Katy Perry makes Bay Area debut

[Captain Barbossa]

New Year's show introduces buzz-worthy up-and-comer

By Bernadette Harris / Daily News Staff Writer
Katy Perry has had a really good year, and 2008 promises to open a lot more doors for this dynamic performer.

The 23-year-old Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter hasn't even dropped her first album, but thanks to her single "Ur So Gay," a confrontational and hilarious kiss-off to her ex-boyfriend, and some well-placed words from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, Perry is attracting attention from all the right places.

The pop rocker will ring in the New Year with Blaqk Audio, a side project of Davey Havok and Jade Puget of Oakland's AFI, and Moving Units as a part of Disco 2008 at San Francisco's Mezzanine.

The gig marks not only her first time performing on New Year's Eve - a night she usually spends wasted with friends - but also her debut performance in the Bay Area.

Excited for the ball-dropping show, Perry is also very humbled by the gig. Her reaction to being asked to be a part of Disco 2008 was, "Really? Are you sure? You don't really want me to play?" she said.
Perry is taking her time with her career, having no desire to rush at fame too quickly. For instance, Perry was pro-EP, despite her label Capitol Records questioning her on the move. But Perry insisted, and calls the "Ur So Gay" EP a "soft hello," as opposed to coming out with her first record and having listeners ask "Who the f--- is that girl?" she said.

It was a good move, and a lot of people are raving, Perry said.

Having worked in music for five years, Perry has observed others and calculated her moves. Her label has been very supportive. "Capitol has really been a ray of light," Perry said, about the label and its interns, who are on the streets seeing what's happening on the music scene.

Perry has worked on the tunes for her debut album for three years, and each track is a snapshot of what was happening in her life at that moment. Her album, which is slated for a spring release, has a heavy focus on lyrics.

Citing influences like chick-rockers Heart and Freddie Mercury of Queen, Perry hopes to eventually be the woman that 14- and 15-year-old girls look up to.

"Freddie Mercury wrote 'Killer Queen.' I know it might be about a prostitute, but I really feel it's about me, a strong female," Perry said.

"There's still a void for a rock chick. ... The only rock chick we have is Avril Lavigne," Perry said. With her cute cheekiness, a bit of a foul mouth and positive comparisons to Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, Perry is ready to fit the bill.

"If we can all stay alive, that would be best," said Perry, about the headlines that artists like Winehouse and Britney Spears have been grabbing lately.

"I just (don't) understand why we can't do our jobs and show up," Perry added.

The daughter of two pastors, Perry was raised in a household where "secular music" like the rock 'n' roll she cherishes now was forbidden. Appropriately, a Queen record that she happened upon at a friend's slumber party was just what she needed to be born again. Since the age of 15, Perry has been determined to carve a place for herself in the music industry.

[rockpit]

She sounds interesting... thanks for this.