The Jerrells – Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!
El Toro Records ET15183 [2024]
Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! / One More Drink
The Jerrells (Jeremy Slemenda on guitar and vocals, Chris Crepps on bass, Massimo Gerosa on piano, and John McGlothlin on percussion) are back with a new single recorded at Fort Horton Studio under a superb cover design by Chris Wilkinson, two things that suggest the best.
And it’s the best that comes when you put the needle on the record. The A-side, which gives the single its title, is an original composition by Jeremy Slemenda. Beneath its apparent simplicity, the band delivers a little Texas rockabilly classic, Slemenda demonstrating his dual talents as a singer and guitarist, all in just over two minutes.
The B-side is more country-rock tinged with their cover of Herschell Butts’s “One More Drink,” previously covered by Planet Rockers. The band remains faithful to the original arrangement, driven by Gerra’s devastating piano and supported by a relentless rhythm section.
Buy it here.
For more great music by Jeremy Slemenda, see also the Saddle Sores.
The Jerrells – Wanted Man
El Toro ETCD7038 [2022]
Wanted Man – True Love – Half May Fault – Hot Sauce Mama – All Outta Kisses Now – The Woman I Love – Ice Water – Frazer River Valley Blues – Powder Room Mama – Don’t Stall Out – Hot Rod Baby – Armadillo Blues
Led by Jeremy Slemenda, the Jerrells feature a cast of stellar musicians, including Masimo Gerosa (Starliters, Rockin’ Bonnie, Shaun Young) on piano, Todd Wulfmeyer (Marti Brom, Shaun Young, Modern Don Juan) on bass, James Gwyn on drums on most of the tracks. Other musicians include Josef Pelletier and Josh Williams (Bellfuries) on bass, Katie Rose Cox (fiddle) and Jennifer Shaw (shout). Slemenda sings and plays lead guitar (and what guitar) as well as drums on two songs and bass on one. He also penned eight out of the twelve tracks that stand proudly near the covers of Lloyd McCollough (Half My Fault), Luke Simmons (Frazer River Valley Blues), Gene Terry (The Woman I Love) and Glenn Barber (Ice Cold Water).
The styles range from country bop to rockabilly with crazy with wild and crazy hillbilly in the manner of the great late Ray Condo and his Hardrock Goners. It’s excellent through and through with no drop in quality or intensity, and if you dig your music with a rural flair but with some energy, too, this one is for you.
Also available on vinyl.
