JACKSON, Wyo. — The country music genre can be a confusing one these days, especially when the word Nashville is associated. Brand marketing seems to be as important as the music, and if you’re not co-writing with a cast of notable songwriters, the chances of getting heard (and promoted) are diminished. The weight of a debut album makes the stakes even higher.
Nashville artist Jenny Tolman rose to the occasion, taking a giant leap out of the gate with the release of her 2019 thirteen-track debut, There Goes the Neighborhood. It was ranked #24 on Rolling Stone’s 40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2019. While Tolman certainly had some of the muscle mentioned above, the album’s bold concept of exploring the town of “Jennyville” sets a decisively personal tone. She’s been active during the pandemic as well, writing and releasing material for her growing fanbase. Tolman notes Dolly Parton, Shel Silverstein, Roger Miller, and Amy Winehouse as influences and they can be heard loud and clear.
Songs titles on her debut album give you insight to her sass, which has been compared to Nikki Lane and Shania Twain. Those include “Stripper for a Week,” “High Class White Trash,” and co-writing collaborations with Mark D. Sanders (“I Hope You Dance”), Rory Bourke (“You Look So Good In Love”), Jeff Silbar (“Wind Beneath My Wings”), Rob Hatch (“I Don’t Dance”) and her Grammy-nominated producer Dave Brainard, who has worked with Brandy Clark and Jamey Johnson. According to the album’s press release, “while her family upbringing is rooted in a Massachusetts Dance Hall, she was raised in Music City and learned to explore herself by way of sharp-witted songwriting. A daughter of a Barbershop quartet turned 90’s country band staple, Jenny is uniquely herself, and her songwriting style is best described as melodramatic, acute and a face-slap of reality. Visually, she’s all things fringe…stamped with rhinestones.”
Tolman’s presence and talent is realized via her YouTube channel, where she has a mix of professionally produced videos, stripped-back rootsy performances, and slapstick interactions with her bandmates. Brainard will accompany her for this “Showroom Session.”
Jenny Tolman, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, October 29 at the Silver Dollar Showroom in the Wort Hotel. Tickets ($95-$150 per person) are sold by the table and include a chef’s choice dinner and show. Tickets originally purchased for the March show will be honored.
