Friday, May 17, 2024

Jake Xerxes Fussell - "Leaving Here, Don't Know Where I'm Going"

Photo by Kate Medley

Jake Xerxes Fussell is adept at taking existing songs and just owning them. His latest single, "Leaving Here, Don't Know Where I'm Going," is a prime example of how Fussell plays traditional folk songs, but adds his own unique spin to them. It still sounds like traditional folk, but it also sounds like no one else but Fussell. I can never tell if it's his voice, his delivery, the way he arranges songs, or something else, but each song is uniquely his. "Leaving Here, Don't Know Where I'm Going" bridges the gap between a classic folk style and a more indie or alt-folk sound. And no one pulls that off like Jake Xerxes Fussell.

Jake Xerxes Fussell says of his latest single:

“This song is from the ‘lonesome road’ family of songs, which there have probably been about as many variations of as there have been people to sing them. This one in particular is another I picked up from my departed friend Art Rosenbaum, who learned it from Joe Rakestraw—fiddler, guitarist and singer of Athens, Georgia. I also included a verse here that I heard from a Berea College archival recording of a somewhat similar song called ‘Alabama Water’ performed by the great Tennessee/Kentucky banjoist and singer Virgil Anderson. I thank Joseph Decosimo for introducing me to that one.”

You can listen to "Leaving Here, Don't Know Where I'm Going" below. When I'm Called is due out July 12 on Fat Possum, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Jake Xerxes Fussell, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.


Thu. May 16 - Charlotte, NC @ The Evening Muse
Fri. May 17 - Asheville, NC @ The Outpost #
Sat. May 18 - Talbotton, GA @ Talbotton Fest
Sun. May 19 - Birmingham, AL @ Saturn <>
Fri. June 21 - Roanoke, VA @ Spot on Kirk
Sat. June 22 - Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall
Sun. June 23 - Mt. Solon, VA @ Red Wing Roots Festival
Tue. June 25 - Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery @
Thu. June 27 - New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge ~
Fri. June 28 - Catskill, NY @ Avalon Lounge ~
Sat. June 29 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Tue. July 16 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah *
Wed. July 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Barnsdall Gallery *
Thu. July 18 -  San Luis Obispo, CA @ Brisol's Cider House *
Fri. July 19 - Felton, CA @ Felton Music Hall *
Sat. July 20 -San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel *
Sun. July 21 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlow's *
Tue. July 23 - Bend, OR @ Volcanic Pub *
Wed. July 24 -Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
Thu. July 25 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
Fri. July 26 - Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo *
Sat. July 27 - Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall *
Wed. Aug. 28 - Dublin, IE @ The Workman's Club
Fri. Aug. 30 - London, UK @ Lafayette
Sat. Aug. 31 - Lewes, UK @ Con Club Lewes nr Brighton
Sun. Sept. 1 - Bristol, UK @ Lantern Hall
Mon. Sept. 2 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Tue. Sept. 3 - Glasgow, UK @ Mono
Wed. Sept. 4 - Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
Fri. Sept. 6 - Paris, FR @ L’Archipel
Sat. Sept. 7 - Brussels, BE @ Botanique
Sun. Sept. 8 - Rotterdam, NL @ Kantine Walhalla
Thu. Sept. 26 - Lafayette, LA @ Acadiana Center for the Arts ^
Fri. Sept. 27 - New Orleans, LA @ Chickie Wah Wah ^

# w/ Twain
<> w/ Janet Simpson
@ w/ Jon Camp
~ w/Kath Bloom
*  w/ Robin Holcomb
^ w/ Nokosee Fields

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