Otis

A hard-driving blues-rock quartet from the small South Central Kentucky village of Sulphur Well, Otis first gained regional attention with the 2014 release of their debut album, Tough Times, followed in 2017 by their label debut, the Paul Nelson-produced Eyes of the Sun. Drawing influence from electric blues players like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, and mixing in Southern rock traditions in the vein of the Allman Brothers and ZZ Top, the band takes an honest, straightforward approach to roots-driven American rock & roll. Singer and guitarist Boone Froggett, guitarist Steve Jewell, bassist John Seeley, and drummer Andrew Gilpin all grew up near each other in Kentucky's Metcalfe County, the same region that produced veteran country rockers the Kentucky Headhunters and hard rock band Black Stone Cherry, both of whom have been supportive of Otis' development. Working with Headhunters' guitarist Greg Martin as co-producer, the band recorded 2014's Tough Times, a ten-song tribute album to Chicago bluesman John Brim. Released independently, the album slowly picked up steam, even earning praise from ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. By 2017, Otis had signed with Los Angeles label Cleopatra Records and recorded their follow-up album, this time a set of originals called Eyes of the Sun, with Grammy-winning producer Paul Nelson (Johnny Winter). Eyes of the Sun raised the band's profile significantly and in addition to U.S. dates, Otis embarked on their first European tour in support of the album. ~ Timothy Monger