Aurora-based Jack The Acquaintance will bring some of his fellow musicians to the ROXY in Lockport on March 1 for his I Killed Rock ’n’ Roll: Full Circle show.
The show is bound to be a night of high energy rock ’n’ roll. ROXY is located at 1017 S. State St. in downtown Lockport. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m.
Those musical friends include Dan Asio and the bands Double Identity and Jesus Coyote. BroJack – a collaboration between Jack The Acquaintance and Primal Moon frontman Joe Brunker – is also on the bill.
I had the chance to talk to Jack and Dan about the show
Q – So Dan, how did you get involved in the show?
He asked me if I’d be down to back him up on guitar for this project that he was doing. And of course, I never turn down a chance to play guitar and kind of do new things.
I’ve never played just strictly rhythm guitar in a band before. So, I was down.
I thought it would be cool and I wanted to help him out. And here I am.
Jack – Dan and I have a lot of music in common, I think. We like a lot of the same bands.
I thought it would be really great to get to work with Dan and get to showcase some of his songs too.
We’re bringing it full circle and finally performing these songs. Also, my friend, Joe Brunker (lead singer of the band Primal Moon) and I perform together as BroJack. We’re going to bring him up as a special guest and do some tunes together.
Q – So Dan, tell me about the songs you will perform.
It will be all the new songs I’ve been working on. One’s already come out, the first single, “Let’s Go.”
It starts off like this acoustic rock ballad and then it kind of builds into this more alt-rock jam at the end. That’s been fun, getting that out there.
I don’t have a designated band for my solo music, so it’s going to be a lot of fun playing the new songs that I’ve written with a full band.
Q – What made you want to become a musician?
Probably acting, actually. I always loved listening to music. It was always a big part of my life.
But I always thought I would become an actor, either through the theater or on screen. I was learning how to sing through musicals and whatnot.
And I learned some piano and guitar just for fun. I started a band with my friends, and once I did the band thing, I realized that was what I wanted to do.
Q – Jack, you were talking about wanting to do more of these types of shows.Is that one of the reasons why you like being a musician, that you sometimes get to play with other musicians?
That’s definitely a part of it. There’s a chemistry when you’re playing with other people.
I grew up listening to rock ’n’ roll bands like Zeppelin and stuff and then got into Green Day. And all my music is meant for band based music.
I always wanted to get a band going at some point. I like the energy of band based music.
Looking to escape the winter doldrums, at least temporarily?
With their captivating and uplifting blend of reggae and ska, Joliet-based The Selectones can help take your mind to warmer climes. And lucky for us, there are plenty of opportunities coming up to hear the band.
The band formed in September 2015. The current lineup consists of Nic Jones on lead vocals and guitars, Michael Delaney on bass, Ellis Wright on saxophone and backing vocals, Patrick Wright on trumpet and backing vocals and Malik Temple on drums and backing vocals.
I had the chance to talk to Michael and Malik about the band.
Q – What were your goals in forming the band?
Michael – To go out and have fun. It's a style of music that I really like and I wanted to put a reggae band together. It's fun music that everybody seems to enjoy.
I don't know that anybody came into this saying, hey, we're going to end up famous or anything like that. I think the goal now is to really grow the name and grow the band.
We've been recording a lot of original music lately. We're prepping for a lot of releases this year.
Q – You released the song "Secrets of Nesta" last October, which I understand is an homage to the late Bob Marley. Did the both of you grow up listening to Bob Marley?
Malik – I did not. But our singer, Nic, grew up listening to a lot of reggae. Nesta is actually Bob Marley's middle name.
Bob Marley has a special place in Nic's heart as a songwriter and as an activist.
Q – Of course, the band also incorporates ska into its music. Did you listen to ska growing up?
Malik – I didn't grow up with it. But I've developed an appreciation for it.
Q – There's not many reggae/ska bands in the music scene out here, so you guys stand out.
Michael – It's good summertime music, it's good outdoor music.
We play at the Joliet fireworks show every Fourth of July. And everybody eats that up.
You've got fireworks, you've got reggae music. We're right there on the river in downtown Joliet.
It doesn't really get much better than that.
Q – We were talking about Bob Marley earlier. In your shows, do you cover any of his songs?
Michael – We usually sprinkle in two or three of them in a show.
Q – Does Nic give the history behind the songs when you perform them?
Malik – Yes. Depending on the crowd and the age group, he might share some of that information.
He's very knowledgeable. He knows his stuff.
Q – I'm sure music lovers appreciate that.
Malik – Oh yeah, for sure.
Q – Is the band planning to release an album? Is that what you are working on next?
Malik – We're compiling an EP right now. It's coming along.
We've learned a lot. That's the benefit of the bass player having a studio in his basement.
Q – That must be nice.
Michael – It's a beautiful thing. Typically, for any band practice, I record the entire three hour practice and then send it out to everybody so everybody can listen to what they need to work on.
And then it works out great for song ideas, too. If Nic comes here and he has a song idea, he can just play his guitar and sing. It's recorded and I can send it to everybody and we can sit and marinate on it.
Q – When are you looking to out out this EP?
Malik – Hopefully by the summer. The goal is when we play at festivals this summer to have something for people connect with on the way home from the festival.
Q – Have you guys played with other reggae bands?
Michael – We opened for a national act called Through The Roots a few years back. We've also played with a Chicago band, The Concrete Roots.
We've also played with Bumsy and the Moochers, they're a ska band.
Q – What's the best thing about playing live? Is it about the connection with the audience?
Michael – Connecting with the audience, definitely. It's also about spreading the positivity.
And it's about having fun. I have a blast with these guys.
I like to do it as often as we can.
Q – I understand that some people have been coming to your shows since the band first formed. That must make you feel good.
Michael – I really value the input from those longtime fans, like when we do a new cover song or play a new original song.
I think we all value their input. They have watched us grow over the years.
For St. Charles native Ryan Carney, one of the best things about being a musician is being able to collaborate with other musicians.
"I will play anything with anyone at the drop of a hat," he said. "There is no rehearsal required and you don't even have to tell me the key that you're playing in. When you are able to be artistic with other people, you are able to express yourself among others who love what you are expressing. It creates a brotherhood or a camaraderie amongst a very small group of people. It's like having a good idea and then somebody else expands on the goodness of that idea to create great ideas. And that is really I think what it's all about for musicians across the board."
Last April, Carney started the Fox Valley Jammers Club Facebook group as a way to connect musicians who want to participate in the open mic and open jam scene across the Fox Valley. To give thanks to those venues that host open mic and open jam events, Carney and fellow musician Izzy Kucera, who oversees the open jams at Bar Evolution in Batavia, will host a state-of-the-jam dinner party from 7 to 10 p.m. Feb. 5 at Pollyanna Brewing Company, 106 S. Riverside Ave. in downtown St. Charles.
"It's all about celebrating and giving thanks to all the
hosts and venues across the Fox Valley for making the open mic/jam scene
possible," said Carney, who when he is not playing with his fellow musicians, is selling homes in the Fox Valley as a Realtor. "In nine months, we've attracted over 700 members to our group.
It's a very active and supportive group that continues to grow."
The event, which is free, will feature a food truck, raffle prizes and an open jam. While the idea behind open mic events and jam sessions is not new, he noted such events have grown in popularity the last few years.
He attributed that to musicians wanting to get out and perform again after being locked down during the height of the COVID pandemic.
"I think that a lot of people just sort of huddled up in their homes and worked on their craft," Carney said. "They either learned a new instrument or they improved where they were on their existing instrument. They were learning songs and they were writing songs. I think people were pretty energetic to finally get back out into the scene and present what they had worked on. They were proud of it. They had something to show for that time and they missed being with friends. They missed being social. We are social creatures and that was a huge void, especially amongst the artistic community."
The open mic and jam sessions are a way for musicians to showcase their talents. And the Fox Valley Jammers Club Facebook group is helping to bring those musicians together.
"This is a place of encouragement, it's a place for a like-minded community to come together and sort of find support amongst ourselves," he said. "It's not just about the musicians. The businesses that host these events are gaining new customers and they're getting new followers."
"Pollyanna has the most attended open jam on the scene right now by far," Carney said. "They could bring in over 100 people on any given Thursday night."
Carney has a master's degree in classical string bass performance. He enjoys taking his cello to new musical horizons.
Photo provided by Ryan Carney
"I sort of play cello like a lead guitar," he said. "It catches people off guard. It's fun to hear and see."
Evanston resident and multi-Grammy Award winner Howard Levy continues to be a music innovator, as he proves with his latest project, the Howard Levy 4.
The group is comprised of Levy and three fellow Chicago area musicians who have made their own mark – Chris Siebold, house guitarist for five
years on "A Prairie Home Companion" and a member of internationally
renowned fusion band Kick the Cat; Josh Ramos, who was Ramsey Lewis’ bass player for five years and the bassist
for CALJE, Chicago’s premier modern Latin/jazz ensemble and Luiz Ewerling, renowned drummer/composer who is one of the top Brazilian drummers living
in the U.S.
The Howard Levy 4 will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at The Venue's website, themusicvenue.org.
I had the pleasure of talking to Levy about the Howard Levy 4.
Q – Great talking to you again. I think the last time I interviewed you was in 2012 after you received your second Grammy.
Ah, yes. Good to hear from you again, too. It was a thrill for me to win one for Composition.
Q – Of
course, a lot has happened since then, including the fact that you have
this new group, the Howard Levy 4. I understand that you are longtime
musical friends with the other members in the group.
Yes,
that’s true. I guess I’ve known our drummer, Luiz Ewerling, the
longest.
I played with him in the '80s with Som Brasil, and recorded on
his great album “Nossa Terra” (Our Earth) in the mid 1990s.
I've always
wanted to put a band together with him. Guitarist Chris Siebold and I
have played together for more than 20 years, in my group Acoustic
Express (our album is “Time Capsules”), and as a duo (our album is
“Art+Adrenaline").
We've toured together all over the world, too. And
I’ve known bassist Josh Ramos for a while, too, maybe 10 years, always
loved his playing.
Q –Was this just the right time to put this group together? Why do you think you guys work so well together?
I
actually put the band together in 2018 or 2019, and we were starting to
play quite a bit when Covid stopped us in March 2020. It took a while,
but we got back together last year and it’s been an absolute joy.
We all
are extremely eclectic with many musical influences – jazz, rock, blues,
Latin music, and more. Everyone has a great sense of humor, and we
inspire each other when we play.
Each of is a great soloist and loves
to groove hard, too. It’s a great combination.
Q – The
Howard Levy 4 in December released “The Howard Levy 4: Live from
Chicago” EP. Do you think the EP is a good representation of what
someone should expect from one of your live shows?
Absolutely! We play those four tunes at most shows, but of course there is much more and the repertoire keeps on growing.
Q – How did your tour go last year? What can people expect from the band this year?
Our
December tour was a blast. We played five nights in a row with long drives
every day, but the musical energy was so crackling that I think we
could have played another five without a break.
Every night sounded better
than the previous one. The show at The Iridium in NYC was particularly
inspiring. I’m still hearing about it from people!
Our
upcoming gigs are a benefit concert Jan. 27 at The Acorn Theater in
Three Oaks, MI and a concert at The Venue in Aurora.
We have a tour
planned for May 2024 and I’m sure much more will develop. All dates are
listed at: levyland.com/shows.
Q – Of
course, all of you are Chicago area musicians and the Chicago area has a
vibrant jazz and blues scene. What do you like about the Chicago area
music scene?
People
here are very open to playing in multiple styles and in general are
very friendly and appreciative of each others’ playing. And everyone is
rooted in the blues, which makes things soulful.
Q – You
are considered one of the world’s most innovative harmonica players.
How were you inspired to take the harmonica in a new musical direction?
Ah…well,
I started playing harp at 18, after having played piano for 10 years. I
was playing and writing some pretty advanced jazz compositions, and
learning more and more all the time.
I originally picked up the harp
because I wanted to play blues on it, but after I figured out how to
bend notes and play blues licks, I realized that I wanted to take it
into other styles of music.
After a few months, I figured out a new
technique that allowed me to play it fully chromatically, which was a
major breakthrough. Nobody had ever really done this before.
I loved the
sound of the instrument so much that I decided to try to take it as far
as possible and I haven’t stopped!
Q – In
2022, you released the book “Rhythms of the Breath, Vol.1: A
Revolutionary Way to Transform Your Harmonica Playing” and you have
released teaching videos on YouTube. Is it important for you to pass on
your knowledge to other people? What kind of feedback have you received
from people?
I
really love sharing ideas with my fellow harp players. I’ve learned
things from other players, and taught things to many, giving lessons,
clinics, making videos, through my online harmonica school, and now with
this series of books. Vol. 2 will be out soon!
The “Rhythms of the
Breath” series has been a mind blower for me to write, and improved my
own playing, which is why I know that the concept works!
Q – Speaking
of YouTube videos, I watched a video of your 100-year-old dad, Ira,
singing on the song “Return to Sorrento” as you played piano and
harmonica. I understand your 97-year-old mom watched the both of you
during the program.
Yes,
my folks are amazing. My dad has an incredible operatic baritone voice,
and his strength has not diminished with age. It is remarkable and
inspiring.
Sometimes I get teary-eyed accompanying him. His voice is so
beautiful and his emotional commitment to the music is absolutely
sincere and heartfelt.
Q – That must have been an inspiring day, not only for your family, but for everyone watching the program.
It
was truly inspiring. During Covid, I recorded over 60 tracks for him to
sing along with and he gave many concerts in the building where they
live.
He is an inspiration to everyone there. Playing live with him, I
could feel the incredible love in the room – all those elderly people
with their combined life experiences soaking it in and giving back the
best vibes imaginable.
And he doesn’t use a mic! I am doing it again
with him in February!
