Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
OldJack was a fine-tuned rock ‘n’ soul machine at The Sinclair. Saint Nicklin & Co. deftly rolled one song into the next, culminating with the pair of holiday numbers they recently made available. Let’s hope the Holiday Homage becomes an annual tradition.
OldJack
Holiday Homage
2012
On their new Holiday Homage single/EP-thingie, OldJack have managed to turn the sugary sweet Mariah Carey classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” into a smoldering, well, OldJack holiday song. A soulful lead vocal, gritty guitars and those trademark OldJack backing vocals breathe new life into this well worn number. It’s a great arrangement by a great band. Toss in one of those let’s-get-our-friends-together-and-sing-about-better-times-ahead songs* and you’ve got a release worth adding to your Christmas playlist.
Where to get it:
* In this case the friends are Brendan Boogie, Dave Mirabella, Keith Pierce, Jess Collins and Nate Leavitt. The song is “The Christmas Song (10th Anniversary Remix)”
If you’re looking for the tipping point of the One Year Of Radio show where the event went from dignified celebration to rock ‘n’ roll debauchery, look no further than OldJack’s set. There would be plenty of time for things to get really out of hand, but this band of merrymakers certainly played a role in the decline of local civilization. They brought the songs. They brought the show. OldJack helped us find our way to the place we knew we had to go.
OldJack
“Take A Bow”
2012
It’s only fitting in the midst of all this Rumble mayhem to have a listen to OldJack. Last year the band had one of the most improbable runs in Rumble history.
When Dan Nicklin sings “Take a bow/Tell ’em they can’t count you out” you listen. He’s been there, after all. There’s an honesty to OldJack’s music that comes across in Dan’s voice. Behind it all, the band are their usual smoldering selves, settling into a verse groove that rides a “The Ballad Of John & Yoko”-esque bass line. OldJack wisely play to their many strengths on “Take A Bow”. Tasteful guitar leads and trademark backing vocals find their space. Just when you think you’ve got the song figured out, the band pulls the plug on the expected electric Twangcaster solo. In it’s place is an airy acoustic guitar section that sets up the big payoff: a wall-of-sound inspired middle eight. It’s the kind of sequence that reminds you of the unexpected places good songwriting can take you.
Where to get it:
OldJack
Maxi-Single
2011
OldJack are a live favorite of mine. Pack this crew onto a small stage with some hot lights and their presence is downright combustible. It would be impossible to capture all that energy in a recording studio.* I, for one, am glad they were crazy enough to try. The result is a smoldering virtual slab of rock, rhythm and blues.**
This set opens with the swagger of “Hey Miss”. The band finds a groove and Dan Nicklin gets all Mick Jagger on your ass. Set closer “Make Up Your Mind” contrasts this with a sense of yearning and hints of a Dire Straits influence.
In the middle of it all stands “Parade”. This song is a staple of OldJack’s live set and a personal favorite of mine. It’s the one that prompted me to write “there is something special about the moments when Dan Nicklin, Kelly Davis, Christie Beaulieu and Emily Belastock all sing together” after a set at the Lizard. To me, it’s the song that defines OldJack.*** You don’t write a song this good without being onto something special. OldJack is onto something special. Thankfully, they’ve chosen to share that something with us.
Where to get it:
* Which is why I will once again implore you to go see OldJack at a club near you. Hell, travel a great distance if you have to.
**Or is it rock, country and soul?
***My five year old son would make a case for “Love Me Or?” being OldJack’s defining song.
Members of OldJack* closed out the release party for the new Nate Leavitt EP, Inference. Nate himself even got up and played a few songs with the band. To start their set, Dan Nicklin, Ryan Peters and Derek Feeney played several numbers that OldJack are currently working on in the studio. Then they busted out some familiar favorites with a few of their past collaborators. Ryan Spaulding, of Ryan’s Smashing Life, even got in on the action. It was loose, fun and a fitting way to end the night.
* I wont lie. I debated long and hard about what to title this post. Calling this an “OldJack” show isn’t completely accurate, despite members of the band doing songs by the band. However, “Dan Nicklin, Ryan Peters, Derek Feeney (For The Majority Of The Time) And Assorted Former OldJack Collaborators @ The Rosebud 8.25.2011” seemed a bit obnoxious.
June 18th, 2011 was a good day.
This particular Saturday started with a party for my Big Little One, who recently turned (I can’t believe how time flies) five years old. That afternoon, with some help from my wife, I convinced the boy to hop on the train with me to go see OldJack as part of Make Music Harvard Square…
We take the red line a few stops and arrive about 5 minutes before OldJack are scheduled to perform. Looks like things are running behind schedule. That’s not a good sign when you’re with a potentially overtired boy and dinner time is rapidly approaching. We say hi to Dan Nicklin. Big Little One seems bothered by the noise from the other bands playing. Look! A candy shop! Let’s go get a lollipop.
We walk out with a blue raspberry Dum Dum* and a fresh start. Across the street there’s a little less commotion. That’s where Big Little One gets a couple of licks in before dropping the lollipop in a puddle. Back over to Hidden Sweets we go. This time we emerge with a bubble gum flavored Dum Dum.** Big Little One tells me he’s going to wait until we get home before he eats this one.
The boy is pretty antsy by the time OldJack kicks into “Love Me Or?”. Initially he’s put off by the volume (he’s wearing earplugs and covering his ears, so there’s no real danger), but he settles in by my side as the band plays on. He’s focused. Big Little One is taking it all in. He’s sitting on my knee, now. Content.
OldJack doesn’t seem as intense in the bright of day. It’s a nice change of pace. There’s an ease about them in the afternoon sunshine. The weight they often carry into the wee hours of the morning is lifted. The band, and those watching, are left to enjoy the moment.
I feel a tugging on my leg. Big Little One wants to go. It’s only a few songs into the set, but he’s hungry. And tired. We head back toward the train.
“Dad, when we get in the car can we listen to that band on a CD? I want to hear that song.”
“Which song?” I ask.
“The first one. I want to hear that song.”
“Sure thing, buddy.”
*The lollipop cost 12 cents. The cashier at Hidden Sweets tells me that’s the minimum amount charged on by-the-pound candy. This information is going to come in handy in a bit.
**The bubble gum Dum Dum would also end up getting dropped. The boy was very tired. Thankfully, we had a spare at home.
I’m sitting here trying to describe how I felt during OldJack’s set at the underground den known as Lizard Lounge this past weekend. I write and rewrite, my words always coming up short. It’s frustrating, because I want to find some concise way to convey how wonderful it is seeing OldJack play. If you haven’t had a chance to see them, I want to tell you that there’s a good chance you are missing out on something that may bring you great joy. Did you see them in The Rumble? Unreal. OldJack breathes life into whatever room they inhabit. There is something special about the moments when Dan Nicklin, Kelly Davis, Christie Beaulieu and Emily Belastock all sing together. I want to grab you by the scruff of your neck and drag you to an OldJack show so you can see what I’ve been fortunate enough to see.
Oh, I guess I feel lucky.
Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes (like say, once every 32 years) you lose, but you still get to keep playing because of a previously scheduled gig at a clam shack.
Such was the case with OldJack’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble run.
Look, life doesn’t always go as planned. It’s what you do with second chances like these that defines you. OldJack used theirs to cook up a semi-final set that was good enough to land them in the finals.
That’s where we caught up with the band. OldJack opened the 2011 finals with a blistering set. Dan Nicklin and his gang poured their hearts and souls onto T.T.’s stage until the room felt like it would burst. They were taking nothing for granted. They showed why they were there. OldJack showed, once again, that they are one of the best bands around.
Pay attention boys and girls, this is how you do it…
So, we’re just over a month into this whole blogging thing. What do you think? I think it’s going pretty OK.
Hey, here’s an idea. Why not head on over to Facebook and ‘Like’ the Daykamp Music page? That’s a fantastic idea, me! I don’t know why you didn’t think of it sooner.
Next week we’ll finish up our Rumble coverage. We’ve got Mellow Bravo Semi-Final pics, as well as Finals photos of OldJack, Spirit Kid, John Powhida International Airport and special guest band The Shods. Join us, won’t you?