Additional Details

Additional details

Been Together Since: 1995

Sounds Like: Lucinda Williams, Beth Orton and a bit of Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Members

Lisa Novak -- vocals, guitar
Michael Poulos -- bass
Paul Valdez -- drums
Andy McWilliams -- guitar

MP3S

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Track 02

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Track 04

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The Hard Way

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Close As I'll Ever Be

Audio Interview

Discography

Perfect Mess, 2001
Tougher Skin, 2004
Too Shallow to Swim, 2006
Loveland, 2008

Review

Be careful what you gab about under the hair dryer with salon owner and musician Lisa Novak. It just might end up in one of her songs.

"Part of the balancing act is getting inspiration from all the stories I hear," Novak says, referring to her job at All Decked Out, the salon she runs on South Shepherd. "It's a good cross-section of folks that I get, from the artsy, Montrose types to the River Oaks (crowd). It's a good location."

Novak has worked at the location for 15 years and became owner five years ago.

In between dye jobs and shampoos, Novak has steadily built a successful career as a singer and a songwriter. She fronted the band Big Holiday a few years ago but has since gone solo. That's when things really kicked into high gear.

Novak's latest disc, Perfect Mess, was released in late 2004. It's a breezy mix of radio-ready rock, country and pop grooves, anchored by Novak's thoughtful songwriting. There's a wind-swept weariness to tracks The Hard Way, Close As I'll Ever Be, World Gone Wrong and In the Morning.

Novak's performance schedule has picked up recently, including a weekly gig Tuesdays at Big Top Lounge on Main. She's also scored a gig Friday at Dan Electro's, opening for Susan Gibson, who has become a role model for aspiring songwriters. The Amarillo-based performer (and former member of the Groobees) penned the Dixie Chicks' smash hit, Wide Open Spaces.

Novak has also cut down her schedule at the salon, but she doesn't plan on leaving it anytime soon. That stability affords her the opportunity to tackle the unpredictable world of music.

"Lately, it's been a little harder . . . but after so many years of doing hair on Saturdays, I've finally quit. I'm down to three days a week (doing hair)," Novak says. "But these Tuesday nights, they kill me, because I go into work the next day."

Novak's original plan was to be solely a songwriter.

"I never set out to be a singer. It just kind of happened over the years. I always assumed the songs were good, but I'm not," Novak says. "I think I based it more on the fact that I never set out to do it. But lately, it's more about (my voice). It's just kind of been in the last, maybe couple of years that that's evolved."

Even with that newfound vocal confidence, songwriting is Novak's focus. She says it's equal parts inspiration and process, with the key being the ability to balance both. Soon she hopes to purchase some out-of-town property for use as a creative outlet. Until then, ideas can — and will likely continue to — strike at any time.

"The best ones are (the ones that come) randomly, when they just pop in your head. You can wake up in the middle of the night and have a full-blown song, but unless you discipline yourself to get up and write it down so you don't forget it, it's always gone," Novak says.

But no matter where her music ends up, you can be sure Novak will always have kind words for the folks who kept her creative juices — and the hair products — flowing.

"Personally, I don't know how anyone's a musician without having a hair salon. All my clients over the years have come out (to my shows), and they refer friends to come to gigs," Novak says. "For (some of) them, it's kind of a novelty. They may come once, they may become fans. It may just be something for them to do."

-- Joey Guerra | October 27, 2005