On their
self-titled 2017 debut album, the boundary-breaking Memphis combo Southern
Avenue sparked a one-band musical revolution, embodying an effortlessly organic
soul/blues/R&B fusion that reflects the band members' diverse roots as well
as their deep commitment to their chosen style. On their second album Keep On,
set for release on May 10, 2019 via Concord Records, the dynamic outfit expands
its gritty musical vision to embrace new musical challenges and a more
expansive creative vision.
Southern
Avenue combines the talents of a prodigiously talented set of young musicians
who bring their individual backgrounds to the table to create music that
carries the Southern soul legacy into the 21st century, spanning the band
members' wide-ranging musical interests while showcasing the powerful chemistry
and electrifying live show that they've honed through extensive stage and
studio experience. Since the release of their debut, Southern Avenue has played
in over a dozen countries and wowed audiences at such festivals as Bonnaroo,
Firefly, Electric Forest and Lockn’.
Guitar
phenom Ori Naftaly originally built his reputation in his native Israel before
joining forces with deeply expressive Memphis-bred singer Tierinii Jackson and
her subtly powerful drummer sister Tikyra Jackson. The band's lineup is rounded
out by versatile keyboardist Jeremy Powell, an early alumnus of Stax Records'
renowned music academy.
Keep On
brilliantly captures Southern Avenue's combustible chemistry, with the
emotion-charged energy of such distinctive originals as "Whiskey
Love," "Savior," "Too Good for You" and "We Are
Not So Different" reflecting the players' evolving talents as well as the
influence of the extensive roadwork that they've invested in the band. The
musicians recorded the album with producer Johnny Black (Jessie J, Daughtry, Estelle)
at Memphis' legendary Sam Phillips Recording, with guest appearances by seminal
Stax Records artist William Bell, noted Memphis musician Gage Markey (who
serves as guest bassist on most of the album) and a horn section comprised of
Art Edmaiston (JJ Grey & Mofro, Gregg Allman) and Marc Franklin (The
Bo-Keys, Gregg Allman).
GRAMMY Award
winner Bell, a formative figure in the development of Southern soul, was
impressed by the band's talents. "In terms of new artists with the talent
to become the stars of the future, you need to look no further than Southern
Avenue," Bell commented.
The critics
have been similarly impressed. "Southern Avenue's modern sound melds
gospel-infused R&B with a rootsy rock feel," wrote Mix. Relix referred
to Southern Avenue as "a deeply soulful Memphis band that’s turning the
scene on its head," while Goldmine called their music "a frothy
Memphis soul stew fit to twitch your body to in ways you didn't think you
could," The Chicago Reader called the band's debut album "a boiling
retro-soul primer," adding that "Tierinii has a riveting stage
presence. They do the Stax legacy proud." No Depression commented that
it's "easy to imagine Southern Avenue as a house band in their native
Memphis or Muscle Shoals in the glory days of the '60s, sent back to the future
to save us from inauthenticity and our collective hurt."
"Making
this album was an interesting journey," Ori says of Keep On. "Our
first album was recorded very fast and released very fast. With this one, we
spent a long time planning, and we knew how we wanted it sound. For me, it's a
big progression from the first album."
"The experience was completely different from making the first
one," adds Tierinii. "We learned a lot about each other and a lot
about the band."
As producer
Johnny Black notes, "The thing that stood out most to me about Southern
Avenue is their dedication to making this record 'the hard way.' Even in their
selection of studios; by picking Sam Phillips Recording, the band, in essence,
forced themselves to record within the same parameters as some of their heroes.
And while that process may have taken extra time, it was well worth the
effort."
The seeds
for Southern Avenue's birth were first planted when Ori Naftaly, who'd grown up
in Israel with a deep-rooted passion for American soul, blues and funk, came to
Memphis in 2013 to compete in the prestigious International Blues Challenge.
Although his talents were embraced by American audiences, Naftaly felt
constrained in his own band, feeling the need to embrace a more expansive
musical vision. That opportunity arrived
when he met Tierinii Jackson, who'd gotten her start singing in church, before
performing in a series of cover bands and theatrical projects.
Despite not
having a record deal at the time, Southern Avenue quickly found success touring
in America and Europe. They won
additional attention playing some high-profile festivals and making it to the
finals in the International Blues Challenge.
The band’s
self-titled debut was released in 2017, hitting #6 on Billboard’s Top Blues
Albums Chart, reaching #1 on the iTunes Blues Chart and prominently sitting in
the Americana radio Top 30 for nearly six months. The success of the album
created demand for the band in both the U.S. and throughout the world performing
in high-profile festivals around the globe. Since that time the band has
seemingly lived on the road with over 300 shows under their belts. Building
their audience one show at a time, they have headlined countless rooms from
coast to coast and have toured with artists including Buddy Guy, JJ Grey &
Mofro, Umphrey's McGee, Los Lobos, North Mississippi Allstars and Karl Denson
to name a few. "We love playing live," says Ori Naftaly, "It's
that connection with our fans that makes the time away from home worth it. Fans
become our family out on the road and we love experiencing music together with
them each and every night."
Their
efforts were further acknowledged by fans and peers in 2018, when their Stax
debut was honored with a Blues Music Award for “Best Emerging Artist Album.”
"What
makes it Southern Avenue," Tierinii states, "is that when we come
together, the music we make together is music we could never come up with
individually. It's really rewarding to have so many influences in the band, and
that we can find the balance between them."
"I'm
proud that we don't sound like anyone else," Ori asserts. "We've been
all over the world, from Australia to Poland to Norway to Spain to Canada to
Mexico. Those experiences, and all the highs and lows, it's all reflected in
the music. I've waited all my life to be in a band like this, and it's amazing
to me that I get to play with these people every night."
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