NYC songstress Jessie Kilguss will release her sixth album ‘They Have A Howard Johnson’s There’ on November 14. This powerful collection, steeped in sweet nostalgia and divine inspiration, showcases deeply personal reflections and exudes positivity.
Engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Charlie Nieland (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie, Scissor Sisters) at Saturation Point Studios in Brooklyn, this captivating record recalls the poetic depth, introspection and sophistication of such artists as Suzanne Vega, Jennifer Warnes and Sharon Van Etten, and also features a heartfelt tribute to her late father.
This album also involves the talents of Kirk Schoenherr (Tegan and Sara, Elle King, Chet Faker), John Kengla (David Byrne, Ben Kweller, Serena Ryder), Andrea Longato (Duncan Sheik, Jeremy Jordan, Alphonso Ribeiro), Rob Heath (Madison Square Gardeners, Julia Nunes), Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole) and Rembert Block (Rembert and the Basic Goodness), as well as Charlie Nieland.
“This is a collection of songs I’ve written over the past few years, most being inspired, at least in part, by a book (Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter & Neapolitan Quartet), a movie (Dog Day Afternoon) or a work of art (The Ecstasy of St Teresa). The title comes from a line in the song ‘Howard Johnson’s’, which is a roundabout tribute to my father Howard who passed away in 2023,” says Jessie Kilguss.
“I’ve been working on this album for the past year with producer Charlie Nieland, with whom I have been collaborating since 2007. We started every track with just voice and guitar and built them out from there. Previously, I’ve always gone into the studio with my band to record. This was an interesting way to work as we deconstructed each song and then put them back together. I’m really happy with the result.”
Kilguss also presents the brilliantly inspired video for ‘St. Teresa in Ecstasy’, created by Alex Dar. A sonic exploration of being moved by something magical and the sheer and vital power of all great art, this song was inspired by Bernini’s dramatic Roman sculpture and feeling of being whisked away by something that feels profoundly greater than us all – something even celestial.
On the lead track ‘Howard Johnson’s’, Jessie pays tribute to her late father, Howard Kilguss. Like the song, the era-inspired nostalgic video by Deborah Magocsi, is inspired by a resonant line in the film ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ by Al Pacino. “I’ll charter a plane to Algeria. They have a Howard Johnson’s there” stood out because of its absurdity and the timely, personal connection to her late father’s name, made even more appropriate by her father’s deep love for dogs.
Kilguss explains, “Most of the instruments were played by John Kengla, who I have also worked with for a very long time (2010). He played guitar, bass and keys on ‘Howard Johnson’s’, ‘Lost Causes’, ‘Fool’s Fight’ and ‘Jesus Was A Cross Maker’. Kirk Schoenherr played guitar and keys on ‘Chasing Down a Ghost’ and ‘St. Teresa in Ecstasy’ and Andrea Longato played guitar on ‘St. Teresa in Ecstasy’ as well. My friend Rembert Block sang backing vocals on a few songs.”
A former actress, whose acting highlights include ‘The Crucible’ (with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder) and the stage production ‘As You Like It’ (directed by Royal Shakespeare Company founder Sir Peter Hall), Kilguss made songwriting her focus after working with musical heroes Marianne Faithfull and Mary Margaret O’Hara in the Tom Waits / William Burroughs musical ‘The Black Rider’.
Apart from performing with Gramercy Arms, the Loser’s Lounge, Jim Andralis and the Syntonics and Benjamin Cartel, Kilguss has performed at the Sundance Film Festival and with Freddie Stevenson, touring as support for The Waterboys’ European tour. In June 2025, Kilguss was an artist in residence at Fish Factory Creative Center in Stodvarfjordur, Iceland, where she wrote 9 new songs.
This album follows her singles ‘Too Far From Texas’ (a collaboration with Jim Andralis), ‘You’re the One’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’. Kilguss’ 2022 album ‘What Do Whales Dream About at Night?’ LP features drummer Brian Griffin (Patti Smith, Brandi Carlisle, Lana Del Rey), bassist Whynot Jansveld (The Wallflowers, Butch Walker, Sara Bareilles), composer-producer Naren Rauch, and Nathan Schram (Bjork, David Crosby, David Byrne), with whom Kilguss ran the non-profit organization Musicambia.
As of November 14, ‘They Have A Howard Johnson’s There’ is out everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 5, Kilguss’ Record Release Show is at Berlin Under A, with Life in a Blender and Charlie Nieland (in support of his ‘Stories From The Borderlines’ album).
TRACK LIST
1 . Howard Johnson’s
2 . St. Teresa In Ecstasy
3 . Fool’s Fight
4 . Chasing Down A Ghost
5 . Lost Causes
6 . Jesus Was A Cross Maker
ALBUM CREDITS
All songs written by Jessie Kilguss, except ‘Jesus Was a Crossmaker’ (written by Judee Sill)
Produced, engineered, mixed & mastered by Charlie Nieland at Saturation Point Studios, Brooklyn
Jessie Kilguss – vocals, arrangement
John Kengla – guitar, bass, keys on Howard Johnson’s, Fool’s Fight, Lost Causes, Jesus Was a Cross Maker
Kirk Schoenherr – guitar and keys on Chasing Down a Ghost and St Teresa in Ecstasy
Andrea Longato – guitar on St Teresa in Ecstasy
Rob Heath – Drums and percussion
Rembert Block – Backing vocals on Fool’s Fight, Chasing Down a Ghost and Lost Causes
Dave Derby – Backing vocals on Howard Johnson’s
Charlie Nieland – bass, violin bow guitar and keys on St Teresa in Ecstasy, Fool’s Fight and Lost Causes, backing vocals on Howard Johnson’s
Single cover photo by Shervin Lainez
Video by Deborah Magocsi
Graphic design by Scott MX Turner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR