“Way Down In The Hole” is the song that made J. Isaiah Evans a Tom Waits fan. That made it an obvious pick for his upcoming EP, Modern Sounds In Americana Music.
“I first heard it when I was taking part in a tribute to Tom Waits in Dallas,” says Evans. “That song hit me hard.”
Evans spent a decade fronting the 40 Acre Mule, a Dallas-based quintet that earned ample praise for its forward-leaning spin on classic rhythm and blues. With the Boss Tweed, Evans is bringing boogie-woogie back to its roadhouse essence. Their overdriven stew of blues, soul and vintage rock ’n’ roll hinges on Matthew Vasquez’s percussive approach to the Hammond B3. In essence, they’ve reimagined and reenergized the concept of the organ trio, something traditionally seen in jazz.
The organ also played a crucial role Evans’ Southern Baptist upbringing. “Fire and brimstone every Sunday,” he says. “When I first started thinking about doing an EP of Americana songs, I kept coming back to the foundations of all of it: the church. ‘Way Down In The Hole’ is all of the darkness and desperation of old-time religion.”
We’re proud to premiere “Way Down In The Hole.” Look for Modern Sounds In Americana Music this fall.
—Hobart Rowland
See J. Isaiah Evans & The Boss Tweed live.
