Neko Case, prominent
alt-country and
indie rock star, fiery pale
redhead.
Angry reserved feminist.
Racy Esquire model. Fan of the word "
beaver". Talented musician.
Case was born in
Alexandria, Virginia in
1970. Raised all over
Washington State, Case spent her adolescence in the
Tacoma area, which she still refers to as her hometown. Leaving both home and high school at 15, Neko spent years immersed in
the Puget Sound music scene, gaining exposure to emerging bands like
Nirvana and
Screaming Trees. By age 17, Case was playing drums in various local punk bands.
Eventually earning her
GED, case left
Tacoma in 1994 to attend the
Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design in
Vancouver BC. While in
Canada, Case began playing music more seriously as a member of groups like
Maow and
Cub. In 1997, Case released her solo debut,
The Virginian (under the name
Neko Case and her Boyfriends). Recorded as something of "a lark", the album garnered more success than Case expected and laid the foundation for a committed Neko fan base. The following year Case received her
BFA from Emily Carr and was forced to leave
Canada when her
student visa ran out.
Case returned to
the Puget Sound, moving to the
Washington Shoe Building in
Seattle. Over a year later, the building owners would evict Case and a hundred or so other artists under pretense, finally souring Case on life in Washington. In October of 1999, Case left
the Emerald City for
Chicago, where she lives today.
2000 was a busy year for Case, seeing the fruition of several long-stewing projects. Right after her regrettable departure from sunny Washington, Case released her sophomore solo effort,
Furnace Room Lullaby. The end of the year saw the debut of the irrepressible pop that is
The New Pornographers with their album
Mass Romantic, featuring Case as a
vocalist. Case also spend most of the year touring in her typical style, opening for bands like
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
In 2001, Case returned to the studio for her third solo effort. The result, the dark and lush
Blacklisted, was released in August of 2002.
Case's third album has lead her to the brink of some kind of stardom, and it's clear that
a crossroads is on the horizon for her. Her burgeoning success, fueled by an exhaustive touring effort, has attracted the snouts of
the major labels. Just what that crossroads portends is not clear. What is evident is Case's drive and talent. From the
thundering rage on
Deep Red Bells, to the ache of
In California, Case's voice is unrepentant. Her
casual vulnerability and
invincible on-stage wit make the viewer confident that future twists of the road will be handled easy, or at least
success.
Also,
Neko is really, really hot.