Jenny Don't And The Spurs | 2023 photo
Jenny Don’t and the Spurs will bring their brand of rabble-rousing alt/outlaw country to the UK in April 2023. The dates include two London shows, a spot on the bill at the Ramblin’ Roots Revue in High Wycombe and are in support of their recently released ‘Fire On The Ridge’ album. The band might have roots in a string of punk bands, but ‘Fire On The Ridge’ is the perfect mix of rock n’ roll and western twang, and with over 500 shows under their belts, the live dates should be very cool. More about the Oregon act, including ticket links follow:
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.
The inspiration for the album title and 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.
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 bassist Kelly Halliburton
UK TOUR
APRIL 2023
12.04.23 LIVERPOOL Leaf tickets
13.04.23 NEWCASTLE Cluny 2 * tickets
14.04.23 GLASGOW Broadcast * tickets
15.04.23 HIGH WYCOMBE Ramblin’ Roots Revue tickets
16.04.23 LONDON Boogaloo (afternoon show) info/free entry
17.04.23 HASSOCKS Mid-Sussex Music Hall * tickets
18.04.23 LONDON The Grace * tickets
*with Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires
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.
For more Jenny Don’t check out this video for the song ‘My Only Desire’ included on The Spurs’ second album, ‘Call Of The Road’ (2017)
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 sticksman Buddy Weeks now 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.
