THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Viva Lone Justice is the first album from Lone Justice — the band who invented alt-country — in nearly 40 years. It features original band members Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni and the late Don Heffington.
In 1983, Lone Justice started playing the clubs in Los Angeles. Word spread like wildfire. By 1984, they were on Geffen Rrecords, and by 1985, the self-titled debut album emerged. The L.A. Times named it Album of the Year. They played shows with U2, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Willie Nelson. By 1986, Lone Justice broke up, and McKee, Hedgecock, Etzioni and Heffington began 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. Special guests include string arranger Tammy Rogers, multi-horn player David Ralicke, Greg Leisz on steel guitar and Benmont Tench on piano.
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 Rogers on fiddle. They even screech through a blistering cover of Undertones’ 1978 single Teenage Kicks.
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.”
