Beyond Coffee Gregg Gets A Chance To Be Heard Outside Of The Restaurant Scene At The ‘Women In Folk’ Concert

Tiana Gregg doesn’t want to be categorized as the stereotypical coffee-house folkie.

But it’s a hard pigeonhole to escape when you’re a solo artist toting an acoustic guitar and singing songs from the heart. Coffee-house singer is usually the first thing people think of.

Being a solo musician has had its drawbacks for the blossoming Gregg. For three years, she’s had to settle for open-mike nights or coffee-house gigs in order to perform. Which means she gets paid very little, if at all, and she can’t book a show at a club on the weekends.

“I’ve played every kind of open mike and every restaurant,” says the 25-year-old Chewelah singer. “I’m not restaurant music, I’m really not. That’s the only show I can get. It’s really hard to play in restaurants. It’s not for me.

“I don’t think my songs are that folky,” Gregg says. “Some songs are more folky. Some songs are not.”

Though she’s thankful for the opportunities, Gregg has grown tired of sitting in the corner of a room, being both told to play quieter and ignored by patrons.

After all, the singer’s music isn’t background noise nor should it be passed off as such. Like many songwriters, her music demands to be heard.

Gregg has been given an excellent break by being one of the four performers at tonight’s “Women in Folk” concert at The Met. The concert also features roots-rocker Marlee MacLeod, Grammy-nominated Lisa Bell and local country-folk combo the Nancy Lynn Allen Band.

“Wayne Larson (the show’s promoter) called me to play at The Met and I couldn’t believe it, because I could not even get a show past open mike.”

Making matters better, Gregg has assembled a band featuring members of Pointed Sticks and the defunct Suction Goat. With a band behind her, she’s not having as much difficulty booking shows at local clubs.

Playing in front of an audience has fulfilled a life-long dream for the singer-songwriter. Gregg has been writing songs as long as she can remember.

When she was a child, Gregg was given a Barbie-doll microphone. She also followed her dad, who played bass in a band, to numerous practices.

“I just wanted to be in his band so bad,” Gregg recalls. “I would beg him to let me go to practice with him. I thought it was so great.

“I had this Barbie-doll microphone and I would stand in my room and sing into this microphone and make songs up.”

Although she can play clarinet, Gregg didn’t pick up the guitar until she was 22.

“I’m not that good of a guitar player. I always wanted to play guitar and no one would ever show me how to play. I saw in the paper that Music World would take payments. So then I got one.”

A former boyfriend got her started, teaching Gregg her first chords and how to finger pick. From there, she taught herself how to play and started writing songs.

“I’d learn three chords and I’d try to make those three chords into a song. They’re super cheesy,” she says, breaking out in laughter. “We don’t play those songs anymore.”

This year, she recorded her first album, “Giants,” a self-released tape project that was a wedding present from her husband.

“I don’t think it’s that bad for a first tape. Some (songs) are bad,” she laughs. “I had never been in the studio ever. I only made 200.”

Although she’s not bothered by it, Gregg believes it’s tough to compete for attention in the primarily testosterone-based music scene of Spokane.

“I think it’s harder for me because girls and girls connect, and guys and guys connect,” Gregg says. “Guys may not like my music because I’m a girl and I play girl stuff.

“Music has always been dominated by men. If a girl has a Top 10 hit, it’s like, oh my gawd. It’s like this special thing.”

Yet that attitude appears to be changing as more and more female artists are asserting their presence on the charts.

“I think so, too. I’m really lucky. I don’t like Alanis Morissette, but she might help me out.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HAYDN “Women in Folk,” with Marlee MacLeod, Lisa Bell, Tiana Gregg and the Nancy Lynn Allen Band, starts at 8 tonight at The Met. Tickets are $10 at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets and Street Music, and $12 at the door.