Jeff Rymes

Praised by No Depression in the past as “a trip musically” who “can sail effortlessly” amongst all manner of roots genres, singer-songwriter Jeff Rymes’ decidedly bluesier direction has been a reinvigorating approach on his latest album Zodiac Shuffle. Spending the last few years workshopping with a specific style in mind has allowed Rymes to breathe new life into unfinished ideas, do some stylistic exploration (the one-chord song!), and recruit talented core collaborators. To greater acknowledge the main group of musicians on Zodiac Shuffle, Rymes has returned to billing himself as a full band for the first time since his former outfit The Lonesome Strangers - described by AllMusic as “one of California's most influential bands” during “the roots music explosion that took place in Southern California during the ‘80s” - to Jeff Rymes and The Phantom Zodiacs. The swap from Lonesome Strangers to Phantom Zodiacs features longtime friend Taras Prodaniuk (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams) on bass, rounded out by Rick Holmstrom on guitar and Steve Mugalian on drums - both of whom are on loan from Mavis Staples.

Where else to start other than what Rymes suggests “might be the Phantom Zodiacs theme song,” “Way Down Luziana.” Bringing major bayou vibes and written with the mantra “one chord, one world, one groove!” in mind, Holmstrom’s licks conjure up connections to Gulf Coast inspired rock bands of an earlier generation over a driving beat. The twangy grit of Rymes’ vocal bedrock on the verses reach an ear-pleasing higher pitch for his own harmony accompaniment later on.

Featuring session musician legend Skip Edwards (Dwight Yoakam, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Sir Douglas Quintet) on keys, “Freddy Lee” is in the tradition of the classic murder ballad turned blues-stomper - so much so that the working title was “Crime Scene.” “I was at a point in life where, for whatever reason, writing a good one-chord song seemed very important to me,” says Rymes of his “one-chord workout,” “Lowdown Blues.” Mugalian and Prodaniuk lock in the pocket of a “Zodiac shuffle” while Holmstrom carves out riffage around Rymes’ low howl.

“This is a song I wrote with Randy Weeks, my old bandmate in The Lonesome Strangers,” says Rymes on “The Tale of the Runaway Train.” “He sent me an idea of some chords and random vocalizing, and I just got into the feeling of it.” The track’s gentle beginnings roll into a sinister strolling rhythm highlighted by lyrical imagery drenched in desperation.

Rymes’ influences are not so subtle on the slow and soulful “That’s When My World Turned Blue.” “This is my version of a Muscle Shoals type ballad, like James Carr or Percy Sledge,” says Rymes. “This is what can happen when a man loves a woman at the dark end of the street.”

Compared to the effortless and freewheeling rock and roll boogie of “Much Too Fine,” Rymes was more patient when piecing together the burning and churning “Mister Sunshine.” “This groove and structure I had for a long time,” says Rymes. “I liked playing it and waited for some words to occur to me. It took at least five years, but ‘Mister Sunshine’ is what finally happened.”

Providing new packaging for “the oldest song of the bunch” with help from The Phantom Zodiacs, the rustic and acoustic-heavy “Misunderstood” nods to Rymes’ earlier LA days and the time it was “written back when we were country boys.” Adam Selzer, co-producer and Rymes’ neighbor in Portland, adds staccato organ as Holmstrom once again goes all out on a good and greasy guitar solo.

The last two tracks on Zodiac Shuffle crossed the finish line thanks in no small part to some serendipitous suggestions. The funky “T-Bone Walker is the Next Big Thing” began with a name and a few lines, but the rest of the tune wasn’t happening. “I showed it to Chris Miller, who gave me the suggestion that the verses didn’t have to be all about T-Bone, but could be something else,” says Rymes. “That opened the door for me, and that is one illustration of why Chris Miller is a great dude.” A “straggler” in both style and sequence for the album, “Tomcat Luziana Slaw” is a loose hanging hoedown that came to be the day after recording had finished in Los Angeles at David Raven’s Honky Abbey studio while Rymes was at Mugalian’s house. “Steve gave me the line ‘Bob Weir, playin in the band,’” says Rymes. “That’s why he’s a genius. I recorded it in Portland, Steve and Taras did their parts remote and sent them, and Jeff Munger (banjo) and Tim O’Hare (harmonica), from the Portland chapter of Phantom Zodiacs, did their magic thing.”

Zodiac Shuffle was co-produced by Jeff Rymes and Adam Selzer. Primary recording sessions took place at David Raven’s Honky Abbey in Los Angeles, California with additional recording completed by Adam Selzer in Portland, Oregon. Zodiac Shuffle was mixed and mastered by Adam Selzer.

Zodiac Shuffle

from Jeff Rymes & The Phantom Zodiacs

Out March 17, 2025

Booking: rymesjeff@gmail.com (706) 255-3155

So Long, Prettyface

2022