September 12, 2024

Lone Justice – Skull and Cross Bones: 13th Floor New Cover Of The Day

Lone Justice release new track Skull and Cross Bones, taken from upcoming new album Viva Lone Justice – the first album to be released by Lone Justice in nearly 40 years. Featuring original band members Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni and the late Don Heffington. Viva Lone Justice is released via AFAR on October 25th.

Here is the blurb with more:

“I think the first time I heard this song was when it was covered by LA Rockabilly band The Red Devils. I was a huge fan of the band’s and the lead singer Emmy Lee was a tremendous influence on me. She had a great, strong voice, a cinematic presence and fashion sense and she was very beautiful. I idolized her. This band should be remembered in all the annals of LA post punk/Americana histories.”
Maria McKee

Of the session that resulted in Skull and Cross Bones, Marvin Etzioni comments: “Maria McKee dug up the song and started singing it at the session (fortunately tape was rolling) as she rattles the cage and the band follows along. The analog production fits the authentic approach of the performance that’ll send shivers down your spine.” It features Etzioni himself on mandolin, a rare appearance from Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) on acoustic bass guitar, Tammy Rogers on fiddle “and the late great Don Heffington banging on whatever was in front of him, including stomping on the living room wooden floor.

“Skull and Crossbones harkens back to Lone Justice’s core beginnings. A Rock-a-Billy/Garage based duet played with fire!” Ryan Hedgecock

Lone Justice

Then:

In 1983, Lone Justice started playing the clubs in Los Angeles. Word spread like wildfire. The New York Times commented,

“While the music of Lone Justice hybridizes many different influences, the group has refined them into a sharply focused style that welds the accelerated two-beat kick of Los Angeles postpunk groups like X with the rolling traditional country-rock of Creedence Clearwater Revival…Impressive, ingenuous and forceful”

By 1984, Lone Justice was on Geffen records, and by 1985, the self-titled debut album emerged. Los Angeles Times gave it “Album of the Year.” (John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” was a close second on the list.) LJ played shows with U2 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Willie Nelson. By 1986, Lone Justice broke up. McKee, Hedgecock, Etzioni and Heffington would begin their solo careers.

And Now:

Through the advent of technology, sweat and tears, a new Lone Justice album has been completed, featuring the original debut album band Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni and Don Heffington. Special guests include string arranger Tammy Rogers, multi-horn player David Ralicke, Greg Leisz on steel guitar and Benmont Tench on piano.

The opening track, “You Possess Me,” puts McKee up front and center, backed only by a string and mandolin quartet. Her stunning vocal is jaw dropping. Followed by the Gram Parsons & Emmy Lou Harris inspired “Jenny Jenkins” (a traditional song arranged by Hedgecock & McKee), the original foursome is back in the saddle and playing hard for keeps. McKee’s background vocals conjure up the The Raelettes (Ray Charles’ back-up singers) and the vocal interplay between McKee and Hedgecock cannot be denied.

In the third position, “Rattlesnake Mama” (a traditional song arranged by Lone Justice) was once a thrashing electric staple in their 1983 live set. This version, however, is all acoustic with Hedgecock on rhythm auto-harp, and features Tammy Rogers on fiddle.

Seemingly out of the blue, Lone Justice screeches into “Teenage Kicks” (the 1978 single by The Undertones). A limited edition 7″ 45 RPM record has been recently released. Side One ends with the Gospel tinged “Wade in the Water” (a traditional song arranged by McKee, Hedgecock, Etzioni, Heffington & Rogers).

Side Two takes us into a never-before-released live recording of the Roger Miller/George Jones country classic “Nothing Can Stop My Loving You,” featuring the unstoppable Jo-El Sonnier on lead accordion.

It is no wonder Los Angeles was lit up by the live performances of Lone Justice. The energy continues with the rockabilly tinged “Skull and Crossbone” featuring Hedgecock on his Scotty Moore inspired lead guitar playing. Followed by “Alabama Baby”, this obscure song uncovered by McKee showcases Lone Justice’s deep hillbilly roots.

The mood then calms to a hush with Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” which includes steel guitar player Greg Leisz. The song closes with a beautiful and unexpected string orchestra (arranged and performed by Rogers). Hardcore fans know that Dolly saw Lone Justice play front and center in 1984 at The Music Machine, a club in Los Angeles.

The album closes with Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers) leading the charge on the unpredictable barrelhouse piano version of “Sister Anne.” The song blisters until it comes crashing to its end with inspired horns performed by David Ralicke. Confetti falls as the horns continue to play on their own and this Lone Justice album comes to a close.

McKee, Hedgecock & Etzioni are in agreement. This is their finest work to date. Let word of mouth spread the news about Lone Justice like wildfire once again. It was forty years ago when Lone Justice burned down the clubs in Los Angeles. Let Viva Lone Justice touch your heart and burn your barn down, too.

“A sharply focused style that welds the accelerated two-beat kick of Los Angeles postpunk groups like X with the rolling traditional country-rock of Creedence Clearwater Revival”
New York Times

Track List