What is the sound that Jenny Don’t and the Spurs make? There’s an unmistakable Western themes twang to it. There’s some garage rock attitude and rawness. And it is exuberant, this is not a band of shrinking violets or heartbroken bedroom folk – nope, not this Oregon based bunch of desperados.
The inspiration for their new album title and this, the opening title song, stems from the band driving to play a local show, but being forced into a detour to avoid the biggest forest fire in their region for decades. Returning home a few hours later, they explain that “it was a late-night drive through a burning valley, a hellish flame-scape lit by a forest reduced to embers. This scene burned itself into the consciousness of the band, and from these ashes rose eleven songs of passion, longing and white-hot emotion.” The apocalyptic scene also became a metaphor for the album they were about to make.
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. 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. Buddy Weeks can now be found behind the drum kit as Jenny Don’t and the Spurs continue their hefty live gigging. There’s an upcoming European tour including a few UK dates for Jenny Don’t and the Spurs – there’s even a free gig – you can catch them here:
Apr 12 Liverpool, UK – Leaf
Apr 13 Newcastle, UK – The Cluny
Apr 14 Glasgow, UK – Broadcast
Apr 15 High Wycombe, UK – Ramblin Roots Revue
Apr 16 London, UK – Boogaloo (free afternoon show)
Apr 17 Hassocks, UK – Mid Sussex Music Hall
Apr 18 London, UK – The Grace
