Aly Spaltro, better known as Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, spent her youth bouncing around the globe before settling in Maine. She would go on to make a name playing shows in the state, eventually relocating to Brooklyn. She’s played throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada, toured with Kaki King, Neko Case, and Beirut, and has been featured in Pitchfork, NPR, and even Buzzfeed. She released her debut studio album, Ripely Pine, earlier this year. She’ll play to a sold out crowd at SPACE on November 30th, and The State Theater on December 6th with The Fogcutters for the Big Band Syndrome series.
Where were you born?
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
What brought you to Portland?
I moved to Brunswick with my family in 2003, and moved to Portland in 2008 to perform and be part of the music scene there.
Do you have a day job, and if so, what is it?
No, just music full time.
What was your most memorable gig?
Playing The State Theatre in 2010. Also in May I played a full band show in Chicago with a really bad cold and had to keep turning away from the mic to cough, but the audience picked up the lyrics for me and sang the songs loudly.
What was your worst gig?
Last fall I played my very first northwest show in Seattle with a serious fever.
What album or artist has most influenced you as a musician?
A mix of Neutral Milk Hotel, Mama Cass, Fiery Furnaces, Kate Bush, & Stevie Nicks to name a few.
What’s the one piece of musical equipment you can’t live without?
my fender Jazzmaster or Strat.
Any advice for a musician starting out?
Don’t compromise your work or vision for anything or anyone.
What’s the origin behind your band name?
I wrote it in the middle of the night in my sleep in a notebook beside my bed.
What’s your musical guilty pleasure?
Selena Gomez ‘Come & Get It’ and Sheryl Crow “If It Makes You Happy.’
Bonus Questions
What was the first album/recording you owned?
The Beatles White Album on cassette.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Son Lux, Janelle Monae, Kurt Vile, Xenia Rubinos.
What was the best concert/musical performance you’ve attended?
Neko Case at Radio City Music Hall.
Stephen has exhibited his photography in California and throughout New England and served as Associate Director of a Boston-based non-profit overseeing the organization's technology, visual design, social networking, and event planning.
He lives outside of Portland with his wife and two children.
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- 10Qs with Nick Perry of Nick Perry’s Brass Tax - April 4, 2016