Tennessee Stiffs

We're not from Tennessee.

Formed in late 2011 and fueled by their eclectic musical interests, co-founders-turned-married-couple Ethan Lee and Cara B were determined to create something never heard before. They seamlessly blend Americana, blues, rock, folk, country, and a myriad of other influences into a powerful and provocative avenue of true grit Americana.
Cara’s melodies range from hauntingly beautiful to wildly soulful. Blended with Lee’s foot-stomping rhythms and gravelly vocals, the two take the “Beauty and the Beast” standard to heart. In the beginning, the duo wrote tunes and performed intimate shows, often using old books and a hat containing lines of poetry as inspiration. They built each song as its own story in a greater collection of real-life events. Each song’s characters are vividly constructed and personal, allowing for the listener to relate.
With two albums under their belt, the plan to record the new double concept album, "Dearly Departed" in 2020, world events brought it to a grinding halt. While on hiatus, Ethan Lee wrote an EP in the comfort of his home summer of 2020. Check out "Raise the Tide" for some tunes that take stride with the times. Finally, later in 2020, the band got some studio time at Orb in Austin and Ethan and Cara's Crazy Horse Studio, and the magic was brought back to life in a big way. "Dearly Departed" is currently being mastered by the famous Jerry Tubb at Terranova Studios and will release Spring 2022.