Gaby Moreno performing at the Apple Store in Santa Monica

Okay, so I know exurb is about “out here” but sometimes you gotta get away from “out here” and go “in there.” Especially when your favorite female vocalist is playing “in there.” I headed to Santa Monica to see Gaby Moreno play at the Apple Store on 3rd Street Promenade. Although we have a good sized Apple Store “out here” I’m not sure it lends itself (demographically, at least) to hosting indy musicians as much as the store in Santa Monica.

Moreno, a Guatamalan native living in Los Angeles, has a soulful sound you would expect to hear coming out of a woman twice her age.  She moved to LA in 2001 to attend school at The Musicians Institute. She writes her own songs, and incorporates both English and Spanish into many of them. She made history as the first Latin category winner to take home the “Maxell Song of the Year” Award for her song “Escondidos,” written with Ari Shine and Victor Indrizzo.

While you may not know Moreno as a household name (yet) you may recognize one of her songs. She composed  the theme song for NBC’s hit show “Parks and Recreation” starring Amy Poehler. (Don’t hold that against her.) Songs of hers I love include “Wrong Side of the Road” and  ”Little Sorrow” from her 2008 first album Still The Unknown. But, really, every single song on this album is beautiful.

Want to see her for yourself? She’ll be playing (a little) closer to home on the 12th of December at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood with Mark Goldberg and David Piltch. A treat you won’t want to miss!

To my surprise, another young singer was playing with Moreno,Vicci Martinez of Seattle. Just as soulful, and a little more animated, Martinez has

become my (second) favorite female vocalist this year. And as discovering new talent always feels like Christmas to me, I discovered Martinez has been on the cusp of mainstream stardom with successful appearances on CBS-TV’s nationally syndicated Star Search and winning the regional tryouts for American Idol in 2000 at the tender age of 16. But she has turned down such offers in favor of pursuing success on her own terms and staying true to her musical vision. Inspiration to my ears!

Lucky for the small crowd at The Apple Store, we got both highly talented young ladies in one evening. It may not be the most intimate setting, shoppers, retail workers and lots and lots of background noise, but I was thoroughly pleased to be the one with the camera and a good seat.