Spittin' out sparks with STB

This is not folk music, says singer/songwriter/guitarist Sonia Tetlow of her band STB."Sometimes, we get booked with folk acts, and the reaction is always the same. They go 'Wow, we didn't know you rockedthat hard!' And I say, 'Well, what did you expect?'"

Tetlow's fiery approach on STB's recently released CD, Spit, resembles that of Chrissy Hynde or Melissa Etheridge, but without imitation. "There still aren't a whole lot of female rockers around, I guess. People categorize, but I just don't think we can be labeled that easily. A lot of the acts we've been compared to, I've never even heard until recently."

Tetlow, a veteran of countless solo acoustic shows and a performer with two previous projects under her belt, says STB is a not just a vehicle for her own musical vision. "This is truly a band. We are more STB than the 'Sonia Tetlow Band,' you know? We totally feed off of each other." Together for over a year, and comprised of bassist Lee Kennedy and drummer Becky Shaw, Tetlow cites STB's "spontaneous inspiration" as the reason their music is so volatile. "It's passionate, and that raw energy translates very well to our live show."

To document their club sound, the band recorded Spit with the same intensity. Tetlow credits album producer Rob Gal, who encouraged her to turn up and play louder in the studio. "Anyone who's ever seen me live will not really be surprised by the intensity on the album," she says. "It's not that new for me. I'm just using an electric guitar, is all. I mean, I've always felt more at home rockin' at Dottie's than at Eddie's," she laughs.

STB plays Dottie's Fri., April 21.