Miss Derringer

Miss Derringer, an L.A.-based rock outfit, crafts a dark and lean fusion of blues and country laced with punk attitude. The group is steered by two musicians who became visual artists: Liz McGrath, a painter and sculptor who once sang in Tongue and edited the zine Censor This, and Morgan Slade, a photographer who plays guitar and authors most of the material. The remaining members include guitarist Mark Miller, formerly of Los Cincos, bassist Sylvain de Muizon, Julio Bell—onetime member of Bobsled and Bulimia Banquet—handling autoharp, and drummer Mark Miller, previously of Skeetertruck. Their debut album, King James, Crown Royal and a Colt 45, appeared in February 2004; the release event was staged at Culver City’s Copro Nason Gallery alongside an exhibition of McGrath’s artwork. Lineup adjustments preceded the 2006 album Lullabies, which centered on the core pair of McGrath and Slade with Sylvain de Muizon on bass, Blondie drummer Clem Burke, and Rick Ballard—Charley Horse member and Acetate Records owner—on guitar.