Jackpot Donnie

Artist Information

Biography

Jackpot Donnie began as a trio of musicians in search of a sound. Matt Love (guitar/lead vocals), Brian Wise (guitar) and Adam Campbell (drums) were high school chums, well-versed in basement jamming and general rock music etiquette; however, there was an integral piece of the puzzle missing. In 2003 a stroke of luck brought bassist Dave Langley to JPD’s doorstep. It didn’t take long for the individual styles of the four musicians to gel, and before the end of their first practice, they knew a band had been formed.

In late 2004, they composed their first monster ballad, and quickly realized that melodrama was not a part of their destiny. Since then, Jackpot Donnie has fused their ribald, energetic personalities with elements of all the genres of music they celebrate. Dave brings the funk on bass and grooves tightly in the pocket with Adam, while Matt and Brian’s guitars deliver both smooth reggae flavor and classic head-banging riffs. All the while, Matt’s soulful vocals keep the music firmly rooted in the Chicago blues tradition. The band released their first full-length album “Music Nightly” in April of 2008, “featuring a crisp, even professional vibe that's seldom heard on debut records from indie acts,” according to the Chicago Examiner’s Frank Krolicki.

Jackpot Donnie has established their identity as some of Chicago’s hardest rockers, and they’ve been spreading it across the city and beyond. These days, you can find JPD in some of the city’s most respected rock venues, like The Abbey, Elbo Room, Double Door, and the Bottom Lounge. On the stage, their priority is to move the crowd, make ‘em laugh, and keep them coming back for more. And that’s what they’ll continue to do, at least until Glam Rock comes back into style.

Instrumentation

Matt Love - Vocals/Guitar
Brian Wise - Guitar
Dave Langley - Bass Guitar
Adam Campbell - Drums/Percussion

Discography

"New Mode" - EP - Released March 27, 2010

"Music Nightly" - LP - Released April 18, 2008

Audio

• S.F.E.
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• New Mode
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Jackpot Donnie "Music Nightly" Review [+ Show ]
  

  Local band Jackpot Donnie existed over half a decade before releasing their first full-length album,...Local band Jackpot Donnie existed over half a decade before releasing their first full-length album, "Music Nightly," this year. Take one listen to the record - filled with hook-laden classic rock-meets-90s alternative guitar crunch - and you can tell the band used the time to carefully plan and produce their material before putting it to CD. The record rocks throughout, but at the same time features a crisp, even professional vibe that's seldom heard on debut records from indie acts.
  On "Music Nightly," the band uses largely straightforward classic rock for its core, but incorporates a variety of sounds to flesh things out, including bluesy riffs ("Pell Mell," "Muster Buster"), 311-esque alterna-reggae ("Rumble," "See We Rollin'") and boisterous bar rock ("Agent Estimation"). This mixture of sounds is welcome, helping to keep things interesting from track to track.
  
  "Agent Estimation" opens the disc and is a highlight with its very cool jittery guitar riff. Matt Love's powerful, throaty vocals are perfect for both the hard-hitting music and "everyman" lyrics throughout, which bring to mind The Allman Brothers Band. A prime example is "Full Bloom," a catchy, lazy summer jam with a chorus that begins, "I've been workin' so hard and I am hurtin'/I could use some time to get this off my mind."
  
  While the band is rooted in traditional sounds and doesn't necessarily cover any new ground on "Music Nightly," they deliver solid, well-written, performed and produced songs sure to please fans of both classic and alternative rock.

Setlist

Jackpot Donnie prides themselves on their energetic live shows. With over 20 original songs in their rotation, there is plenty of room for flexibility in their setlists. Additionally, the band has covered over 100 songs over the years.

Average Set Length: 1-1.5 Hours (12-15 songs)
Longest Set Played: 3 Hours


Original Songs Currently in the Live Rotation:

Agent Estimation
Art of Mixing Colors
Daybreak
Delay
Full Bloom
Muster Buster
Old Road
Pell Mell
Renegade Revolutionary
Resignation
Room to Improve
Rumble
Second Chance
See We Rollin'
Set It Right
S.F.E.

A typical Jackpot Donnie show will include 2-3 cover songs.

Bands/Artists we have covered:

A-Ha, Bill Withers, The Black Crowes, Bob Marley, Grateful Dead, Kings of Leon, Michael Jackson, The Old 97s, The Police, Queens of the Stone Age, The Strokes, Sublime, Talking Heads, Ween, 311, and many more. Jackpot Donnie has been known to cover several eras, ranging from Classic Rock, to 80s Pop, to 90s Alternative, to hits from today.

Basic Requirements

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