PREMIERE: Southern Avenue Survives & Thrives On Soul-Centric New Single, “Jive” [Listen]
Memphis soul, blues, and jam band Southern Avenue has an extremely interesting and unique backstory. Guitarist Ori Naftaly grew up in Israel with a deep-rooted passion for American soul, blues, and funk. Naftaly set his eyes on the prize, making a musical pilgrimage in 2013 to compete in Memphis, TN’s prestigious International Blues Challenge. Realizing that staying with his former band in Israel was holding him back, a new opportunity arose when Naftaly befriended Memphis-bred vocalist Tierinii Jackson, who has an extensive history of singing in church, local cover bands, theatrical projects, and more.In 2015, Ori Naftaly, Tierinii Jackson, and her drummer sister Tikyra Jackson helped form Southern Avenue. The band toured vigorously throughout the U.S. and Europe in their formative years before landing a record deal. Southern Avenue released their debut self-titled album in February 2017 via Stax Records. Expanding their vision to embrace new musical challenges, the quartet is gearing up to release their sophomore album, Keep On, due out on May 10th, 2019.Keep On was recorded with producer Johnny Black (Jessie J, Daughtry, Estelle) at Memphis’ legendary Sam Phillips Recording, and includes guest appearances by seminal Stax Records artist William Bell, noted Memphis musician Gage Markey (who serves as guest bassist on most of the album), and a horn section comprised of Art Edmaiston (JJ Grey & Mofro, Gregg Allman) and Marc Franklin (The Bo-Keys, Gregg Allman).“Jive” is a snappy new tune off of Keep On, which opens up with Tikyra “TK” Jackson holding down a tight-knit groove behind Naftaly’s gritty opening guitar lick. Tierinii Jackson jumps into her vocal lead loud and proud, as the quartet trickles into the song’s main theme. Southern Avenue arranged their vocal overlays and harmonies with precision and meticulous thought, resulting in a beautiful sonic landscape, offering insight to the band’s vast, worldly influences. Tierinii Jackson shared her thoughts on “Jive” with Live For Live Music. She explains,This song is about learning to navigate a fast-paced industry while maintaining one’s self-respect. There are lots of selfish people out there, snakes who will try to take advantage of you at every corner. You need to be aware of your surroundings, learn the game and become that beast that no one wants to mess with. We love this song because we’ve encountered a lot of toxic relationships on our journey and we have survived and thrived through all the Jive. Today, we’re excited to premiere Southern Avenue’s new single. You can check out the Live For Live Music premiere of Southern Avenue’s new tune “Jive” below:Southern Avenue – “Jive”[Audio: Concord Records]Southern Avenue has a big year of touring ahead of them, highlighted by multiple performances in New Orleans during Jazz Fest, festival appearances at Beale Street Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Electric Forest, Peach Music Festival, Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, and the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and more. The band will also join Tedeschi Trucks Band for a run of shows throughout the Southwest in the fall.Fans can head here to pre-order Southern Avenue’s forthcoming Keep On release.See below for a full list of the band’s upcoming tour dates. For ticketing and more information, head to Southern Avenue’s website.Southern Avenue 2019 Tour Dates:Sun, APR 28Joy Theater (w/The Word)New Orleans, LAWed, MAY 1House of Blues New Orleans (ShortyFest!)New Orleans, LAThu, MAY 2The Howlin’ Wolf (w/Samantha Fish & Marc Broussard)New Orleans, LASat, MAY 4Beale Street Music FestivalMemphis, TNTue, MAY 7Brooklyn BowlBrooklyn, NYThu, MAY 9The 8×10Baltimore, MDSat, MAY 11Bishop Gunn Crawfish BoilNatchez, MSSat, MAY 18Stomp the Blues Out of HomelessnessSpringfield, MOSun, MAY 19Doheny Blues FestivalDana Point, CAFri, MAY 24Summer Camp Music FestivalChillicothe, ILSat, MAY 25Summer Camp Music FestivalChillicothe, ILSun, MAY 26Summer Camp Music FestivalChillicothe, ILWed, MAY 29Camden DingwallsLondon, United KingdomSat, JUN 1amc BOCANEGRAValles, SpainSun, JUN 2Rock & Blues CafeZaragoza, SpainMon, JUN 3JamboreeBarcelona, SpainThu, JUN 6SztygarkaChorzow, PolandFri, JUN 7QuasimodoBerlin, GermanySun, JUN 9Grolsch Blues FestivalSchöppingen, GermanyMon, JUN 10Ribs & Blues RaalteRaalte, NetherlandsThu, JUN 13Sierre Blues FestivalSierre, SwitzerlandSat, JUN 22Pine Bluff Regional Park AmphitheatrePine Bluff, ARThu, JUN 27Old Rock HouseSt. Louis, MOFri, JUN 28Electric ForestRothbury, MISat, JUN 29Electric ForestRothbury, MISun, JUN 30Turf ClubSt Paul, MNWed, JUL 3The Triple DoorSeattle, WASat, JUL 6Waterfront Blues FestivalPortland, ORWed, JUL 10Club CafePittsburgh, PAFri, JUL 12Briggs Farm Blues FestivalNescopeck, PASat, JUL 13Ottawa BluesfestOttawa, CanadaSun, JUL 14Ottawa BluesfestOttawa, CanadaThu, JUL 25The Peach Music FestivalScranton, PAFri, JUL 26The Peach Music FestivalScranton, PASat, JUL 27The Peach Music FestivalScranton, PASun, JUL 28Interstellar RodeoEdmonton, CanadaThu, AUG 1Lander LiveLander, WYFri, AUG 2Montrose Summer Music SeriesMontrose, COSun, AUG 4Mammoth Festival Of Beers & BluesaploozaMammoth Lakes, CAThu, AUG 8Sweetwater Music HallMill Valley, CASat, AUG 10Burnaby Blues and Roots FestivalBurnaby, CanadaSat, AUG 17Music in the Blue RidgeRoseland, VASat, AUG 24Druid City Music FestivalTuscaloosa, ALThu, SEP 12Telluride Blues & Brews FestivalTelluride, COFri, SEP 13Telluride Blues & Brews FestivalTelluride, COSun, SEP 22Bourbon and BeyondLouisville, KYSat, OCT 26Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CASun, OCT 27Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CAMon, OCT 28Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CATue, OCT 29Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CAWed, OCT 30Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CAThu, OCT 31Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CAFri, NOV 1Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CASat, NOV 2Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseSan Diego, CAWed, NOV 6The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (w/Tedeschi Trucks Band)Houston, TXFri, NOV 8Majestic Theatre (w/Tedeschi Trucks Band)Dallas, TXTue, NOV 12Brady Theater (w/Tedeschi Trucks Band)Tulsa, OKThu, NOV 14Tobin Center for the Performing Arts (w/Tedeschi Trucks Band)San Antonio, TXSat, NOV 16Robinson Center (w/Tedeschi Trucks Band)Little Rock, ARView Tour Dates