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The best kept secret in music
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Jack Callahan must be feeling like he’s right on the edge – like something’s going to happen. It certainly should when word of his first solo album, This Unsettled Life, gets around.
It’s been said that you can’t always judge a book by its cover, but even from the CD cover design I had a feeling it would be impressive. I was not disappointed.
Apparently, Jack Callahan was a good musical student and paid attention to his mentors and teachers. He has effectively taken the sum of his experience and musical influences (rock, pop, Irish, world) and has assimilated and developed them into a unique and creative style.
Callahan’s first track, “Kicking the Wall,” reminded me of the Sawdoctors. The style and lyrics are simple and conjure easy images that actually seemed more like good memories to me. Bodhran and tin whistle accompaniment only enhanced the Celtic tone of this song.
As a songwriter, he’s brilliant. Callahan writes with a flavor that people can relate to. We have favorite songs because there’s something personal about the lyrics or because we associate them with a particular time or situation in our lives or else because we simply like the melody. Lots of favorites will be coming from This Unsettled Life.
Jack Callahan has a way of reminding us – through beautiful musical compositions with a blend of instruments and lyrics to be taken to heart – that although life has ups and downs, just never lose focus and never “just settle.”
In the words of Jack Callahan, “It’s been a long time coming /But I see clearly ahead /There was a holding pattern /Now it’s all sorted in my head.”
Please, Jack, keep the words and music coming.
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Pam Sullivan Wehbi
CELTIC BEAT Magazine
09/05
- Pam Wehbi-Sullivan
Recent Accomplishments
Featured artist on Richard Milne’s Local Anesthetic 93.1 WXRT
“This Unsettled Life” was in the top 50 rotation at University of Iowa KRUI
Reviewed in Celtic Beat Magazine by Pam Wehbi
Reviewed by Irish American Magazine
Featured on Mancow Muller's Morning Mad House - Jack Callahan
Singer-songwriter Jack Callahan, with a cast of talented backing musicians, makes his solo debut with the eight-song This Unsettled Life. Formerly with the traditional Irish group Salthill Mines, Callahan shows his personal, sensitive side on tracks like “Breathe Deep Now” and “Let Me In.” His heartfelt vocal delivery and acoustic guitar work, recorded with a live quality, are undeniably authentic, almost folky. He even retains some of his past influences with the Irish tin whistle on “Kicking The Wall.” (www.jack-callahan.com) - Jason Scales - Illinois Entertainer 02/06 - Illinois Entertainer
Discography
Salthill Mines - Down the Road Past
Jack Callahan - This Unsettled Life
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Jack Callahan has been a staple in the Chicago music scene since the late 1990s so its no wonder his long awaited solo debut This Unsettled Life has a track appropriately titled Long Time Coming.
Growing up in a musical family Jack had easy access to instruments at a very young age. It was at the age of 14 that he decided to combine his raw musical talent with his songwriting capabilities. Jack developed his gift during his school days but it was post-college that he really began to hone his talent and write quality songs.
Jack started his professional music career playing human juke box in bars on the. As the bar scene gradually grew old he began to show interest in traditional Irish music of which some songs on the new album have been influenced. Over the years Jack polished his guitar style by taking tips from the legendary guitarist Dennis Cahill known for his less is more technique. He then cultivated his own unique songwriting style from the different types of music of which he was influenced. Those influences of pop, rock and world music give Jacks songs their own creative taste and identity.
In 2002 Jack released an album with a traditional Irish group called Salthill Mines. A track written by him called Fall from Grace was featured on The Local Anesthetic with Richard Milne 93.1 WXRT. After relentless gigging, playing on Mancow Mullers Morning Mad House and at the House of Blues he gained the confidence he sought in songwriting and decided to embark on a full length album.
This Unsettled Life characterizes the journey that Jack has taken over the years and the idea to never settle for status quo. His multifaceted musical talent and songwriting are here to stay and he hopes that your experience listening to his music give you the same satisfaction he experienced while writing his songs. Enjoy.
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