Jon Spear Band

"Hot Sauce" builds on the success of the Jon Spear Band’s first two albums with 12 new original blues/rock songs that showcase the band’s extraordinary musicianship and talent for bold and imaginative songwriting.

Nominated for the prestigious 2016 Blues Blast Magazine award for best Live Blues Recording, the Jon Spear Band’s first two CDs charted in the US, France, UK and Spain, including the annual top 100 Roots Music Report Contemporary Blues Chart for the past two consecutive years.

Not content to rest on their laurels, the band’s newest CD includes 12 new original songs written by the bandmembers that push the boundaries of subject matter, genre and musicianship. These include

• Natchez Burning (a moaning blues song about the disastrous 1940 Rhythm Club fire that killed over 200 people);
• Hot Sauce (I’ve tried Tabasco and Cholula too, but none of them get me anywhere near as hot as you);
• Hit the Quarter (guaranteed to have you dancing);
• Pierre Jourdan (the story of how one of New Orleans’s richest men became the Crescent City’s most famous ghost);
• Bottom of the Bottle (bad guys out looking for trouble)
• Geographical Cure (sometimes a change of scene is all you need);
• Noah’s Blues (a sad look at the decimation of African wildlife);
• Blues for a Soldier (the ones who call for war the most are the ones who know it least);
• Butt-Dial Kyle (hilarious butt-dialing faux pas including an errant 911 call); and more.

The band's members are Jon Spear (guitar and vocals), Andy Burdetsky (bass), John Stubblefield (drums) and Dara James (lead vocals and guitar plus harmonica). Guests on the CD include Ron Holloway (sax), Butch Taylor (keyboard), Nate Brown (congas), Matty Metcalfe (accordion), and vocalists Yolonda Jones and Nathaniel Star. Produced by Andy Waldeck and recorded at Ravensworth Studios in Scottsville, VA. Here is the complete songlist:

1. Bottom of the Bottle– 3:51 Written by: Dara James and Andrew Fritz Waldeck (BMI). Vocals and lead/slide guitar by Dara James, additional guitar parts by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky and drums by John Stubblefield.

2. Geographical Cure – 3:32 Written by: Jon Spear (BMI). Vocals and lead guitar by Dara James, rhythm guitar by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield, hand percussion by Nate Brown.

3. Really Great Gig – 3:32 Written by: Jon Spear (BMI). Lead guitar and vocal by Jon Spear, rhythm guitar by Dara James, bass by Andy Burdetsky and drums by John Stubblefield

4. Hot Sauce – 3:34 Written by: Andy Burdetsky and Andrew Fritz Waldeck (BMI). Vocals and lead guitar by Dara James, rhythm guitar by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield, sax by Ron Holloway.

5. Noah’s Blues – 3:44 Written by Jon Spear (BMI) Vocal by Dara James, rhythm and baritone guitar by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield, and hand percussion by Nate Brown.

6. Pierre Jourdan – 5:07 Written by Jon Spear (BMI). Lead vocal and acoustic guitar by Jon Spear, vocal harmony and dobro by Dara James, accordion by Matty Metcalfe.

7. Hit the Quarter – 3:26 Written by Jon Spear (BMI). Lead guitar and vocals by Dara James, guitar hook & rhythm by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield, hand percussion by Nate Brown.

8. Butt-Dial Kyle – 3:16 Written by Jon & Mary Lou Spear (BMI). Lead guitar and vocals by Dara James, rhythm guitar by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield, keyboard by Butch Taylor.

9. Wintertime – 6:42 Written by: Jon Spear(BMI). Vocals and lead guitar by Dara James, rhythm guitar by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky and drums by John Stubblefield

10. Blues for a Soldier – 5:05 Written by Jon Spear and Dara James (BMI). Vocal and lead guitar by Dara James, rhythm guitar by Jon Spear, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield and keyboard by Butch Taylor.

11. Cheap Whisky and Stale Cigarettes – 3:21 Written by Jon Spear (BMI) Lead vocal and rhythm guitar by Jon Spear, backing vocals, harmonica and lead guitar by Dara James, bass by Andy Burdetsky, drums by John Stubblefield, keyboard by Butch Taylor.

12. Natchez Burning – 3:47 Written by: Jon Spear and Dara James (BMI). Lead vocal and Dobro by Dara James. Backing vocals by Yolonda Jones and Nathaniel Star.