Jacob Two-Two

WHAT DO YOU get when you put three songwriters in a studio for 150 hours over seven months? The rebirth of Ottawa folk-rock favourites, Jacob Two-Two...the band is set to shake things up with a few shows and the release of a follow-up to their wildly successful debut EP, "Well, Well". - The Fulcrum

Some people, though obviously not German or British journalists, are aware that titles are part of a copyrighted work and that if you want to use them for your own nefarious purposes, you really should ask nicely first.

Not surprisingly, those people are Canadian. Jacob Two-Two, an Ottawa band, just recently thought it right to ask permission for their name from Mordecai Richler, author of Jacob Two-Two and the Hooded Fang, and perhaps, with his sometime crochety reputation, not a man who would necessarily say yes.

Not only did Richler acquiesce, he attended to the task himself. The band now has a typewritten, signed Richler note in their possession. We can't imagine it took him long. All the note said was, "Sure, go ahead." - Globe and Mail

Jacob Two-Two was featured 4 times in the Maclean's guide to what's hot on campus at Carleton and Ottawa Universities. - Maclean's

CD Review: "This is happy, bouncy, poppy, folky music. I'm having a hard time not bursting into song with this CD as I write this." - The Charlatan

Chartattack named "Well,Well" one of the 5 best releases from Ottawa in 2001. - Chartattack

The Ottawa folk-funksters kept busy enough in 2000. Besides playing to packed clubs as the opening act for shows by Hennessey and Fred Eaglesmith, Jacob Two-Two also enjoyed a coveted spot this summer on the stage of the Ottawa Folk Festival, signed on with a management company, received some pearls of wisdom from folkie Garnet Rogers and secured an official stamp of approval from author Mordecai Richler

The band's experience at the folk festival proved to be invaluable. It was after performing there in August that Jacob Two-Two hooked up with promoters Nutshell Music and the group's new drummer Eddie Moss found himself playing as a temporary member of Garnet Rogers' band.

"Garnet was great," says singer and guitarist Mary Kate Haché. "We had a big talk with him afterwards and he was giving us a pep talk and telling us about stuff he's done, just basically sharing wisdom." - Ottawa Citizen

Cool, Canadian and in concert, Jacob Two-Two, named after a Mordecai Richler novel, took hold of the stage at Zaphod's 2 and charmed a huge crowd with their spirit, musical talent and originality. Supported by a drumkit chock-full of congas, this youthful band delivered energy with a driving pulse to create a polished sound that emulated a feeling of always moving and rolling ahead. Jacob Two-Two appeared to be very in touch with the music they had written. They performed with enthusiasm and intrigue while taking great pains to produce effective dynamics. With an overall tight sound, this group was fun, engaging and a sign of the times.

For example, the leading lady, Mary Kate Hache, a funky 'girl-next-door' showed how women can be on stage (decently clothed, mind you) be cool and be appealing by being themselves, and making music. Also, using the different types of drums in unusual places is a creative way to diversify and stand out----a must in the age of shortened attention spans and entertainment overdoses.

Chris Lochner, guitarist for Garrity, was in attendance at the Zaphod's 2 show and pointed out how he respected J 2-2's ability to come together, especially at a moment's notice. Having met some of the group members at open-stage nights at the Elbow Room on Elgin, Garrity called on J 2-2, who had not fully formed yet, to open for them in a show at Zaphod's in July of 1999. Lochner said: "They got their stuff together in a week. I was very impressed with that." - Fuzician Magazine

"Fast becoming a favourite on the local club scene, Jacob Two-Two is an inventive quartet that prefers the power of acoustic instruments to the often impenetrable, unengaging tones of the electric world." - Steve Baylin - The Ottawa XPress