sewnmoe
I love it because my video clip made the cut for the quarantine video from fans. I shot mine on a drug run,(3/17) to pharmacy In Carlisle Iowa, stopping at our new grain bin shelters. A great backdrop for Iowa, knew videos were being internationally sourced. Love all the songs!
Favorite track: Let's Take It Slow.
The Billboard Charting, Blues Music Awards Nominated debut album of Avey Grouws Band, The Devil May Care, is now available on vinyl! With the added bonus of having a full lyrics insert.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Devil May Care 2020
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
"I think it is one of the best debut albums I've heard, not only in Blues but across all genres." - Colin & Monica, UK radio
The Devil May Care #10 Billboard Blues Chart
Nominated for 2020 BBMAs for Debut Album New Artist
The Devil May Care #19 for the year 2020 on the Roots Music Report
for Top Contemporary Blues Album
Winners Honorable Mention 2020 UnsignedOnly songwriting competition.
DownBeat Magazine:
3 1/2 stars
“Semi Finalists at the 2020 International Blues Competition, Avey Grouws Band channels its pent-up enthusiasm and not slight musical ability toward an individuated brand of blues-rock that recommends its first album. Jeni Grouws’ limber voice rings with conviction, ratcheting up intensity on original tunes sans artifice. She shares the dominant aural presence with far-above-average guitarist, Chris Avey, who ranges from Robert Crayish spikiness to jazzy lyricism. Standouts ‘The Devil May Care’ and ‘Dirty Little Secret’ explore an emotional world where lust rivals mental-physical stability. Of eight more, just ‘Long Road’ disappoints for its fake profound rock gestures.” - Frank-John Hadley
Elmore Magazine:
“IBC semi-finalists in 2018 and 2020, Iowa’s Avey Grouws Band has released their debut CD. They are fronted in a quintet by the duo of strong alto vocalist Jeni Grouws and guitarist/vocalist Chris Avey. The duo is backed by a skilled rhythm section of drummer Bryan West, bassist Randy Lessman and Nick Vasquez on keys. The music and songwriting are solid, but the real attraction here is Grouws stirring vocals, capable of delivering sultry phrases or passionate roars, depending on the tune. The album was recorded in the Quad Cities, along the mighty Mississippi and the band brings as much power as any band along that waterway, Memphis and New Orleans included.
The set begins with Grouws singing the flirtatious “Come and Get This Love” with a rumba and swing rhythm that will have your foot tapping right away. Grouws sings about an illicit love affair that only the devil may care about in the title track while Avey wields a Coco Montoya-like riff. “Rise Up” predictably becomes anthemic but the band shows a little more versatility in the doo-wop “Let’s Take It Slow.” Grouws immense pipes are in full glory on another anthem, “Long Road,” fueled by slide guitar.
The boogie “Let Me Sing My Blues” features some barrelhouse piano from Vasquez while Grouws delivers another fine wailing vocal. The band goes acoustic for “Weary,” a nice change of pace but not one of the stronger songs. “Dirty Little Secret’ is addendum to the title track with some tasteful licks from Avey, setting the stage for their playful duet vocal on “Dig What You Do.” Two horns join on the upbeat closer, “Two Days Off (And a Little Bit of Liquor),” buoyed by its singalong chorus.
This is an auspicious debut, made most memorable by Jeni Grouws’ naturally strong vocals. We will be hearing more from this band that’s just three years young.” - Jim Hynes
BIOGRAPHY
With a deep connection to the Quad Cities and the music of the Mississippi River, Avey Grouws Band hit the mark with a gritty sound, stellar songwriting and a powerful show! The band has a special connection with their audiences, often bringing laughter and tears to their fans in a single show. Their sound is all their own, with a blend of blues, roots, country and blues rock. Jeni Grouws has been called “a rising star” by Blue Monday Monthly and it’s been written that Chris Avey’s sound is like “a younger, more fiery Coco Montoya with a dash of Tab Benoit.”
After meeting at a blues jam at Muddy Waters in the Quad Cities, Chris Avey and Jeni Grouws formed Avey Grouws Band in 2017, winning the Iowa Blues Challenge that same year, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The list of original music grew quickly and in 2018 AGB released their EP, “Road to Memphis.” Since then they’ve continued to grow, write, tour and make fans and friends, playing festivals and clubs in Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The band was also 2020 IBC semi-finalists.
Passionate, powerful and playful, Avey Grouws Band is here to make their music... and to have a good time doin’ it! AGB is Jeni Grouws, Chris Avey, Bryan West and Randy Leasman, regularly joined by Nick Vasquez on keys.
credits
released March 20, 2020
Jeni Grouws - vocals
Chris Avey - vocals/guitar
Randy Leasman - bass
Bryan West - drums
Nick Vasquez - keys
Nolan Schroeder - sax on track 10
Dan Meier - trumpet on track 10
All songs written by Jeni Grouws and Chris Avey
Produced and Mixed by Travis Huisman
Recorded at Catamount Recording, Cedar Falls, IA
Original Artwork by Nick Hirka, Decorah, IA
Layout by Zelda Productions, Decorah, IA
Avey Grouws Band is led by powerhouse vocalist Jeni Grouws and ace guitar man Chris Avey. The two time top 10 Billboard
charting band are known for their gritty sound and engaging shows. "Tell Tale Heart", was recorded in Nashville with Grammy winner, Casey Wasner (Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal). Tell Tale Heart debuted #7 on Billboard Blues chart. 2020 debut album, "The Devil May Care" hit #10....more
supported by 20 fans who also own “The Devil May Care 2020”
Lesley's voice and vocals are just great. I love Mark and Ian's guitar playing and Andrew's bass, Peter's organ and Pete's drums too. You are a great band and have produced a fantastic album. It's my album of the year 2023. It's a pity that I only became aware of the band recently. dmeikel
supported by 9 fans who also own “The Devil May Care 2020”
What do I think about this? A perfect selection of songs that you have breathed new life into, they shine in a new light. Simply fantastic and I sink into old times when I hear the album. dmeikel
Russell Morris and Rick Springfield pair grave tales with smoldering blues on this Día de los Muertos-inspired collaborative LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 3, 2021
Cleopatra Blues recently unleashed a barrage of reissued essentials from Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, etc. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2016
Cerebral palsy curbed his ability to play guitar the conventional way, so Nagoda learned double slide, this is his debut LP.
Bandcamp New & Notable May 8, 2014