A Whoreshoes’ Homecoming

The last time The Whoreshoes trundled into town, they had a packed Brewhouse stomping and hollering. Their rollicking brand of saloon-drenched roots music was an instant hit and left Santa Barbara craving more. Armed with a new recording titled Get Lucky, a longing to escape from their San Francisco home base, and a wit sharper than a Dwight Yoakam suit, the all-female ensemble returns to town on Saturday night to satisfy the masses with an all-ages show at Muddy Waters. And for Santa Barbara-raised Whoreshoe Camilla Lincoln, it is not only musical roots that run deep here in town.

For a band with such a distinctive live presence, how do you distill The Whoreshoes experience into a recording? We recorded live at a wonderful home studio in San Francisco with our sound guru Erik Walker, who lent his talents and silly wigs to our project. We record best by simulating a live show; everyone playing together with bad puns flying fast and furious, and our buddies Jack Daniel and Sailor Jerry on hand to lend authenticity to the whoops and hollers. But really there is nothing like our live show, where none of the questionable humor is edited out.

What can folks expect from The Whoreshoes live experience? A reprieve from self-serious shoe gazers. A reminder of what roots country music sounds like. And a night of boot stomping and unabashed fun!

You guys are seemingly willing to play anywhere and everywhere. What have been some of your more unusual gigs? Antwerp prison was a real thrill; they went crazy when we played “Folsom Prison Blues.” Recently, we played on a reality TV show called Girl Meets Cowboy as the jamboree band, and ended up playing a full set that night for the cowboys and camera crew. We had a ball and even got to ride horses! That was even more fun than the Gay Rodeo in La Honda, California. But nothing beats that time we played that private concert to Dwight Yoakam standing waist-deep in his hot tub.

Who have been some of the most personally impressive musical types you’ve shared a stage with so far? Wanda Jackson-[she’s] an inspiration in fringe who [wished us well] in Holland; Old Crow Medicine Show-[the] sexiest string changers in the land, and they whittled us some fine sticks; Devil Makes Three-tattooed inspiration from Santa Cruz; Rube Waddell-a perfect example of why busking is good for you and still one of the best performers around.

I believe your ties to Santa Barbara are more than just musical, right? After falling in love in Mallorca, Spain, my parents moved to Santa Barbara and discovered me under a cabbage leaf in Mission Canyon. Santa Barbara was a great place to grow up, and now it’s a great place to visit!

Where is this tour taking you? As Mark Twain once said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was my summer in San Francisco.” Come August, we’re ready for some sun, so the five of us are heading south through Los Angeles and San Diego. At least that’s the plan. If we wake up in Mexico on Sunday, I won’t complain.

And what do you hope this tour will afford you guys? A chance to spread our gospel of whiskey, women, and song. : And to eat some SoCal tacos.

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The Whoreshoes headline a one-night-only show with Dying Crooners and Big Jugs on Saturday, August 18, at 8 p.m. at Muddy Waters (508 E. Haley St.).