The Claudettes

Johnny Iguana’s piano is still at the center of the Claudettes’ rockin’ roots music, but the sublime singing of Berit Ulseth steals the spotlight on the band’s fifth release, High Times in the Dark, from Forty Below Records. Produced by Grammy-winner Ted Hutt (Violent Femmes, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Devil Makes Three, Lucero), this richly atmospheric album conjures images of Julie London and Allen Toussaint fronting a ’60s hot-rod band. It’s a 13-song smorgasbord of vintage yet vital sounds the band calls “garage cabaret.”

Johnny, who toured for years with his cult-favorite rock band oh my god, is also in the Grammy nominated groups Chicago Blues: A Living History and the Muddy Waters 100 Band. He has toured/recorded with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and more and played piano on the new Chicago Plays the Stones album featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Buddy Guy.