Had a chance to chat with Lauren Mitchell this week in advance of her return to the Side Door Cabaret this Friday night.
We’re calling this a “welcome home” appearance because Lauren and the band just returned from several weeks of dates in North Carolina, Ohio and Canada. It was Lauren’s first real tour and she was gratified by the audience reactions to her particular brand of sexy R&B, blues and soul.
“You play for your hometown fans and you know their reaction, but to go out and see the people respond, it was really special to me,” Lauren said. “It was so encouraging.”
She took some time out during the tour to visit lots of family members in Ohio, including her 92-year-old grandmother who was once a singer in a band led by Lauren’s late grandfather.
“She told me she really liked what I was doing and if my grandfather was still around ‘he would have been your biggest fan!’ ”
Her new album, which was released at her last Side Door show, is selling well and people are liking the title track – “Please Come Home” – and another ballad called “It’s Raining.”
There have been some personnel changes but the heart of the group remains Lauren and Mike “The Professor” Hensley, who plays B3 and piano. The other players for the Palladium show include Howlin’ Bob Sieberts, guitar, Mike Snyder, bass, and Lenny Balistreri on drums.
Friday’s show, which is headed toward another sell-out, will feature Lauren’s signature tunes like “Come To Mama” along with some new material prepared just for this gig.
After a month of dates around Sarasota, Bradenton and the Tampa Bay area, Lauren and the band are likely hitting the road in August for another tour.
Catch this rising blues and R&B star and her red high heels – at the intimate Side Door Cabaret on Friday, June 14 at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit www.mypalladium.org or call the box office at 727 822-3590.
To see Lauren performing in the Side Door, visit You Tube or follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P_MX3bTyqY
Lauren at the Palladium
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