Endless Blues Records artist: Lew Jetton & 61 South - Deja Hoodoo - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Deja Hoodoo, by Lew Jetton & 61 South and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Two Lane Road, band leader Lew Jetton's vocals have grit and swagger and his guitar lead is notable. With another solid guitar player in Sam Moore, Dan Bell on keys, guitar and bass, Erik Eicholtz on drums and Greg Walker on bass this band has a strong flavor of Skynyrd without any of the stale after taste of 1980. Waffle House Woman is a clever rag style blues with an easy delivery. With country blues style picking and light percussion, and the addition of Bob Lohr on keys this is surely a crowd favorite. JD Wilkes on harmonica opens Betcha, a romping boogie with a great driving beat. I can just see my pal Stilladog whistling this one and increasing the tempo as he goes with blazing slide guitar and Fred Hoover on keys. Really nice. Swampy, I Been Cheated, has the great feel of a CCR track and Jetton's vocals hard work on guitar really pay off on this, one of my favorites on the release. Move On Yvonne is another great rocker with the addition of some terrific vocals by Miranda Louise. I love the harmonica work of Wilkes on this track and the overall groove is really strong. Sandy Lee digs in deep with the feeling of old school blues. Jetton's vocals, coupled with Wilkes on harmonica, James Sullivan on bass, and some real nice piano riffs by J Solon Smith on piano give this track a feel of authenticity. Easy shuffle, State Line Blues and a cool swinging pace and Jetton's vocals fall right into the groove. With Hoover on keys, Wilkes on harmonica and cool guitar riffs, this is another memorable track. Slow blues, Drinking Again is sure to hit home with a number of listeners with it's warm guitar chords and some of  Jetton's most soulful vocals on the release. Straight forward, melodic guitar lead, a cool bass line by Walker and tight rhythm by Eicholtz make this track another favorite. Wrapping the release is rocking boogie, Will I Go To Hell, with a simple bass line and drums. Jetton leads the drive on vocal and rhythm guitar and Wilkes adds tension on harmonica. This is a strong endless boogie in the flavor of John Lee Hooker and a great closer for a very enjoyable release. 

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Coffee Street Records artist: Lew Jetton & 61 South - Palestine Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Palestine Blues from Lew Jetton & 61 South and it quite good. Opening with country fused blues track, Will I Go To Hell, Lew jetton establishes firm footing on lead vocal and guitar joined by Erik Eicholtz on drums, Otis Walker on bass and J.D. Wilkes on harp. Super. Oh My My reaches more into the blues rocker arena with a powerful bottom and grinding bass and guitar rhythm. Jetton lays out simple yet powerful riffs making the track feel rock solid. R&B track, For The Pain, is in the Otis Redding giving Jetton a firm stage to show off his soulful vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Mexico with it's Keith Richards like guitar riff. A super rocker. Slow blues ballad, Drinking Again, has sweet jazz chords and again nice vocals by Jetton, backed up by a tight lead guitar solo over warm chords. Very nice. A stinging guitar solo by Jetton on what is a remarkably understated track really sets Don't Need No Devil apart. Another of my favorite track is Christ Have Mercy with it's heavy ZZ Top like bottom and super vocals/guitar wall. Very cool! Wrapping the release is shuffle track, Bout Time, with it's cool guitar rhythm, Elmore James style riffs and rocking vocals. A super closer for a real cool release. 

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Coffee Street Records artist: Lew Jetton & 61 South - Rain - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Rain, from Lew Jetton & 61 South and it has a cool groove. Opening with contemporary blues number, Who's Texting Me, Lew Jetton has the mic and p[lays lead guitar. Backed by Erik Eicholtz on drums, Dan Bell on organ and guitar, Alonzo Pennington on guitar and James Sullivan on bass this track moves. Cool rocker, Move On Yvonne, is a great track with it's bass line and Jetton's vocals balanced with harp work by J.D. Wilkes. I also really like the piano work by J. Solon Smith and the soulful vocals of Miranda Louise. Excellent! Melodic, R&B track, Lay Me Down, is a definite radio track with smooth vocals and a catchy hook. James Sullivan takes the bass and Sam Moore steps up on guitar for a solid track. With the spark of a revival tent, Glory Train, has you up and hopping. With country pickin' by Pennington and Jetton and terrific backing vocals by Louise, this track is super. On John Hiatt's Feel's Like Rain, Bell creates a smooth organ bed for Jetton's soulful vocals and Moore and Jetton lay down some real nice guitar riffs giving the track a soothing feel. Very nice. On country rocker, Done Done It, Jetton is about as stripped down as it gets making a cool track with all the basics. His guitar soloing is kept simple and his vocals straight down the line...like a rocker should. Sandy Lee is a really cool blues track with vocal style of a Mississippi delta bluesman with only some basic polish, a slick glistening piano solo by Smith and solid bass and drums by Otis Walker and Eicholtz respectively. Loping blues rocker, Keeping Me Awake, opens it up a bit with some hot guitar riffs by Pennington and Jetton over a solid walking bass line by Walker. Smith steps up again with some real nice piano work making this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Allen Toussaint's It's Raining. Stylistically done with Smith on piano, Jetton's vocals are pure and warm.



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Nighttime Into Day - Lew Jetton & 61 South

Lew Jetton (born 1959, Humboldt, Tennessee) is an American blues guitarist and singer, who also spent many years as a meteorologist and local television personality. He was born in Humboldt and raised near Trenton, Tennessee.
After graduation from college at Middle Tennessee State University in 1981, he worked in radio at WIRJ (AM)/WZDQ-FM in Humboldt, Tennessee from 1982–1983, moving to television as a weathercaster/news reporter at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee. He also spent a short stint as a sports anchor at WBBJ, before moving to WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky in 1989 as weekend news anchor/meteorologist.[1] Jetton is a second cousin of the late Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nat Caldwell of the Nashville Tennessean. Although very popular with viewers,[citation needed] Jetton left WPSD to work in marketing.
In 1994, while still working in local TV, he began playing guitar with the Blues band 61 South, based in Paducah, Kentucky, which featured, among others, Col. J.D. Wilkes, of Th' Legendary Shack Shakers and The Dirt Daubers. Upon the departure of "Fast" Layne Hendrickson, the lead singer of the band, Lew was recruited to become the frontman of the band, while mentored by friend and Chicago Blues Legend Snooky Pryor in nearby Ullin, Illinois.

Working and touring as a regional band in the Midwest and Mid-South, Lew Jetton & 61 South shared billings with blues greats including Luther Allison, Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Chuck Berry, Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials and many more. Lew Jetton & 61 South released two albums: State Line Blues (2000) and Tales From A 2 Lane (2006). State Line Blues was the fourth best Independent Blues Release in the United States by Real Blues Magazine.[citation needed] Tales From A 2 Lane was selected as the Blues Album of the Year by the Kentucky Blues Society, a "Pick to Click" by XM Satellite Radio Bluesville (Channel 74), which kept Jetton originals "Waffle House Woman" and "I Been Cheated" on their hot playlist throughout most of 2006. Tales From A 2 Lane was also selected one of the top Independent Blues Releases by Real Blues Magazine.

In 2007, the band re-released 2000's State Line Blues, which was also picked up as a "Pick to Click" on XM's Bluesville, with "Gettin' Colder," "State Line Blues" and "Homegrown Tomato" receiving the most airplay. Lew Jetton & 61 South continue playing festivals and clubs and touring extensively in the Midwest and Mid-South. occasionally venturing to other regions.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”