Lola Kirke previews her Country Curious EP @ Monarch Tavern, Saturday

Singer/actor Lola Kirke just released the fab Elle King-produced "All My Exes Live In L.A." backed by First Aid Kit.

Here's the scoop...

As Robert Mitchum, Jack Palance, Jeff Bridges and other actors-turned-singers have discovered, having a successful career in film doesn't mean squat in Nashville. Sure, being a Hollywood star might get you a meeting on music row and writers will gladly pitch you songs. You'll even have no problem finding session musicians to cut 'em. However, getting them played on country radio stations is another story entirely. 

In the music biz, timing is everything and rising star actor Lola Kirke (David Fincher's Gone Girl, Mistress America with Greta Gerwig, Gemini opposite Zoe Kravitz, Mozart In The Jungle, Untogether, Lost Girls, etc) may have chosen precisely the right time to go country. She has released albums before, starting with 2018's Heart Head West (Downtown) and continuing with 2020's Lady For Sale on Third Man Records which revealed Lola's emerging songwriting skills. However, the stylistically diverse effort – co-produced by White Denim guitarist Austin Jenkins – seemed at odds with Lola's desire to strum acoustic guitar in a stetson. 

So connecting with Nashville rebel Elle King who produced Lola's forthcoming Country Curious EP (slated for release on February 16, 2024 via One Riot Records) would appear to be precisely the right move for the moment and One Riot's president Amy Patton would know. You see, One Riot Records is the boutique label branch of Patton's growing One Riot publishing/management operation which recently inked a joint deal with Margo Price and her partner Jeremy Ivey. Now that Margo Price and her Nashville outlaw cohort Nikki Lane have both flitted away from country towards a more conventional rock concept, the door is open for a sassy new shitkicker in a studded Nudie-esque suit to move in. 

Of course, it'll take more than some snazzy publicity photos, a revealing video shot in her birthday suit on an East Nashville sidewalk and a splashy preview feature in Rolling Stone. But, Lola's new song "All My Exes Live in L.A." – which includes a clever shout-out to George Strait – is a corker and could prove to be the break she needs. If not, Lola apparently has a collaboration with respected Nashville star Rosanne Cash ready to go which could give the project the stamp of Nashville credibility she needs to get past the Music City gatekeepers. 

We'll get a chance to see what Lola's currently putting down at The Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton) on Saturday (September 2) with Lenny Bull opening at 8:30 pm. Check out Joshua Shoemaker's video for Lola's new single "All My Exes Live In L.A.," an acoustic performance of Rick Danko's "Sip The Wine," a performance at The Hideout in Chicago right here and a conversation with Courtney Michelle Dlugos for the Hold My Hair? podcast below. 
 

Get tickets for Lola Kirke's show with Lenny Bull at Monarch Tavern right here.