The Cookies

The Cookies are a hot dance pop group out of Northern Michigan, specializing in original tunes, Motown, R&B, funk and top 40.Comprised of Jakey Thomas, Richie V, Lexi Lou, and Jakey Baby, each of the members is an incredible musician in their own right, and each member also works in one or more other projects as well. But while many of those projects lean towards modern rock/fusion sounds, or singer/songwriter solo styles, The Cookies are pure, toe-tapping, hip swinging dance-pop gold. At one of their already-legendary live shows, you'll hear hits their original dance hits like "Casino Syndrome" and "Juice" and covers from the 60's Motown era, 70's gems like "Funky Town," 80's classics like Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" or the B-52's "Love Shack," and modern hits like Pharrell Williams' "Happy," MGMT's "Electric Feel" or Bruno Mars "Treasure" thrown in to round things out. Each of these songs are played with obvious love and devotion to the original material, but with the fresh energy that only a bunch of young folks from Northern MI can add to songs that we all know and love.
​The energy is spread evenly across the group, as all members takes turns with lead vocals, frequently changing positions and instruments between songs. It would be hard to say that there is one "front man" for the group. Bass player Jakey Thomas is the foundation on which the grooves are built, with a smooth, funky style and some slick moves to match. On lead guitar, Richie V. is a dynamo, laying down lick after tasty lick of driving melodies, and taking center stage for some face-melting solos. As the only female, Miss Lexi Lou has no trouble standing out, with a powerhouse voice and stage presence that's a little Mary Wilson and a little Joan Baez, even throwing in some surprise flute leads on a few songs. And then in the back, the beats don't stop with young Jakey Baby, who is anything but "just the drummer," as he sings lead and backup, stands to play some songs, is the musical director for the band and radiates positive energy with a non-stop smile throughout the whole set.