On April 29th 2022, Jane Lee Hooker self-released their long-awaited new studio album Rollin’ via Symphonic Distribution; eight songs that perfectly showcase the band’s signature blend of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, punk, R&B and soul. Three tracks from the new collection were released last year as singles and videos: “Jericho,” “Drive”
and “All Good Things.” The songs received glowing reviews from fans and press around the world, and found their way onto some influential radio stations, including WDST FM – Radio Woodstock. The tracks also secured radio play on Rock and Blues specialty shows across the US, UK, Europe and Australia – including Triple J.
Rollin’ was written and recorded during the pandemic, which resulted in Jane Lee Hooker trying out new methods of songwriting and recording. With COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing requirements in effect in NYC, the band found themselves locked out of their Brooklyn rehearsal room - the creative space where they write and rehearse with amps cranked up at maximum volume. Says singer Dana Athens, “Aside from Jericho and Lucky, which were written before 2020, the rest of the songs on Rollin' were primarily written on acoustic instruments in my backyard while social distancing underneath the grapevines my Greek grandparents planted in 1968. We had this oasis to gather and make music and pass the time the pandemic had afforded us.” She continues, “ …we recorded this record very differently than we have done with our other albums. Beginning with focusing on drums at one studio, then tracking vocals, guitars, and other things at two other locations. This process was very different from our "plug-and-play' attitude of yore.”
The result of that process is an album filled with musical diversity, while still staying true to the band’s hallmark combination of twin lead guitars, a heavy rhythm section and soul-scorching vocals. There are straightforward blues-rockers including first single “Jericho,” album opener “Lucky” and the CD-Only bonus cover of Johnny Winters’ “Mean Town Blues;” but those are balanced out by the soul-pop of “Drive,” back-porch acoustic blues of “White Gold,” the soul & gospel-tinged “Weary Bones” and feel-good rock ‘n’ roll of “All Good Things.” Rollin’ was produced by Matt Chiaravalle (Joe Bonamassa, Warren Zevon, Courtney Love) and mastered by Grammy winner Emily Lazar (David Bowie, ColdPlay, Foo Fighters, John Mayer, Beck, the Killers, Garbage, Sonic, Youth, Linkin Park, Sia).
Jane Lee Hooker exploded out of New York City in 2015, and won instant acclaim in the US and abroad with their debut album of revved-up blues covers No B! The band was signed to legendary German blues/rock label Ruf Records, and returned in 2017 with a set of originals titled Spiritus. The five members of Jane Lee Hooker have decades of playing experience, punching the clock in bands including Nashville Pussy, Bad Wizard, Helldorado, Lez Zeppelin, punk rockers The Wives (managed by CBGB’s owner Hilly Kristal) and Plasmatics offshoot New Hope.
Jane Lee Hooker toured extensively behind No B! and Spiritus, and played to packed houses across the U.S. and Europe, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic. The band returned to Europe in May/June of 2022 for a run of dates in Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Belgium. Jane Lee Hooker has shared stages with acts including Train, Sturgill Simpson, Samantha Fish, the Allman Betts Band, Jenny Lewis, Umphrey’s McGee and Portugal. The Man.
In a world full of manufactured bands, and live shows backed up by hard-drives, Jane Lee Hooker play rock ‘n’ roll the way it’s meant to be played – loud and with passion. JLH’s fiery live performances have made them a must-see live act – you can find all the latest show and touring information on janeleehooker.com.
