Kris McKay’s Vocal Point

Texas singer-songwriter-guitarist Kris McKay knows the way to failure.

After stints in the roots-oriented rock bands Hundredth Monkey and the Wild Seeds, her musical career was on the upswing when Arista Records signed her as a solo artist in 1990. But her debut release’s stylistic diversity made it hard to categorize and market, and with little promotional support, sales lagged. Unable to break a creative deadlock, McKay and Arista parted ways in 1992.

With her confidence shaken and her gigs sporadic, McKay had to find work as a waitress. She was bunking on a friend’s couch, considering giving up music altogether--until her mom weighed in.

“I called home, and I remember her telling me, ‘You’ve always had such tremendous faith and hope; you can’t lose that now.’ And I said, ‘Ya know, you’re right,’ ” McKay said by phone from her Austin home. Accompanied by bassist Mark Harris and drummer Matt Laug, she will open the Long Beach Museum of Art’s 12th annual Summer Concert Series on Wednesday night (see accompanying schedule).

Just a month after that heart to heart, McKay recalled, fellow Texan and blues-rock guitarist Charlie Sexton invited her to work on some demos.

“Man, I jumped at the chance, which actually led to me playing in his band for a while. That really kick-started my career again.”

She began writing songs and performing in local bars and clubs. Then, two years ago, a Shanachie Records rep caught her show at Austin’s annual SXSW music festival. After hearing her newly recorded demo, the New Jersey-based, folk-oriented label signed her.

Last year’s “Things That Show” served not only as her Shanachie debut but also as a long overdue comeback vehicle. A mix of originals and cover songs by Joan Armatrading, Matthew Sweet, Son Volt and the English Beat, the 11-song collection moves seamlessly from catchy pop-rock to rootsy, folk-based laments, all driven home by soulful, elastic vocals.

A self-described “confessional songwriter,” McKay sketches romantic ups and downs, from falling hard in love (“Right Now”) to dissing a deadbeat boyfriend (“Swinging Door”).

“Part of the [latter] song is about this irresponsible guy who really pissed me off,” McKay explained. “He would appear and leave. I felt like I had a revolving door at the front of my place. But I finally realized that I became so upset because he was actually reflecting some of my own misbehavior.”

McKay is particularly excited about “Perfect Longing,” a song she just co-wrote with members of the Austin-bred, now L.A.-based Borrowers, which showcases her lyrics, including: “If I could just live in every moment/I would be just fine/If I could just give without thoughts of receiving/I’d be happy with what’s mine.”

*

It’s “kind of a love song that’s catchy enough to be a hit single,” she said.

But McKay primarily defines herself as an interpreter. Whether covering songs by Prince, Sweet, Armatrading, the lesser-known band Satchel or singer-songwriter Bruce Robinson, she relishes the challenge of putting her own stamp on the material.

“I started out as an interpreter, and I don’t want to lose that ability to crawl inside someone else’s song and make it my own,” she said. “It’s not easy finding songs, either, because I look for ones that speak to me emotionally . . . that relate to my own experiences in some real way.”

*

Working with an independent label, McKay said, has helped fuel her resurgence.

“I’ve gained a lot of confidence by focusing on finding my own voice as a writer and pushing myself more than I ever have,” she said, citing the Indigo Girls, Patti Griffin and Rickie Lee Jones as influences. “I’m learning that you have to remove every obstacle, anything that will suck creative energy out of you, and just keep moving forward.”

With her next Shanachie release scheduled for February or March, she now realizes that a music career doesn’t have to hinge on a deal with a major label.

“With an indie, a lot more attention is paid to the artist, as opposed to the end product. And there’s certainly less chance of getting lost in that big wankin’ thing, ya know . . . the corporate machinery or whatever you want to call it.”

* Kris McKay performs Wednesday night outdoors at the Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach. Feather River opens. 7 p.m. $8-$11, children under 12 are free. (562) 439-2119.