By ROBIN CAUDELL
SARANAC LAKE — For Christine Santelli, it's slow going despite a great review of her seventh CD, "Any Better Time," in this month's issue of Downbeat Magazine.
"We're starting to do some traveling now and get on the road," said the VizzTone recording artist. "Apparently, (the CD) is being played on Music Choice, an Internet station. It's slow going, but it's going."
The Clifton Park native majored in psychology and education at Plattsburgh State. During her stint here, she hooked up with North Country native and drummer Matt Mousseau, now her husband of a decade. They formed Christine & the Dickens, an iconic Monopole staple, before relocating in 1993 to New York City. Their next incarnation was the Christine Santelli Band.
With bandmates Tim Tindall (bass) and Jason Green (guitar), Santelli and Mousseau will rock the Waterhole in Saranac Lake Saturday.
It's been a good 15 years since Santelli stepped on the Waterhole's stage.
"Is it that long?" she said. "Oh, my God. I haven't been Upstate for a really long time, so I'm looking forward to driving through the mountains and walking into the Waterhole. We played there a lot when we were there. It was our second home. The Monopole was our first home and then the Waterhole. I'm looking forward to walking in there and playing on that stage and seeing people I haven't seen in a long time."
LOYAL FOLLOWING
Santelli will cover her repertoire from the present to back in the day.
"Any Better Time" is cementing her street cred. About her, David McGee, former Rolling Stone writer and distinguished author, said, "Santelli's songs are full of sly turnarounds designed to lay you low and make sure you never forget her."
For those who heard her vocals cut through the smoky haze in the Monopole, there was never any doubt that Santelli was destined for far beyond 7 Protection Ave.
In these YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and CD Baby times, she has a loyal following in Europe, NYC, New Jersey, Cleveland, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Florida and North Carolina. Plans are being made to hit Europe's festival season in May or June.
"I talked to my agent in Norway; they want to have us back in February. I can't wait. It's been awhile."
Her Web site is getting a lot of hits as a result of the Downbeat article. She tracks her fan base with Bandzoogle, a program that allows bands to build and update their own Web sites. Santelli highly recommends it.
"It tells who has looked at our Web site, where they looked, what they listened to and where they are from. It's pretty neat."
She is at work on material for the next CD.
"I have about six songs so far," Santelli said. "We're looking forward to writing the rest of the album."
E-mail Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com
