Photo: Chris Avey & Jeni Grouws by Darren Schultz
We are pleased to premiere the single “Love Raining Down” by the Avey Grouws Band, from their upcoming new album, Tell Tale Heart out September 24, 2021 on Navy House Records. Their sophomore release, the album was recorded in Nashville at East Iris Studios and The Purple House (Leiper’s Fork, TN) with Grammy-winning engineer/producer, Casey Wasner at the helm.
Iowa-based Avey Grouws Band takes us all to a positive-headspace dance party on their new track “Love Raining Down.” The song blends blues-rock and R&B that evokes early Led Zeppelin with a testifying mindset and a fervent message the world needs to hear. Jeni Grouws’ powerfully expressive vocals are strong, believable, and she shows plenty of creative range as she belts her lyrics about standing in love even in the toughest times. Ace guitarist Chris Avey grinds out his boogie and turns it into rock and roll. This is straight-up, no-nonsense roots rock with groove that comes right off the floor into your speakers. Turn it up!
Jeni Grouws says, “Lyrically, ‘Love Raining Down’ was written during the 2020 pandemic. I was stuck at home during a rainstorm and was scrolling through social media and it was just so harsh. Everyone was hurting and arguing with each other and not really doing it in a way that led with love or kindness. It was full of hate and mistrust and anger. I was listening to a guitar lick Chris (Avey) had sent, and I just had this rather “Pollyanna” moment when I thought, dang…what if instead of rain pouring down on all of us, we could do the same with love. Let love rain down over the people! That’s the basis of the song. I especially like that what we created in the end highlights our blues, roots and rock influences pretty well. It feels hard and a bit chaotic….it feels like a storm thrashing about! But it’s filled with the message of love helping us take on those storms of life. We can get through most anything with love. Believe it.”
Listen to “Love Raining Down”
Featuring 10 original songs, Tell Tale Heart demonstrates the label-defying band’s command of a wide swath of American roots music, including blues, classic rock, country and R&B, funk, and unbridled rock and roll. Grouws and Avey composed the tracks during the coronavirus pandemic and many of the lyrics respond directly to the health crisis and the political and social turmoil of 2020. Casey Wasner, whose credits include a Grammy Award win for engineering the Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal album, ‘TajMo,’ he also co-produced Robben Ford’s album, Purple House.
Avey Grouws Band is comprised of Jeni Grouws (vocals, songwriter), Chris Avey (guitar, songwriter) Bryan West (drums), Randy Leasman (bass) and Nick Vasquez (keyboards).
In March of 2020, Avey Grouws Band released The Devil May Care to critical acclaim. It reached #10 on the Billboard Blues Album chart and received a Blues Music Award nomination for “Best Debut Album” and four nominations by the Independent Blues Awards, and finalist placement in the International Songwriting Competition.
This is one band to watch. Avey Grouws Band rocks it.
Tell Tale Heart pre-order link here.
Avey Grouws Band Online
I seen this Avey Grouws band at their first gig out playing in public since the PANDEMIC started. They said , sorry we are a little rusty. But i simply said this: One of the BEST shows that i have ever seen. And i have seen a lot of bands. A.G.B. is the band to see! T/Y.
Enjoyed the review! If the rest of the album sounds as good as this video, it’s a winner!
They are AMAZING!
One of our favorites ❤
~lucinda n rick
This is some great Rock n Roll! If the album is as good as this song It’s going on my Christmas list! Well written review. I rarely leave a comment on You Tube but this was too good to not.
Superb track and having heard live versions of the other songs on Tell Tale Heart, this is a perfect taster for what is to come.
Such a great sound from this band! Can’t wait to hear the entire album.
This band always reaches the heart and soul of the audience because they put their heart and soul into each song. We love Avey Grouws. They performed online through the pandemic and kept us sane.
Well dang , that is something special !
Thank you, Rock and Blues Muse! Always well done reviews and news. Exciting to have this one about us!
I can’t get this one out of my head! Fantastic on all fronts!
Crank this up and the “walls start hummin like a hurricane!” Well done! This is a blast!