Like a 19th-century peddler, Keli Carpenter used to cart a box full
of fabric and craft supplies from town to town, supporting herself by
designing and selling original and whimsical clothing, accessories and
silver jewelry. A decade ago, she settled down in Tucson; she says it
was time to “plant a garden and see what would grow.” Here, she may be
best known for her band the Tryst, popular purveyors of original funk
and soul tunes featuring Carpenter’s sultry, bluesy vocals. But holiday
shoppers can still find her designs at Bohemia, where they are likely
to find her, too: She’s the store’s manager.
What was the first concert you ever saw?
The Grateful Dead, 1993, Oakland Coliseum. Wow!
What CDs are in your changer right now?
On the iPod: Michael Franti and Spearhead, Stay Human; Sufjan
Stevens, Illinoise. At work: The Desoto Caucus, Elite
Continental Custom Club; M. Ward, Hold Time.
How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes,
8-tracks)?
Five hundred or so CDs, 50 assorted vinyl albums and a grip of
audiocassettes I haven’t listened to in years.
Do you download music, and if so, legally or illegally?
Sure, sometimes, usually on iTunes.
What was the first album you owned?
It was the ’80s when I finally got my first CD—Breathe’s
All That Jazz.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
Nina Simone, “Feeling Good.”
Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don’t know
about? What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
Somehow, I know all the words to Metallica’s Master of
Puppets and … And Justice for All.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
Stevie Wonder. No one gives it up like Stevie! He blows my mind
every time!
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all
time?
Tie: Ani DiFranco, Educated Guess; Michael Franti, Live at
the Baobab.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2009.