Article Contributed by Devious Planet
Published on 2026-11-07
Atlanta-bred guitarist, singer, and songwriter Eddie 9V releases Down Here today via Easy Eye Sound. Produced by GRAMMY® Producer of the Year winner Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and recorded at his Nashville studio, the 12-track album captures Eddie 9V’s years of club gigs and relentless touring in a collection rooted in Southern soul, blues, country, gospel, and rock & roll.
For an artist who previously wrote, produced, and played every instrument on earlier albums, Down Here marks a significant creative shift. Eddie arrived with songs and ideas, then opened up his process through writing sessions with Auerbach, fellow guitarist Marcus King, and veteran songwriters Pat McLaughlin and Daniel Tashian. With the songs in place, the musicians recorded the album in less than a week, leaving room for the spontaneous performances at its heart.
Lead single “Blowin’ Up” reached No. 1 on the Americana charts, earned a Guitar World Editor’s Pick and Classic Rock’s Track of the Week, and received incredible support from SiriusXM’s The Spectrum. The album has also drawn strong reviews, with Blues Rock Review calling Down Here “a courageous, confident, and career-defining album” and “a strong album of the year contender.” At the same time, Glide described it as “clearly Eddie 9V’s strongest album to date.” Rock & Blues Muse praised its mix of “blues and soul into hypnotic heaven,” and Blues Matters commended its “raw instinct, deep-pocket grooves, and a voice which carries the red clay of Atlanta in every phrase.”
“It was all about capturing that magic moment, that fire,” says Auerbach. “Eddie just killed it, especially when he was playing those solos live. We were all feeding off his energy because not only is he a great singer, his guitar playing is incredible.”
The title track, “Down Here,” looks back on the years Eddie spent living with his grandparents, Mimi and Papa, on their 100-acre farm in Monticello, Georgia. Set to a rhythm inspired by Creedence Clearwater Revival, the song recalls the people and rural life that were such a big part of his childhood.
“We grew vegetables, and I got to experience real country life,” Eddie recalls. “I can still hear Mimi on her old John Deere lawn mower. Being on the farm was some of the best times I’ve ever had in my life.”
That sense of place runs through a record with room for both celebration and reflection. Opener “Whole Lot Coming for You” charges ahead with three guitars playing live in the studio, while “Blowin’ Up” pairs a country-fried groove with darkly comic storytelling. On “Rock Your Baby,” Eddie 9V gives the disco-soul classic a Southern turn, adding slide guitar inspired by Duane Allman.
“Satisfy The Way I Do” began as a slower home demo with an Al Green feel before a conversation with Auerbach helped transform it.
The soulful “Horses,” written quickly on the road, draws inspiration from cult soul singer Darondo, while gospel-tinged closer “Come And Get Me Lord” finds Eddie contemplating loss and change.
“I’m at a transformational point in my life right now,” he says. “I’m having to catch myself and remember to enjoy the moment. It’s almost like I’m learning to breathe, but I am grateful for everything that has happened so far, for what is happening now and what’s to come.”
Eddie’s musical education began with a guitar at age six and took him through metal and indie rock before a video of Howlin’ Wolf’s 1966 Newport Folk Festival performance changed his direction. He developed his craft in Atlanta clubs, playing four-and-a-half-hour sets, sometimes for tips alone, and was touring out of state by 17.
Since his 2019 debut, Left My Soul in Memphis, Eddie 9V has released three more albums—Little Black Flies (2021), Capricorn (2023), and Saratoga (2024)—while building a following through extensive touring across the U.S., UK, and Europe. Recently, he completed a month-long tour with The Black Keys and joined them on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Eddie 9V continues his U.S. headline tour through December, with stops in Nashville and Atlanta. He returns to the road on January 15 for another U.S. run through February 27, followed by UK and European dates later in 2027.
With Down Here, Eddie 9V brings that lifetime of playing into a new spirit of collaboration.
“Making this record has taught me how to put my guard down and just have fun rather than worrying about things,” he says. “I think that’s what you can feel on the record, a sense of freedom.”
Listen to or purchase Down Here, and visit Eddie9V.com for more information.
2026 TOUR DATES
November 11 — Knoxville, TN — Bijou Theatre
November 12 — Winston-Salem, NC — The Ramkat
November 13 — Asheville, NC — The Grey Eagle
November 14 — Richmond, VA — The Broadberry
December 3 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
December 4 — Newport, KY — The Southgate House Revival
December 5 — Warrendale, PA — Jergels Rhythm Grille
December 6 — Washington, DC — Union Stage
December 10 — Nashville, TN — The Basement East
December 11 — Atlanta, GA — Variety Playhouse
December 12 — Birmingham, AL — Saturn
December 18 — Louisville, KY — Mercury Ballroom
December 19 — Columbus, OH — Skully’s Music Diner
December 20 — Indianapolis, IN — The Vogue
2027 TOUR DATES
January 15 — Greenville, SC — The Radio Room
January 16 — Athens, GA — Georgia Theatre
January 22 — Foley, AL — OWA Theater
January 23 — New Orleans, LA — Tipitina’s
January 27 — Houston, TX — The Heights Theater
January 28 — Austin, TX — Antone’s
January 29 — Dallas, TX — Granada Theater
January 30 — Oklahoma City, OK — Bear City Music Hall
February 2 — Santa Fe, NM — Tumbleweed Brewer
February 3 — Arenas Valley, NM — Whiskey Creek Zócalo
February 4 — Flagstaff, AZ — Hotel Monte Vista
February 5 — Phoenix, AZ — Rhythm Room
February 6 — Tucson, AZ — 191 Toole
February 9 — San Diego, CA — Soda Bar
February 10 — West Hollywood, CA — Troubadour
February 11 — Morro Bay, CA — The Siren
February 12 — Santa Cruz, CA — Moe’s Alley
February 13 — Berkeley, CA — Cornerstone Berkeley
February 16 — Bend, OR — Tower Theatre
February 18 — Hood River, OR — The Ruins
February 19 — Portland, OR — Mississippi Studios
February 20 — Seattle, WA — Tractor Tavern
February 23 — Boise, ID — Shrine Social Club Basement
February 24 — Jackson, WY — Center For The Arts
February 26 — Fort Collins, CO — Washington’s
February 27 — Denver, CO — Bluebird Theatre
