JonEmery Dodds, the traditionally unconventional singer/songwriter from Northern California, blend Country, Blues, Folk & CowPunk together to create his own style of American Roots Music. He weaves new and personal stories about highways, hangovers & heartache with a sense of humor & humility.

Whiskey-tinged twang: It’s easy to see why JonEmery is nominated for the Sammies this year. His rollicking honky-tonk show on Friday, March 24, served whiskey-and-beer-soaked dancing and hoedown jams in perfect measure to a full house at Pistol Pete’s Brew & Cue in Auburn. Devoted fans assembled at the rowdy bar to celebrate the lovelorn twang of electric guitar—this was country at its finest. The well-attended show opened with Tatiana McPhee’s rallying cover of the Rolling Stone’s “Dead Flowers” to enthusiasm from the crowd, which began to gather around the stage. Before moving forward with heartfelt original songs, McPhee slung her guitar back and addressed the crowd: “I hope you like country honky-tonk type music, because that’s what I play, so that’s what you’re gonna get!” The crowd’s roaring approval was all she needed to play her own brand of country. Harkening to early Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard, her large acoustic guitar and powerful vocals blended seamlessly with the electric slide guitar and drums of her backing musicians. This was just the opening act. JonEmery, whose new record Driftin’ To the Shoulder is due out in June, took the crowd late into the night with original songs off the new album and fan favorites. He showcased influences from the honky-tonk, Americana and punk scenes—channeling the likes of Johnny Cash, Steve Earle and Jesse Dayton. JonEmery got the crowd dancing and cheering from the billiard tables and the long wooden bar to the stage. His straightforward lyrical musings celebrate the simpler life, nostalgia and the melancholy of heartache. He even crafts cathartic, poetic reflections about trains. Before the show’s end, JonEmery summed up his philosophy for a life well lived: “If you ain’t havin’ a good time, you ain’t livin’ life, man!” —Matt Kramer of Sacramento News & Review 3/2017

You long time readers of my website will most certainly recognize this man’s name and work on here. One of the highest road warriors on the west coast, Mr. Jonemery Dodds has sustained a LOT of personal loss for the dreams he chases. He rolled a car last year and came out unscathed thank God, we were ALL worried about him.

My home museum of Country Music Legends and local music contains many of his letters to me and is adorned with a LOT of his posters and notes. He actually released TWO albums last year this one was first with fellow musicians Mr. Mike Bacon Jr. on bass, Mr. Chris Amaral on drums, And Mr. Dan Sisson on guitars and lap steel.

The album opens with “Red Tangled Mess” and goes into a good Honky Tonk anthem called “Shit Kickin Blues”. You know his music may not be widely known all over the country…yet..but it is well written and I enjoy all of his albums and keep them in my rotation. It’s pretty much just good old fashioned beer drinking music.

I’m going to go ahead and include both albums he sent me in 2017 this album was called Driftin To The Shoulder.

The album opens with a title track of “Driftin To The Shoulder” which contains a really good toe tapping Honky Tonk guitar tone.It continues on into an older recorded song called “From Wine To The Whiskey”, from one of his former albums. The high point of this album here is the hilarious written song called “Tweeker”, which sadly was written from his detriment.

The road life these guys and gals live is filled with harsh deadlines and encounters with creeps of all kinds while they streamline on for a quest to find legitimate listeners. I know this, because I have followed them all at one point or another.  I remember watching Cody Jinks play at a abandoned gas station once.

The other song I liked was “Let Kentucky Do The Talking” mostly because I am based out of western Kentucky. Now mind you Mr. Jon has never ventured out into my neck of the woods yet. BUT I AM confident that one day…ONE DAY our paths will cross. ~ Gary Hayes - 2017 Albums I Missed - 1/2018