Long Way Home : Just released
I've been fortunate as a musician. I've realized so many dreams — touring, recording, living the gypsy life style. My fifteen years with The RedHot Blues had its ups and downs but I value every minute of it because there is nothing so powerful as remembering sitting as a kid and listening to music, thinking maybe some day...and then one day you're on I-70 in a van with your band mates, heading to a gig in Denver. Wow. Still, percolating underneath all those years was a desire that predated my guitar playing and love of the blues — a desire to write songs in the American tradition, songs about the land and the people. In that way, Long Way Home is perhaps more meaningful and powerful than anything I've done to date. I have never felt so comfortable making a record, never enjoyed the process so much, never felt so much satisfaction upon its completion. I hope you feel that as you listen.

Lyrics can be found here.

Buy It! Long Way Home is now available at:

If you get a chance, write a review at iTunes, Amazon.com or CDBaby.

Listen to samples (MP3) — just click the speaker.

  1. Crazy Things Listen
  2. 66 Chevelle Listen
  3. Dance Listen
  4. Long Way Home Listen
  5. I Want What's Coming To Me Listen
  6. She Got Listen
  7. Old Man's Words Listen
  8. I Wanna Be Listen
  9. Wish You Could See Listen
  10. Nobody Listen
  11. Some Things Listen
  12. Without You Listen

Reviews
Okay, a bit early for reviews since the CD is just due out, but they'll be posted here when they come in.

Amazon.com Review [Show]
From Junior Lee Klegseth, the founder and guitarist of The RedHot Blues, comes a strong Americana / roots rock debut as singer/songwriter. While it was his intense guitar playing that brought him to the attention of blues fans, true fans of the band came to enjoy the many Klegseth-penned tunes found on the RHB releases. Here, the only tune even close to blues is the two minute She Got, but even there the funky bass line and drums only hint at the form.

On "Long Way Home", Klegseth throws his hat in the ring with artists like John Hiatt, Steve Earle, John Mellencamp and Drive-by Truckers. The songwriting craft Klegseth has appreciated and partook of since childhood is apparent here, too, with songs like Long Way Home, that laments how long it takes to get back to a place, only to find it isn't what we wanted.

The CD opener, "Crazy Things" belongs on the car stereo on a Midwestern summer day, with the windows rolled down. In fact many of the tracks appear to be an homage to times past--"66 Chevelle", "Dance", "Old Man's Words" and the title track. "I Want What's Coming to Me" is a working class anthem, replete with a large crowd backing vocal, that makes one think of betrayals by companies like Enron.

On the harder rock side are two tunes full of attitude that speak to the times and, more likely, to the present administration: I Wish You Could See is a spirited raw rocker with sarcastic and biting lyrics such as, "You heard a voice on high, you were saved again / I thought you were safer as a sinner than a saved man who sins." The sentiment continues in the fresh sound of "Nobody", with it's greasy bass line, slide banjo and heavy guitars. But like most songwriters, the true test is the ballad, and here Klegseth shines with the smartly-crafted "I Wanna Be" and "Without You", both worthy of becoming classics.