Nashville-based rock outfit Laney Jones and the Spirits have released their self-titled debut album and share a video for the single “Bitch Year.”
The band is fronted by Laney Jones and rounded out by her husband Brian Dowd, along with Carson Lystad and Glen Hruska.
“’Bitch Year’ was written with grit and a love for rock and roll,” Dowd said. “It illustrates that in the darkest of days, music can be the power that gets you through to the other side.”
Co-produced by Jones herself alongside Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Langhorne Slim), Laney Jones and the Spirits chronicles perseverance, loss, and creative rebirth.
The project emerged from a deeply personal period for Jones and Dowd, written and recorded in the wake of losing their beloved dog, Hap.
“Brian and I wrote many of these songs, including “Bitch Year,” “Knowme” and “Live Wire” after the untimely passing of our first dog—our furry son, Hap,” Jones said. “It was the day before Thanksgiving, and we traveled with him for the holiday. Not having our space and place to grieve was really hard and, honestly, isolating. Those feelings fueled the songs. We spent the Christmas holiday honoring him and finished the record in January.”
Lyrically inspired in part by Kurt Vonnegut’s “Sirens of Titan,” “We Belong Together” explores belonging — not simply in a romantic sense, but in the deeper idea of people allowing each other to exist fully and authentically.
“It’s a record with a lot of heart, and nothing showcases our raw rock sound more than this song,” says Jones. “The song itself is truly about belonging. Not necessarily romantic love, but people giving permission to exist fully with each other. That’s what I always try to emphasize at our shows.”
“As a whole, this album represents everything we are as a band,” Dowd said. “It is the truest representation of our journey.”
LANEY JONES AND THE SPIRITS – LIVE 2025
November
30 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI*
December
2 – Cleveland, OH – Mahall’s 20 Lanes*
3 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern*
4 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Café*
5 – Baltimore, MD – Union Hall*
6 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café and Music Hall*
9 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall*
11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore*
13 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom*
*Supporting The Heavy Heavy
Watch ‘Bitch Year’ here: