In early 2001, a Fort Worth-born singer-songwriter named Shea Seger put out a major-label album, The May Street Project, inspiring Elton John (?!?) to tell the British magazine The Face, “I bought 200 Shea Seger albums.
I thought it was brilliant. I gave one to Madonna, but she already had it in her handbag.” As questionable as his sartorial preferences – and music choices – may be, Sir Elton couldn’t have been more right about May Street, a stellar debut packed full of classy but exuberant pop-inflected R&B and vulnerable lyricism, everything pivoting on Seger’s smoky, gravelly voice. And with her blonde locks, freckled face, full lips, almond-shaped eyes, and lithe build, Seger may have been – and may still be – one of the most beautiful divas, past or present, that you’ve ever seen.
Like Bridget Fonda with a guitar. Anyway, after a lot of hubbub, including an appearance on a VH1 live-performance show, Seger then promptly … disappeared. Shady label dealings? Burn out? Who knows. All that’s certain now is that she’s resurfaced, contributing two songs to the soundtrack of an upcoming indie film called Railed. Unlike the snappy, polished tuneage on May Street, her two new tracks – “Hourglass” and “Surrender” – are raw acoustic guitar-based, Neil Young-ian dirges. On “Hourglass,” she isn’t afraid to let her smoky voice completely crack under the pressure of high volume, and on “Surrender” – though as totally susceptible to hurt as she’s always been – she bounces along a jaunty riff, singing, “There are not too many places / That these two feet of mine won’t take me / But I’ve been all around the world and returned to only feel forsaken.” Art imitating life? Seger, according to some web sites, spent a lot of time in England and is now in Quitman, a few hours east of here.
Where’s Sir Elton when you need him, right? Visit www.myspace.com/sseger. Got a sneak peek at Lola’s Saloon owner Brian Forella’s second and third moves, Lola’s Stockyards Saloon and the Longhorn, both on West Exchange and about 10 feet apart on the same side of the street. The two new ventures couldn’t be more different. Lola’s II is below-ground, an intimate spot with a low ceiling and low lighting. The Longhorn is a massive box, with a huge stage, sound system, and dance floor. Reportedly, all of the kinds of shows that have packed Lola’s/6th to the point at which even ordering a beer takes an hour will in the future be taking place at the Longhorn. Not sure if any sort of live music will be going on at Lola’s/6th.
Not that the place will be hurting. It’s already a solid happy-hour spot, and if the legendary Wreck Room, Forella’s first rock-club, that was razed several months ago, is any indication, plenty of booze will be slung at Lola’s/6th, live music in the background or not. Neither Lola’s/Stockyards or the Longhorn is open yet. A “soft opening” will be happening soon.
Contact HearSay at hearsay@fwweekly.com.
