some men couldn't accept a woman instructor. They were conditioned to believe that only men could play and teach the instrument.
Lim said there were times when she felt like she was auditioning for them instead of the other way around.
James Fore, one of Lim's students, said he isn't surprised.
The 40-year-old Culpeper resident said because rock music is the oldest standing boys club around, it never occurred to him before that a woman would teach him guitar.
Out of the four guitar teachers he's had so far, Lim is the first woman and by far the best, he said.
"I've had teachers show me how good they are or make me memorize songs," Fore said. "But Lisa is concerned with teaching you how to play."

TESTIMONIALS
…Lisa Lim is dangerous with that slide guitar…She is for real…”

Sue Foley
Antone’s Records www.SueFoley.



“…Lisa Lim is an excellent blues guitarist…quite talented…”
Gaye Adegbalola
Uppity Blues Women
Hot Toddy Music/ www.Adegbalola.com
Alligator Records


“…Where has this fine lady been hiding?… Lisa Lim should be gigging every night of the week! She is a player to keep and eye on…she is up and coming on the blues scene….”
Tom Principato
Powerhouse Records
www.TomPrincipato.com




“….musician extraordinaire…a very big deal…” Zack Zorn
The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)

"....Lisa is a musician who is headed to the top not only because of her great guitar work, but because of her dedication to being the best she can be. I have had the pleasure of watching her jam with the great Ana Popovic. And feel confident that she has the ability and the drive to make an impact on today's music scene. Give Lisa a listen and catch her live when she comes to your area!"
The Virginiabluesman
www.live365.com