Amy Henderson: Press

Amy Henderson's done it all. Waited tables. Worked at an orphanage. Taught history. But her love of music led her to her latest job as an occupational safety officer at VCU. . Although Amy as an MA in History, she found she couldn't do both music and teach at the same time. Teaching took her days- and her nights. "As a teacher you're on stage every morning and grading papers and preparing at night. But as a safety officer it's eight hours and you're done. And you're free to take on you next job, " performing something she calls "alternative folk."
Whether she's playing solo at her weekly Shenanigan's gig or playing with a group called the Orderlies, Amy Henderson keeps busy. When she's not performing or working her day job, she's writing songs. The inspiration for her lyrics comes from personal experiences like breakups. "Whne you're miserable you write the best songs. I'm pretty happy right now so I'm having trouble writing. No one wants an album full of sap."
Like Rachel Leyco, Amy finds Richmond challenging for original artists because of Richmonders' love for cover bands. "People like songs they already know. You can either play original music at art galleries and make no money or play covers at places like the Tobacco Company and get paid well."
So besides balancing her day job and night gigs, Amy also balances both kinds of music, covers and originals. She admits it's hard to do it all. "I make lists. Sometimes I get it all done. Sometimes I don't. But I've got a list in my pocket all the time, " says Amy.
In the end, Amy Henderson admits she's not out to be American Idol. Instead, she'd rather be like Patty Griffin - under the radar, but so respected it doesn't matter. "There's so many fly-by-night bands. I would rather maintain small fame but keep integrity."

Amy's got some good songs here. They're ubercatchy with a rootsy bounce. Her voice is smooth, but with a hint of firebrand. Like if she really wanted to, she could just rock like there is no tomorrow. I love the rawness of the disc. "Photograph Eyes" is my favorite tune. It's kind of gritty and dirty. It seems to move like a slander or personal vendetta against someone, smoky with attitude."

Amy Henderson was good. I've heard her on the "Out of the Blue Review" radio show and was hooked on her vocal abilities, from growling to lullabys in the same song. Seeing her live was even better. She's one of the few people who can really smile and sing.

Chick singer. Acoustic guitar. Insightful, occasionally heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics.
Not exactly a unique approach.
So while the career counselor might encourage Amy Henderson to consider a different avenue to folk/rock fame, the rest of us will listen to the 9 tracks on BACK DOWN and beg her to keep on keepin� on.
Because, even though she hasn�t eliminated all the rough spots, Henderson�s put together a collection that�s meatier in body, depth and intelligence content than most of what you�ll find these days in the folk and/ or rock bins.
Beginning with the harmonica fueled and bluesy �Photograph Eyes� right on through thr mature bliss of �Now I�m Even Better,� Henderson moves along the tough to tender continuum without getting bogged down in the tedium of self-absorption.
Helped out by John Morand�s production as well as some fine vocal work, Henderson convincingly paints the stark, melancholy backdrop of �In the Horizon� and the romantic giddiness of �Can�t Help Myself� and the knocks out sultry longing of the appropriately titled, �Nasty.�
Along with her own harmonica, Henderson allows John Vondra�s banjo and David Henderson�s guitar to add some effective sound layers, but she and her songs are still the stars of this quality debut effort.
October 2003

[Henderson] is a deft guitarist, plucking out tunes with ease, and her voice has a creamy quality to it. January, 2004

Atlantian-turned Richmonder Amy Henderson has a longstanding gig at Shenanigans every Wednesday night, warming up the Northside neighborhood haunt with her sunny acoustic songs and cheery rapport. It's hard to miss Henderson's songwriting influences when listening to the music (Indigo Girls) – but her rhythmic, buoyant folk rock has a big heart all its own, distinguished by Henderson's rich, smoky voice.

Atlantian-turned Richmonder Amy Henderson is always a cheerful voice on the Richmond music scene. Her sunny acoustic songs and warm rapport with the audience have made the singer/songwriter a local fave.

Flattering, in a strange way??
It?s hard to believe Amy Henderson, who sings while smiling, writes such sad songs. Not all the songs on this CD are sad, just eight of the nine. [Amy note: actually 6 of the 9 are sad and the others have a quiet hope to them.]. But even when you're listening to a song about heartbreak, you see Amy's smile in your mind. What I don't see are all these other musicians.
Christine Schup, David Zeus Henderson, John Vondra, George Howard and John Morand are all good, but when I see Amy play live, it's only with John Leedes on guitar. And that's all she needs.
I think David Zeus Henderson (who may be her brother) [He is..] understands this. The three songs he engineered on this disc are just as she performs them live. The other six, engineered by Morand, would be impossible to recreate on stage without the whole band and an additional harp player and back up singer.
Personally, I like all the production on Can't Help Myself because everything sounds better with a banjo, but most of the extras only distract, especially the wood block (or cow bell) featured on Now I'm Even Better. It takes my mind off what drew me to Henderson in the first place: her great lyrics and heartfelt vocals.
-Richmond Music Journal, November 2003

During adolescence, she tried playing different instruments in order to find the one that fit her perfectly. Today she is trying out different careers and discovering that music fits her to a T.
Under the single spotlight, Amy Henderson performed a solo acoustic set at Shenanigans, located at 4017 Macarthur Ave., on Wed., Feb. 2 for a roomful of friends, regulars and folks out for the evening.
At the bar and tables customers spent the night eating, drinking and talking with friends. But every now and then, someone would look up and pay a little more attention to the lady on stage behind her acoustic guitar.
After spending time in Boston, Amy Henderson returned to Richmond in 1996 to bring her musical career to life. She reflects on time that could have been spent writing music and performing.
“Knowing what I know about the whole scene I could have really taken advantage of that while I was up there,” she said, adding that the missed time has inspired her to get back to her passion.
Working during the day at Virginia Commonwealth University as an occupational safety officer supplies Henderson with free evenings to share her music with the city, she said.
“I wish I could [play music] full-time. I’m trying to but I like to have a house. I’d like to not live in my car.”
With stark white shirt, blue jeans and socks, because she kicked her shoes off, Henderson may look like the stereotypical folk singer at first glance. But look a little closer and one can see the sparkle in her eye as she works toward her goal of becoming a big fish in a small pond.

How would you describe your sound?
“I have come up with alternative- acoustic –folk –Americana,” Henderson said. “I have a lot of different songs. It’s not just folk and it’s not rock and it’s not completely Americana. I just took everything that kinda sounded like me and threw it all into one thing.”

Why should someone pick up your CD?
“I think it’s really good. I’m really proud of it,” Henderson said. “People I have played it for love it. I have gotten a really good response from it. It’s accessible. It’s poppy enough without being trite.”

Where do you get inspiration for the music you write?
“It used to be personal stuff. Almost like a diary. It’s fun to listen to old tapes and old CDs cause its like oh that’s what I was doing at that time of my life. Now I do that but I also look elsewhere for inspiration. I’m playing with different rhythms. I try to write about different things.”

What impact does music have on your life?
“It changed my profession,” Henderson said. “I was a history teacher for a long time. I realized I couldn’t play music and do history. You can only have so many videos the day after a gig. The job I’m doing now, my daytime job, is eight to four. You’re done. There’s no homework and it’s very, very flexible. It totally changed my profession so I can really work on what I really love.”

What does it feel like to be on stage?
“It’s completely comfortable because I have been doing it for so long. In December I was out of town for a while so I didn’t play here for like a month. I find that if I don’t do it I crave it. It’s a need. It’s a total rush. It’s like skydiving.”

How have people responded to your music?
“This is obviously not a listening room. People are doing their thing. They’re talking, they’re smoking, they’re playing. I used to get really frustrated cause are they really listening? I was talking to people and they are like, I really like this song about this. That made me feel better. And I have actually seen some of the regular people here singing my songs.”
February, 2005