From a historical perspective, one could say that rebellious music that doesn’t necessarily fit a certain genre or time period leaves a lasting effect on people. Think of David Bowie..or Johnny Cash…Both went against what the mainstream audiences wanted and lived on to be legends. For Miss Tess, she wants to become a legend in her own right but wants to use some of Bowie’s and Cash’s rebellious tools to do so - American Songwriter
Captivating - Billboard
Rooted in a retro groove that’s equal parts blues, mid-century rock & roll and Booker T-worthy R&B - Rolling Stone
Old-time warmth, 21st-century sass. It’s a potent recipe for that few artists successfully pull off — and Miss Tess is one of them - No Depression
A voice that recalls artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline and Lindi Ortega - The Boot
Soulful - Wide Open Country
Miss Tess swings, swaggers, seduces, and soothes on The Moon Is An Ashtray - Glide Magazine
This album is tremendous display of Miss Tess’s range as an artist. She bounces from soul to country to jazzy vocals with no difficulty. In fact, she makes it seem effortless - Americana Highways
An eclectic mix of country, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll - Americana-UK
Miss Tess has a musical vocabulary that continues to confound. Country, blues, rock, folk, jazz – you name it – you’ll find shades of it infused into her music…The Moon Is an Ashtray is both warm and raucous, not to mention a damn fine listen. - Twangville
LISTEN: THE MOON IS AN ASHTRAY
Nashville chanteuse Miss Tess has released her lauded new album The Moon Is An Ashtray today via Tone Tree Music. “The moon is an ashtray. I fell in love with this metaphor,” Miss Tess told American Songwriter in its premiere. “The album cover draws inspiration from an old picture I came across from what must have been a 1930s movie, where the women sitting on the moon looked well, kind of pissed off. I loved that attitude captured as a juxtaposition against the classic romanticized ‘woman on moon’ image, and wanted to recreate that sentiment for the title track. Things are not always what they seem, especially when you’re used to filtering them through an illusion of childlike romanticism. Objects such as the moon, and ideas of love often fall into this category, but are too often followed by disappointment. when you realize that this type of idealistic, cruel optimism is just an illusion. From far away the moon is a mystical glowing entity, yet in reality is cratered and dusty, sort of like … an ashtray.”
The sentiment was deftly captured in the video for the title track, directed by Tom Krueger (Bruce Springsteen, U2, David Bowie). “With a distinct old timey flair, the singer transports the listener to another time period with the throwback number,” Billboard remarked of the whimsical video, which involves an evil villain luring in souls for his wonderland vignettes.
WATCH: “THE MOON IS AN ASHTRAY”
To help capture and shape her own unique sound, Miss Tess enlisted not only her trusty 1930s Weymann archtop, but also heavy input from co-producers Andrija Tokic (Margo Price, Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and Thomas Bryan Eaton, her full-time bandmate and musical partner. Combining Eaton's' arranging ideas and skilled instrumental work with Tokic's studio full of vintage mics, tube amps, keyboards, and tape machines, the resulting record has a rich, buttery warmth well-suited to Miss Tess' voice and authentic, retro-contemporary songwriting style.
When most people think of defiant music, they think of punk rock or outlaw country. But defying genres while transcending eras and resisting clichés is hard to pin down when it comes to artistry unless you're talking about Miss Tess, who does all of that and more on The Moon Is An Ashtray. Swinging for the fences and from the branches of jazz, country, blues and old school rock and roll, she has employed all of her influences and talents on a tour-de-force, while cleverly taking standard perspectives and ideas - like the definition of a love song - to task. From soulful swagger to jazz, blues, a little old school country, and even a touch of psychedelia, Miss Tess shows both the pluck and poise to fold a multitude of styles into her own.
The Moon Is An Ashtray is available for purchase on iTunes, Google Play, and at her website. Miss Tess will be performing today on Nashville roots radio station WMOT’s Finally Friday show which broadcasts live from 3rd & Lindsley. Tune in HERE to listen at 1pm CST. She’ll also be celebrating the album’s release on her upcoming tour, see dates below.
TOUR DATES:
2/19 Nashville, TN @ The 5 Spot
2/20 St. Louis, MO @ Focal Point
2/21 Chicago, IL @ Honky Tonk BBQ
2/22 Indianapolis, IN @ Duke's
3/04 Charlotte, NC @ The Thirsty Beaver
3/05 Fayetteville, NC @ Cameo Art House
3/06 Aberdeen, NC @ Rooster’s Wife
3/07 Saluda, NC @ Purple Onion
3/11 Knoxville, TN @ TN Shines
3/12 Bristol, TN @ Farm & Fun Time
3/13 Charlottesville, VA @ The Front Porch
3/14 Washington, DC @ The Soundry
3/15 Philladelphia, PA @ Philadelphia Folk School
3/17 New York, NY @ Voices on the Hudson at City Vineyard
3/18 Northampton, MA @ Parlor Room
3/19 Cambridge, MA @ The Lizard Lounge
3/20 Portland, ME @ One Longfellow Square
3/21 Peacedale, RI @ Roots Hoot House Concert
3/22 Cazenovia, NY @ Nelson Odeon
3/25 Rochester, NY @ Abilene
3/26 Buffalo, NY @ Sportsmen's Tavern
3/27 Peninsula, OH @ GAR Hall
3/28 Columbus, OH @ Natalie's