Jane Lee Hooker: Bluesy, Rocking, Soulful Storytelling

Established in 2013, Jane Lee Hooker is a rock and roll band fused with blues and what they describe as “vintage swagger.” The group’s front woman, Dana “Danger” Athens, tells Brooklyn Roads all about how her upbringing in Brooklyn has influenced her music career with the band.

Dana Danger Athens -Live at The Falcon /photo by Rob Carter /courtesy of Devious Planet

Growing up in a musical family, Athens spent her early years singing gospel in the church her family frequented, as well as performing musical theater and playing in a classic rock cover band in high school. Looking up to artists such as Billie Holiday, she says her experiences across a variety of genres has “really lent toward what I do now in JLH: bluesy, rocking, soulful, storytelling performances.”

Jane Lee Hooker / photo by Rob Carter /courtesy of Devious Planet

Jane Lee Hooker was formed originally by bandmates and guitarists Tracy Hightop and Tina “T-Bone” Gorin, who completed their look and sound with the addition of Athens. On joining JLH, she said, “I found my people!” The band recently relocated their rehearsal space to Bushwick (from their original space in New York City), where they will be recording their next single entitled “Jericho,” to be released in mid-November, and also their third studio album, dropping in early 2021.

Jane Lee Hooker On Stage at The Falcon /photo by Rob Carter/courtesy of Devious Planet Media

When speaking of the band’s greatest accomplishments so far, one thing that stands out for Athens is their performance on the German music television show Rockpalast. Having had the high honor of performing on the same program as some of the most well-known rock, heavy metal and jazz bands seemed like a surreal moment for JLH. About the experience, she tells Brooklyn Roads, “It’s such a crazy feeling to know I’ve gotten to perform on the same stage as so many of my idols. Mind blowing, actually.”

Of all the Brooklyn venues the band dreams of performing in, Athens says that, apart from playing Rough Trade and Kings Theatre, they would simply like “one with people in it!” JLH’s goals for the year ahead are to finish recording their album and to get back on tour. Of the album release, Athens tells us the band wishes to “do right by it in terms of getting it out there and heard by the masses.”