Press
By Barry Fox
of The Patriot-News
The five-minute Meghan Cary, "Behind the Music:"
Singing to herself, participating in chorus, learning three guitar chords and belting out Neil Young and Eagles songs in her room as a youngster served as the Hershey native's introduction to music.
Showing an aptitude for math, she began to get kudos for her schoolwork, was nudged toward a career as a mathematician or scientist and music was put aside.
At Duke University, studying biomedical engineering, Cary played music casually with friends, realizing performing was what she wanted and switched her major to drama. It wasn't until the end of graduate school at Florida State University's Asolo Conservatory that she picked up a guitar again.
"I would be drawn to do it all the time," Cary said. "But I kept deflecting the music."
She moved to New York to work in regional theater, and while in a production in Cumberland, Md., in 1993, she met musician Matthew Black.
They began performing together, Black playing an old Martin guitar, Cary singing harmonies. They became romantically involved, and eventually were engaged.
Black moved to New York and for two years they played gigs throughout the Northeast while Cary pursued acting jobs.
A manic-depressive, Black was on a number of medications, Cary said. During a period when he was changing medications, Black had a couple of beers, his heart suddenly stopped, and he died.
"I wasn't a musician, but when he passed away I wasn't ready to let that go." Cary said. "I started writing my own stuff because I had so much to say, but I never intended to play it for people."
Soon after Black's death, the owner of O'Flaherty's in Manhattan called to book the duo. Cary explained what had happened, and she was asked if she wanted to play solo.
"I'd written three songs and knew 'Me and Bobby McGee' and had two, 40-minute sets to fill." Cary said. "And I did it. I filled it in with a lot of stories and made people laugh. I just dove in. being an actor was definitely a bonus. I just said, 'I'll be a rock star today.'"
She eventually wrote more songs. Not surprisingly, the words that came out were more about loss and trying to move forward and becaame a way for her to survive Black's death.
Those songs were compiled and recorded on the acoustic EP "New Shoes," a disc that was named a 1998 "critic's choice" in Billboard magazine.
Others praised Cary as "one of the brightest new faces on the music scene today," "fresh and intoxicating" and "extraordinary."
This star on the rise returns home at 8 p.m. Thursday to eprform with local rock darlings Clubber and the jazz/rock trio, b, formerly Walk Like Shaggy, at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts' Stage TWo, 222 Market St., Harrisburg.
Tickets are $7. Readers may call 221-0552 for more information and to purchase tickets.
Cary still makes her living as an actor, mostly doing voice-overs for commercials. She was the "warm mom voice" in a spot for First Games for Kids and a rollerskater in an ad for 10-10-321, telephone service.
She's also a charter member in a Shakespearean company.
"I've always enjoyed variety, and the idea of having one foucs seems like heaven to me." Cary said. "But I know me, and I'll want to jump on stage."
Music is where she estimates she spends 90 percent of her sizable energy supply, writing material for "Onion Dream," an album to be released this spring.
"'New Shoes' sort of wrote itself," Cary said. "Pain sort of focuses you. 'Onion Dream' has been more difficult. There's so much going on with my life, but not a lot of reflection time. I've written five songs in the last year, two of which are good."
Despite her pessimism, "Rough Cuts," three tracks from the new disc, finds Cary to be a smart insightful writer, with a beautiful Natalie Merchantesque voice, this time surrounded by a band, giving her a lush, rich sound.
It's a tantalizing peek at an album that could vault Cary beyond her New York, Chicago, Boston fan base. But there's still the matter of that "homecoming" show, a rare midstate appearance for her first fans.
"My mom is the most amazing PR person. She got 20 tickets and sold them all." Cary said. "I have three older brothers and a sister and friends from high school home for the holidays that will be there. I'm nervous to play in front of friends who remember me as a math and science geek."
Barry fox may be reached at 255-8225 or bfox@patriot-news.com.