ALBUM REVIEW

Jeri Grouws - Music House

Jeni Grouws is a powerhouse roots, blues, and soul singer-songwriter who knows how to grab an audience with her big voice and honest storytelling. She first made a splash on the national scene fronting the Avey Grouws Band, helping steer them to two top-ten Billboard blues albums, The Devil May Care and Tell Tale Heart. She is also a killer songwriter, taking home top honors at the International Songwriting Competition and winning the Iowa Blues Challenge twice.
Lately, she’s been focused on a fresh solo chapter. She packed up and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, for a multi-year artist residency at The Music House to map out her independent material. That creative retreat paid off big time with her 2026 debut solo album, Music House. She recorded it down in Nashville with Grammy-winning producer Casey Wasner, tracking an all-original batch of songs alongside a top-tier studio band. The record blends pure grit, deep grooves, and real emotion, proving she is a major force to watch in the contemporary Americana scene. 

Opening with Runnin' Ragged Jeni Grouws shows her tradedmark vocal styling set up over a contemporary country rock format. Brian Allen on bass drives the bottom with Casey Wasner on drums, Mike Hicks on keys and stinging guitar riffs by Johnny Duke. Setting up a nice bass line, Allen paces the track and Grouws pairs with Kyshona for some really smoothly vocal harmonies on When I Get Back to You. Keeping it mellow, Emmanuel Echem on flugelhorn, Roy Agee on trombone and Evan Cobb on sax form a warm backing for this definite radio player.

Let Your Eyes Lay Low really has a cool slinky feel with lush vocals, a Latin rhythm and super guitar effects by Duke. Hicks keyboard work adds a lot of tension and Anne Harris' violin adds just the right touch of style. Very nice.  Radio track, Fool , has a solid melody and country pop arrangement. A strong showcase for Grouws vocals, with Drew Smithers laying down some really soulful slide guitar and Dukes on acoustic guitar, a solid entry to the setlist. 

Heartbreak and Misery is a nice clean radio entry to the set with a strong melody sassy vocals and warm backing by Echem, Agee and Cobb. Duke really nails some of his best work on this track with excellent phrasing and tone.   Wrapping the release with Make Your Way, Grouws picked her best track for last. A solid ballad, features Grouws on acoustic guitar and lead vocal, paired with Kyshona and a strong, suspenseful bottom by Allen and Wasner on drums.  Duke weaves in some light, tasty guitar lead and Hicks on piano makes the track glisten. Strong closer. 

📺 Session Video Performance
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Watch: Jeni Grouws perform When I Get Back To You