“Eilen is a rare jewel for lots of reasons,” said John Jeter, co-owner of The Handlebar, where Jewell and her band will be playing on Oct. Jewell started out busking on street corners in Santa Fe, N. M. and in Los Angeles, where she played all summer on Venice Beach. They had their “ups and downs,” as Jewell put it, ranging from a broken down van to playing a “dream come true” gig at The Egyptian theater in her hometown of Boise, Idaho. “My favorite part of playing in front of an audience,” said Jewell, “is when I enter into this zone where I'm not thinking about anything involving myself. Yet, even while in the minor key, Jewell plays with a whole lot of swing and groove. “She was born in Idaho and now lives in Boston – neither of which you'd call the home office of alternative country or '50s-style country swing/rockabilly. Whether crammed into an SUV with the upright bass strapped to the roof or sharing the bill with Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys, Jewell and her band thrive on touring.
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