The Jack
Rutherford, New Jersey, United States | SELF
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Keep Your Head is the fourth release from the renowned Jam Band One-Eyed Jack. It is only through playing together for over 15 years that bands accumulate such a serious collection of song material. KYH is the most eclectic of the band’s four CDs.
Keep Your Head is the fourth release from the renowned Jam Band One-Eyed Jack. It is only through playing together for over 15 years that bands accumulate such a serious collection of song material. For this release the band has decided to select an eclectic mix of musical styles that visually expands out of the nominal Jam Band genre.
The CD opens with “Firing Line,” in Allman Brothers style this ripping tune pokes lyrics abounding from experiences of the road to the final melting of words onto the page in front of the musician’s eyes. The CD progresses to from southern rocking to “What You Find,” which holds similarities to the Eagles. This song also features New Rider’s of the Purple Sage’s, Buddy Cage on pedal steel guitar. The band takes change to “Grow,” with reggae style slap back rhythm into feedback and mayhem trudging in to the rocking song “Euria.” Next is “Wake Up,” which holds reminiscent qualities of the band War. The CD peaks on “Keep Your Head,” taking the CD to an experimental mid section that Frank Zappa might have conceived in his heyday. The CD progresses back to it’s rock roots and as a finale wraps up on the Jamaican fried sounds of “Set Me Free,” which when you hear you go get yourself free man and start the CD up again and re-enjoy.
- Love Your Tunes
This coming Saturday, The Jack is slated to appear at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ. While the band has pledged to offer up new material, it is asking concertgoers to make contributions of their own. The Community Food Bank Of New Jersey will be on hand to collect canned goods and other non-perishable items. Then on December 31, the drive will continue at the group's New Year's Eve show at The Donegal Saloon in Kearny, NJ. The Jack, which features former members of One-Eyed Jack is working on its debut studio recording with an eye towards a late spring release date.
- jambands.com
We drove for six-plus hours and played in upstate New York air so cold we could see our breath at night. We caught five‚ maybe six hours of sleep then drove another six hours to beautiful central Pennsylvania. Our good friends The Jack were playing the best show we had ever heard them play. Despite our lack of sleep and food‚ we played a killer set and had members of The Jack & Stonehenge stalwarts Juggling Suns sit in with us. Definitely worth all the rigmarole getting there. - http://www.stateofmindmusic.com/entry/545/Musicians%27-Music-Industry-Folks%27-Favorite-Moments-of-2
Keep Your Head is One-Eyed Jack’s first release since 2003’s outstanding Sunlight Blue Madness, and Keep Your Head reaffirms why One-Eyed Jack is one of the most innovative bands on the jam band scene today. Their sound is an amalgamation of the group’s influences, which include the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Gov’t Mule and the Dead. On Keep Your Head, they personalize this blend and take it to new and dynamic directions.
“Firing Line” features the riveting guitar work of Joe Boris and Gary Gallagher, while “Breathe In” is a driving tip of the hat to the Mule. Pedal steel legend Buddy Cage combines his soft touch with Boris’ smooth vocals to make “What You Find” a real interesting treat, and bassist Adam Riley takes center stage on the swirling title track. The thumping rhythmix power of “Wake Up” will make you do just that, and there is a frenzy of cascading six-string notes on “Euria”, “On My Back” is sultry and inviting, with smooth keyboard work by Squigs. “Middle Of The Road” takes you on a seven-minute musical journey, and “Ain’t Easy” hammers right through the speakers.
“It’s Time” swells with passion, and would certainly make the Tucker boys proud, and in a cool twist, the reggae-tinged “Set Me Free” closes out the album with a smoky Caribbean groove.
There are many groups that call themselves jam bands, but these guys are true musicians who know what jamming really is. One-Eyed Jack learned from the best, and Keep Your Head shows they have put their education to good use.
- John Lynskey
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
The twin guitar attack of The Jack is one of the best in the north Jersey jam band scene right now. Put together in Northern New Jersey by guitarist Gary Gallagher and his childhood friends. The group’s bassist Adam Riley, drummer Alzie Sisco and keyboardist Squigs are the driving core force of the band. Constantly experimenting and growing in sound, thanks in part to the lyrics and vocals of Rosie Lazroe and the unique style of guitarist Kurt Balchan, the band has had the opportunity to share the bills with such acts as moe., Robert Randolph, Melvin Seals and the Roots to name a few.
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