Anne McCue

In her relatively short career, Aussie blueswoman Anne McCue has played all over the world, veering in such seemingly opposing directions as Lilith Fair and the bars and hotels of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. McCue was struck with the blues after watching D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan documentary Don't Look Back, a movie she says began her transformation from hopeful novelist into lead guitar player and eventually accomplished songwriter. After stints as a guitarist in two of Australia's top bands, McCue drew a literal Who's Who of Americana as guests for her fourth solo album, 2006's Koala Motel: Lucinda Williams, Nancy Wilson, Jim Lauderdale and John Doe (X, the Knitters). Produced by longtime Dwight Yoakam sideman Dusty Wakeman, Motel is as good as power trios get these days. McCue may be from the Southern hemisphere, but her music has that Deep South swamp feel of icons like Tony Joe White and the modern snap of bands like North Mississippi Allstars. Fans of longtime Dan Electro regulars Carolyn Wonderland and Tracy Conover should feel all warm and fuzzy when McCue plugs in.