about leah
I imagine I was steeped in musical influences even in my mother’s womb. My father is a musician, and as a young kid, I remember him often playing his guitar, singing or whistling to himself, or playing music on the radio—or whatever vintage sound system we had at the time.
As I remember it, I always loved music, but I didn’t really discover I could sing until around the age of 12. That’s when I began exploring music more intentionally and practicing by imitating whatever singer I was listening to. Even as an adolescent, I had an affinity for music that was “before my time.” I loved the Oldies station on the radio and especially enjoyed the sound of folk songs from the ’60s and earlier. My dad had a record player, and I remember putting on Cat Stevens one day and just falling in love with the songs and melodies.
My dad mainly played and sang folk/Americana songs, but he had such a curiosity and appreciation for music that he explored a wide variety of genres—and I was exposed to all of that growing up. I remember discovering Ani DiFranco, a folk/punk musician, in his CD collection. I was about 16 at the time and in serious need of emotional outlets and expression. Ani DiFranco’s music helped facilitate that and became a huge inspiration for me to learn guitar and start writing.
At 18, I finally acquired some basic guitar chops and learned a collection of songs that I loved to play—and especially to sing. After a few years of waiting tables and working odd jobs, it occurred to me to try street performing, or “busking.” On my first day playing at the 16th Street Mall in Denver, someone dropped a $100 bill into my basket. I took it as a sign to pursue music, in whatever form that might take.
Street performing quickly became a love of mine, and combined with a strong case of the travel bug, it took me from Denver to Austin, to New Orleans, and eventually bouncing back and forth between Put-in-Bay, Ohio, and Key West, Florida. Key West is where gigs finally started happening for me (haha), and it became my regular job. It’s where I became an entertainer and learned how to work a crowd. I developed the skills to run a PA system on my own and got comfortable performing through sound equipment.
I also had the opportunity to form a band with two other seasoned and talented musicians—shout out to Randy Morrow and Andy Wescott!—and experienced the joy of playing live with other musicians.
Music has brought me to many beautiful places, both physically and spiritually. It’s been such a gift to connect with people through the universal language of music, and I feel incredibly blessed to have an aptitude for it.
Now, I’ve been playing gigs professionally for 17 years. I’ve written a collection of original songs, and for the time being, I’d call myself a cover artist. I currently reside in Durango, Colorado, playing gigs for a living and dreaming up the next leg of my musical journey.
SET LIST
Fisherman's Blues – The Waterboys
Oh Bill!-Lucinda Williams
Dream a Little Dream – The Mamas & The Papas
Joey – Concrete Blonde
Take Me the Way I Am – Ingrid Michaelson
No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley & The Wailers
When You Say Nothing at All – Alison Krauss
Bring It On Home – Sam Cooke
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right – Bob Dylan
Strawberry Wine – Deana Carter
You're So Vain – Carly Simon
Don't Look Back in anger- Oasis
I Feel It All – Feist
Head Over Feet – Alanis Morissette
Pony on a Boat – Lyle Lovette
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Gone for Good – The Shins
Turn Me On – Norah Jones
Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Gold Dust Woman – Fleetwood Mac
The Ballad of Rocky Racoon- The Beatles
The Way the World Goes Round – John Prine
Homegrown Tomatoes – Guy Clark
County Roads –
Brand new Key- Melanie
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Valerie – Amy Winehouse
Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
Hadn't Been for Love – The SteelDrivers
Ol' No. 7 – The Devil Makes Three
Scarlet Begonias – Grateful Dead
Down on the Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wish I Was the Moon – Neko Case
Cowboys Lament – Unknown Artist
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Because the Night – Patti Smith
Carey – Joni Mitchell
Country Roads – John Denver
Sugar Magnolia – Grateful Dead
Rodeo Clowns – Jack Johnson
Mr. Jones – Counting Crows
Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Moondance – Van Morrison
When You're Young – Ryan Adams
Tide Is High – Blondie
Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones
Change – Blind Melon
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard – Paul Simon
Birmingham – Shovels and rope
Mary Jane's Last Dance – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
What's Up? – 4 Non Blondes
Can't Cry Anymore – Sheryl Crow
Leaving Las Vegas – Sheryl Crow
BBH – Unknown Artist
Shanty – Jonathan Edwards
Baby Outlaw – Elle King
Land Down Under – Men at Work
Riptide – Vance Joy
My Old Guitar – Unknown Artist
Good Times – Sam Cooke
Space Oddity – David Bowie
Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry
Hook – Blues Traveler
Spanish Pipe Dream – John Prine
High and Dry – Radiohead
Silver Lining – First aid kit
Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn
Jack and Diane – John Mellencamp
American Pie – Don McLean
The Joker – Steve Miller Band
Say It Ain't So – Weezer
Where Is My Mind – Pixies
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Wild Night – Van Morrison
Run-Around – Blues Traveler
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
Both Hands – Ani DiFranco
Spider John – Willis Alan Ramsey
Wild World – Cat Stevens
Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
Ain't No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Rivers of Babylon – The Sublime version
L.A. Freeway- Jerry Jeff Walker
I'm on Fire – Bruce Springsteen
Western Skies –
Father and Son – Cat Stevens
Brown Eyed Woman – Grateful Dead
This Old Porch – Lyle Lovett
One of Us – Joan Osborne
Rivers of Babylon – Boney M.
And It Stoned Me – Van Morrison
Settle – Unknown Artist
Jolene – Dolly Parton
Flowers on the Wall – The Statler Brothers
Windows Rolled Down – Amos Lee
You Ain't Going Nowhere – The Byrds
Back in Time – Huey Lewis & The News
When I'm Sixty-Four – The Beatles
Heart of Gold – Neil Young
Flake – Jack Johnson
Blurryface – Twenty One Pilots
She's in Love with the Boy – Trisha Yearwood
Worn Out Shoes – Unknown Artist
Redemption Song – Bob Marley
Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn
You Never Even Called Me by My Name – David Allan Coe
Cocaine Blues – Johnny Cash
Save Me – Aimee Mann
Rocket Man – Elton John
Leroy – Unknown Artist
House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
Flat Tire – Unknown Artist
Sweet Baby James – James Taylor
Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
Can't Let Go – Lucinda Williams
Angela – The Lumineers
Lookin' Out My Back Door – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Dead Flowers – The Rolling Stones
Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
Float On – Modest Mouse
Loca – Shakira
Breathe – Faith Hill
Shame on the Moon – Bob Seger
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
Atlantic City – Bruce Springsteen
Illegal Smile – John Prine
The Way the World Goes – John Prine