Sure, it was a big deal when Tacoma singer-songwriter Vicci Martinez performed twice on CBS-TV's "Star Search" in April.
But one surprising emotion came to mind when the petite, laid-back teen recalled the two episodes she appeared on, each
seen by an estimated 14 million viewers.
"Sometimes I get a little embarrassed by the 'Star Search' thing," she said, grinning broadly as she slumped on a stool
Tuesday afternoon at Sixth Avenue nightclub Fenders.
"I'm singing other people's songs, and I'm in makeup wearing things I would never wear," she said. "They tried to get
me to wear something that was kind of funky and hippie looking - but of course kind of LA and plastic. I hated it."
Creative differences with the makeup staff aside, Martinez - a regular performer at such local venues as Jazzbones,
the Swiss and Shakabrah Java - made a pretty big impression.
She was a rarity on the show, according to "Star Search" executive talent producer Sarajane Smollin: She could play guitar.
And although celebrity judge Naomi Judd criticized Martinez for not singing Bonnie Raitt's "Love Sneakin' Up on You" clearly,
she added, "But you got the goods."
And Martinez lost by the narrowest of margins on the April 10 show. Not that she should be especially bummed about losing;
among those who have finished second on the show are Justin Timberlake, LeAnn Rimes and Britney Spears. (Whatever happened
to those guys, anyway?)
Martinez's appearance tonight at Jazzbones will likely be the teen's last Tacoma gig until March.
Originally, her hiatus was planned to allow her to revamp her live show. Martinez is looking for a rhythm section for her
band, and said she has toyed with playing drums and violin, in addition to the usual acoustic guitar, at future shows.
Martinez also has written about 15 songs for the forthcoming follow-up to her independently released "Sleep to Dream" album.
She's played a few of them to favorable response. "A lot of people like the stuff I'm doing now a lot more than the stuff I was
doing before," Martinez said.
But her time off will have to be put on hold. Several Seattle venues began booking her for shows, many hooked by a DVD of the
"Star Search" performances that Jazzbones booking agent Reed Riley has been shopping around the region. Martinez fantasizes that
Dave Matthews will show up at one of her Seattle shows and sign her to his ATO imprint.
"It sounds funny, and a lot of people laugh when I say it," she said. "But I just relate to a lot of things he's done.
That's what I want to do all spelled out."
But even the Seattle shows might have to be put on hold based on events that have transpired since Martinez performed to a
standing ovation at the Miss Washington USA pageant early this month in Renton.
There she caught the eye of Nashville-based producer and talent scout Alvin Williams and performed for him again backstage.
"When she enters a room she just lights up a room," said Williams, who ran Music World Gospel, a label established by Beyonce
Knowles' father, Mathew Knowles.
"Her stage presence is there, her vocals, her songwriting," Williams said. "You go through a thousand artists to come across an
artist like this. ... I'm just surprised she hasn't been signed yet, being tucked away up in Tacoma."
Williams plans to fly Martinez to Nashville, Tenn., where she will perform, record some songs and possibly appear on a local
morning news show "Talk of the Town."
Though Williams said it was important not to rush into a deal or recording, he predicted Martinez would be signed and release
an album by the end of 2004.
"You need to buy her CD now because it's gonna be a collector's item," he said.
