Letterman or Bust

Photo by Jessica Oyanagi

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More About

• Jessica Dobson
• Fullerton
• Phil Eck
• Paul Shaffer

For most of us, New Year's resolutions are a pretty simple affair: we hone in on something we would like to change about ourselves (health, wealth, knowledge) and then resolve to do it—quit smoking, put money away, read more books and watch less TV. But if, say, you're a musician whose major label recording career has been in a holding pattern for well over a year (after shelving your first stab at a debut) then your resolutions might be a bit more difficult: put out an album. Tour the nation. Letterman or bust.

It's been 18 months since Jessica Dobson first packed up her guitar and moved from Fullerton to New York, headed for a recording studio to work on her Atlantic Records debut. And then . . . it didn't work out. "A lot of mistakes were made," says Jessica of the record, "musically—and financially."

Now back in Southern California after spending a few months recording in Seattle over the summer, Jessica finally has her debut record (recorded with members of the Crystal Skulls and indie mega-producer Phil Eck) and is ready to show it off. No word yet on a release date, but Jessica plans to be on the road by March, hopefully with a record to sell.

If you're a fan of caught-them-while-I-could buzz shows, add this intimate bar gig to your calendar. You never know: come the summer, Jessica could be Paul Shaffer's new new favorite musician.

Jessica Dobson plays with Ghost Town Jenny and Cavil at Rest at the Prospector, 2400 E. 7th St., Long Beach, (562) 438-3839; www.myspace.com/theprospectorlongbeach. Tues., 10 p.m. $3. 21+.