The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio – Rocket Fuel Logic
This has some tight playing & accessible tunes, especially the rollicking foot-stomping “Stomp The Gas,” which has hothouse riffing about as catchy as anything Keith Richards laid out. But the sound is closer to vintage Del Lords (“Dream Come True”) & this is well-developed stuff.
Judging from the LP cover these fellows are happily engaged in a nostalgic romp filled with precise guitar playing & driving alt-country beats. Oh, it’s all been done before but judging from my obituaries column lots of blessed performers are making for the celestial exit & someone has to step up…why not the Mike Jacoby Electric Trio?
This band is slick with plenty of Del-Lords, Beat Farmers, Blue Rodeo, Rubber Rodeo & Corn Pone Country dressed up in rock n’ roll finery with luxuriant entertaining qualities. Even silly titled songs like “Your Love Song,” have toe-tapping slickness, a nice piano run & unified vocals that lassos the ear into an energetic knot. And it never lets up.
There are 10 originals produced by Mike Jacoby (guitars/vocal/various implements) & recorded in Long Beach, CA for Rocket Fuel Logic (Drops June 21/Independent/37:00). It’s bands like this that prove not all country-oriented units play mindless pablum. They can kick the tin can a little further down the road than others, light a bigger fire & stir up the barn rats.
Many songs express real-life situations through poignancy & humor. The band has played together for 5 years & the tightness shows. This trio isn’t original in their showcase, but they are proficient & creative. There are some mediocre pieces but how can a band possibly lay out 10 sparkling pieces every time?
“Lay Of The Land,” is plodding with the Velvet Underground’s Maureen Tucker type of bam bam, bam beat & even if the melody requires that thump the drummer could come up with more creative fills to break the tedium.
Fortunately, with “Here & Now,” & “Resume Speed, Texas,” the band & drummer recover their identity. The drums are more charged, the vocals aggressive & the songs are…stimulating. “Here & Now,” has that stirring feel of the Oysterband (“Street of Dreams” “When I’m Up I Can’t Get Down”) & Spirit of the West (“5 Free Minutes”). These 2 bands have songs that are heat-seeking missiles.
This is where Mike Jacoby must aim. He does know where the target is since on “Try” he hits that bullseye repeatedly.
Highlights – “Stomp The Gas,” “Your Love Song,” “Explaining To Do,” “Here and Now,” “Resume Speed, Texas” & “Try.”
Musicians – Don Read (bass/bgv), Mike Levin (drums/bgv) with Ann De Jarnett (violin) & Art Bailey (piano).
Cover image courtesy of Jack De Jarnett. CD @ CDBaby + https://mikejacobymusic.com/shows
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio “The Long Haul”
