Singer and songwriter Vicci Martinez likes a good pizza pie when she’s gigging on the road. Despite her preference for pizza, the 25-year-old musician still considers herself a poster child for the term “starving artist.”
“When you’re out on the road, away from home, doing gigs, money can be an issue for a musician like myself. There are good days and bad. Sometimes its like ‘get a pizza’ or ‘go get some groceries.’ Money can be an issue,” Martinez said.
She will make her Williamsport debut at the Bullfrog Brewery Sunday night. The Bullfrog Web site says she’ll start at 9 p.m., though Martinez’s Web site says she’ll start at 8 p.m. Either way, the show is free.
“In the end, traveling around is a great experience for me. I’m getting the chance to do something I enjoy and something I believe in — my music.”
Although she just returned from a gig on a Caribbean cruise, Martinez found time for this interview while resting in a Philadelphia hotel room.
Martinez has the soul of a veteran musician and a body like a fireball of energy and attitude.
“When people ask me what my style of music is like, I really don’t know how to answer them. I can say that people have described my musical style as a little bluesy, some funk, a little soul and some gospel. I make them happy, sad. But it’s not the type of sad music where you want to go slash your wrists after listening to some of my songs,” she said. “My music can also be a little inspirational, but definitely not churchy.”
Her string of concerts in this part of the country will take her from Wilkes-Barre to New York City with two in Williamsport — the Bullfrog Sunday and at 8 p.m. Monday at Jack’s Corner on the Lycoming College campus.
School is where Martinez first discovered — or more accurately was discovered — she could sing. It happened after a sixth-grade choir teacher asked her to stand in front of the class and sing.
Although she preferred to play in the background as an instrumentalist, Martinez began to hone her vocal skills.
“... I can sing for a living. Not many people can do something they enjoy for a living,” she said. “I’ve also had some pretty cool things happen to me. Like opening for music legend B.B. King. That was the most awesome experience in my life. If it wasn’t enough to open for the man, he also invited me back stage to meet him and talk with him.”
Being around some of the greats in music is something Martinez has experience doing. In the past few years, she has either opened or shared the stage with Sting, Annie Lenox, Christopher Cross and Roomful of Blues.
“My folks are Mexican immigrants, so my culture has influenced my music. Growing up, there was all sorts of music in our house, and that had an impact on me. There was a lot of funky disco, jazz and Spanish music.
“I’ll be doing a little bit of everything for my show in Williamsport. It will definitely be a great mix of acoustic music.”
If you go
What: Vicci Martinez acoustical blues, rock and folk.
When: 9-11 p.m. Sunday (though she may start at 8 p.m.)
Where: The Bullfrog Brewery, 229 W. Fourth St., Williamsport
Tickets: Free
For more information: The Bullfrog at 326-4700 or bullfrogbrewery.com.
For more on Vicci Martinez, visit www.viccimartinez.com
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A little bit blues, a little bit funk
Hear musician for free Sunday
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