July 6 2011

Vicci Martinez, the Tacoma singer that made it to the final four on NBC’s “The Voice,” is returning home for multiple appearances in the Northwest.

Martinez will be performing at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino on July 21, and at the Triple Door in Seattle on July 23.

Martinez lost out in the final round of the NBC show hosted by Carson Daly.

The winner, Javier Colon, was awarded a record contract and a $100,000 prize.

Martinez will be touring the country with her fellow contestants on ‘The Voice’ live tour starting July 27.

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=509890&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Vicci Martinez was a bundle of sequined energy last night at The Voice finale and even after she lost, the singer was still on a high from performing with Train’s Pat Monahan. After her amazing performance, her coach Cee Lo Green mentioned how special this song was to Pat and thanked him for sharing it with Vicci. Vicci spoke to HollywoodLife.com about working with Pat on the song he wrote for his mother after she died and reveals “We are going to do some writing together.”

“I know how passionate he is about that song and what he wrote it for — his mother who passed away. That dude is so sincere and that to me … when you have that amount of fame, you start to feel like you don’t have to do this or that, and the one thing that drives me crazy about celebrities is that they’re given the opportunity to inspire people to do what they’ve done and instead they take that and act like a big tough guy and he was just so [the] opposite. The other thing I found out is that we are from the same town- [Tacoma, Washington] and he said ‘You know, I try to keep this quiet …’

Vicci adds, “It was just a breath of fresh air to have that for me with him. I’d lost my dad too, and that’s him singing to his mom, that’s me singing to my dad- –and my mom who was in the audience.”

The singer not only has plans to work with Pat, she says she’d love to work with Cee Lo despite his busy schedule. “We have [spoken about it]. We shall see.”

Vicci was definitely a fan favorite throughout the competition, and was a joy to watch on stage. During a commercial break she screamed out how much the final four adored each other as they all hugged each other tightly. It was a touching moment for the crowd. “Before the camera came on, I told everyone in the audience that we all love each other and it is true,” she says. “But in terms of Javier winning, he deserves it. We all deserve it, but its really important right now for America to have a role model like him. He is a family man, he puts his family and their interests first and I think everyone out there — not just men — to have that kind of a heart that he has, [he’s] really sincere, and I love him for it.”

We’ll get to see the singer again when she joins the final eight contestants on tour but in the meantime, she has a message for her fans: “Hey, I took a leap of faith. and I was afraid to do this show because I didn’t want people to think I was a cover singer. And look where I am now. One thing Cee Lo said to me is don’t forget to be a fan. Every song that I sing I love and am a fan of it and I am living my truth now, doing what I want to do and it is because I put that fear aside. Please do that for yourself, do not be scared of anything.”

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/06/30/the-voice-vicci-martinez-pat-monahan-special-meaning-duet-finale-video-drops-of-jupiter/

The final four contestants on “The Voice” were feeling the pressure as they got their last chance to perform Tuesday, June 28, in a show that delivered rousing rock songs and empowering ballads.

The four coaches – Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton – opened the first show of the two-night finale with a rendition of, surprise, David Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” The arrangement started with Levine singing the opening “Umm boom bah day,” and allowed for Blake’s distinctly country voice to not clash with Aguilera’s vocal acrobatics.

Host Carson Daly kept up with the “pressure” theme, saying it “is everywhere for our four finalists.”

The show format changed this week, with the final four (Vicci Martinez, Javier Colon, Dia Frampton and Beverly McClellan) competing against each other instead of their teammates, and with each singing both a duet with their coaches and an original song.

Before the competitors got started, a video retrospective played.

It started with a narrator recalling, “Ten weeks ago, the world’s most exciting singing competition premiered,” and emphasized the show’s shtick, that the winner would be chosen “based on voice alone.”

During the look back, each coach commented on their final representative. Aguilera said of McClellan, “She really is that one in a million performer. Shelton of Frampton, “This girl is a shooting star.” Levine of Colon, “This guy’s voice is out of control.” And, Green about Martinez, “Sorry guys, but we will be victorious.”

After reminding viewers what’s on the table for the winner ($100,000, a recording deal with Universal Republic Records and the title of The Voice), Daly introduced the final four, who stood beaming. When asked what sort of pressure she felt, McClellan replied, “I don’t know. I’m here to rock and roll.”

Before anyone could rock and roll, the show checked in with Alison Haislip in “The Voice” social media room. Haislip chatted with Martinez about her lack of sleep and with McClellan about the “stiff competition.”

After a commercial break, and before Colon’s original song performance, Daly announced that “The Voice” will be going on a national tour. The four second-place team finishers: Nakia, Casey Weston, Xenia and Frenchie Davis, will join the final four for the live shows.

The tour is scheduled to start July 27 in Los Angeles, Daly said, adding “tickets, of course, are on sale right now.”

Colon, the lovable family man with a voice, was the first to perform his original – or, rather, a song written by music industry bigwigs for the contestants. He performed songwriter and producer Rodney Jerkins’ “Stitch by Stitch,” a radio-ready song about the healing power of love.

Dedicating his performance to his “wonderful wife and family,” Colon started the song showcasing his haunting vocals and then showed off his talent by belting out the chorus.

Afterward, Aguilera said, “The song sounds like it fits you,” and Green agreed, saying Colon could “embody a song written for you.” Levine showed emotion, shrugging his shoulders in relief and telling Colon, “It’s over. Everyone knows an amazing singer, but you’re also an amazing guy.” He cleared his throat before adding, “It’s really hard for me to root for somebody that I don’t genuinely love very much.”

Frampton and Blake performed the first duet, a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” Dressed in matching dark suits and sporting black Ray-Ban sunglasses, they played guitars while giving an energetic performance of the classic rock song.

Martinez’s original song, “Afraid to Sleep,” produced by Butch Walker, was next.

“It relates to everyone out there,” she said of the song. “It’s an epic song and it builds.”

The performance started softly, with the sounds of a piano and Martinez’s raspy voice. A song about love lost framed within a now-hollow room, it switched tempo nicely, amplifying her vocal range.

After a guest performance of Pit Bull and Ne-Yo’s dance club anthem “Tonight,” Haislip updated viewers on “The Voice”-related buzz words trending on social media, including under pressure, tom petty, and Ray Ban.

McClellan’s duet with Aguilera was next. The always-humble Aguilera introduced the choice of song, her own hit “Beautiful,” saying McClellan was perfect to sing it with and to “inspire people.” McClellan was thrilled with the song choice, saying it was her favorite song.

In a toned down version of McClellan, she and Aguilera sat in high-top chairs surrounded by the band in Eagles-esque fashion. McClellan wore a plaid shirt while Aguilera wore a black blazer and oversized hat.

McClellan held her own next to the diva, and looked into the camera passionately when she sang the lyrics, “I am beautiful, no matter what they say.”

Frampton’s original was next, a melodious mix called “Inventing Shadows” by Fraser T. Smith. She wore a red dress and sat at a piano as the performance started. During the first chorus, dancers appeared behind screens, casting shadows as they moved. The distinct break in her voice fit the song, hitting the high notes along with the low.

After the song, Aguilera commented on the dancers, recalling how her fellow judges “made fun” of her for a similar stage stunt. In a rare occurrence, Levine agreed with Aguilera, calling the dancers “distracting.” Shelton didn’t seem to mind, saying Frampton’s performance was “amazing.”

Colon and Levine performed their duet, Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” next. Before the performance, Colon said they couldn’t do it “better than Michael,” and Levine agreed, saying they can just “have fun with it.”

While it wasn’t better than Jackson, the impressive performance did the late King of Pop’s song justice. Each man even added Jackson’s signature “whoos” and “hhks.” The arrangement, like most of Levine’s, was well thought out and blended the two singer’s voices beautifully.

Next up was CMA entertainer of the year Brad Paisley, wearing a white cowboy hat and performing his hit “Don’t Drink the Water” with Shelton.

After another social media check-in, it was McClellan’s turn to sing her original, “Love Sick” by Bill Appleberry.

She started the performance standing in front of a piano, where she stayed until the last part of the song, when she ended up laying down on top of the instrument. Riding the emotional waves of each crescendo, she stomped, threw her fists and bobbed her head while she sang. The song was a toe-tapping rock ballad, with the chorus repeating “Love sick, I’m sick of love.”

McClellan got a standing ovation from the judges, and Green said McClellan was one of his favorites.

The final performance was Martinez and Green’s duet, PatBenatar’s “Love is a Battlefield.” Green said Martinez could be the new Benatar, “if all the young whippersnappers out there would go out and do your homework and find out exactly who Pat Benatar is.”

Flanked by young and talented dancers, Green growled the opening lyrics as he walked out to the stage wearing red football pads with chrome spikes and chains, a red Mohawk and matching armbands. Martinez wore a black bodice with silver accents, and had one black smudge under eye like football player. The high-energy performance was one of the more impressive of the season, and a great way to end the final performance show.

Daly wrapped up by reminding viewers the results episode will air an hour earlier than usual, and that guest appearances include Shelton’s wife, country star Miranda Lambert, and Stevie Nicks.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2011/06/29/20110629the-voice-recap-review-final-four-finale.html#ixzz1RHR6YfA6

June 22 2011

Vicci Martínez nailed her “warrior dance” once again on “The Voice,” as she performed “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence And The Machine as a tribute to her father.

“I was kind of in a funk when my father passed away,” Martínez said during rehearsals. “Even though he’s not around, he is here with me and he is going to take me to the final four.”

Martínez told her music coach, music producer and singer Cee Lo Green, that her father was a plumber who never lived out his dream of becoming a professional singer.

Green was so impressed with Martínez’s rehearsal and couldn’t wait to see her on stage, saying she had a “genuine pain” in her voice.

He later explained the reasons for choosing this rousing song to the camera: “This song is right for Vicci, because I think she wants to be healed.” He then implored her to get out there and make her Daddy proud.

Forceful and determined, Martínez took the stage debuting new hair—an over-the-top mohawk that fellow coach Adam Levine, from Maroon 5, called “beautiful” and “strong.”

Pounding two drums while wearing a vaguely ’80s white get-up she started off singing a little timidly, but quickly gained speed and was running all around the stage as guys with drums followed her around.

“No questions. The most powerful performance of the night,” said country star and coach Blake Sheldon.

Christina Aguilera agreed, saying that Martínez already shows sings of being a pro.

“That was a great performance and I loved it,” Aguilera said. “What I loved about it the most is that at some point the mic pad came off and you didn’t skip a beat.”

Aguilera mentioned how this happens to her often when she’s touring and performing and she appreciated that Martínez kept her “pitch on.”

Green was ecstatic and proud to have the Washington state native on his team.

“You have me on the edge of my seat. You are so right. The dog days are over, the future is so bright for you,” Green said with a smile. “I love the war dance, the warrior spirit. That’s what the drums represent.”

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2011/06/22/voice-vicci-martinez-gives-tribute-to-her-father-frenchie-davies-sings-like/#ixzz1RHBgZ9Sg
http://popcrush.com/vicci-martinez-the-voice-dog-days-are-over/

Vicci Martinez did not win a slot to perform at Bumbershoot this year.

But the Tacoma singer-songwriter (who has played every Puget Sound venue she could, from Jazzbones to Bite of Seattle to the Triple Door) has plenty going on in the music biz.

Now she’s working overtime to win the grand prize on “The Voice,” the breakout new TV singing contest. The petite, impassioned blues belter is a leading contestant on the NBC hit — and a newly minted celebrity.

“The day I first appeared on the show, April 26, the response on social media was just ridiculous,” Martinez said from Los Angeles, on break from a whirlwind of rehearsals and coaching sessions. “It aired first on the East Coast, and all of a sudden I was getting all these Facebook requests, Twitters, just this huge response.”

Martinez also blew away the celebrity pop-star judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green (who picked her for his vocal “team” on the show), Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, with her galvanic rendition of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”

After besting another strong singer in a duet battle, Martinez will try on Tuesday to win over the voting “Voice” viewers in the quarterfinal round — another step toward a prize of $100,000 in cash and a major recording contract.

The affable, down-to-earth Tacoma native shared her excitement, and anxiety: “It’s this voting thing. I gotta get out the troops!”

A decade ago, she passed on other chances to wrangle votes. At 16, while attending Tacoma’s Stadium High School, this spunky daughter of a Mexican plumber dad and an ESL teacher mom aced her early auditions for TV’s mega singing competition, “American Idol.” (She had earlier performed on TV’s “Star Search.”) But Martinez chose not to continue.

Why? “I definitely just didn’t believe I was ready for it. I felt like I needed to grow up first. To represent yourself on TV at that age … I knew it wasn’t going to be right for me.”

Martinez also had some beefs with “Idol” producers. “They told me they had to change my style, I had to rock my look out more, which I didn’t want. And I’m a songwriter, and they were big on owning anything you created.”

Instead, Martinez worked hard at her craft and paid years of dues in local gigs. “I got my first paycheck when I was about 16,” she said, “and moved away from home at 17, and then I was definitely scrounging.”

But gradually, her guitar chops and soulful pipes did not go unnoticed. She and her band have a solid local fan base. She just recorded her fourth album (“Live at Jazzbones”), and has opened for such stars as Sting, Annie Lennox and B.B. King. And Martinez notes with pride that “The Voice” producers came to her.

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and nothing else. I’ve met with labels wanting to sign me and said no because I haven’t wanted to compromise myself. [‘The Voice’] found me, wanted me to audition, and they’ve let me keep being myself.”

Martinez, who is openly gay, appreciates that her girlfriend Kate Monthy, director of the MLK Ballet in Tacoma, has been cheering her on. And she’s happy to choose her own songs, and stay with her casual pants-and- T-shirts look.

“We’ve joked about it,” she recounts with a laugh. “One day in wardrobe I put on this crazy-expensive, black, tight dress, and we sent a picture of me in it to the producers. They said, ‘We hope you’re joking, because this is too crazy!’

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2015311841_vicci14.html