Karyn Johnson plays solo and with her band, Kickback.

MARQUETTE -- Some musicians are confident in their own talents, others simply prefer to appreciate and preserve the music of others.

Karyn Johnson says she is always learning from her fellow musicians.

"It's an outlet, but I listen a lot, too," said Karyn.  "I can't even describe it; it's what I do, always have."

Karyn Johnson says she likes to cover other people's songs instead of her own because of the emotions those songs convey.

"The message that a lot of songs have, I particularly like a variety of material, so a variety of covers actually.  I write, too, but I like the cover stuff and they're saying it better than I do a lot of the time, so I can get to have my cake and eat it, too," Karyn added.

While she often plays solo or with another guitar player, Johnson is also part of the cover band Kickback, and that allows her to play all types of music.

"Kickback's a great vehicle to scratch those itches, being able to flip flop from the girl songs to the hair bands to '80s to some of that modern rock, back and forth, and country, we actually play one country song," Karyn said.

Karyn's been playing the guitar for over 30 years and says that music has been always been a part of her life.

"When I actually sit down and listen to a song, I don't just hear the voices," she explained.  "I'm actually dissecting the song while I'm listening to it, so it could make you a little crazy."

And if there is one thing Karyn can tell her audience, it's this:  "Psalm 33, Verse 3, King James version, 'Sing unto him a new song, play skillfully with loud noise.'"

Karyn will be playing this Saturday, October 10, at the Grand Slam in Humboldt.  She takes the stage at 9:30 p.m.