GIGI LOVE Gigi Love. If the name sounds familiar, perhaps it's because you were among the thousands listening to her open for the Dave Matthews Band, or playing at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Maybe her infectious sound-those smokey vocals and revealing songwriting loaded with energy, vulnerable passion and delicate poise-burned a memory. Whether armed with an electric guitar or her worn acoustic, Love leaves an indelible imprint while juggling blues and rock with country folk. Close on the heels of her hero, the great Loretta Lynn-Love's influences include Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Sarah McLaclan, Beth Orton and Natalie Merchant. Like Willie Nelson, Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt, she earned her honky-tonk chops in Texas. At the age of 7, Love began performing and playing guitar. By 12 she was filling venues with names such as Johnny High's Country Music Review, The Grapevine Opry and Stephenville Opry. While at Southern Utah University, she founded the Gigi Love Band and earned her chops playing ski resorts, restaurants, parties and clubs. In 1994, Love moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and began playing shows in Park City, Salt Lake and the surrounding region. After hearing her play one night, a rep from Yellow Moon Records sifned her for her first album, Scorpio Rising (1997)which sold more than 3000 copies regionally and led to the seconde lineup of the Gigi Love Band. Her second CD Coyote Bones (2000) is a beautiful example of her rousing acoustic performances. Love's third album, Turning to Gold was released in the fall of 2004. She's planning a tour of the Western US after she returns from her Spring European tour in May 2005.