Displaying their own take on Outlaw/alt country, garage rock and punk-tinged Americana, Oregon, US-based Jenny Don’t And The Spurs also showcase a diverse array of other styles on their forthcoming third album, ‘Fire On The Ridge’.
Released on Fluff & Gravy Records (Richmond Fontaine/Margo Cilker/Jim White), it sees the band brandishing blistering barn-burners (‘Train Ticket’, ‘Be The Only One’), rambling westerns (‘Fire On The Ridge’) and Patsy Cline-ish ballads (‘Friday Night’). With years in punk groups such as Pierced Arrows (previously Dead Moon), Wipers, Don’t and P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. behind them, the record sees the quartet embracing the classic Outlaw country they grew up on with raw vigour.
‘Fire On The Ridge’ was conceived after The Spurs had travelled to play a local show but were forced into a detour to avoid the region’s biggest forest fire in decades. Returning home later that night, they saw the orange glow of the blaze in the sky become an apocalyptic sea of glowing embers around them that blanketed the otherwise night-darkened sides of the deep canyon through which they were driving. It became a metaphor for the new album they were about to make.
Once in the studio, they were instilling that fire into the songs they were recording, only to be rudely interrupted within a fortnight when lead singer Jenny required surgery on her vocal cords. Recommencing the sessions, they discovered that the hard drive on which their tracks were saved had crashed, requiring them to start all over again. Having done so, the studio suddenly flooded and needed to be completely rebuilt. Then, just when it seemed that everything was back on track, the pandemic intervened and prevented any in-person mixing. Against all these odds, ‘Fire On The Ridge’ was finally completed, but true tragedy was shortly to follow when their drummer was stricken with cancer and died soon after.
Jenny Don’t And The Spurs have maintained a relentless schedule of recording and touring ever since their inception a decade ago. Now, after almost 500 live shows in a dozen countries, and with three albums and a slew of singles to their name, they have just about warmed up.
Founded by Jenny Don’t (vocals/rhythm guitar, ex-Don’t) and Kelly Halliburton (bass, ex-Pierced Arrows, P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.), who had been playing in the aforementioned acoustic and punk bands and felt the need to switch gears up/down, it wasn’t long before they were rehearsing a set of seminal standards by the likes of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams Sr., as well as a sprinkling of original songs. Their friend Sam Henry (ex-Wipers, The Rats, Napalm Beach) soon joined them on drums, and this remained the core trio for almost five years, augmented by guest guitarists.
JENNY DON’T AND THE SPURS
Jenny Don’t – vocals, rhythm guitar
Christopher March – lead guitar, lap steel guitar
Kelly Halliburton – bass
Dean Miles – drums
Christopher March eventually joined the group as full-time guitarist in 2017, bringing with him a wealth of talent and touring experience from years spent plying the Northwest country, rockabilly and honky-tonk circuits and this quartet recorded and toured until Sam passed away after a brief battle with cancer soon after ‘Fire On The Ridge’ had been completed. With veteran sticksman Dean Miles replacing him behind the kit, The Spurs remain a force to be reckoned with, the intensity and energy of their live set a must-see for any gig goer who enjoys spirited garage-infused country music played with sincerity and raw conviction.
FIRE ON THE RIDGE
TRACKLISTING
1 Fire On The Ridge
2 California Cowboy
3 Be The Only One
4 Restless Moon
5 Foolish Lies
6 Train Ticket
7 Friday Night
8 She’s Not The One
9 Johnny Vagabond
10 Trouble On My Mind
11 Queen Of The Desert