Saints Eleven

"Jeff Grossman and Saints Eleven take to the airwaves with yet another hit on their hands with "I Don't"... like a wild bull, these guys are blowing the chutes out of Texas Country! Hang on cause this is gonna be one hell of a ride"

David "Super Dave" Millsap
Morning Madness/Host
104.3 KFYN The River - David Millsap

With their debut album I’ll Be Fine, Saints Eleven defined their brand of Texas country by combining honky tonk with Southern Rock, Red Dirt, bluegrass, and blues. Their sophomore album I Told You, offers more of the same while also taking the obvious next steps forward. They instantly display what’s to come from the moment that you hit play and are met with the country dancehall infused opener “Turns To Rust.” From here, they pull you into an album that leans on the rhythms to make you bounce along as they do with songs like “Delta Down” and “How Long,” the latter which contains crafty lyrics about moving on from lost love, but rather than being in the dumps, this one finds the reasons why losing her is worth celebration. The slower tempo tunes are designed to tug at our hearts as they do with “Old Friend” or “Just For Tonight,” a song which allows lead vocalist Jeff Grossman’s naturally graveled styled vocal to sit in the midst of the whine of the fiddle as he sings of the reassurance that every relationship needs even as it’s coming to its obvious end. The lyrical theme of the album tends to focus on the different emotions that come with all the aspects of love, while musically there’s no doubt that this will light up the honky tonks, but it also leans against a rock edge at times that dares country to push back. Most importantly, what this album very effectively does is allow Saints Eleven to fuse a little bit of everything they do into one single experience giving listeners a chance to witness their unique sound in one cohesive project. - One Stop Country

Growing up I spent a good portion of my nights in Texas honky tonks, barrooms, dancehalls and backroom booze fests watching my father perform his songs. I had the chance to meet a varying roster of Rock N’ Rollers, hippies, rednecks and everything in-between characters that made up my youthful memories. A true melting pot, if you will…

My appreciation and all out love of music came from these nights.

Out of Burleson, TX comes a country rock band called Saints Eleven and listening to their coming sophomore release I Told You (Winding Road Music) I find it takes me straight back into all those smokey, noisy and stale beer and cigarette stained walls. Dig it.

Produced by Bart Rose (The Toadies, Ray Benson), the collection travels through an addictive mix of country tinged rock, bluegrass and a bit o’ blues goodness. The opening track ‘Turn to Rust’ starts things off in sawdusted dance floor toe-tappin’ fashion and tracks ‘I Don’t’, ‘A Little Time With You, ‘How Long’ and ‘Old Friend’ showcase the pretty remarkable, wide ranging talents and influences of this Texas outfit.

Where things get super tasty are ‘Hungover’, ‘Stone Free’ and ‘Down the Road’. These tracks are surefire radio hits. Well, in a world where tracks like this would get rotation. Good thing Jeff Grossman and gang are from a state that loves their Red Dirt artists as much as they like their Shiner, college football (HOOK ‘EM HORNS!) and Texas women. So I bet these good ole country rockin’ boys will burn up the Texas Charts soon enough.

The near downside, ‘Delta Dawn’ takes a bit of getting used to. This is the first song I ever learned on an instrument and I’ve studied it for years and Tanya Tucker’s version has deep roots. But that said, it does grow on you. Grossman’s earnest voice has that ability.

The other thing that doesn’t set well with me is I doubt I’ll get to see this album performed live anytime soon. I’ll say it again, Europe needs more honky tonks and more bands like Saints Eleven in ’em. - Global Texas Chronicles

Patron saints of the fiddle.
The ebb and flow of trends and success in country music aren't what one would call natural. Especially these days. No cycle of spontaneous order or an unintentional order out of chaos really exist in this money-grabbing industry. The deliberate machinations of country music are very intentional -- from Nashville to Austin. Today each hit seems to have been born out of some great marketing strategy. And, yes, that is now starting to include you, Texas.

A sub-genre might start off well-intentioned but when its great sounding tunes begin to creep up the charts and duplicitous sureties come out from under the mob of rocks that have suddenly appeared, all bets are off. The great corporate music house usually wins every hand from that moment on. Usually, but not always. Every now and then, a band of rebels will come along and storm the embassy of slick-talking subterfuge and lip service; then breach the walls of convention and mindless austerity with guitars and fiddles aloft. One of those bands is making its charge today. In Texas. In Fort Worth. Saints Eleven.

Feb. 11 marks the release date of SE's sophomore effort, I Told You. The album cannot truly be defined as country -- it would be, if it was unleashed during the open-ended musical parameters of the '70s, but not in 2015. Yet, this soulful slice of honky tonk-fiddlin'-cum-outlaw has its own signature that resists the temptation to be defined by the Texas Country music or Red Dirt sound. And though guitarist and vocalist Jeff Grossman considers the band part of the Red Dirt music scene, their music has perhaps spawned a new unidentified country sub-genre without contrivance. Nevertheless, Saints Eleven ably and sanguinely stands apart from the so-called underground of Central Texas and the tired or fly-by-night artists (take your pick) saturating Music City.

At first glance, what separates them from the rest is their liberal use of the fiddle. It is basically a front and center instrument in the SE arsenal and, if you listen to their debut, I'll Be Fine, it is apparent that the presence of the fiddle on that record was foreshadowing the sound that was created on I Told You. Fiddle player Michael Poole deftly rubs off some manic riffs that help push the album forward as SE has traded keys and second guitar for this old-time implement with its roots in the lyra of the 10th Century Byzantine Empire. On the hook-friendly “Down the Road,” you think you're in for a brief “Gary Rossington” guitar solo, but then Poole drops a mighty vibrato fiddle movement into your ears. Fiddle solos abound.

Secondly, it is Grossman's singing. His nasally and elongated, accented syllables cannot be compared. The best example -- and by a stretch -- would be Phil Lee and, to a lesser extent, Ryan Bingham; but their scratchy vocals are still somewhat distant. Grossman's vocal is select unto itself.

“They always say that I have a different-sounding voice,” he says. “They never say if it's good or bad, they just say it's different, so I think it's a compliment.”

And of course Grossman's guitar gets a few plugs as well, such as the ZZ Top vibe of “I Don't” or the blistering Albert Collinsesque solo on the funky “A Little Time With You” (did I hear a bass popping harmonic somewhere in there?), plus a little slide on “Hungover.” The Dobro is another player in their lineup and Grossman paints pictures and writes scenes with his awesome style of play. “Old Friend” is a highlight of I Told You because of it. (Check out the Texas Country Music chart-lingering “Man In the Water” on I'll Be Fine... the juxtaposition of the Dobro with the lyrics is adroit musical craftsmanship).

Lyrically, the songs primarily traverse the familiar paths of heartbreak and relationship despair, but three stand-out tracks worthy of note are “Stone Free,” which could be described as “Man In The Water II” (lyrics-wise); “Old Friend,” with its economy of deep lyrics and from a wordsmith standpoint, remind one of “That's Entertainment” by the late '70s/early '80s British punk-mod band, The Jam; and the complex simplicity of George Jones' iconic, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” “Hungover” completes this triumvirate and testifies to the duplicity of alcohol and concludes that it is a game-ender:

Man, this kind of life is going to drag me down,
I use to think this stuff was going to make me strong,
But if I had nine lives,
(Hey) I just about went through them all

The album, recorded by the highly regarded Bart Rose at Fort Worth Sound, and driven by the sightly strong rhythm section of Jeff Mosley (bass), and Chris Bradley (drums), possesses a greater sonic element than its predecessor, which makes for a much more engaging listening experience. It also includes a cover of the '70s crossover hit “Delta Dawn,” made popular by Tanya Tucker and Helen Reddy. An interesting choice, but may be the weak link in this chain of tunes. Perhaps a workout of Edgar Winter's “Free Ride” would have worked well here, and of course it has Texas roots -- but there are a bevy of less-deserving choices out there in coverland. If it was someone's mother's favorite song, all apologies.

I Told You is a “funk” full of soul peppered with Southern rock, country, Delta blues, and fragments of Boz Scaggs and the early Steve Miller Band. A shaking, stomping, jumping soundtrack set to a melancholy narrative. A strong second run by this Fort Worth quartet. And, while there are many derivative artistic nods on the album, Saints Eleven's acute arrangements, Grossman's unique vocals and poetic Dobro, and the planned incursion of the fiddle ensure that this CD is exclusively Saints Eleven.

No thank you, Nashville. - No Depression-Christopher Adams

Well…if there’s definitely one thing I can tell you, it’s that the album you’re about to hear about from Saints Eleven is so true to the rock-country music genre – the REAL one, not the modern-pop version; so genuine and authentically played I can all but guarantee this would drive many of our rock-metal fans completely insane. This is the real-deal as far as traditional country is concerned, make no bones about it; but I’ve always said I’ll listen intently if I can hear you believe in your material, even if it’s outside of my own typical genres or styles of music. I like to think a lot of the rounding-out of my own musical knowledge is because of that commitment…and I think that, to a large degree this is what makes us special, and different. We support music, of all kinds, natures, shapes and skill-levels – and you’ve now heard it directly (Well, ok, you’re reading it but I’m SAYING it from here in my chair…) from me – Saints Eleven are completely welcome here.

I Told You opens with a classic country fiddle, and the tales begin. Loves are lost, monies & beers are gone, wives have left and dogs have begun to run away…ok, ok, ok…I’m fanning the flames of country mythology rather than factually reporting. Loves are lost during the opening track “Turns To Rust” – we’ll check on the status of the family, family dog and beer situation as the album plays on through…keep you updated, promise…

What I can tell you, is that lead-singer/guitarist Jeff Grossman was BORN to sing country music. If there’s one thing beyond any other on this entire album, it’s the perfect delivery in the vocals of Saints Eleven. Listen to the track “How Long” and how he draws out the words in his signature country-drawl; there’s no question here, this is natural talent and ability on display her; and Jeff is clearly making the music he loves to hear the most.

And there’s much more to continue loving about this country act than just the amazing beard on bass-player Jeffrey Mosley’s chin, though it does warrant having its own dedicated sentence. His bass parts are perfectly played, and the rhythm section between himself and drummer Chris Bradley is fully stocked with all the heart & skill you need to really hold it all together. Much, much credit also to their dedicated and incredibly-skilled fiddle player, Michael Poole, who has an immaculate touch & feel for the music of Saints Eleven and is truly an integral part of the music overall. Listening to songs like “How Long” and “Down The Road” and you’ll hear exactly how essential Michael’s sound is to Saints Eleven.

I am however, extremely disappointed in myself that I can’t right now figure out the damn song where this guitar line has been yanked from… It’s so familiar…I swear I’m gonna get it by the end of this review…

“Just For Tonight” has a familiarity to it as well…but maybe that’s just the comforting aspect that comes in with this song. Of the four I’ve experienced up to this point, this has been the most engaging for me as a listener. Stripped of the rock-aspect of the country and Saints Eleven, focused here on a slow ballad, come out clearly and beautifully as they take on this sweet track. There’s still sorrow…there’s still trials and tribulations and obstacles to overcome thematically…I mean, hey, it’s country-music…thematically not a whole hell of a lot EVER goes right for these characters they write about, so to have a LOT of good times going with the bad times in this song…well, I’ll take it when I can get it!

With a ZZ-Top like “La Grange” style of a song, Saints Eleven pulse into “I Don’t.” The classic rock-roots of their influences outside of country show right through on this track…something that, were it not for the fiddle sounds and Grossman’s voice once again, could fit in right as easily with Steppenwolf, April Wine or Joe Walsh. It’s a good song, again, closer to the rock-side of country here…but to me, I like this band best when they sound like Saints Eleven and no one else. The following two songs are the perfect example of what I mean; “Old Friend” and “Hungover” are much more authentic to the sound of Saints Eleven. There’s a little bit of a ‘formula’ to any kind of music; it’s how we all know what genre you’re playing in the first place, but these songs work well to get them past the basics and leave an impact with those listening.

What’s THIS? Saints Eleven have you been holding out on us? “A Little Time With You,” is a great song. Reaching for an almost Joe Cocker-ish style of a song; this is like the perfect combination of blues-rock and country together, and assembled tightly into a song with a strong pulse, rhythm and groove. Carrying that strength right into the final track, “Stone Free” starts out gently before hitting their rock-country vibe in full stride as they end off the album on an extremely confident note.

It IS country through and through…make no mistake. I think rock fans with a tendency towards the lighter-side can find that crossover potential here, but it’s always a tough battle to win over new fans outside of the genre when you play this true to the style. That being said, it’s clearly an authentic sound made by four musicians that care deeply for this sound and have made every effort to put it out with maximum conviction. Played convincingly throughout I Told You, these guys have certainly put forth a valid effort in making me a country fan with their excellent ideas and obvious talent on this latest album. - Sleeping Bag Studios

Bakersfield,Blues and Bluegrass
I Told You reinforces and even expands Saints Eleven’s edge.
By Tom Geddie
B L U E S / B L U E G R A S S
WWHEN JEFF GROSSMAN TALKS ABOUT “old school” country, he means Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens and that whole Bakersfield sound. Those are good influences; because he’s a relatively young 42, he can be forgiven for not going even further back. And congratulated for mixing some blues and some basically early rock into the old-school sound. Oh, wait. And bluegrass. That’s one of Grossman’s major influences, too, a kind of music that basically grew out of the long-ago Appalachian sounds which mostly came to this country from the British Isles. There’s even a somewhat coincidental hint of The Soggy Bottom Boys from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?” While the movie played the sound as much for laughs as anything else, the sound itself, in a handful of the songs he and his Saints Eleven bandmates play and record, is serious. (Ray Wylie Hubbard once remarked that the bluegrass body count is higher than hip-hop’s.) The point here, before it gets lost, is that in the broader Texas music scene that’s sometimes too derivative, Jeff Grossman has no genuine modern influences and Saints Eleven ought to be one of the busiest bands around.
The new album, I Told You, is from Winding Road Music. Grossman wrote nine of the 10 songs and the band does a fine cover of the country standard “Delta Dawn.” ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS here is the Bakersfield-influenced “Turns to Rust,” which also happens to be the band’s current single and has a reference to another classic, “Faded Love.” Grossman sings “we were so in love when we were young, we thought we’d make it till the end . . . but you stepped out and you crossed that line, you thought of no one but yourself . . . I wish the best for you and your new love, I hope you both burn in hell.” Then there’s the pleading piano and fiddle-laced “Just for Tonight: “let me know I’m your man, wait until tomorrow before you leave me.” And the closing “Stone Free,” which moves from gospel to rocking blues. Grossman describes it this way: “It’s kinda a spiritual song about an ex drug addict’– not me – it’s not biographical– who cleans himself up and straightens his life out.”
I Told You is a step up from Saints Eleven’s first album, I’ll Be Fine, because it’s more distinctive. That one sounded, on a casual listen, a lot like many of the Texas/Red Dirt country-rock bands proliferating the scene. A better listen, though, exposed the clear fact the band has a more interesting edge to what it does. That edge comes from straying outside the sub-genre’s lines. Grossman said he learned a valuable lesson on the first album. “I learned how to be patient (during production). On the first record, I wanted it done and then when it was done I wanted it pressed. I learned to let things happen organically, to not rush it, to take your time on stuff and to expect to wait.”
The new album reinforces and even expands Saints Eleven’s edge. “I am a big fan of the Delta blues and a big fan of bluegrass. The rest of the album is in between those styles, a little bluesy, Southern rock, with some good country fiddle in it,” Grossman said. “What’s cool about Texas music is that it’s a melting pot of all different kinds of music. Some bands put a little more folk in their pot, some put a little more rockabilly in their pot. For the most part it all has some country in it. We have a good variety of music in Texas. That’s for sure.” The older music, though, is what “grabs my soul,” Grossman said.
“You hear so much out of(national) country radio nowadays that’s ridiculous. There’s no story to it. So good lyrics are most important when I’m doing a song.” What’s not important is what other people might think of the song, although Grossman tempers that thought because he appreciates the audience. “I write from the heart, do my best to make a good song. I don’t know if it’s a polite way to say it’–I don’t want to offend anybody, I value their opinions – but if they don’t like it I’m not going to change for anybody.” “We work really hard in the rehearsal studio to put on a good tight, solid show, a show fans are going to remember us by. Every time we do a show, we play it like it’s our last one. We want the audience to come back.”
Three of the four band members are in their early 40s; the youngster, fiddler Michael Poole, is in his early 20s. Jeff Mosley plays bass guitar and upright bass, Chris Bradley plays drums, and, in addition to his vocals, Grossman adds lead and rhythm guitar, Dobro, lap steel, and banjo. The band formed in 2011. “It was just the desire to put out our own music,” Grossman said. “I’d been playing lead guitar for other people for the last 25 years and it was time to get out on my own, and write the kind of music I want. I found this group of guys who want to do the same kind of music.”
THE BAND’S NAME came from a movie, “The Boondock Saints,” which Bradley and Mosley talked about. Grossman hadn’t seen the movie, but thought it would be “a cool name” for the band. “The other guys didn’t really want to use the name of the movie. That night was our very first rehearsal. It was on 11-11-11, so then I came up with Saints Eleven.”
The band’s two albums have done well on radio and the band has toured across Texas, including Shinerfest and other festivals and is coming up to its third time at South by Southwest. Most of the dozen shows a month–– either with the full band or with Grossman and one other member, often Poole on fiddle — are, perhaps oddly, not in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Grossman lives in Joshua, the other members live in Arlington, Dallas, and Denton.
While the music remains original, the root influences for Saints Eleven all seem to be B: Bakersfield, blues, and bluegrass. - Buddy Magazine