Leslie Jordan at The Down Home

The Agonist, the debut solo Americana album from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and Johnson City native, Leslie Jordan tells the story of her grandfather - whom she never knew - and the characters he personified. Jordan's grandfather, Robert S. Gott, fancied himself 'The Agonist,' a hapless wanderer chasing fulfillment and redemption through a peripatetic existence, which never quite led to the understanding he so desperately craved.

All families have mysteries, or at least forgotten stories. When a box of writing showed up on Jordan's mother's doorstep a few months after Gott died, she didn't know what to expect. Inside, she found a trove of writing from her father (Jordan's grandfather): poetry, short stories, and journals comprising some 30 years of his life. Up until that point, her father, who left when she was little, had been the villain of many family stories, and she barely knew him. But digging into the box and his writing, a far more interesting and complex story unfolded. When she shared the writing with her daughter, singer-songwriter Leslie Jordan years later, Jordan knew she wanted to write an album about her grandfather's story.

As Jordan dug into her grandfather's writing, she discovered not the cut-and-dried villain who'd abandoned the family (as she'd grown up imagining him) but rather a complex, flawed man. She recognized the same restless curiosity and thirst to create that set her apart from most of her family members. Here was a connection and kinship that validated her own creativity. For years, much of Jordan's professional musicianship was in church music, and after she left, she focused primarily on helping others find their voices, through her non-profit, The Fold. Her grandfather's writing renewed in her the desire to create her own music, too. The result is The Agonist's 10 tracks, conceived of and written over several years and through many co-writing and brainstorming sessions.

Working with producer Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton kids, was surreal and gratifying for Jordan, who's admired his work for a long time. "He kept pushing me into being that best version of myself," she says. After years of working in Nashville, recording an album so connected to California in Far Cry Studios in Los Angeles felt right. The album's stories came to life through collaboration with a long list of talented co-writers, including Sean McConnell, Drew Kennedy, and Sandra McCracken.

Leslie has always been a songwriter and a storyteller, but after combing through decades of her grandfather's words, she now knows why it courses through her veins. Although Leslie is no stranger to the music, this album marks her debut endeavor into the Folk/Americana world.

Join Johnson City Native, Leslie (Dudney) Jordan for a night of stories and songs on May 8th as she shares these songs with you!


Category: Live Music | Concert