Jonah Tolchin grew up listening to blues and American roots music. His father ran a record store in the Mississippi Delta before he was born, and Tolchin soaked in the music from cassettes, vinyl records, and CD’s. “I’ve always wanted to make a blues focused record, but it didn’t feel right until now… Once I was ready I knew we needed to go down south–to Dockside”.

 

Tolchin’s new album “DOCKSIDE” was co-produced by Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars) and Tolchin at the Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana. The album features Tolchin on lead guitar, harmonica and vocals, Dickinson on rhythm guitar and clavinet, Terence Higgins on drums (Warren Haynes), and Nic Coolidge on bass. Guests include Chris Joyner (Ben Harper), Carey Frank (Tedeschi Trucks) and Chavonne Stewart (Jackson Browne). 

 

Born and raised in central New Jersey, Tolchin began his career as a DIY artist, hitting the road as a teenager and self-releasing his own music until signing with Yep Roc Records for his critically acclaimed 2014 label debut, Clover Lane. Recorded in Nashville with a slew of special guests including Los Lobos' Steve Berlin and Deer Tick's John McCauley, the album prompted Uncut to rave that Tolchin "demonstrates the finesse and maturity of someone like Jason Isbell” and NPR to proclaim him "a promising new artist who artfully occupies the gulf between old-school tradition and contemporary appropriation.” 

 

Tolchin followed it up in 2016 with the similarly well-received Thousand Mile Night, which racked up more than 13 million streams on Spotify with its title track alone, and 2019’s Fires for the Cold, a bittersweet meditation on loss and redemption that featured appearances by Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, and Sara Watkins. In 2022 Tolchin released a completely different feel with “Lava Lamp”, inspired by more of his indie rock/rock influences. Along the way, Tolchin toured the US and Europe extensively, sharing bills with the likes of Watchhouse (Mandolin Orange), Chuck Prophet, Gregg Allman, Chris Smither, Dave and Phil Alvin, and Tony Joe White, etc. His music has also been reviewed by: Uncut, Mojo, Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, NPR, Pop Matters, American Songwriter, Elmore, Glide, No Depression, etc. 

 

Tolchin released “DOCKSIDE” through his new company “Clover Music Group” in Oct, 2023 to critical worldwide acclaim: 

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“4 stars out of 5… Tolchin combines a bluesy sensibility with soul and supple blues rock that’s innovative and humble… These 50 minutes glide by with grace and integrity.”
–Hal Horowitz, American Songwriter, October 18, 2023

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“Burgeoning star… has a knack for performing a riff that sticks to your ribs.”

-       Jacob Uitti, American Songwriter, September 23, 2023

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“Enticing… From his shadowy Dan Auerbach-esque vocals to his similar badass guitar tones, Tolchin’s sound is sure to catch a listener’s attention and get them feeling some kinda way: maybe bold, confident, or even a little dangerous.”

-       Mikayla McGrory, Music Mecca, July 28, 2023

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“Hit the Post To Wire sweet spot.”
–Post To Wire

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“A versatile platter of American roots music with thoughtful blues-guitar statements.”

-       SM, Vintage Guitar Magazine

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“‘Dockside’ showcases Tolchin’s exceptional talent on lead guitar, harmonica, and vocals… Tolchin and Dickinson find new ways to explore blues and soul-based songs, with funky rhythms and new ideas on guitar.”

-       It’s Psychedelic Baby Mag, June 27, 2023

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“On his new album ‘Dockside‘ we find him digging into a Muscle Shoals sensibility adding some more groove to his palette.”

-       Jonathan Aird, Americana UK, June 29, 2023

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“Call it spiritual reawakening or simply a change that better suits one who has battled depression, divorce, a psychotic breakdown, and re-marriage and fatherhood. All those factors led to Tolchin reaching deep into the blues and reaching out to Luther Dickinson, who prods Tolchin’s guitar leads with his rhythmic riffs and co-produced the album recorded at the titular Dockside studios in Louisiana… Tolchin has delivered one of this year’s more exciting blues albums… bodes for a strong future in this idiom.”

• Jim Hynes, Glide Mag, Oct. 12, 2023

 

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“Will stay with you for a long time… When an album can transport you away, you know it’s good.”

-       Barry Hopwood, Blues Matters Magazine (UK)
 

 

“Jonah Tolchin may be best-known as an Americana songwriter bringing heartfelt, affecting, lyric-driven songs. He’s set to affect in a new way on his new album: with his guitar.”

-       American Blues Scene, August 22, 2023

 

“Dockside becomes an album that establishes a certain standard, while hopefully bringing Tolchin to a heightened level of awareness and recognition. Continued attention to this emerging artist will certainly be well-deserved… Authenticity is imbued… Tolchin manages to inject personality and perspective into each of these offerings, a varied dynamic that allows each song to maintain its own particular persona.”

-       Lee Zimmerman, Living Blues Magazine, September, 2023

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“Will you leave spellbound.”

-       John Michie, Up To Hear Music, July 30, 2022

 

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"The blues of Dockside is as authentic as it gets."

-       Phillip Smith, PhillyCheeze’s Rock & Blues Review, October 7, 2023