Genres:
Blues, Blues-Rock, Rock, Art Rock, Psychedelic, Grunge, Post-Punk & Folk-Rock

Contact
Contact page

Video
Videos page

Events
Gig Schedule on Home page for upcoming and past events.

Nationwide & Regional Pro Players
Beth Isbell - Lead Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
BlaiseThomspon/Justin Hays/David Rodgers/Mike Clark - Lead Guitar
Cody Fowler/Tim Neilley/Rob Green/Tony DeCicco - Bass
Nicholas Ley/Kellan Turner/Chris Finney/Carol Morgan - Drums

Instrumentation

Acoustic &/or electric rhythm and lead guitars, &/or electric bass and drums with guest players.  Available as a solo, duo, or full 4 piece band, and as an added hand or fill-in guest performer for an existing project.

Stage Requirements
Solo Shows:  1 mic/stand/cable, 1 guitar direct box to PA, 1 Monitor
Duo Shows:  2 mics/stands/cables, 2 guitar direct boxes to PA, Conga/Percussion mics when necessary, 2-3 Monitors
Full Band:  3 mics/stands/cables, 2 guitar direct boxes to PA, micing for amps & drums, DI bass, 4-6 Monitors
(with appropriate professional Sound & Lighting personnel if possible)

*Please Note - there will be an additional $50 charge if the artist needs to supply a PA & Speakers - when booking, please discuss this in advance*

Beth Isbell (a/k/a BeThisBell) says on her website, “I am the bastard love child of Janis Joplin & Jim Morrison, except that one day while Jimbo took a trip in the desert, Janis was in NYC banging Lou Reed. It's all a little fuzzy from there, ... and yes, I'm actually a girl! ... well, currently!”

The Oklahoma Film & Music Office described Beth Isbell as an “artist who is truly one of a kind.” Such compliments often have no meaning without aid of the full backstory. Here, Beth, born as a young boy originally named Bill in Columbus, GA, grew up in the US and Europe through school, college and law school as boy, then as a man, and now a woman. Beth’s performances mix elements of both with a magical soul and mastery of craft capable of inspiring the hope within all of us to be who we truly are; press: “edgy,” “subversive,” “innovative,” “alternative art at it’s best.”

“Adversity challenges one’s true soul to emerge,” Beth often says. The struggle to overcome infects her lyrics, propelled by a resonant assault of musical textures that contrasts peace sought with the war in one’s mind. Beautiful, haunting at times, her music has the power to fill and teach souls. Beth’s powerful songs and performances are summed up by her personal haiku:
 

Beth’s musical journey began in the late 1990s, after her divorce, as she was winding down her career as a civil rights attorney, and beginning her journey to cross the gender divide. She fell in love with music singing songs around campfires with talented friends and some great songwriters and guitarists at places like the Kerrville Folk Festival and Pickin’ in the Pines. Infused with these folk influences, the first country song she ever wrote, “The Good Woman Waltz” became the title cut of her first CD, originally released under the name Bill Isbell, and the #1 song in the Texas Top 40 for original songwriters in July 2006 with several thousands of fan downloads on a chart that features the likes of Texas writers Guy Clark and Butch Hancock. “Nashville pickers, slick production, good songwriting, and excellent performances. From acoustic country-fied tunes to rock-laden cuts, this is a gem of a disc. Excellent imagery and quality performance.” - MyTexas Music

Simultaneously, she was furiously writing punk rock songs. The Flying Lennys EP - features the punk-pop influences of her early bands, and even a special guest appearance by one of her close friends, neighbor, and musical mentors jazz legend Joe McBride. Living as a women in a man’s body is not easy; she was thrown out of clubs and banned from playing some of her favorite venues as her soul and body transitioned, but she persevered. During this period, she focused on writing songs and improving her performance skills as the front person for the Dallas, TX, psychedelic blues rock band The Dead Prophets, darlings of the underground scene, and also released a live and studio coffee-house style folk rock EPs entitled “Live @ The Blue Moon” and “The Awakening” which one reviewer described as “redefin(ing) 'dark' as a plausible blend of the psychedelic & the acoustic!" The Best of The Dead Prophets also features the amazing guitar mastery of Mike Clark (intodown) and the driving pulse of Carol Morgan (Smokin’ Joe Kubek) behind the drums. “This band's music explodes with artistry at every turn as the multi-dimensional arrangements speak volumes about how rock music has evolved. Hats off to the DPs!” - MyTexasMusic

Beth was a top 10 category finalist in both the 2008 and 2009 USA Songwriting Contests, a TAXI top 10 best new songwriter pick of the month in July 2008, and her latest solo acoustic EP “Aardvark” received a nice review and 7.4 rating by Music Connection magazine in Aug 2009. Her songs have graced the top 10 charts at Broadjam and OurStage in multiple genres and have been selected for CD compilations, internet & community radio. Beth describes herself “as a songwriter first, who loves to perform!” and thinks of her "sound" as very much like a mix of an acoustic & electric Neil Young guitar assault and a David Bowie/Iggy Pop voice, which with a full band, blends passionate delivery & a Morrison/Joplin-era sound.

In order to sharpen her songwriting, performance and guitar playing tools even further, Beth, now a woman, both physically and legally, began attending music college at ACM@UCO in Oklahoma City, OK, in January 2011. Beth’s most recently released EP “This Is The Blues!” showcases her current skills on blues guitar and vocals. Beth is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on a new full band psychedelic grunge punk album with producer Trent Bell (Chainsaw Kittens) with a group of some of the best musicians to yet come out of ACM@UCO. Beth & the band’s new music website is “www.BeThisBell.com” if you need more information. She has two bright & beautiful 9 year old twin daughters Abby & Bella.