Music
Press
"Sodajerk just might be some sort of musical supergroup from an alternative universe......the band's music is filled by a blazing, hell-bent intensity few bands seem to muster anymore........ everything you need for a night on the town, or the end of the world. If Pittsburgh ever comes up with an answer to y'allternative kingfish like Wilco, The Old 97's or The Jayhawks, then, well, you saw 'em here first!" - Rege Behe
"....a blend of old school country with the raw enthusiasm of The Replacements. The songs all mention the devil's brew and some dame that done them wrong, but the band's knowledge of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash shows through making sure things never get stuck in hokeyville."
- Steve Seagal
" The SODAJERK recipe is so fundamentally brilliant, you wonder why other bands haven't tried it. Mix the boozy, brainy rock of the Replacements with the tear in my beer twang of vintage country music. Add and occasional Van Halen cover tune and there you have it: the shaken-not stirred-sound of SODAJERK......."
- Scott Tady
"In one word: delicious! The self titled fifth album from Pittsburgh's alt country/rockabilly mainstay is clever, catchy and fun. A bit Replacements, a tad Pete Yorn, perhaps some Wallflowers and pre-experimental Wilco, SodaJerk smokes through your listening room with a BBQ swagger. Singer Bucky Goldstein's voice has never sounded better!
Every one of the originals on this CD are imprinted with SJ's witty lyrics, brilliant guitars, genius bass lines and powerful drumming. "Dear Disappointed" is a rocker, full of energetic riffs and aggressive vocals. "Handcuffs" epitomizes SodaJerk's sharp songwriting. "The Ugly Truth," with percussionist "Poppa" John Tucker taking the microphone, will knock you down to size. Song number nine, "Final Resting Place," continues this strong rockin' performance into the final third of the album. Definitely grab a copy!" - "Sodajerk" CD Review
“Sodajerk puts it’s own original sounding twist on the country rock blend. That, combined with the band’s creative songwriting, made Sodajerk a shoe in for the Jim Beam Country Band Search finals.”
- VP of Jim Beam
"The self titled Sodajerk album is a strong, confident record that demonstrates one band's restitution to the opressed spirit of country music. Twangier than the Wallflowers and rowdier than the Magnolia Electric Company, Sodajerk write the type of music that makes a night on the town; the type of sound that every jukebox would be lost without. "Tonight's Gonna Bury You" and Breaker, Breaker" are two standout tracks on an album that rocks from start to finish" - Ryan Hoffer, A&R
“Pittsburgh’s own alt-country band deserves a record deal. Bouncy tunes, great hooks, and plenty of drinkin’ and cryin’ ” - Performing Songwriter
"The music itself is a mixture of the kind of punkish country that Jason and the Scorchers are good at and Sun rockabilly revved up for the new millenium. High energy stuff and a good album." - www.freighttrainboogie.com
" SODAJERK aren't musical teetotalers, their songs are soaked in alcohol. They cut their heartache with a hefty dose of humor...but the band's solid song structure keeps these tunes from being mere jokes. Think of SODAJERK as something like early Replacements on a country bender or an Old 97's that's more interested in liquor than pop. The brash and punchy roots-rock of Pittsburghs SodaJerk is exactly what youd expect of a group who hold a strong appreciation for the old-school country (and all the drinking that goes with it) as well as AC/DC and The Replacements. With primary songwriter and guitarist Bucky Goldstein as the key focal point, The Jerk fill out their self-titled fourth release with a sound most like their live performance: guitar heavy, swaggering, somewhat raunchy rock that smells of beer and reeks of a good time. Granted, theyve taken on the classic themes inherent in the genre heartaches, loneliness, drinkin, love and law troubles but keep it attractive with a raw, good-natured sound thats always keen with a strong vocal or lead hook. Power drummer Poppa John Tucker takes on a rough growl fronting the power rocker The Ugly Truth, which he co-wrote with Goldstein, whose coarse and weary voice holds a captivatingly stark presence." - www.milesofmusic.com
"Wow!!! Get your boots on and get to a dance hall and hear this band. Sodajerk plays some of the hottest roots country music in the USA. Cool vocals and fantastic pickin'. The songs are killer also. This is just a great roots album. "Brand New Low" is, without a doubt, going to make waves."
- www.rootsmusicreport.com
Discography
"Can't Put You Down" (cd 1999)
"Unhappy Hour" (cd 2001)
"We're Going To Hell Now Because Of You Guys" (live cd 2001) [out of print]
"Brand New Low" (cd 2003)
"Sodajerk" (cd 2005)
"Sodajerk II" (cd 2007)
The track "Self Help Book" is found on"This Is Alt Country" (comp cd for ShutEye records 2003)
The track "Cow Hop" was found on two "CD baby" comps (2000 and 2003)
The track "Breaker, Breaker" won the following awards on Garageband.com:
Track of the Day on 9Aug2005 in Americana
Track Of The Week on 22Aug2005 in Americana
#22 Best Drums in Americana, all-time
#6 Best Lyrics in Americana, all-time
#12 Best Melody in Americana, all-time
#21 Best Mood in Americana, all-time
Best Male Vocals in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Guitars in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Guitars in Americana, week of 22Aug2005
Best Drums in Americana, week of 1Aug2005
Best Drums in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Keyboards in Americana, week of 22Aug2005
Best Production in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Lyrics in Americana, week of 1Aug2005
Best Lyrics in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Melody in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Beat in Americana, week of 1Aug2005
Best Beat in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Best Mood in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Most Original in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Rocking Track in Americana, week of 8Aug2005
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Sodajerk is a band formed on one guiding principle: despite what may be coming out of the current Nashville scene, country music doesnt have to suck!
Sodajerk began in Pittsburgh with longtime friends Bucky Goldstein and Poppa John Tucker as an outlet for their shared love of 50's rockabilly, 60's country, 70's classic rock, 80's metal and early 90's college rock. They found that when they mashed the booze filled swagger of The Replacements with the tear-in-my-beer twang of Johnny Cash, something special happened....the Sodajerk sound was born.
The first record (1999's "Can't Put You Down") was almost entirely recorded by just the duo, and was greeted with warm reviews and high critical praise in their hometown, ultimately winning a spot on the Top Five Releases of 1999 by local press.
They followed with 2001's "Unhappy Hour" which continued the tradition, ending up on yet another Top 10 Releases of the Year list in Pittsburgh's press and leading to the bands involvement with festivals such as the Nashville New Music Conference and North By Northeast in Toronto. The end of 2001 brought them the honor of being chosen by Jim Beam as one of their 5 finalists in the Jim Beam National Backroom Band Search held in Nashville, of which Sodajerk ultimately placed second (not bad for some yanks!)
The winning streak continued in early 2002, as Sodajerk took top honors in the Grafitti Rock Challenge in Pittsburgh, a long running, yearly band competition, that in the past has seen the participation of such bands as Pittsburghs own Rusted Root and The Clarks. This led to the recording of the bands third record (2003's "Brand New Low") which landed the band in regular rotation on such AAA stations as 91.3 WYEP. It even found its way onto celebrated singer songwriter Jesse Malins website under the heading Fine Art: Top 25 Albums, alongside legends such as Wilco and Neil Young (were blushing now!)
The constant gigging in Pittsburgh and other cities on the east coast (Nashville, Toronto, Raleigh, Ocean City, Harrisburg) plus the opportunities theyve had to share the stage with bands as diverse as The Jayhawks, Charlie Daniels, The Drive By Truckers, Reverend Horton Heat, Scott Miller, John Mellencamp, Wayne "The Train" Hancock, Robbie Fulks, The Red Elvises, The Tarbox Ramblers, Montgomery Gentry, and even heavy hitters such as Nashville Pussy and Static X led to Bucky and Poppa Johns desire to capture more of their live sound on the next record, which ended up being simply titled "Sodajerk", released in 2005. It's a raw rock n roll blast that immediately has found its way into regular rotation again on 91.3 WYEP (garnering 15 spins a week) and to the top of critics lists.
In 2005, the band found itself relocating to Atlanta with the intention of heavier gigging and touring in the south and elsewhere in 2006. Never ready to rest on their laurels, Sodajerk is currently working on two records for release on Be Particular! Records.
Whether its the country rock blast of "I Know You Will" or the trip hop country masterpiece "Cow Hop", Sodajerk is a band that lives to challenge the stereotypes of all music. one Pittsburgh writer put it best, Its all you need for a night on the town.....or the end of the world!
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