Jann Browne Leaves Nashville Behind

What happens when a country singer goes for the brass ring and misses?

Nothing terrible, if you ask Jann Browne.

A few years ago, this talented veteran of the Orange County music scene was a solid country contender. In 1990, Browne’s debut album, “Tell Me Why,” spent six months on the Billboard country charts and yielded two Top 20 singles.

In 1991, she tried to capitalize with a second album for Curb Records, “It Only Hurts When I Laugh.” It was a strong effort, richer in emotional depth than the successful debut. But it didn’t sell.

So last year Browne moved to Nashville and spent most of 1992 seeking to land a new record deal and further her reputation as a songwriter. But the record companies made no offers, and, Browne says, the songs flowed no more quickly than they had back in Laguna Hills.

Homesick for Southern California (where Browne, who was raised in Indiana, had lived since 1978), she returned last October to the same townhouse she had put up for sale when she left for Nashville.

“It’s kind of a peaceful, fun time after two years of chaos, trying to make it in this wacko business,” said Browne, who is back playing the Swallows Inn in San Juan Capistrano, the little honky-tonk that has been her home base for many years (she’ll be there again Feb. 25-28).

“I’m playing and keeping the pipes oiled and going. I’m just having a good time with it.”

If the brass ring eluded her in Nashville, Browne feels that the merry-go-round is still spinning for her. But she is considering goals other than a high-profile, big-label contract.

“I’m still in pursuit of a career, but I don’t know if it (will be) the fame-and-success story that I thought was going to happen.”

Browne continues to write songs and record home-studio demos, mainly with her lead guitarist and next-door neighbor, Matt Barnes. She also plans to tour in Europe this spring or summer, her third round of concerts there.

Steve Fishell, who produced both of Browne’s albums, tried to help her land a deal during 1992. What she ran into, Fishell said from his Nashville studio, was a country scene where it’s much harder for women to find a spot in the mainstream than it is for men.

Fishell noted that women buy the vast majority of country albums, and labels cater to them with a predominantly male stable of singers.

“It would be nice to see everybody open the doors a bit more to women,” Fishell said. “I spent 10 years as Emmylou Harris’ steel-guitar player, and I think (Browne) is one of the strongest female vocalists I’ve heard.

“She deserves more than is happening right now,” he said. “We’re all very frustrated. But everyone knows she’s a hotshot. It’s just a matter of time, I think.”

Browne, who is in her late 30s, says she is thinking more these days about how she can broaden her reach as a songwriter.

“I’m not putting myself in any boundaries. It’s a good time to explore and not have to worry about writing a hit and doing formulated stuff. We pull some stuff in from a limb (while writing songs), and it’s fun for me. I don’t have to worry if it’s going on the radio or not.”

Browne said the artists who have captured her interest lately are singer-songwriters who operate outside the country mainstream.

“I’m really into Kevin Welch, Nanci Griffith, Iris DeMent, people who create their own style,” she said. “Lucinda Williams, Jimmy Lauderdale, Rosie Flores--they’ve given themselves the OK to explore.

“I’ve listened to traditional country all my life and I still love it,” she added, “but it’s a bit confining. I have to be more adventurous.”

THE FAREWELL BLUES: Blues singer-guitarists Will Brady and Jodi Siegel have ended their 12-year musical partnership to pursue solo careers. “We’re still really good pals, but I want to do my own band, and he wants to play coffeehouses,” Siegel said. “Sometimes you’ve got to move on.”

Based in Laguna Beach, Brady & Siegel had performed as a duo and with a backup band. They had one album, “Beer & Donuts.”

Brady, a veteran of the O.C. music scene since the 1960s, said he began playing solo gigs on the side about six months ago.

“I really liked it a lot. It brought out a lot of stuff I’d kind of forgotten about. I play just whatever occurs to me, taking longer solos and stretching out a bit. Our thing (as a duo) had become a little samey. Sometimes you just have to make a change.” Brady plays Monday from 7:30 to 10:30 pm at Renaissance Cafe in Brea MarketPlace, 955 E. Birch St., Suite L, Brea. (714) 256-2233.

Siegel recently had one of her songs, “So Many Rivers to Cross,” covered by Maria Muldaur. She has put together a band with drummer Tom Fillman and bassist Jim Hanson, both holdovers from the Brady & Siegel band, and Danny Timms, a keyboards player currently touring with Kris Kristofferson.

Siegel said she expects to be back on the bandstand next month, after taking time off for oral surgery. Before calling the split final, Brady & Siegel will play three more shows booked before they decided to part--a private party, and a March 5-6 club engagement at Patrick’s in San Diego.

LET THEM EAT . . . : Cake, a new band featuring two ex-members of Imagining Yellow Suns, will play its first show tonight at Bogart’s in Long Beach, with a second show Saturday at Club Mesa in Costa Mesa.

Steve Cross, the lead singer and guitarist, and drummer Rob Fadtke are the holdovers from Imagining Yellow Suns, an Orange County band that achieved local popularity in the late ‘80s with shows that emphasized a tough, psychedelic guitar sound and floating, three-part harmonies.

IYS issued a good debut album on Doctor Dream Records in 1989, then quickly imploded because of personality conflicts.

Joining Cross and Fadtke in the Long Beach-based Cake are bassist Scott Evers and violinist-guitarist Rebecca Lynn, who formerly played in Knock Down Ginger.

Fadtke said that he and Cross stuck together after Imagining Yellow Suns broke up, sharing a house and writing songs. About a month ago, he said, they had a get-together at their house with the two other Suns alumni, singer-bassist Tim Bugge and singer-guitarist Ed Bernard.

“We were just reminiscing and getting reacquainted,” Fadtke said. “We’ve all matured, and it was really nice. We’ve gotten over that roadblock, the ego part of it. We were trying to get a (reunion) show together, but it didn’t pan out. I don’t think either (Bugge or Bernard) are doing too much music now.”

ALIVE AGAIN: The Living Tradition folk concert series is resuming after a layoff of several months. Marley’s Ghost, a quartet with country, bluegrass, rock and R & B influences, will kick off the series March 13.

Rosalie Sorrels performs May 8, and Bruce (Utah) Phillips on June 12. The latter two are unheralded but exemplary figures in American folk music, and both put on excellent concerts in 1992 tour stops in Orange County.

The shows take place at the Ball Junior High School cafeteria, 1500 W. Ball Road, Anaheim.

The Occasional String Band, which produces the Living Tradition concerts, also puts on an old-time folk dance party at the school on the third Saturday of every month. Midwestern fiddler Mel Durham will be the band’s guest this Saturday. Information: (714) 638-1466 or (310) 835-4554.