Kristin Lems: Reviews & Press

singer-songwriter Kristin Lems, a charmer in the most literal and least artificial sense of the word, livened up the down-homey proceedings by wearing a shiny multicolored gown...delivered some nice feminist lyrics, and did a moving version of "George Jackson."

Celebrate mom with Mother's Day music

May 8, 2008 Recommended (1)

By MYRNA PETLICKI Contributor
Evanston musician and folksinger Kristin Lems has a great way of celebrating Mother's Day. At 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11, she will perform a family concert at Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St., and invite her mother, Carol Lems-Dworkin of Evanston, to be her guest.

Lems chose to perform on Mother's Day because, "I can tie it into all the wonderful themes about spring and new life and Mother Earth, and people's own biological mothers, and hopefully make it a holistic, nurturance theme," she said. Lems will play a guitar and an autoharp, and use some puppets.

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Singer Kristin Lems will present a concert honoring mothers at the Niles Public Library.

She will start the performance with a Native American song translated from the Lakota language, "The Earth is Our Mother. We Must Take Care of Her." "That will be an opening chant without the guitar," Lems reported. "Then I'm going to sing songs about a lot of nature themes. Since I know that at these library performances a lot of the children are very young, I'll have some [songs] that have hand gestures they can do so they can participate even if they're very, very small."

For details, call (847) 633-1234.

It's an outstanding singer songwriter from the Midwest, Kristin Lems.
She really is a great talent, and her Mammary Glands is always requested by our listeners at this time of year.
Scott Simon: Is she serious?
JN: No, this is one of her novelty songs, and overall her songs are really tremendous and she’s a great performer....

a one-woman argument against the notion that the women's movement has no sense of humor

Thank God (or whatever her name is) there are people like Kristin to fight humor ("Boobs a Lot") with humor ("Mammary Glands")...imagine a very funny song about the very popular multimillion dollar breast fetish.

Lems has a beautiful, bell-like voice with an extraordinary range...

[Cousteau said] "The songwriters today are the bards of our times. We must look to music to instruct and to inspire as we search to improve the quality of life." Country Joe McDonald, Susan and Richard Thomas, and Kristin Lems highlighted the evening program at Involvement Day III, and left the audience humming a tune, snapping their fingers, and thinking about the future of the world around us.

If you haven't heard of Kristin Lems before, you're probably not a big folk music fan. If you like folk even a bit, it'd be worth checking Ms. Lems out...a lot of the songs remind me of one of my all-time favorite albums from childhood, Free to Be You and Me. Lems makes you aware of bad things in the world (Chernobyl, sexism) and good things in you. The New Yorker called her a "charmer in the most literal and least artificial sense of the word," and I'd say the same.

Kristin Lems kept true to that spirit in a presentation of songs that poked humor at any number of sacred romantic cows.

[about Sharing tape and book] catchy singalong songs, including the funny "Squeaky Sneakers" and two retellings of favorite children's stories, "The Little Engine that Could" and "The Emperor's New Clothes." Lems...has recorded four folk albums that have won her praise and awards. a performance artist, teacher, and mother, she sings in a clear, melodious voice that charms her young listeners.

a wide-ranging, imaginative collection...even in her strongest protests, the message does not take precedence over the musicianship; her music is highly listenable.

Kristin not only has a beautiful voice, clear, crisp and powerful, but she is a very creative and thoughtful lyricist

clear tone and untrained honesty...through it all, Kristin Lems was able to shine

[review of original musical revue, Catch it on the Run]
wide ranging and very appealing songs....Lems' songs deserve special praise. They are unmistakably original, and as refreshing as spring. They embrace a wealth of subjects. Some sound noteworthy messages and strike serious notes. Others offer pure spoof and unadulterated fun.

[feedback on The Once and Future Woman show]
...amazing, getting raves from everyone!

Kristin Lems opened...with enthusiastic folk singing and witty jesting.

A bio with detail about the tunes...

Kristin Lems' musical talent may have been a gift from the gene pool, but her songwriting and singing style is all her own.

[review of Oh Mama!]
Highly musical, humorous in places, thoroughly political throughout...if you enjoy beautifully rendered songs with a strong political overtone, you will certainly enjoy this album.

[review of National Women's Music Festival in Folk Festival USA]
One of the things that became obvious shortly after this festival began was the diversity of methods of the performers, exemplified by Kristin Lems, an energetic singer and songwriter who delivered fine topical songs.

[review of Upbeat!]
Lems possesses an extraordinary ability to infuse hope into her songs, all the while describing atrocities existing in the world....a smooth musical bomb that explodes with meaning...determined hope and pragmatic thoughtfulness...like the best folk music.

Songwriting and singing provide Kristin with a versatile career, combining and creative and performing arts.

Lems brought laughter and cheers from her audience

Vibrant, exciting, lovely were just a few of the words to describe this valentine you delivered to the Lake Short Unitarian Society last Sunday. Your beautiful voice, playing, and the wonderful selection of tunes sent us all home feeling exhilerated.

It was obvious to me that the listeners were enjoying you as much as I was! ...I will be singing your praises to others who might be looking for an entertainer.