The Podunk Poets

The Podunk Poets are a Los Angeles honky-tonk band with a classic old-school sound. In anticipation of their next album, Studio Sessions: Volume II, the band is unveiling the track “Love Story” via American Songwriter.

“The lyrics are a humorous look at the development of a long-term relationship, with all the baggage that goes along with it,” says guitarist Jake Kelly. ”While the song borders on novelty, it isn’t a novelty song … but rather a true-to-life love song.”

Take a listen to the track below. And be sure to catch the Poets performing at Stagecoach in April. - American Songwriter Magazine

The Podunk Poets performed in the Honkytonk tent at Stagecoach—and they felt right at home.

“I think for all of us, being invited into a festival that’s so massive—Stagecoach is a dream,” said Podunk Poets’ Kelly Kidd; he and Cindy-Lou Jollotta chatted with the Independent the day after the band’s Friday, April 24, performance. “We’re still independent, so were like the band that keeps taking baby steps.”

The Podunk Poets are not new to the area; the group has performed in the past at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace.

“There was lots of love there,” said Jollotta. “The crowd there was happy, receptive and energetic. That’s what it’s like at Pappy’s: It feels like a stamp of approval to play there.”

Kidd agreed. “It has such a history, and it’s so nostalgic. In the Americana world, you sort of have to pay homage and pay your dues at Pappy and Harriet’s to keep going.”

The band’s sound is a feel-good throwback to the days of Hank Williams and old-time country. However, it’s hard for independent bands such as the Podunk Poets to go beyond small venues.

“I read an article, and I can’t really quote it, but it said, ‘Country needs its Nirvana,’ and talks about how country music has, in some people’s eyes, become like the hair metal of the ‘80s,” Kidd said. “People who aren’t necessarily fans of big country love the bejesus out of us. It’s sort of like how Amy Winehouse gave a nod to Phil Spector’s sound. We have people who come up to us who don’t like commercial country and say to us, ‘This is the kind of country that my parents listened to. Your sound is what I love and my parents love.’ I think that’s the draw for us: Bringing back that nostalgia feel.”

They also enjoy the show business aspect of their music.

“We don’t just get up and sing,” Jollotta said. “Every show is a party; it really is.”

The Honkytonk Tent, a place that also hosts line-dancing tutorials and country-music DJs, offered the Podunk Poets a perfect place for them to start a party.

“We tried to yell out some dances if we knew our songs were a 10-step or a two-step,” Jollotta said.

Kidd said that the feel of the audience in there worked well for them. “It was cool, because the generations mashed together, too—the gray hairs two-stepping next to the younger generation. It’s sort of like Coachella—the smaller stages are cool. Years ago, I saw Jenny Lewis on a small stage at Coachella, and you just see them starting out and having fun. Then people like that explode a few years later, and that’s really fun to see.”

Where did the band name come from?

“We sort of stumbled on it. We went through a few names in our naming process,” Jollotta said. “We have a really classic sound, and people tell us they think they’ve heard the songs before, and they don’t realize we’re actually a band that performs originals. ‘Podunk’ is the sound.”

Kidd said he thinks the name has a nice sound to it.

“‘Podunk Poets’ had a sophisticated, small-town feel, and we like to write on current elements, too. We touch on things that are edgy for country,” he said. - Coachella Valley Independent

The Podunk Poets is a five-piece band from Los Angeles. Cindy-Lou Jolotta discusses the band's traditional country sound, the southern California country scene, and the band's live shows.

AXS: How do you describe The Podunk Poets for someone who has never heard the band?

The Podunk Poets: Well, the quick answer is we're a duet-fronted traditional country band in the spirit of Johnny and June Carter Cash or George Jones and Tammy Wynette. We mainly perform our own original music, but we throw in some classic covers as well. We're a band that likes to have fun: when we show up to do a gig, we don't just play a few songs and leave the stage - we do our best to really put on a show. We really are having a blast every time we play and it translates to the audience.

We feel lucky to have found each other and the formula we have created just works. Maybe we're just in the right place at the right time. When we're performing, the help comes out from the kitchen to check out what we're doing - it's not revolutionary or anything like that - but it is highly entertaining and not too many acts are doing this kind of show.

Many of our songs are cheeky and edgy - especially when framed in our classic sound. Since we're duo-fronted, and most of the songs are duets and there's lots of playful finger-wagging, hands on the hips, and smacks on the bum. We also have a lot of fun with costumes. When we're on stage, there's no mistaking it - we're four cowboys and a cowgirl.

AXS: You definitely have a classic-country sound. What do you think of most of the music that comes out of Nashville?

​The Podunk Poets: We like a lot of it, dislike a little of it, just like any genre of music. Obviously, we favor the traditional stuff, but we like some of the modern pop influenced stuff, too. People who like the traditional sound should check out Sturgill Simpson. We're blown away with his "Metamodern Sounds In Country Music."

Our music might be categorized as more Bakersfield than Nashville. We record using our band, as does Merle Haggard or the late great Buck Owens, as opposed to the more typical Nashville studio musicians. Those players are amazing, of course, but this allows us to capture our own band sound. The personalities of the musicians shine through in their playing.

AXS: What's the best setting for listening to The Podunk Poets?

​The Podunk Poets: You have to come see us live. We are known for bringing the party! We've played honky tonks, backyard parties, clubs, theaters, fancy private events - you name it.

Not too long ago we did a mini-tour in Minnesota. One of the shows was at a resort on a lake. They had a flatbed trailer as stage parked on the beach; the audience was seated on the hill that formed a natural little amphitheater. That was a neat little show...at the end of the concert we all jumped into the lake, clothes and all!

We will be playing all over the southwest in the next few months, including the Folk Revival Festival in Long Beach on September 27. All of our upcoming shows are on our website as well as our Facebook page.

AXS: What's the best thing about the country music scene in southern California?

The Podunk Poets: The camaraderie among the bands. There's a kind of brotherhood and a lot of support among the country bands. Great fans, too. The people who love country have a level of devotion to country music that is second to none.

​We should also mention the amount of country music history out here in California. Aside from Buck (Owens) and Merle (Haggard), there's Rose Maddox and the Maddox brothers, Wynn Stewart, Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers...all kinds of crazy good music. And Dwight Yoakam, who consistently puts out great albums. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Jimmy Rivers, Merle Travis, Joe and Rose Lee Maphis...we could spend an entire day listing the greats of California Country.

AXS: What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

​The Podunk Poets: That's such a hard question because not making music isn't an option for anyone in this band. However, we are all involved in other creative endeavors. We produce our own videos and photo shoots, design our own album art and posters, etc. - AXS.com

Country music and the LGBT community may not seem to go hand-in-hand, but the popularity of Urban MO’s biweekly Kickers Country Line Dancing events certainly suggests otherwise. Consider that with the successful recent appearances by LGBT-friendly country band The Podunk Poets and it seems the two pair quite well in San Diego.

The Podunk Poets possess a fun-loving spirit, which made them an ideal choice to play MO’s last month. Inspired by other duet-fronted acts like Johnny Cash and June Carter, the L.A.-based band blends twangy sounds and contemporary themes while staying true to their country roots. This combination makes the five-piece band a refreshing departure from the recent rash of pop-country artists; playing a style vastly more appealing to those that adore conventional country.

Fans of this brand of classic country are in luck as the band has been invited back to MO’s for an “encore” performance Saturday, Aug. 23.

“We are having them back … because our country night [patrons] had such a good time listening and dancing to live music,” MO’s marketing coordinator Lukas Volk explained.

Fresh off a performance at San Diego Pride in July, the band is equally enthusiastic about returning.

“We couldn’t wait to come back,” said singer Cindy-Lou Jollotta in an email. “San Diego Pride was absolutely amazing. It felt like we were celebrating with one big family. [And] last time we were [at Urban MO’s], the dance floor stayed hopping with line dances and couples dancing throughout both of our sets.”

Listening to The Podunk Poets, it’s easy to hear how they keep people moving and why they fit well with our local scene. Their wildly infectious tune “Lucy” is just one prime example, with an entertaining music video that shows what the band is all about. “Anyone who has seen [it] knows that we definitely don’t play it safe,” Jollotta said of the video. “A lot of our music is cheeky, some would say edgy, but we have been lucky enough to be embraced by conservative and liberal communities alike. We do what we love with the people we love and that is what translates to our fans — no matter their political or religious views.”

The song and video have also been embraced as a bisexual anthem of sorts. In the video Jollotta and Kelly Kidd (vocals) playfully compete for the affections of the titular lady.

“Cindy-Lou and myself are members of the LGBT community ourselves,” Kidd explained of the band’s LGBT connection. “So getting involved came naturally.”

“I am a member of amBi, a social and activism group whose mission is to promote bi-visibility,” Jollotta expanded further. “The band has partnered with amBi on many of their events, including the West Hollywood, Long Beach, and San Diego Pride parades.”

Jollotta and the band definitely feel at home in their niche within the community.

“As much as we try to support the LGBT community, we feel much more support in return.” - Gay San Diego

The night started off right with a 13yr. old phenom named Savannah Lynne who taught herself how to play guitar at 11. This young lady crooned with the best of them as she mixed originals like “In Disarray”, “Sticks and Stones” and “I Save The Slow Dance For My Daddy” with hits from Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Faith Hill. Her single for “I Save The Slow Dance For My Daddy” has reached over 150,000 hits on Youtube and has helped keep Savannah has consistently held the number one ranking for the Reverbnation “Country” Genre in the Los Angeles area. To say this young lady turned a few heads inside diPiazza’s would be an understatement as everyone wanted to here more from this future star of Country music. The Podunk Poets kept the party moving with their brand of country music. According to the band’s profile they draw heavily on the past to recreate the nearly lost, but still iconic, male/female country music duo. Kelly Kidd and Cindy Jollotta handle the vocals for the band and at times channel Cash and Carter with their deliveries and do an amazing rendition of their hit song “Jackson”. Doug Carrion is the bass player, Patrick Genarosa on drums and the dual guitarists of D. Tony Castro and Jake Kelly make up the rest of the Poets. While their music is clearly classified as classic country, it incorporates all the elements that get the audience moving: Swing, Rock-A-Billy and even a bit of 60’s for good measure. Their set was really good and each member knows how to play their instruments which made for a great time. Everyone that was there was dancing in the aisles and on the dance floor turning the usual rock/punk vibe of diPiazza’s into a hoe down. The Freight Shakers were the benefactors of a show running early and got the chance to fill some time before the closing act. The lads did not disappoint at all. According to their profile they claim to be Southern California's finest outlaw country band! On this night they definitely were. They blend Hank 1-3, Haggard and Waylon perfectly while throwing in some Cash and ‘Possum for extra audience awe. Michael and the Lonesome Playboys closed the night to an almost empty house as it seemed everyone who had shown up had gotten their fill of Country music. The band was really good but did not match the energy of the Freight Shakers or the Podunk Poets. When the lights did come back on, one thing was proven Savannah Lynne could just be the next superstar of the Country world. Remember her name and see her while you have a chance because rumor has it Nashville is calling. - Long Beach Examiner

OK, admission. I hate going out to see bands that friends play in if I don’t already know them. Why? Friends. What if the band sucks? Do you tell them and make them hate you or lie and do them no good at all.

So when my friend Jake Kelly told me he would be in my adopted hometown with his new band the Podunk Poets, I actually tried to find a way not to go. I am really glad that effort was not a success.

When I pulled up at the Las Vegas Country Saloon, the band was already mid set. And within two songs, i was enchanted.

The Poets are not your typical country band. At least not typical in terms of the classic rock with a twang that mainstream country music has become. Their traditional, vocal-heavy sound is a throwback to a style that is pure Opry with a bit of Bakersfield thrown in.

That should not be a surprise, Jake is a big Bakersfield guy who used to hang with Buck before he died and who wrote the Crystal Palace-approved “Used Heart for Sale” and “Barstool In Barstow” for Gary Allan before Gary went all Nashville and the two parted ways. Jake has hooked up with some like minded folks including Kelly Kidd (male vocals), Cindy Jollotta (female vocals), Patrick Generosa (drums), and Grady Hutt (bass). The mix of vocal harmonies provided by Kidd and Jollotta along with Jake’s signature “pedal-steel on a Gretsch guitar” licks is a sublime pleasure.

The Podunk Poets repertoire is largely duets in the tradition of Johnny and June Carter Cash or George Jones and Tammy Wynette, and sung by Poets Kelly Kidd and Cindy Jollotta.

The band has been kicking up some fuss in the southwest for about a year with gigs in Albuquerque at the County Line, the Spirit Room in Jerome AZ., the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe AZ, and LVCS in Sin City in addition to local Cali venues including The Cinema Bar in Culver City, the Grove at L.A. Farmer's Market (where they are regulars) and even a gig on the back of a moving truck at the L.A. Pride Parade.

If your idea of real country runs more along the lines of Merle and Willy, Tammy and June than Toby Keith and whoever is the Nashville flavor of the week, you need to check out the Podunk Poets.

by Bill Evans
- Live to Play Network

Excerpt: "Being bornt and raised in California it always brings a smile to my face when I'm made aware of a young band based in California carrying on the California Country Sound. Give these kids a listen." - Rockabilly Hall