Eilen Jewell used a putdown of sorts as the title for her new album. Yes, she sings in minor key, so why not proclaim yourself to be Queen of the Minor Key? Country is still her mainstay, injected with a healthy dose of rockabilly and a bit of garage rock. Her core band has been playing with her for years, making each note and chord progression count. Jason Beek uses brushes to caress his drum kit during the slow songs, with upright bass player Johnny Sciascia serving up deep resonating notes and Jerry Miller showing off his chops on guitar. The addition of guest vocalists and musicians are extra layers that can be peeled off when she hits the road with the just four of them.
The album is bookended by two drenched in reverb and sax surf rockers Radio City is an instrumental, and Kalimotxo is one word drinking song. In between those Jewell delivers sad songs about love and loss - I Remember You, Only One. She point out the Warning Signs along the road and explains that Cupid doesn't use an bow and arrow any more, but fires at random with a six-shooter (Bang Bang Bang). Old time country get an outing during Feckless and Long Road, with fiddle and pedal steel.
With Queen of the Minor Key confirms her status in modern day Americana music. She respects the tradition, but has developed a sound that is truly her own and instantly recognizable. A major talent singing in minor key.,
Eilen Jewell: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Jason Beek: drums, harmony vocals
Jerry Miller: electric, acoustic, and steel guitars
Johnny Sciascia: upright bass
Queen of the Minor Key is released on Signature Sounds. Release date: June 28th. It's already availalebl at the merch table at her shows.
Tracks:- Radio City
- I Remember You
- Queen Of The Minor Key
- That's Where I'm Goin
- Santa Fe
- Warning Signs
- Reckless
- Over Again
- Bang Bang Bang
- Hooked
- Only One
- Long Road
- Home To Me
- Kalimotxo
MP3: Eilen Jewell - Queen of the Minor Key
American Summer tour:- 07/17 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY
- 06/18 Tin Angel, Philadephia, PA
- 06/23 IOTA Club and Cafe, Arlington, VA
- 06/24 IOTA Club and Cafe, Arlington, VA
- 06/25 Castaways, Ithaca, NY
- 06/26 Sheldrake Point Winery, Ovid, NY
- 07/02 Grafton Music Festival, Grafton, VT
- 07/07 Higher Ground,Burlington, VT (Supporting Wanda Jacksom)
- 07/08 Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo, NY
- 07/09 The Oneonta Theatre Balcony Ballroom, Oneonta, NY
- 07/14 Black Potatoe Festival, Clinton, NJ
- 07/15 The Levitt Pavillion at Steelstacks, Bethlehem, PA
- 07/16 Club Helsinki Hudson, Hudson, NY
- 07/17 Green River Festival, Greenfield, MA
- 07/21 Diesel, Pittsburgh, PA
- 07/23 Center for the Arts at the Armory, Somerville, MA
- 07/24 Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Cornish, ME
- 07/25 Cliff Island Music Series, Cliff Island, ME
- 07/30 Prescott Park Folk Festival, Portsmouth, NH
- 08/05 The Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
- 08/06 Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR
- 08/07 Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR
- 08/11 The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA
- 08/12 The Palms Playhouse, Winters, CA
- 08/13 Slim's, San Francisco, CA
- 08/14 Roots Roadhouse Festival Echo/Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA
- 08/18 Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, ME
- 08/19 Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH
- 08/20 Bridge Street, Collinsville, CT
- 08/21 The Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival, Marshfield, MA
- 08/27 Egyptian Theatre, Boise, ID
- 08/28 Sego Restaurant and Bar, Ketchum, ID
- 09/11 Rock Bend Folk Festival, St. Peter, MN
- 09/15 Come2Go, Ft. Wayne, IN
- 09/16 Southgate House, Newport, KY
- 09/21 Natahsa's Cafe, Lexington, KY
- 09/23 Uncle Slaytons, Louisville, KY
- 09/24 Lotus Festival, Bloomington, IN
- 10/14 Het Huis Verloren, Hoorn, The Netherlands
- 10/15 De Amer, Amen, The Netherlands
- 10/16 LantarenVenster, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- 11/02 Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Ireland
- 11/03 Sugar Club, Dublin, Ireland
- 11/04 Cleere's, Kilkenny, Ireland
- 11/06 The Tunnels, Bristol, UK
- 11/10 Burgerweeshuis, Deventer, The Netherlands
- 11/11 Patronaat, Haarlem, The Netherlands
- 11/12 Roepaen, Ottersum, The Netherlands
- 11/14 Muziekcentrum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- 11/17 The Corning Musuem of Glass, Corning, NY
- 11/19 Iron Horse, Northampton, MA (two shows)
- 12/02 Center for the Arts in Natick, Natick, MA
- 12/03 WAMC Linda Norris Auditorium, Albany, NY
HCTF review of Sea of Tears.