Little Sureshot Records features music projects made by Ann Mosey since 1998
Music available on YouTube
Ann Mosey
Ann Mosey began performing in clubs and cafes around her hometown of Austin, Texas, and all over the Hudson River Valley in New York during her college years, opening for Ani Difranco on several occasions. After graduating from Vassar College, she headed to Seattle, Washington, formed a band called Pace Bend, and was signed to Crunch Melody Records in the mid-90s. She started Little Sureshot Records in 1998.
Ann moved back to Austin in 2012 and performs live on occasion.
“Pipes is one thing Ann definitely has going for her – a voice with power, personality and nifty agility, all of which she uses effectively to express some rather raw passion, longing and sensuality. Her songwriting is invested with a certain passion and creativity... her best lyrics approach eloquence and her arrangement sense and melodic gifts are rather sure-footed and even catchy.”
-The Austin Chronicle
“She infuses the passion of Alanis Morissette with the soothing, ethereal qualities of the Cowboy Junkies, creating a uniquely beautiful sound. Ann writes from her heart, plays the guitar from her soul, and we are impressed.”
- Riffage.com
“She lovingly self-harmonizes dreamy melodies around soft acoustic strumming... she truly shines like a star.”
- Listen.com
Pace Bend Discography
Ann founded her first band, Pace Bend in 1993. Her band was named after Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis outside of Austin, Texas, which is a great place to relax on a raft in the sun.
Like a Drink
Ann signed on with Crunch Melody/Blue Rose Records and recorded her first CD, Like a Drink, at West Heath Studios in London in 1995. It was produced by Graeme Holloway, who also played bass, and featured Sven Copeland on drums. Pace Bend toured England, Scotland, Wales, Belgium and Holland.
Curve of Step
Pace Bend's second CD was called "Curve of Step", which is "Pace Bend" translated to French and back to English using an online translator. Several tracks on Curve of Step, including the hard rocking "Sun Moves", were recorded at Glennsound Studios in Seattle, Washington and produced by Glen Lorbeiki.
Plenty
The third Pace Bend CD, Plenty, was recorded on Whitbey Island and produced by Steve Trembley. Many of the songs on this CD were co-written by Ann Mosey and lead guitarist Josh Colangelo-Bryan. A standout track, "Letter", was written about Ann meeting her birthparents as an adult. Shortly after completing the CD, Josh moved out of state and Pace Bend dissolved.
UkeTrance
UkeTrance was the brainchild of Ukulele Freedom Front founder Mark Scott, who renamed himself Jacob Austin, and Ann's alter-ego Ann Austin. They played in cafes and on beaches around Seattle and recorded a 16-song album called "Ukenfeelit" in Ann's bedroom on a Tascam 4-track using mostly acoustic instruments and kitchen utensils. Eventually they went electric and Ann played a baritone uke through a bass amp and Jacob alternated between his Martin soprano uke and an experimental electric uke. Their shows were quite memorable and featured wacky costumes, improved music, and wild dancing. Ann left the band to focus on Pace Bend and Jacob continued to make music will fellow kindred ukulele spirits. Jacob passed away in 2015 and he is deeply missed. Ann has been known to pick up a uke now and then.
"Billed as Seattle's hardest working ukulele band, this tribe of musicians has embraced the ukulele in a modern Ramones-esque style. A plinking and plucking uke lovefest, the 16 track CD, U KenFeelit, surprises and delights with tunes about ants, chickens, and aliens. An homage to the four-string instrument, the package comes chockfull of silliness, including a ukulele chord chart and declarations to release the instrument from pawn shops and attics everywhere."
- Roberta Cruger, The Seattle Weekly
Anti-guitar and fiercely pro-ukulele, Uketrance are a crew from Seattle who write fun, goofy songs extolling vapor as a savior of the planet and praising Grandmas food over all else. With amplified soprano and baritone ukes, the occasional kiddie xylophone and recorder and some snappy percussion, Uketrance create stunning, retarded songs like "Ants," which is from an ants perspective and includes the chorus, "Stop poking your stick at me!"; and "GI Joe," a song with sweet harmonies about torturing and drowning and blowing up GI Joes, with lyrics like "I buried him naked in the snow" and "Had a parachute failure on GI Joe." Some of the songs are more cutesy than funny, but that seems to go along with the whole grand tradition of ukuleles in popular music."
- Adam Bregman, LA Times
Annie Oakley, “Little Sureshot”
Ann's lifelong hero has been Annie Oakley, the American Sharpshooter. "Little Sure Shot" was Annie Oakley's nickname, given to her by the Native American leader Sitting Bull.
"Aim at the high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, not the second time and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect."
- Phoebe Ann Mosey (Annie Oakley)