KATHLEEN WILHOITE Kathleen Wilhoite - vocals, acoustic guitar, piano Tony Gilkyson - guitars Chris Wagner - bass David Harte - drums, background vocals Chris Joyner - piano Chris Frankfort - lap steel Nikka Costa - background vocals

Songs available on LAmusic.com
Witches' Hill		You Move Me
FROM "PITCH LIKE A GIRL" Dumb Ol' Girl
Recordings | Upcoming Performances | Biography | Reviews | Lyrics | Email Kathleen

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Pitch Like A Girl, the debut release from Kathleen Wilhoite, is the culmination of a long journey as an artist. Growing up in Santa Barbara, California Kathleen began singing in her church choir in first grade. Two years later, while singing on stage with The Carpenters at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, she stopped the show so that she could pull up her knee socks and got a huge laugh from the sold out crowd. Kathleen claims "it was then I knew I had to be a performer." She began by writing songs that sounded like the ones she was supposed to be practicing to on the piano. She was in every school theater production, and when she wasn't writing or acting, she was listening to her brother's AC/DC and Eagles records, or her father's Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald albums. Kathleen eventually became the youngest member of the Santa Barbara Songwriters Guild.

After high school, Kathleen had a choice to make: would she pursue drama or music? She enrolled in the USC Drama School, and two months later had landed her first movie role. As her acting career began to blossom, so did her enthusiasm as a songwriter. She made a few demos, and a short while later landed a deal with Mercury Records. Unfortunately, her record deal came right before a "house cleaning." Her A & R person was fired and Kathleen was dropped. Disappointed and a bit confused, she packed her bags and moved to Europe, then to Austin, Texas where she found herself surrounded by "crystal-meth addicts."

Back on the road she went, this time ending up in Nashville where she was enveloped by ''junkies and boozers." Eventually she made her way back to Los Angeles and continued to play music. At some point after returning home, her agent started calling and she began working as an actress again, starring for two years on the hit television show E.R. and a recurring role on Mad About You, and landing prominent parts in movies like Lorenzo's Oil and Angel Heart.

A promoter/booking agent named David Surnow, now one of the owners of Daves' Record Company, was introduced to Kathleen and began booking her shows around Los Angeles. "People would pack into any venue I would book to see her play... and not just friends, but fans. Most people in the club/music scene have friends, but not many have fans." During this period she experimented with different musical styles, and attracted David Harte, who joined her band as drummer.

In January of 1997 David Surnow and David Harte formed The Daves' record label and immediately signed Kathleen. They helped her put together a band that includes Tony Gilkyson (X, Lone Justice), Chris Wagner (Mary's Danish, Thermadore), Chris Joyner (The Freewheelers) as well as others that helped out in the making of Pitch Like A Girl. The Daves also produced her record, making sure to stay true to Kathleen's vision of her songs. "We wanted to show the strengths that were already there in the songwriting and singing, and make a record that doesn't try to draw attention to the production," says Harte. Surnow says "women will love this record."

The Iyrics of Pitch Like A Girl draw a picture of a girl who has lived through several lifetimes worth of experience and come out a secure woman. "This record is a dream come true," says Kathleen.

Santa Barbara Independent Fringe Beat by Josef Woodard FORMER S.B. GIRL, PITCHING: Kathleen Wilhoite, the singer-songwriter-actress-gadabout, cut her teeth and bridged the gap between innocence and experience right here in Santa Barbara before heading outta town. Now comes a juicy song set called Pitch Like A Girl (Daves' Record Company), a hugely likable album falling somewhere between angst-venting and the engaging pop craft of Sam Phillips and Bonnie Raitt. She pens and sings a mean, memorable tune, as with "Whatever It Takes," the catchiest here. X-er guitarist Tony Gilkyson lends nice, raw fiber to the sound, eking out an especially fierce, splinkety solo on the rocker "Dumb Ol' Girl." Next up, Wilhoite sings with sandpapered wisdom beyond her tender years on "Old Familiar." Local connection or no, Wilhoite has the kiss of the muse on her forehead. Female FYI Magazine Pitch Like A Girl, the debut CD release from Kathleen Wilhoite, is a collection of beautiful songs by an incredible newcomer. Kathleen Wilhoite demonstrates her strength as both a singer and songwriter, and is clearly off to an excellent start as a recording artist. Upon first listen, one cannot help but become completely addicted to Kathleen's sound, which is similar to the Indigo Girls, but more mature and there are absolutely no harmonies. Kathleen Wilhoite is also backed by a very strong band that included Tony Gilkyson (formerly of X and Lone Justice), Chris Joyner (Jeremy Toback, The Freewheelers), Chris Wagner (Mary's Danish, Thermadore), and David Harte (Beck, Spain). With a debut like Pitch Like A Girl, I think we can all expect to hear a great deal more from Kathleen Wilhoite... and I'm sure you'll agree it won't be soon enough!

Scratch Magazine It's a lean time for the singer-songwriter. For now, at least, more acrobatic musical genres are grabbing Billboard headlines and the image of the lone guitarist singing her heart out to a coffeehouse crowd more often than not seems like a throwback or a cliche. But singer-songwriters survived new wave, they survived grunge and they will survive the underground's latest obsessions, too. They will survive because of people like Kathleen Wilhoite. Wilhoite's eclectic Pitch Like A Girl has a clear musical kinship with Edie Brickel's Picture Perfect Morning, but her intimate delivery and quirky penmanship keep the album nimble and interesting. This dozen-song set replicates the pacing of the best live performances, ranging from the spare intensity of stripped-down songs like "Wish We Never Met" to the fuller, bluesier sounds of "Symphony." Her clear, pure voice is wonderfully rough around the edges, giving the songs an emotional surety and musical depth. Only occasionally, such as on "No One Can Touch Me," does she overdo the husky overtones and sound a bit too much like Kim Carnes.

Witches' Hill Copyright 2000 K. Wilhoite A jealous neighbor heard an old wive's tale, found evidence in my garbage pail. (marching down the dirt road) In the distance drumbeat funeral durge, singing songs I've never heard (marching down the dirt road) I'm a grandma sitting in a rocking chair getting high off the midnight air, heard the children cry, "Gram, ya best get out of here." I didn't know what the fuss was all about, 'til the lynching mob began to shout. I watched them burn my whole life down.... Ancient remedies on the rumor mill, carried me to WITCHES HILL. If we're born to die and we live to kill then march me down the dirt road to WITCHES HILL They laid my best friend down on a bed of fire She slept to jeers and cheers beneath the pyre. (marching down the dirt road) "If she kicks and screams she's lived too long, it's the evil spirits that made her strong." (marching down the dirt road) Dust devils twirl in the bone dry wind. Gnarled cactus, lizzard's grin in the sunseared slopes, I'll be living in.... 'till you kept raising the stakes.

You Move Me Copyright 2000 K. Wilhoite Pillar of strength, you've held my hand through my trials, and all of my tribulations. Quick-with-a-joke, ya took the wind out of my sails; you like to try my patience, but the truth is always told, the answers all unfold, when ever I let you..... YOU MOVE ME when you tell me those stories I've heard one hundred times before. Each time I learn something more. YOU MOVE ME when you know what I'm thinking by looking in my eyes. Anxiety just disappears. YOU MOVE ME. Red headed step son, when they make you feel ashamed. You come and cry on my shoulder. "Advice is cheap," yeah, must be my middle name. Hey, I'm just returning the favor. You've been left behind before; they shut you out and locked the door. That is something I would never do, because whenever I let you... YOU MOVE ME when you tell me those stories I've heard one hundred times before; each time I learn something more. YOU MOVE ME when you know what I'm thinking by looking in my eyes. Anxiety just disappears. YOU MOVE ME to tears.