JERRY LEE GINGERY AND THE JUJU KINGS
''SOUTHSIDE OF NOWHERE''
2014
58:04
1 Whiskey Train 06:08
2 Southside Of Nowhere 04:19
3 Rich Man Blues 04:24
4 Something's Wrong 04:14
5 Must Have Been Blind 04:32
6 B & B By The Sea 06:20
7 Life Goes On 04:43
8 Hop Skip & A Jump 02:45
9 Mae Bea Sweet Baby 04:00
10 Sorry For Myself 04:14
11 Tired Of Messin' With You 06:25
12 Daddy's Song 05:55
REVIEW
by Kyle Deibler, for Blues Bytes
Over my years of working the International Blues Challenge for the Blues Foundation I’ve literally met hundreds of bands from around the world. The fortunate (or unfortunate few) that have been assigned to compete in the Rum Boogie have had to endure their share of grief from me in that time and I’m honored to call many of them friend. Such is the case of one Jerry Lee Gingery and his band, the Juju Kings. We’ve stayed in touch and I’m happy to see that Jerry Lee and his band have released a new album, Southside of Nowhere, and it’s a good one. Let’s give it a spin.
When I’ve seen Jerry Lee in Memphis he always played bass while singing the lead vocals for the JuJu Kings. I’m not surprised that he plays lead guitar on most of the tracks on the new disc; I’ve just never seen him do it. We open with “Whiskey Train” and the idea of going on a bender seems to appeal to Jerry Lee. I hear a little North Mississippi influence in this tune as Jerry Lee ponders life, “I asked the bartender…what am I doing here…I said my friend…would you be so kind….to hit me one more time….all aboard the whiskey train!” I’m enjoying the vibe of this tune and Doc Romanowski’s talented keyboard work on the organ lends just the right touch to the mix as Jerry Lee plays a wicked guitar solo in what’s intended to be his drunken desperation. The title track, “Southside of Nowhere” is next and I’m appreciating just how tight a band the JuJu Kings are. “You’re from the southside of nowhere…the wrong side of the tracks…I know where you’re born…you just can’t hide the facts…the southside of nowhere…the wrong side of the tracks.” Doc’s back on the piano this time and again he’s spot on with his keyboard track. Life isn’t fair and sometimes it’s held Jerry Lee back but he can’t help the fact he was born on “the southside of nowhere…the wrong side of the tracks!” Brandon Santini lends his considerable harp talents along side Eddie Narakas’s stinging Stratocaster to the mix on our next tune, “Rich Man Blues”, and Jerry Lee’s finding life isn’t always greener on the other side. “Got a brand new Cadillac…penthouse in the sky….but I long to feel the Blues…one more time before I die!” Not bad problems to have but definitely not worth selling your soul for either.
Jerry Lee’s bass is at the forefront of our next cut, “Something’s Wrong” and the rhythm section is solid with Roberto Aguilera Jr. on the drum kit. “Magic potions…instant delight…but that don’t…make things right…something’s wrong!” Jerry Lee knows the path he’s heading down just isn’t right but he’s also not sure what’s missing, knowing my friend he’ll figure it out soon. Brandon’s harp is back in full force as the band moves on to “Must Have Been Blind”. “Must have been blind…far as I can see…my little woman…she’s starting to worry me…stepping out at midnight…to half past three…just can’t believe…she’d be cheating on me!” If you can’t figure that out Jerry Lee, you must have been blind! “B&B By the Sea” is a beautiful ballad and Jerry Lee has a definite vision for the future of the relationship he’s in. “Tourists in their rooms….nestled in bed…dreams of a new tomorrow….just a swimming in their heads…by the sea!” A quaint B & B sounds heavenly and a perfect way to enjoy life with the one you love at a pace that allows you to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings!
I’ve got Brandon’s harp and a kick drum in my ear as the band begins to tackle our next cut, “Life Goes On”. “Dog in the yard…squirrel in the tree…says come on down…if you please….life goes on!” Through the good and the bad, life does indeed go on. A quick laugh and Jerry Lee leads the band forward in a 50’s style tune, “Hop Skip & a Jump”. “Who’s the one you come running to…I’m the one you come running to! Jerry Lee knows when this girl’s relationship goes bad he’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from her entering his arms instead. “Going uptown to see my sweet Mae Bea…cutest little girl I ever did see…she’s got them long, tanned legs…and a skirt so tight…I want to wrap her up around me…and love her all night!” Jerry Lee’s got it bad for “Mae Bea” in “Mae Bea Sweet Baby” and if he’s lucky, it will all work out!
Our next cut, “Sorry for Myself”, finds Jerry Lee contemplating the reasons for feeling down and they center around his woman who’s gone away. “Yes, it’s late at night…waited for a knock on my door…well my baby…said she come in…I know it’s a lie….it’s been six days….and she ain’t come by….sitting round here…feeling sorry for myself!” She’s spent all his money and I hate to tell you what you already know Jerry Lee but this girl just ain’t coming back! A blistering guitar intro continues this theme of dissatisfaction as Jerry Lee tackles the next tune, “Tired of Messsin’ With You”. “I’m so tired…of the things you do….well, I’m so sick and tired…tired of messin’ with you!” Jerry Lee’s woman is not treating him right and the best thing to do here my friend is kick this one to the curb! Southside of Nowhere is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Lee’s father, Harold Gingery, and I’m assuming our last tune, “Daddy’s Song”, is a tribute to his father by Jerry Lee. “Daddy died on a Monday…feeling might down…cast his soul on the water…watched it drift away…spilled ashes on the ground…where we’ll visit here someday…Daddy dies on a Monday…life won’t be the same!” A beautiful tune, Jerry Lee, and a fitting end to what has been a great disc from top to bottom.
I’ve always said that any band that goes to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge comes back better for the experience and what I’m hearing in my headphones indicates that Jerry Lee & the Juju Kings assimilated the lessons learned very well. Kudos to Brandon Santini for lending his amazing harp to the mix and I’ve enjoyed this record tremendously.
OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Brought up in a split family and raised by a single mother on the edge of poverty, many times Jerry Lee Gingery was made to feel like an outcast in society. Most people would associate this style of upbringing as being born on the “wrong side of the tracks”, but this was not the case with Jerry Lee. Even though he grew up on the “wrong side’, it felt like the “right side” to him. It was all he knew. It was home and his start in life. When times got tough and the blues set in, he would always reach for his guitar and dig in to his music. This always gave him the energy he needed to fight and claw his way out of the “Southside of Nowhere” which is the title song for his new CD.
Jerry Lee’s commitment to the Blues was born in Chicago when he was just a teenager. He attended a Howlin’ Wolf performance and was invited to sit in on bass guitar for a few songs. After sitting in, he sat with the audience about five feet from Howlin’ Wolf performing “Decoration Day” and was truly moved by the blues. He couldn’t believe the power, real pain and sorrow that came from just one man’s voice, three chords and the truth. It was experiences such as this which motivated Jerry Lee to explore the mysteries of his guitar and to master the grooves he could create with his bass guitar from that point on.
After recording his first release “Mojo Palace” in 2002, many years slugging it out in the Midwest bar scene and a forced hiatus due to some unscheduled health issues, Jerry Lee came back to the music scene with a new found fire in his belly. In the spring of 2012 he formed Jerry Lee & The Juju Kings with his good friends Eddie Narakas on guitar, Rob Aguilera on drums, and Richard “RJ” Westrick on keys. Together, the chemistry was so good that by the fall of 2012 they won the Prairie Crossroads Blues Society’s “Road To Memphis” blues challenge. This propelled them on to the International Blues Challenge in January of 2013 where they rocked the house at the famed Rum Boogie on Beale Street in Memphis. They returned to the Midwest and proceeded to rock and delight audiences at several major blues festivals during the summer of 2013. After witnessing how well his new music was being accepted at these events, Jerry decided it was time to record his next CD. After a short chat and a simple handshake with Mark Klak of Klakworks Studio in Buckingham, Illinois and a years worth of meticulous dedication, “Southside of Nowhere” was released on September, 18th, 2014.
Songwriting comes naturally to Jerry Lee and inspiration comes from deep within, which gave him his motivation for writing the collection of stories recorded on “Southside of Nowhere.” It is 59 minutes of outstanding songs loaded with deft vocals and expert musicianship. There are touches of clever and humorous lyrics, like “I must’ve been blind- as far as I can see” from the song, “Must of Been Blind.” “Whiskey Train” was taken from his early drinking years. “Something’s Wrong” was written about a dear friend who was addicted to a woman and drugs at the same time. “B&B by the Sea” was inspired by a trip to Northern Ireland and is a soulful song about love and longing. “Life Goes On” was written about what he witnessed on a daily basis from his wicker chair on his front porch. “Daddy’s Song”, which is dedicated to Jerry Lee’s father, was written the fateful day that Jerry was driving down the highway and received the call no one wants to answer. As Jerry pulled his car off the road, he did what he does best and channeled his grief by writing his true emotions right there on the spot.
Realizing that these songs/stories were so close and personal, he just knew he had to call upon some friends to help get the music to the finish line. Brandon Santini and his Seydel harmonicas was the first to offer his expertise. Then Timothy “Doc” Romanowski jumped in on keyboards, Cindy Altenberger on washboard, followed by Karen Brault and Susan Williams on background vocals. And last but not least- stellar performances by his friends, The Juju Kings.
While Jerry Lee is modest when he states that he is not the best bassist, guitarist, or vocalist on the planet, one has to witness his commanding stage presence and touch of “bad boy” charisma to get the whole picture of the artist. One thing for sure, he always brings a “blues collar” feel to his songs and incorporates great back alley rhythms coupled with a touch of uptown rock & roll that make his songs so approachable while moving you emotionally and physically. It’s the combination between the way Jerry Lee weaves his vocals and lyrics into a fabric of infectious grooves, while maintaining his Blues’ roots, that truly makes him a standout craftsman.
As Jerry puts it “A little rock in your socks…..a little blues in your shoes”.
Jerry Lee Gingery might think that he is from the Southside of Nowhere - wrong side of the tracks... But I believe he is on the “Right Track to Somewhere”
WEBSITE
TO THE TOP
''SOUTHSIDE OF NOWHERE''
2014
58:04
1 Whiskey Train 06:08
2 Southside Of Nowhere 04:19
3 Rich Man Blues 04:24
4 Something's Wrong 04:14
5 Must Have Been Blind 04:32
6 B & B By The Sea 06:20
7 Life Goes On 04:43
8 Hop Skip & A Jump 02:45
9 Mae Bea Sweet Baby 04:00
10 Sorry For Myself 04:14
11 Tired Of Messin' With You 06:25
12 Daddy's Song 05:55
REVIEW
by Kyle Deibler, for Blues Bytes
Over my years of working the International Blues Challenge for the Blues Foundation I’ve literally met hundreds of bands from around the world. The fortunate (or unfortunate few) that have been assigned to compete in the Rum Boogie have had to endure their share of grief from me in that time and I’m honored to call many of them friend. Such is the case of one Jerry Lee Gingery and his band, the Juju Kings. We’ve stayed in touch and I’m happy to see that Jerry Lee and his band have released a new album, Southside of Nowhere, and it’s a good one. Let’s give it a spin.
When I’ve seen Jerry Lee in Memphis he always played bass while singing the lead vocals for the JuJu Kings. I’m not surprised that he plays lead guitar on most of the tracks on the new disc; I’ve just never seen him do it. We open with “Whiskey Train” and the idea of going on a bender seems to appeal to Jerry Lee. I hear a little North Mississippi influence in this tune as Jerry Lee ponders life, “I asked the bartender…what am I doing here…I said my friend…would you be so kind….to hit me one more time….all aboard the whiskey train!” I’m enjoying the vibe of this tune and Doc Romanowski’s talented keyboard work on the organ lends just the right touch to the mix as Jerry Lee plays a wicked guitar solo in what’s intended to be his drunken desperation. The title track, “Southside of Nowhere” is next and I’m appreciating just how tight a band the JuJu Kings are. “You’re from the southside of nowhere…the wrong side of the tracks…I know where you’re born…you just can’t hide the facts…the southside of nowhere…the wrong side of the tracks.” Doc’s back on the piano this time and again he’s spot on with his keyboard track. Life isn’t fair and sometimes it’s held Jerry Lee back but he can’t help the fact he was born on “the southside of nowhere…the wrong side of the tracks!” Brandon Santini lends his considerable harp talents along side Eddie Narakas’s stinging Stratocaster to the mix on our next tune, “Rich Man Blues”, and Jerry Lee’s finding life isn’t always greener on the other side. “Got a brand new Cadillac…penthouse in the sky….but I long to feel the Blues…one more time before I die!” Not bad problems to have but definitely not worth selling your soul for either.
Jerry Lee’s bass is at the forefront of our next cut, “Something’s Wrong” and the rhythm section is solid with Roberto Aguilera Jr. on the drum kit. “Magic potions…instant delight…but that don’t…make things right…something’s wrong!” Jerry Lee knows the path he’s heading down just isn’t right but he’s also not sure what’s missing, knowing my friend he’ll figure it out soon. Brandon’s harp is back in full force as the band moves on to “Must Have Been Blind”. “Must have been blind…far as I can see…my little woman…she’s starting to worry me…stepping out at midnight…to half past three…just can’t believe…she’d be cheating on me!” If you can’t figure that out Jerry Lee, you must have been blind! “B&B By the Sea” is a beautiful ballad and Jerry Lee has a definite vision for the future of the relationship he’s in. “Tourists in their rooms….nestled in bed…dreams of a new tomorrow….just a swimming in their heads…by the sea!” A quaint B & B sounds heavenly and a perfect way to enjoy life with the one you love at a pace that allows you to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings!
I’ve got Brandon’s harp and a kick drum in my ear as the band begins to tackle our next cut, “Life Goes On”. “Dog in the yard…squirrel in the tree…says come on down…if you please….life goes on!” Through the good and the bad, life does indeed go on. A quick laugh and Jerry Lee leads the band forward in a 50’s style tune, “Hop Skip & a Jump”. “Who’s the one you come running to…I’m the one you come running to! Jerry Lee knows when this girl’s relationship goes bad he’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from her entering his arms instead. “Going uptown to see my sweet Mae Bea…cutest little girl I ever did see…she’s got them long, tanned legs…and a skirt so tight…I want to wrap her up around me…and love her all night!” Jerry Lee’s got it bad for “Mae Bea” in “Mae Bea Sweet Baby” and if he’s lucky, it will all work out!
Our next cut, “Sorry for Myself”, finds Jerry Lee contemplating the reasons for feeling down and they center around his woman who’s gone away. “Yes, it’s late at night…waited for a knock on my door…well my baby…said she come in…I know it’s a lie….it’s been six days….and she ain’t come by….sitting round here…feeling sorry for myself!” She’s spent all his money and I hate to tell you what you already know Jerry Lee but this girl just ain’t coming back! A blistering guitar intro continues this theme of dissatisfaction as Jerry Lee tackles the next tune, “Tired of Messsin’ With You”. “I’m so tired…of the things you do….well, I’m so sick and tired…tired of messin’ with you!” Jerry Lee’s woman is not treating him right and the best thing to do here my friend is kick this one to the curb! Southside of Nowhere is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Lee’s father, Harold Gingery, and I’m assuming our last tune, “Daddy’s Song”, is a tribute to his father by Jerry Lee. “Daddy died on a Monday…feeling might down…cast his soul on the water…watched it drift away…spilled ashes on the ground…where we’ll visit here someday…Daddy dies on a Monday…life won’t be the same!” A beautiful tune, Jerry Lee, and a fitting end to what has been a great disc from top to bottom.
I’ve always said that any band that goes to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge comes back better for the experience and what I’m hearing in my headphones indicates that Jerry Lee & the Juju Kings assimilated the lessons learned very well. Kudos to Brandon Santini for lending his amazing harp to the mix and I’ve enjoyed this record tremendously.
OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Brought up in a split family and raised by a single mother on the edge of poverty, many times Jerry Lee Gingery was made to feel like an outcast in society. Most people would associate this style of upbringing as being born on the “wrong side of the tracks”, but this was not the case with Jerry Lee. Even though he grew up on the “wrong side’, it felt like the “right side” to him. It was all he knew. It was home and his start in life. When times got tough and the blues set in, he would always reach for his guitar and dig in to his music. This always gave him the energy he needed to fight and claw his way out of the “Southside of Nowhere” which is the title song for his new CD.
Jerry Lee’s commitment to the Blues was born in Chicago when he was just a teenager. He attended a Howlin’ Wolf performance and was invited to sit in on bass guitar for a few songs. After sitting in, he sat with the audience about five feet from Howlin’ Wolf performing “Decoration Day” and was truly moved by the blues. He couldn’t believe the power, real pain and sorrow that came from just one man’s voice, three chords and the truth. It was experiences such as this which motivated Jerry Lee to explore the mysteries of his guitar and to master the grooves he could create with his bass guitar from that point on.
After recording his first release “Mojo Palace” in 2002, many years slugging it out in the Midwest bar scene and a forced hiatus due to some unscheduled health issues, Jerry Lee came back to the music scene with a new found fire in his belly. In the spring of 2012 he formed Jerry Lee & The Juju Kings with his good friends Eddie Narakas on guitar, Rob Aguilera on drums, and Richard “RJ” Westrick on keys. Together, the chemistry was so good that by the fall of 2012 they won the Prairie Crossroads Blues Society’s “Road To Memphis” blues challenge. This propelled them on to the International Blues Challenge in January of 2013 where they rocked the house at the famed Rum Boogie on Beale Street in Memphis. They returned to the Midwest and proceeded to rock and delight audiences at several major blues festivals during the summer of 2013. After witnessing how well his new music was being accepted at these events, Jerry decided it was time to record his next CD. After a short chat and a simple handshake with Mark Klak of Klakworks Studio in Buckingham, Illinois and a years worth of meticulous dedication, “Southside of Nowhere” was released on September, 18th, 2014.
Songwriting comes naturally to Jerry Lee and inspiration comes from deep within, which gave him his motivation for writing the collection of stories recorded on “Southside of Nowhere.” It is 59 minutes of outstanding songs loaded with deft vocals and expert musicianship. There are touches of clever and humorous lyrics, like “I must’ve been blind- as far as I can see” from the song, “Must of Been Blind.” “Whiskey Train” was taken from his early drinking years. “Something’s Wrong” was written about a dear friend who was addicted to a woman and drugs at the same time. “B&B by the Sea” was inspired by a trip to Northern Ireland and is a soulful song about love and longing. “Life Goes On” was written about what he witnessed on a daily basis from his wicker chair on his front porch. “Daddy’s Song”, which is dedicated to Jerry Lee’s father, was written the fateful day that Jerry was driving down the highway and received the call no one wants to answer. As Jerry pulled his car off the road, he did what he does best and channeled his grief by writing his true emotions right there on the spot.
Realizing that these songs/stories were so close and personal, he just knew he had to call upon some friends to help get the music to the finish line. Brandon Santini and his Seydel harmonicas was the first to offer his expertise. Then Timothy “Doc” Romanowski jumped in on keyboards, Cindy Altenberger on washboard, followed by Karen Brault and Susan Williams on background vocals. And last but not least- stellar performances by his friends, The Juju Kings.
While Jerry Lee is modest when he states that he is not the best bassist, guitarist, or vocalist on the planet, one has to witness his commanding stage presence and touch of “bad boy” charisma to get the whole picture of the artist. One thing for sure, he always brings a “blues collar” feel to his songs and incorporates great back alley rhythms coupled with a touch of uptown rock & roll that make his songs so approachable while moving you emotionally and physically. It’s the combination between the way Jerry Lee weaves his vocals and lyrics into a fabric of infectious grooves, while maintaining his Blues’ roots, that truly makes him a standout craftsman.
As Jerry puts it “A little rock in your socks…..a little blues in your shoes”.
Jerry Lee Gingery might think that he is from the Southside of Nowhere - wrong side of the tracks... But I believe he is on the “Right Track to Somewhere”
WEBSITE
TO THE TOP