Mickey: Coming up on "Studio 3 Live"... ♪ Your eyes wash over me ♪ ♪ My body is baptized ♪ ♪ I know this is wrong, but I'm glorified ♪ ♪ With your words, you anoint me ♪ It just kind of happened.

When we got together and started playing, that's how it sounded, which is a blessing and a curse all at the same time.

Because as much as I want to sound like somebody else, we're not going to.

We're just going to sound like us, so... ♪ I want you to stay, but I know that you won't ♪ ♪ Oh, the devil may care about this sin ♪ ♪ But I sure as hell don't ♪ Jeni: For me, the one thing I have always wanted with this band is that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, that you feel welcome at our show and like, it hurts, how much I want people to feel welcome.

♪ You break me down and you build me back up ♪ ♪ You make me whole ♪ Funding for this program was provided by... Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 Live."

I'm your host, Mickey Davis.

Tonight, we're joined by the Avey Grouws Band.

Since forming at a blues jam in the Quad Cities, the band has developed a blues rock sound as powerful as the Mississippi River which rolls through their hometown.

In 2020, the band released their debut album, "The Devil May Care," followed by "Tell Tale Heart" in 2021, which debuted at 7 on the Billboard Blues Album chart.

The band has performed across the country, including shows with blues icons such as Keb' Mo', Samantha Fish and more.

Please help me welcome to the stage, the Avey Grouws Band.

♪♪ Jeni: Alright, you guys, how are you doing tonight?

[ Applause ] We are the Avey Grouws Band, and we're so glad to be here with you tonight.

And thank you to Iowa Public Broadcasting.

We are so glad that we could be on stage, and we're going to do a song for you that we wrote at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee when we represented the state of Iowa.

[ Cheers and applause ] Are you ready for some fun tonight?

Yeah!

♪ Well, the night is so cold, baby ♪ ♪ But I'm 103 ♪ ♪ Just thinking of you, boy ♪ ♪ Had its effect on me ♪ ♪ Well, you're out on the town and I'm burning up ♪ ♪ Come and get this love ♪ ♪ Come get this love ♪ ♪ Well, it's already midnight ♪ ♪ I want you here with me ♪ ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ ♪ You shouldn't let me be ♪ ♪ Well, you're out on the town and I'm burning up ♪ ♪ Come and get this love ♪ ♪ Well, come and get this love ♪ ♪ Come-come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Yeah, come-come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Come on, come and come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, come and come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Well, you're out on the town and I'm burning up ♪ ♪ Come and get this love ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Give it up for Chris Avey on that guitar.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, it's early in the morning ♪ ♪ How could you leave me this way?

♪ ♪ This fever's getting hotter, you best be on your way ♪ ♪ Well, you're out on the town, I'm burning up ♪ ♪ Come and get this love ♪ ♪ Well, come and get this love ♪ ♪ Come and and come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Yeah, come and come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, come and come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Come and get it, baby ♪ ♪ Well, you're out on the town, I'm burning up ♪ ♪ Come and get this love ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, you're out on the town, I'm burning up ♪ ♪ Come and get this love ♪ ♪ Yeeees, sir ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Chris, Jeni, thank you so much for being here.

Can you tell me a little bit about the band, how you kind of came together, how you two met and the band formed?

It was actually, we were -- he was in a band, and they were running a blues jam in the Quad Cities in Bettendorf at a place called Muddy Waters.

And I was working in radio at the time, so I was off to speak to a class at the St. Ambrose, a communications class, about working in broadcasting.

And the night before, I was staying at a hotel that was right across the street and I thought, "There's got to be live music.

The Quad Cities is known for it."

And sure enough, there was a blues jam, so I signed up.

These guys were running it.

They were awesome.

It was you and your brother and our drummer, Bryan.

Yeah, we had kind of gotten off the road as the Avey Brothers, and were getting ready to stop doing that group, so we thought, just to make some extra money, we would do this blues jam every week at this bar.

And so she came in and, you know, wasn't a regular.

So she came in and was like, "Oh, I'm a singer."

And we're like.

"Yeah, we'll get to you, 'American Idol.'

Don't worry about it.

We'll get you up there."

And then, I remember we we made her wait till the end.

All the other jammers had gotten up, and then she got up to sing, and we're like, "Well, what song do you want to do?"

And she did that song, and then I remember Brian and I looking at each other like.

"Maybe we should see if she wants to do another song."

And then we kind of just hung out after that and started.

It was really sort of serendipitous.

It was because of a blues jam, and honestly, in the blues music world, which we definitely have a very firm foot in, that's a cool kind of creation story, we think, because we really did meet absolutely not knowing that we were ever trying to form a band.

Let's go.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Your eyes wash over me ♪ ♪ My body is baptized ♪ ♪ I know this is wrong, but I'm glorified ♪ ♪ With your word, you anoint me ♪ ♪ Your hand on mine ♪ ♪ Oh, one touch on my skin and I am sanctified ♪ ♪ Want you to stay but I know that you won't ♪ ♪ Oh, the devil may care about this sin ♪ ♪ But I sure as hell don't ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The spirit is a-moving deep down in my soul ♪ ♪ You break me down and you build me back up ♪ ♪ You make me whole ♪ ♪ With your touch I'm feeling sacred and the profane ♪ ♪ Oh, I got small death and then I'm born again ♪ ♪ I want you to stay but I know that you won't ♪ ♪ Oh, the devil may care about this sin ♪ ♪ But I sure as hell don't ♪ Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Chris Avey on that guitar.

Let's go.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, I want you to stay but I know that you won't ♪ ♪ Oh, the devil may care about this sin ♪ ♪ That we're in as you're pulling me in ♪ ♪ I beg, I pray, and I can't break away ♪ ♪ From the fire and the flames ♪ ♪ As I'm calling your name ♪ ♪ The devil may care ♪ ♪ But I sure as hell don't ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, I sure as hell don't ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, I sure as hell don't ♪ ♪ Yeah, I sure as hell don't ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, I sure as hell ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, I sure as hell don't ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Some people watching the show tonight may be hearing your band for the first time.

How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard the Avey Grows Band before?

I want to know what Chris has to say.

What do you think?

What do I think people that haven't seen us before will think of our music?

Or how would you describe?

I think there's a little bit of something for everyone.

And we never know what's going to happen as much as they never know what's going to happen, so... That is the truth.

Like, we don't make lists hardly ever.

We did today.

But most of the time, we don't make a list because I feel like you can't read the room without being in the room.

And no show is ever the same twice.

So that's kind of, you get a little bit of everything.

And I think roots rock is what we've really clung to, for those that are looking to give it a genre, but that's only because that's very encompassing.

It's like Americana but on steroids, right?

It's a little harder.

We're not saying that we're a quiet acoustic group, but we definitely know where our boundaries are within that sort of blues, country, alt country, rock world.

I mean, it kind of zones in and out of all of those.

But definitely the idea of that spontaneity.

I mean, we met at a blues jam.

So the fact that a blues jam informs who we are, you'll -- Okay, maybe not today, but you'll see, at any live show, at some point, there's a song that's probably going to get written on stage.

It's not always good, but it happens, and people are usually a part of it, and that's what makes it fun.

Well, hey, everybody.

♪♪ You know what time it is.

♪♪ Time for me to put this away.

♪♪ ♪♪ How many of you here like beverages?

[ Cheering ] Me, too.

Today it's just tea.

But how many of you guys have been to Wisconsin?

Better question.

How many of you guys have been to La Crosse, Wisconsin?

[ Scattered cheers ] Have you had a few drinks there?

How many of you have had a few drinks there and you don't remember being in La Crosse, Wisconsin?

Oh, come on.

I know I'm not alone.

Well, one of the very first times we played was in a tiny, little bar that no longer exists by that name.

It was called The Verse.

It was on Rose Street.

And, you know, they were one of those bars that were willing to give us a chance.

They'd never heard of us.

Nobody had.

There were four people in the bar that night.

There were four of us on stage.

We were super excited.

Pretty much no one paid attention to us until about midway through the night, the doors in the back of the bar -- Now, we're talking a tiny, little dive bar, right?

They opened up in the street.

Lamps shone through the back like a church, right?

Just like a stained glass window.

And a guy came walking through in the sharpest jacket you have ever seen on a man in a dive bar, ever, I guarantee it.

Well, he came up to us because we weren't doing anything better, just making up songs, so he decided to tell us what was wrong with his day in the middle of the song.

We felt kind of bad for him, because he had had a pretty rough day.

Something happened with his car.

But then he gave us the sweetest gem of a line, and we did what any good, self-respecting blues band would do.

We took that line and we stole it, and we put it into a song.

But don't worry, his name's in there too.

Here's to Mac.

♪ Well, on the west coast of Wisconsin ♪ ♪ In a tiny, little bar ♪ ♪ It was rough and it was hot, full of shots and PBRs ♪ ♪ Well, the band was really rolling ♪ ♪ And the crowd was getting loud ♪ [ Cheers ] ♪ And a man in his Sunday coat ♪ ♪ He came singing through the crowd♪ ♪ He said, They just towed my car ♪ ♪ 'Cause I got an outdated sticker ♪ ♪ But I got two days off and a little bit of liquor ♪ That's how you know it's gonna be a good day.

♪♪ ♪ Well, they called him Mac and he smiled at the band ♪ ♪ And then he spun around, slammed a whiskey down ♪ ♪ Took a woman by the hand ♪ ♪ And he held her close without a crease on his sleeve ♪ ♪ And in a flash, she grabbed her purse ♪ ♪ And as they were 'bout to leave, he said ♪ ♪ Hey, I just lost my girl ♪ ♪ Which means I ain't got to trick her ♪ ♪ And I got two days off and a little bit of liquor ♪ Sing it with me.

♪ Two days off ♪ Come on, newbies.

♪ Yeah, I got two days off ♪ There you go.

♪ Well, I got two days off ♪ That's right.

♪ Yeah, I got two days off ♪ ♪ Well, I got two days off, ♪ But my wallet ain't any thicker ♪ ♪ But come Friday night ♪ ♪ I got two days off and a little bit of liquor ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ So when this week's just been awful ♪ ♪ And the days feel so damn long ♪ ♪ You've got 'Double Trouble' on repeat ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's truth in that song ♪ ♪ You don't think you'll make it ♪ ♪ And it's only Tuesday ♪ ♪ I'm remember back to Mac and I think ♪ ♪ Girl, what would he say?

Well, he'd say ♪ ♪ Wallowing in your pity won't make this week go any quicker ♪ ♪ But come Friday night ♪ ♪ We get two days off and a little bit of liquor ♪ Come on, you guys.

♪ Two days off ♪ That's right.

Make it a party.

♪ Yeah, we get two days off ♪ ♪ Everyone here in studio, now ♪ ♪ Two days off ♪ That's right.

♪ Well, we get two days off ♪ There you go.

♪ Well, we get two days off ♪ ♪ But our wallets ain't any thicker ♪ ♪ But come Friday night, we get two days off ♪ ♪ And a little bit of liquor ♪ ♪ Yeah, two days off ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, we get two days off ♪ One more time.

Everybody with me now.

♪ Two days off ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ We get two days off ♪ ♪ Yeah, we get two days off ♪ ♪ But our wallets ain't any thicker ♪ ♪ But come Friday night ♪ ♪ We get two days off and a whole lot of liquor ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Yeah!

You know, something that I think is maybe a hallmark of the group along with your releases is, you know, folks who see you live really comment on the energy of those live performances.

And I think you do a great job of kind of capturing the room with your live performance.

What about the group and your music do you feel like translates so well to live audiences and allows people to really grasp on to that?

I think we like people.

Well -- [ Chuckles ] Some of us like people.

I mean, honestly, this is going to come off as really corny, but it's just who I am, so you're going to have to take it for what it's worth.

Do you have like, a horn we can honk?

It's like, "honk, corny."

Thank you.

There is this sense in the world of coolness, right?

And there's a lot of really cool people, and I was never one of them.

And I'm pretty sure you and the other guys in the band were also never -- Alright.

Look, we're not, like, inherently cool people.

I've been cool since I sat down on this couch.

But -- Wait, wait.

There it is.

This is normally how it is.

I feel good now.

But the honest truth is, at least for me, the one thing I have always wanted with this band is that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, that you feel welcome at our show, and like, it hurts how much I want people to feel welcome.

And so I think part of that then gets translated in the fact that I like to learn people's names.

I like to know who they are.

I want us to make sure that they know that we're really glad they're there.

Because honestly, nothing that we do means anything if we don't have folks that want to come hang out, right, and that want to support our music and that want to encourage us.

And the kind of love and response we've had back is, I think... part of what they like hearing, but it's also part of the fact that they also know that we're really glad they're there.

That's a little corny, right?

Yeah, I get it.

I mean, that authenticity, I think people can feel it, right?

People can feel that you, you're trying to make an attempt to connect to them with music.

You know, whatever the style of music, I think the reason that people are drawn to live music is that connection, right?

Yes.

To the musician, to each other, to everyone in the room.

And when that's kind of your M.O., I think that can translate.

And I will also say, we share honest stories, both in our songs and on stage.

So we'll tell stories that are, you know, drinking stories.

They're meant to be fun and light-hearted, but we also talk about, you know, of my daughters has allowed me to share her struggles with depression and suicide concerns.

And there are songs of ours that are informed by that exact experience.

And I think people realize that there's a depth to life that we don't have to ignore when we're out in public.

Like, we can share those moments, and in fact, I think that when you share those moments, you actually draw yourself closer to people that also have been in a similar experience, or at least even if they don't fully understand it -- which in some of those scenarios, we hope they never do -- but they at least understand that you're trying to be open and honest with them, and like you said, authenticity.

I think there's not much that's fake about us.

It's pretty right on.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm on a loading dock in just another town ♪ ♪ You hear it floating from the backstage ♪ ♪ Door ♪ ♪ The gentle waves of sound, they take me in ♪ ♪ Wrap me up in a time I knew before ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Without the family here, it can be so cold ♪ ♪ Even with a band ♪ ♪ You're a one-woman show ♪ ♪ So he plays a song we know and a line I love ♪ ♪ Jonas on the road ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ A preacher man with an odd hymnal ♪ ♪ And he starts our song with 'Country Roads' ♪ ♪ And after "Fire & Rain," I'm feeling closer to fine ♪ ♪ With the girls of Indigo ♪ ♪ Oh, those gentle hands, they play a simple chord ♪ ♪ To restore my soul ♪ ♪ By playing the songs we know and a line I love ♪ ♪ Jonas on the road ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, those gentle hands, they play a simple chord ♪ ♪ For "Country Roads" ♪ ♪ Take me home ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Jonas on the road ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Jonas on the road ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

So of all the songs that you're playing tonight, which one is your favorite to play live?

Do you know what songs we're playing tonight?

Nope.

I know there's some that we always do.

Yeah.

Uh, I'll let you answer that first.

Um... No, there's not a favorite.

I know that's probably not the right answer, but there's not a favorite.

That's because you're a mom, so you can't pick a favorite child.

I don't have children, so I can pick a favorite.

I'm totally -- What's your favorite?

The loudest one.

Yeah.

You know, that's why I have the shield of shame in front of my amp.

I think "Love Raining Down" is probably my favorite one to play.

And honestly, we're going to do a couple of songs that we hope to have on an upcoming album.

as we continue to work and grow, we want to create another album, and everyone keeps asking when that's going to be.

Well, first we have to get enough money to get a van.

So once we get the van fixed and get a new situation there, we'll be able to put out a new album.

Damn, I forgot we were playing new songs.

Yeah.

So we're going to do a song that has gotten a lot of great response from people, sometimes overwhelmingly so.

And it's a song called -- Actually, I don't want to give the title.

It's just, you'll notice, because it is -- a drop in intensity is the absolute opposite of the one that Chris likes.

Yeah, it's a surprise.

WE like the exact opposite.

That's how this band functions.

I like the one that has an intense story with that sort of turn on words that you go, "Oh."

Yeah.

So we're going to do a song that will hopefully be on the new album.

If you don't mind, maybe we'll take it down for a minute.

♪♪ ♪ The night is so perfect ♪ ♪ You are looking so fine ♪ ♪ And everybody is dancing ♪ ♪ And having a damn good time ♪ ♪ You grab your glass with a smile ♪ ♪ As I grab my last cigarette ♪ ♪ And you pull her in close as I sit here and watch you ♪ ♪ Making memories I'd like to forget ♪ ♪ Memories I'd like to forget ♪ ♪ Well, all I've got these days ♪ ♪ Now that you're gone ♪ ♪ Well, I'm left here alone ♪ ♪ With these memories I like to forget ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You take her to the dance floor ♪ ♪ As I take another sip ♪ ♪ Because I think it's safe to say ♪ ♪ That you'll never love me that way ♪ ♪ I'm making memories I'd like to forget ♪ ♪ Memories I'd like to forget ♪ ♪ They're all I got, all I got these days ♪ ♪ Well, now that you're gone ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm left here alone ♪ ♪ With these memories ♪ ♪ I'd like to forget ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Memories I'd like, I'd like to forget ♪ ♪ All I got, all I got, all I got these days ♪ ♪ Well, now that you're gone ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm left her alone ♪ ♪ With these memories ♪ ♪ I'd like to ♪ ♪ Forget ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Jeni Grouws, everybody.

[ Cheers ] Chris wants to see the set list.

I just learned that word today.

"Set list."

It feels so impersonal when we have a... set list.

You hate it when we have a set list.

I do.

I feel like you never know what somebody wants to hear.

Right?

You know what I mean?

Like, if I come out here like, "Hey, how's it going?"

Everyone's going to be like, "Well, we went to the wrong show.

I don't know what's happening right now, but we went to the wrong place.

Well, I'll tell you what.

I appreciate you guys so much.

You know, we just got back from a Florida tour in the fall, and we had a good time.

And Florida, we love you, but there's nothing like being in Iowa.

That's the truth.

We're excited to see you guys.

[ Cheers ] The weather in Iowa is kind of like our show -- unpredictable.

Let's not rub in the set list thing.

Let it go, people.

Here's the real question, Chris Avey, before we start the next song, can you see it without your glasses?

[ Laughs ] Yep, I got it.

AC/DC.

Can you read?

[ Playing "Thunderstruck" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Heartbeat getting closer, rushing as you roll over ♪ ♪ Cold feet, I've got you leaving ♪ ♪ But somehow I keep believing, oh ♪ ♪ But I'm just hanging around with my arms wide open ♪ ♪ And though you're always letting me down ♪ ♪ I keep hanging around ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Your gaze keeps me reeling ♪ ♪ But your love is so freewheeling ♪ ♪ My soul is up for barter ♪ ♪ While my head says, girl, be smarter ♪ ♪ And oh ♪ ♪ But I'm just hanging around with my arms wide open ♪ ♪ Though you're always letting me down ♪ ♪ I keep hanging around ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ And oh ♪ ♪ I'm just hanging around with my arms wide open ♪ ♪ And though you're always letting me down ♪ ♪ I keep hoping that, oh ♪ ♪ One day, you'll come around ♪ ♪ And take my hand with my heart ♪ ♪ Until then, I can be found ♪ ♪ Oh, just hanging around ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ I'm just hanging around ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ I'm just hanging around ♪ ♪ Ohh, oh ♪ ♪ I'm just hanging around ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Did you find at that time or since then, you pull from similar musical influences, or do you all come from kind of different musical backgrounds?

No, we're completely different.

We're pretty much completely different, period.

But yeah, we're definitely, like, the background -- It's funny because half of our band is rooted in like, alternative music and heavy metal.

And then Randy, our bass player, is more R&B, funk, and stuff like that, and Jeni is more... Country and folk.

Yeah, country and folk.

So it is just a mosh pod of how it happened.

Who knows?

But honestly, if you listen to our music, I think you'll hear all of those things in it, because you'll get the rock elements, you'll get the blues elements, which is what brought us together.

You'll feel the sort of country-ish...

I mean, it's all there, and it all happens, again, very organically.

But we do come from different places, and I think that informs a different sound for us.

And I think I've heard all of those different words be used to describe your group as well, right?

Whatever, different reviewers, different listeners kind of put you in different categories or at least say they can hear those influences.

I think all of us wear our influences on our sleeves, for sure.

Yeah, and we like it, honestly.

I think if you're going to look for the thing that makes you stand out from another band, it's not trying to be just like another band.

It's, if we are this group, what are the sounds that we like and how do we offer those experiences and those, you know, it's all music, memory and things that we all share, and things that we have very different from each other that end up into the sounds that we have.

And we like it.

It's not very purist for people that like pure one or the other, but for us, it works.

I think the bands that aren't afraid to do what they want to do draw us to them, anyway.

Which maybe that's because that's kind of what we are.

Yeah, yeah.

Do you feel like that sound has always been there, or has that evolved as you have got to know one another, performed more together over time?

Yeah, it's just kind of happened.

When we got together and started playing, that's how it sounded, which is a blessing and a curse all at the same time, because as much as I want to sound like somebody else, we're not going to.

We're just going to sound like us, so... ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I know what you're doing ♪ ♪ I know why you're here ♪ ♪ Come a little closer ♪ ♪ I'll whisper in your ear ♪ ♪ You need love ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Baby, you need love ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, you need love ♪ ♪ Oh, baby, you need love ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I know what you're doing ♪ ♪ Well, you can take his place ♪ ♪ Come on over, baby ♪ ♪ Well, and be my saving grace ♪ ♪ I need love ♪ ♪ Well, now, baby, I need love.

Know what I mean?

♪ I need love ♪ ♪ Now baby, I need love ♪ Come on!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ If you want to find me ♪ ♪ Know just where I'll be ♪ ♪ Well, just come with me, baby ♪ ♪ You now what I mean ♪ ♪ I need love ♪ ♪ Oh, now, baby, I need love, yeah ♪ ♪ I need love ♪ ♪ Oh, now, baby, I need love ♪ ♪ Baby, you need love ♪ ♪ Well, now, baby, I need love ♪ ♪ Baby, you need love ♪ ♪ Well, now, baby, I need love ♪ That's right.

♪ I need love ♪ ♪ Oh, now, baby, I need love ♪ ♪♪ Tell me a little bit about the song "Alone in the Dark."

What was the inspiration behind that song?

That's another new one.

That's hopefully going to be on another album as well.

That one really came from a really intense guitar riff that you had.

Yeah, I had just come up with this musical idea, different stuff, and it was just kind of a heavy riff.

I wasn't sure if we were going to use it for this group, or if I was just going to shelve it, because sometimes I'll come up with stuff that doesn't really fit the group, because I feel like the strength of the group is to be able to be in your singer's comfort zone, so some things don't work and some things do.

Sometimes I'll just send them to see randomly what happens because, you know.

And so that was one that just came about.

And I don't remember how the rest of it finished.

There was two parts to it.

Well, I know that when you sent it, it was, again, that one was about 24 seconds.

And I remember the hook at the end of it was what caught me, just the way it switched.

That was the only part I could hear was just right there.

So I thought, "How do I write to that line?"

Sometimes the line comes, right?

So how do you write to that line?

And then if you can, if start writing, it's kind of like anyone that writes poetry, if you know sort of, you're going to have a structure, then I can say, alright, I've got the first verse.

I've got the idea of a second verse.

It's going to sound much like the first one, but I need to know where we can go with the bridge.

Give me some ideas.

I remember this now.

We were at one of the very -- like, what?

One of the four times we've rehearsed in seven years as a group.

We don't rehearse.

I remember I had, we were playing that riff, because you had an idea and then...

But that's all we had, and then I remember you going -- It needs a bridge.

We gotta go somewhere with it.

"We need another part."

And I was like, "Well, there is no other part."

She's like, "Get another part."

"Get another part."

So we just came up with the rest of the song while we were standing there, and then that ended up being that song.

But that's a lot of how our songs work.

You hope that it's kind of the sum of the greatest contributions of each of you?

Absolutely.

Any one of us had wrote a song by themselves, it wouldn't sound like us.

Right.

Right.

So I tell you what, we're going to do another song that we're working on for the new album.

It's a little more intense, but, you know, sometimes that's the thing about playing roots music and blues music, whether it's country or blues or rock, is that you get to get out some of those demons, right?

That's the best thing about being able to write down a feeling, and whether or not it actually really happened doesn't make it not true, right?

So you get those feelings, you feel it and you write it out.

I feel like it might be the best therapy that ever was.

Anyway, this was some therapy that's going to go on the new album.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ So many times ♪ ♪ I left my light on ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And so many nights, you answered my call ♪ ♪ But you wanted out ♪ ♪ When it got closer to daylight ♪ ♪♪ ♪ So I'm going to shine for myself ♪ ♪ And you'll be left alone in the dark ♪ ♪♪ ♪ See, my lips were true ♪ ♪ I gave my word and my heart, babe ♪ ♪ Well, say what you will ♪ ♪ But we both knew the rules from the start ♪ ♪ Oh, but you did what you do ♪ ♪ And you ran again, saying it was my fault ♪ ♪ So I'm gonna shine for myself ♪ ♪ And you'll be left alone in the dark ♪ ♪ When you got too close to my fire ♪ ♪ Well, you went and froze just the same ♪ ♪ When our passion blazed higher and higher ♪ ♪ Your eyes burned in the light ♪ ♪ So you ran, you ran back to the night ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ When you got too close to my fire ♪ ♪ Well, you went and froze just the same ♪ ♪ When our passion blazed higher and higher ♪ ♪ Well, your eyes burned in the light ♪ ♪ So you ran, you ran back to the night ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, you ran back to the night ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, you were scared, you were scared ♪ ♪ So you ran back to the night ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Well, Chris, Jeni, thank you so much for being here.

Really appreciate you being part of "Studio 3 Live" in our inaugural season.

Thank you.

We appreciate it.

Well, we appreciate you being here.

Thanks.

Thank you so much.

Tell you what, we're gonna end with a song that you guys know and love, we hope, because we sure have had a good time.

But we also know that none of this, of course, makes any sense without you.

And we also know that there is a lot of hurt in the world and there's a lot of negative things happening, and some of that is just putting it lightly, right?

There's a lot of stuff going on, and whether we will ever truly find a place in the world where everything is at peace seems maybe a little Pollyanna-ish, but I will say, that doesn't prevent us from really wishing and hoping that we could find peace and love all across the lands, am I right?

[ Cheers ] So our hope as we leave you guys, which I know is how we leave you often, but we hope that it spreads out into the world, that instead of hate and anger raining down on all of us, instead, maybe we could have a whole lot of love raining down.

Thanks you guys again for coming out tonight.

And thank you, PBS and "Studio 3."

Thank you, Mickey.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Love, it's raining down ♪ ♪ Raining down on me, yeah ♪ ♪ Streaming down, raining down on me ♪ ♪ Love, it's raining down ♪ ♪ Raining down on me, yeah ♪ ♪ Streaming down ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ Even in the roughest storm, I got love ♪ ♪ Yeah, raining down ♪ ♪ When the winds get to raging from the clouds above ♪ ♪ I got love coming down from the heavens above ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Love, it's raining down, raining down on me, yeah ♪ ♪ Streaming down, raining down on me ♪ ♪ Love, streaming down, raining down on me, yeah ♪ ♪ It's raining down ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ Even in this tornado, I got love ♪ ♪ Yeah, raining down ♪ ♪ I feel bad for the others when a storm's a-brewin' ♪ ♪ Mm, 'cause they ain't got you and your love ♪ Alright, everybody here at Studio 3, put your hands up with us.

Here we go.

Newbies too.

♪ Well, as the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes ♪ ♪ Shaking and rocking everything inside ♪ ♪ And when the clouds come crashing ♪ ♪ Rain pours down ♪ ♪ And the storm front tosses everything around ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ One more time, Studio 3.

Put your hands up with us.

Here we go.

As a community, let's go.

♪ As the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes ♪ ♪ Shaking and rocking everything inside ♪ ♪ And the clouds come crashing, rain pours down ♪ ♪ And the storm front tosses everything around ♪ ♪ And the walls start humming like a hurricane ♪ ♪ I was down on the ground like a man insane ♪ ♪ When the waters start to rise ♪ ♪ And I'm alone ♪ ♪ Everybody, here we go ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Ladies and gentlemen, we want to thank you so much for coming out and being a part of "Studio 3."

To PBS, to Mickey, and to all of you that make music such a great career for us.

Thank you so much for everything you do.

Please have a good night!

♪♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ [ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Once again, thank you all so much.

Please have a good night.

[ Cheers and applause ] We are the Avey Grouws Band.

♪♪ ♪ Ohhh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Funding for this program was provided by... Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.