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Singer/songwriter/guitarist Karen Davis has a great passion for performing. She began studying piano at age 8 with Natalie Cherney, and started teaching herself guitar at age 9. Karen continued working with both instruments throughout highschool. Seeing The Whos The Kids Are Alright sealed her fate as a guitarist, however. After I saw Pete Townshend, witnessed the insanity and heard the power chords, classical piano flew out the window. Karens parents, hard-working strivers, were not about to let her turn her life over to rock and roll. They insisted she go to college. Karen studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute conservatory through N.Y.U. Undergrad Drama; graduating with a B.F.A. in drama and psychology. Her greatest learning experience came from a summer internship at Ithacas Hangar Theater. She sang the songs of Billie Holliday, Kurt Weil and Jim Croce. Audiences loved her powerful voice and emotional depth. Back at school. She began writing songs and polished her guitar skills. In senior year, she began hitting open mics and formed her first hard rock band. After graduation, Karen played several nights a week on the open mic scene, then secured paying gigs at various clubs. Hooking up with other local songwriters, she played every Sunday at CBs 313 Gallery for about a year. She joined the Black Rock Coalition, which allowed her to open for funk-metal band Living Colour. Her music was featured on the Coalitions WBAI radio show, Strange Vibrations form the Hardcore. This led to an on-air interview and a featured performance on BAI later that year. Constant desire to perform led Karen to establish a regular gig at The Sidewalk Caf, where she was crowned Queen of Anti-Folk. Through this, she met singer/song- writer Lisa St. Ann. Lisa fell in love with Karens driving, innovative, Townshendesque, rhythm guitar style, and drafted Karen into her touring band. Lisas business savvy encouraged Karen to send out more materials, netting Karen regular gigs in the New Jersey folk scene. These venues included Chapter One Books (Highland Park), Greens Bean Caf (Sparta, Hackettestown), The Java Joint (Toms River) and Starbucks (Jersey City). Karen was finally able to hit the road herself, touring New England Colleges in 2001. Karen continues to be a force in the underground music scene. The Art House featured her for months in the opening sequence of their public access show. She and her band Boomslang later appeared on the show as featured musical guests. Karen and Boomslang were also written about in a front-page feature in the Jersey Journal, and received several good reviews of their CD, Bloody Tales From the Suburbs. Karen has also appeared on the Brooklyn Cable Access show ArtistsInsight. She was featured on Brooklyn Cable Access show Cool In Your Code, performing at the Magickal Wonders Occult Emporium. Karen has been the featured musical guest for the Films at Grace (Grace Church, Jersey City) film series. Shes played several times at Jersey Citys Cathedral Arts Festival, as well as in the Jersey City Artists Studio Tour. Her regular Jersey City gigs included residencies at Subias Caf, Legal Grounds and at the Waterbug Hotel. Karen has also been the featured guest on FJS On-line radio, as well as other online radio programs. Karen has also performed at Phialdelphias 5th St. Coffeehouse twice, and plans to return there in the summer. Karen is also a featured performer in Andrew Ventimiglias film, Dreams. Karen is now working on putting together overseas dates, as well as more New England, Philadelphia, and New York City gigs. Shes also working on a new CD, and looking for new band mates. For more information, check out her website www.myspace.com/boomslang.

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