I had wandered into Boston based OldJack's set at the Outlaw Roadshow in New York City right as they were getting started. Within moments of the opening song, I was captivated by the sounds being emitted from the seven member band on the stage. The blend of old school soul and rock and roll was perfection. During the whole set I was so drawn into the band, into the music, that I don't think anything could have interrupted the connection. Lead singer Dan Nicklin's smooth, yet just every so slightly gruff singing voice carries the songs of OldJack, on stage he reminded me of Joe Cocker, in his delivery and body movements, he seemed to get very into his songs. The backing band was brilliant, their guitar player that day, Nathaniel Leavitt, was incredible, Kelly Davis and Magen Tracy's baking vocals fit perfectly against Nicklin's.
Just the whole combination of the vocals, backing and lead, the guitars, the bass, and the stage presence of the band, it was probably one of the best performances, sets, whatever, of that weekend, and I saw some pretty awesome bands over those two days.
Later that afternoon, after their set, I ran into Nicklin outside the Bowery Electric, thanked him for the awesome show and told him that I loved their song Chorus Line, in return for the compliment, I was gifted OldJacks' EP, Gone Before You Know. As I was 2500 miles from home, I couldn't do much with it at that moment, but as soon as I walked through the door of my apartment Sunday afternoon, that disc went straight into my computer and was ripped into my music collection. There have been a small handful of records that I've been cycling though the last couple months, pretty much listening to just them, and Gone Before You Know is one of those records, and not just for "research" purposes, but because I really like it (and all the songs are really easy for me to sing along with.)
Gone Before You Know opens with Face Like Mine. The yearning over a lost love, a love who has found a new love, having to hear about the new person in their life, and the painful recollection of it all. Nicklin's vocals along along with a "crying" guitar run this song right through your gut. Chorus Line was the song that introduced me to OldJack back in March when they performed at the Outlaw Roadshow at SXSW. It's the opening verse of this song that really gets me, that got me, that sucked me in:When love is not enough /
and there's no easy way out /
are you the type who runs and hides, or turns around and fights? /
are you one of the five /
friends I'd call if I were dying /
and if I was to draw the line /
are you on mine or the other side?
Next up is Green, a duet with Nicklin and Kelly Davis. Green has a more country feel than the other songs on the record, with it's steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, and twangy country-esque guitars. With Green we get another story telling song from Nicklin, with "green" being a metaphor, being to new at love, "you're so green, she could never love you, your heart ain't been broke enough... your heart ain't been broken like mine"
Deny Me Not is bluesy, soulful rock at it's best. Every aspect of this song is spot on. Nicklin's vocals, the guitar solos and the keys are all reminiscent of the old days of Southern Soul. The next track, Hold Tight runs along the same lines, the soul in this song is undeniable, the guitar solos spark Clapton like comparisons, as the closing track, this song does an amazing job rounding out the brilliant sound of the record.
OldJack is what throwback soul/classic rock music is supposed to sound like, full of brilliant guitars, keys, vocals and lyrics full of heart and soul. Give them a listen, download the EP, help springboard these guys to greatness.
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