* En anglais uniquement
A hard-driving blues-rock quartet from the small South Central Kentucky village of Sulphur Well,
Otis first gained regional attention with the 2014 release of their debut album, Tough Times, followed in 2017 by their label debut, the Paul Nelson-produced
Eyes of the Sun. Drawing influence from electric blues players like
Muddy Waters and
Howlin' Wolf, and mixing in Southern rock traditions in the vein of
the Allman Brothers and
ZZ Top, the band takes an honest, straightforward approach to roots-driven American rock & roll.
Singer and guitarist Boone Froggett, guitarist Steve Jewell, bassist John Seeley, and drummer Andrew Gilpin all grew up near each other in Kentucky's Metcalfe County, the same region that produced veteran country rockers
the Kentucky Headhunters and hard rock band
Black Stone Cherry, both of whom have been supportive of
Otis' development. Working with
Headhunters' guitarist
Greg Martin as co-producer, the band recorded 2014's Tough Times, a ten-song tribute album to Chicago bluesman
John Brim. Released independently, the album slowly picked up steam, even earning praise from
ZZ Top's
Billy Gibbons. By 2017,
Otis had signed with Los Angeles label Cleopatra Records and recorded their follow-up album, this time a set of originals called
Eyes of the Sun, with Grammy-winning producer Paul Nelson (
Johnny Winter).
Eyes of the Sun raised the band's profile significantly and in addition to U.S. dates,
Otis embarked on their first European tour in support of the album. ~ Timothy Monger