From the band who invented Alt-Country, ‘Viva Lone Justice’ is the first album to be released by Lone Justice in nearly 40 years.

Featuring original band members Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni and Don Heffington

In 1983, Lone Justice started playing the clubs in Los Angeles. Word spread like wildfire. By 1984, Lone Justice was on Geffen records, and by 1985, the self-titled debut album emerged. The LA Times gave it "Album of the Year". They 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….

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 the late 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. ‘Rattlesnake Mama’ 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. Later, they screech through a blistering cover of ‘Teenage Kicks’ (the 1978 single by The Undertones).

It is no wonder Los Angeles was lit up by the live performances of Lone Justice. The energy continues with palpable excitement… Let word of mouth spread news of Lone Justice like wildfire once again. Let ‘Viva Lone Justice’ touch your heart and burn your barn down, too.

“Impressive, ingenuous and forceful” The New York Times.

I was a fan of the band in the 80s having checked them out when I read about Steve Van Zandt producing their second album “Shelter”. Variously described as Country Rock, Cow Punk, Roots music etc… I thought they were pretty special, but they ended up being very short-lived, splitting in 1986 having released just two albums. I subsequently followed the career of the band’s lead singer, Maria McKee, and I recall a fantastic gig at the Irish Centre - I think in about 1989 when she toured her first solo album.

So, I was intrigued to see the announcement of this new Lone Justice album (the first in 37 years!). In reality, the album has been created from restored tapes from throughout the band’s career and includes demo sessions for McKee’s 1992 solo album “You got to sin to get saved” that involved McKee, guitarist Marvin Etzioni and the late Don Heffington on drums. Etzioni presented the tapes and idea of an album to McKee potentially for her to release as a solo artist, but McKee suggested they reach out to the other original band member Ryan Hedgecock so he could provide overdubs, so the album could be put out as a bona fide Lone Justice release.

The result is a fun album that represents the different, non-conforming personality of the band… a slightly quirky selection of folky ballads, rollicking hillbilly stomp fests and interesting covers. The Lone Justice material is from the early part of their career and the covers include the band’s take on the traditional folk song “Jennie Jenkins” and also, more surprisingly, a faithful rendition of “Teenage Kicks” (which I thought was a great, if slightly surprising, pick until I remembered the then-19-year-old McKee penned the country ballad “A Good Heart” that was picked up by Dave Stewart and turned into a huge pop hit for Fergal Sharky).

There will be a lot of interest in the album from Lone Justice / Maria McKee fans, but if you don’t know the band but are a fan of rootsy rock like Mekons and Cramps from a similar era, or the rootsy/rockier output of contemporary bands such as Big Thief, this is definitely worth checking out.

By Nick