Biography
Americana band JD & The Straight Shot – vocalist/guitarist Jim Dolan whose voice the New York Post calls “reminiscent of Tom Waits and Randy Newman,” guitarist/vocalist Marc Copely (B.B. King, Rosanne Cash), bassist Byron House (Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton), along with touring musicians guitarist JJ Appelton (David Bowie, Darius Rucker), violinist Mary Jo Stillip (Adele, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Sigur Ros) and vocalist/guitarist Erin McCarley (Don Henley) – have been touring in support of their fifth collection, the all-acoustic album Ballyhoo! released on January 15th.
Produced by Chuck Ainlay (Mark Knopfler, Miranda Lambert), Ballyhoo! Is steeped in the quiet fire of blues and roots music. The eleven lush tracks were written by Dolan, Copely and House along with violinist Erin Slaver (Rod Stewart, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride) and guitarist Aidan Dolan, with additional contributions by Chris Carmack (who plays Will Lexington on TV’s Nashville) and Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman).
Neo Music Scene raves, “Ballyhoo! is a refreshing record that gets back to the roots of great American music,” I’m Music Magazine gushes the album is “A tasty slice of Americana music at its finest along with the great art of storytelling,” while The El Vee enthuses, “JD & the Straight Shot mix blues, folk, and Americana styles into a timeless American music sound of their own."
From the swamp groove of “Better Find A Church” (http://bit.ly/1NYzcrb) to the harmony-filled cover song “Nature’s Way,” the beauty and songcraft of Ballyhoo! shines bright. Slide blues album opener “Empty” tells the story of hitting rock bottom and climbing back up, while “Here He Comes” pays homage to the genius of Johnny Cash, “Glide” (http://bit.ly/1Uba9Gz) reflects on the pureness of childhood joy, and closing ballad “I’ll See You Again” offers a hopeful eulogy.
JD & The Straight Shot have played alongside luminaries such as the Eagles, Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks, Jewel, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Allman Brothers Band. New England Music News says, “Awesome is the word” for JD & The Straight Shot’s live show and Encore Magazine guarantees you’ll have a “Foot-stompin’ good time!”
Songs
