An Exclusive Interview with Jack the Radio!
An Exclusive Interview with Jack the Radio by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud
“Jack the Radio is an indie blues band from Raleigh with a hard edged, bluesy-rock, Southern pop sound. The soulful blues stomp created by these garage twang rockers is a brilliant blend of styles smashed into one band, with sliding, tangling guitar lines and soaring harmonies cramming a few extra spark plugs into rootsy rock ‘n’ roll.” – Shakori Hills Grassroots Music Festival
“JTR craft the type of music to blast from your porch on early summer nights to help inspire the sweltering season to come. They’re North Mississippi Allstars, Spoon and the Avetts smashed into one cosmic-radio-fighting-band
HISTORY:
Formed in 2005 as a collaborative project between roommates, Jack the Radio is the brainchild of seasoned songwriters George Hage and A.C. Hill.
In 2009, taking aim at a groove-heavy, southern-tinged gap in the Raleigh music scene, Hage strapped on his electric guitar, Hill, his weathered acoustic, and they set out to broaden their sound. Adding drummer Brent Francese and multi-instrumentalist Danny Johnson, Jack the Radio released their full-length debut, “Pretty Money” in early 2011. With tapes full of songs born in practice rooms and bucket seats, the band hit the studio in 2012, anxious to reunite with engineer Al Jacobs and press “record.” The results of those sessions became the band’s sophomore full length titled “Lowcountry” and the addition of bassist, Chris Sayles.
With two full length records to their name, the band’s hard work and drive paid off, landing them club and festival shows in the North and South East, as their music was selected for frequent commercial placements on national and internationally syndicated television and radio.
The band continued to drive forward in creating music, and in early 2013, recorded a crowd funded live album in their home town of Raleigh. The group performed two back-to-back sold out sets at Amplified Art gallery, with a full crew of videographers documenting the evening, navigating among the seats, lights, a sound system, recording rig, and a house packed with local fans. Among the gallery’s couches, art, photographs, and hand screen-printed concert posters, they documented a selection of new songs as well as some fan favorites in a stripped-down acoustic format, accompanied by a three piece string section of local musicians. The end product of that night was a full length entitled “Devil In Here” and a companion DVD, “Jack the Radio: Live At Amplified Art.
In 2014 the band worked their way to the upper-tier of Triangle bands, playing some of the areas biggest stages with acts including Hall & Oates at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, George Thorogood at Memorial Auditorium, and the Cold War Kids at Red Hat Ampitheatre.
Raleigh, North Carolina’s rising indie blues rockers Jack the Radio will release their first studio album in over three years on October 20th, 2015. The album, entitled Badlands, is a twelve song, two-act musical journey inspired by sci-fi Spaghetti Western themes, and features guest vocals from Elizabeth Hopkins (courtesy of Warner Bros. Records) and BJ Barham and cover art by David Paul Seymour.
