Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez
8-30-2014 (Sawtelle Room)
This queen of blue-eyed rock n’ soul, who grew up loving equally the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, is known for her giant platinum beehive hairdo, vocal work on SNL and for a number of star-studded duets. Christine is a one-of-a-kind blues, rock and soul singer touring in support of her sixth album "The Deep End," released this past April with her band, Rebel Montez. With Cliff Goodwin's sizzling guitar, this live show packs more than enough punch to support the voice and the hair.
She’s the current, long-time vocalist with the Saturday Night Live Band, whose latest CD, 2010’s "The Deep End," was honored on five national Top Ten lists and features special guests/duet partners Ian Hunter, Dion DiMucci, and Marshall Crenshaw, plus Levon Helm, GE Smith, Andy York, Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, Catherine Russell, Big Al Anderson, and others.
Ohlman’s legendary voice and stage presence (she’s known as “The Beehive Queen”) have most recently been featured at the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Concert in Cleveland (filmed by HBO) the Carnegie Hall tribute to the Rolling Stones, the 2012 WC Handy Festival (where she was the special guest of the Blind Boys Of Alabama), and The Little Kids Rock NYC concert honoring Little Steven Van Zandt (onstage with Springsteen, VanZandt and Southside Johnny), as well as on SNL’s 25th Anniversary telecast; Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Bash at The Garden (with George Harrison, Chrissie Hynde, and others); the Obama Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C.; The Lincoln Center “American Songbook” series with Sting, Lou Reed and Van Dyke Parks; and the Central Park Summerstage Tribute To Janis Joplin (where she fronted both Big Brother & The Holding Company and the Kozmic Blues Band).
She appears on Grammy nominees A Tribute To Howlin’ Wolf (with Taj Mahal and Lucinda Williams) and Charlie Musselwhite’s One Night In America (with Marty Stuart); sings the theme song for NBC’s 30 Rock; worked on a musical with the late Cy Coleman (who compared her sense of timing to Peggy Lee’s); duets live with friends like the aforementioned Miss Spector, Mac Rebennack (a private evening of duets in 2011 followed his inducution into the Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame).
“I’ve come here tonight to set your souls on fire,” she’ll tell an audience. And she will.
"Her finely tuned pipes are often heard, not seen (on SNL); a huge misfortune for the late night viewer as her charisma onstage is one of a kind. Few singers today are truly versed, like Ohlman, in all things soul." Ali Green, Elmore Magazine
Watch clips from last year's show: HERE and HERE