Garrison Starr coming to Sebastiani

Popular musician Garrison Starr performs at the Sebastiani Theatre on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. This show offers a rare chance to see the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter up close and personal, playing solo ― and wearing her heart on her sleeve.

Reached by phone in her home in the Los Angeles area, this major recording talent was relaxed, open and happy to discuss many aspects of her career, the state of the nation, and her dog.

Starr was signed to Geffen Records in 1998, and soon released her first album, “Eighteen Over Me.” That record included her biggest song so far, “Superhero.” The success of that release lead to her participation in the hugely successful all-female Lillith Fair tour.

When asked how many albums she has released, Starr said, “Man, I don’t even know know, to be honest with you. Fourteen sounds about right.” Her most recent album, “Girl I Used to Be,” came out in 2021.

Maturity has tempered Starr a bit. She said, “When I was younger, I used to just let whatever come out of my mouth just come out of my mouth. I have learned that the way you communicate with people is so important for the person to actually hear your message. I’ve learned the best thing I can do is live my convictions, live my ethics, live my values.”

Singer/songwriters need to grasp inspiration from many places, one always being the human condition.

“We are in a very frustrating time. People seem to be afraid to think from their own perspective and think for themselves,” Starr said “I just hope that people will wake up and realize that they can trust themselves and stand up for what is right. Get out of this popularity contest that we are living in.”

Her songs resonate with a broad cross section of Americans, and producers have noticed. Viewers of “Bull,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Pretty Little Liars,” and “Nashville,” have heard her songs, as have commercials for Pandora, Virgin Mobile, and McDonald’s.

Expressing ideas as a singer/songwriter requires an instrument, and gear heads out there will be interested in Starr’s choices of guitars.

She had been a huge proponent of Taylor Guitars after being on the road with Melissa Etheridge. Her guitar tech told Starr she should check out the brand.

“I played Taylors for many years,” Starr said, “but then I felt that I just needed to change it up.”

Starr is now strumming a pair of so called “lawsuit” models from the late 1970s by Japanese guitar manufacturer Takamine. These guitars were so very similar in design and features to some of Martin Guitar’s most popular models, that a lawsuit was filed and production subsequently halted. The lawsuit Takamines still in player’s hands are prized.

Combining guitar world with dog world to make a point, Starr said, “We got a rescue dog, Gracie. I knew when I saw her picture in the photos, I knew she was our dog. So, I have feelings. It doesn’t have to be the most amazing vintage guitar in the world. It just has to have something I connect with.”

Dog lovers will be interested to know that Gracie is a “German Shepherd, Dalmatian, husky, chow, cocker spaniel. A mutt.” Gracie is clearly not a lawsuit dog.

Starr’s Sebastiani show will be informal, to say the least. She hopes people shout out songs they want to hear.

“I love the challenge of somebody calling out a song you haven’t played in years and years,” Starr commented.

Fans attending Starr’s show will also hear some new songs. “This new record that I am leading up to later this year, the songs are so inclusive. I am excited about that. I really want to show up for a two-way street relationship.”

Tickets for this special show by the warm and personal Starr can be purchased at https://www.sebastianitheatre.com/.