Memphis music maven Amy LaVere visits Buffalo tonight for a show you definitely won't want to miss. The upright bass-toting songstress has won praise from critics since the realease of her debut album This World is Not My Home in 2006. Her songs are sexy and eclectic, and they cover a lot of musical territory... Americana, psychadelia, blues, and grunge all find their way into LaVere's tunes.

On top of her musical work, LaVere also dabbles in acting. You may have seen her play rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. Amy LaVere was kind enough to answer a few questions for buffaBLOG, and you can read the interview below. LaVere will take the stage at the Sportsmen's Tavern tonight at 7.

buffaBLOG: Where do you find inspiration for your songs, and how do you know when they’re “done”?

Amy LaVere: Eavesdropping mostly. I know that they are never done... I don't think I've ever written a song that I didn't later realize a better way to arrange it if not wanting to change lyrics all together.


BB: What are some of the challenges of touring and performing with an upright bass?

AL: The obvious... It's big and cumbersome and it doesn’t fit in a car. I can't fly with it. Performing with it is the easy part.


BB: You’ve moved around a lot in your life. Does the place where you’re writing influence your music?

AL: I suppose it does but not directly. I haven't written a "Memphis" song yet


BB: Besides having a musical career, you’ve also done some acting. Are there elements of that type of performance that appeal to you that are different from performing your music?

AL: I find acting more challenging and I get something out of that. I think that bothe performing live music or acting is only as good as your ability to become a part of the story so much you can fool yourself completely. It's easier for me to lose myself in the story when I am performing music.


BB: Do you have any projects in mind for the future?

AL: Lots of projects. So many that I'm going to have to work nonstop to get half of them done in this lifetime... immediately, there are 2 films coming up this spring and a recording (or 2) next fall.