“The debut solo album from the lynchpin of New Orleans’ The Deslondes is a down-home, dusty triumph…” - Uncut Magazine

You may know Riley Downing from his work with acclaimed New Orleans combo the Deslondes, or perhaps from his similarly rootsy and wide-ranging catalogue of songs with the Tumbleweeds – indeed, the Missouri-based singer-songwriter’s ability to set gripping, evocative narratives within soundscapes that weave together country, blues, folk, r&b, bluegrass, rock, soul and whatever else catches his ear is something that, once you hear it, is hard to shake free from.

Same goes for that voice – deep, dusty and drawling, it’s an instrument that can stop you in your tracks with its character and expressiveness, as well as through Downing’s knack for laying out complex emotions in plainspoken, direct language. For Downing, it all stems from an organic and intuitive approach to songwriting and playing.

Following his last record with the Deslondes, Downing returned home to Missouri, embarking on some short solo runs and otherwise playing “mostly for old friends and old dogs and whatever other critters were within earshot,” 

At some point during the months of lockdown, Downing and his Deslondes band mate, John James Tourville plus longtime Deslondes producer Andrija Tokic  hashed out songwriting, arrangement and production ideas by passing demos back and forth from their respective homes.

What they did have, however, was songs. And also, courtesy of Dre, a crack team of musicians. Who was along for the ride? Meg Coleman (Yola) and Jimmy Lester (Los Straightjackets, Blaze Foley) on drums, Dennis Crouch (Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, co-founder of The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill) on upright bass, Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) on electric bass, Jeff Taylor (George Strait, Elvis Costello, The Time Jumpers) on keys, Peter Keys (P-Funk, Lynyrd Skynyrd) on Mellotron, Billy Contreras (George Jones) on strings, Derry DeBorja (John Prine, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) on Farfisa, and a host of backup singers,

“The musicians that Dre picked out were just phenomenal,” Downing says. “They have endless amazing credits, they've all done great things and they were 110% in it. As for Downing, while he may be through the recording of his first solo album, he assures that it’s certainly not his last.”

Riley will be joined by a full band for this tour.

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