Tag Archives: Jack Berry

Indie, Indie Buddie Introducing, New Music

Indie Quick Picks

Garçons

Photo Credit: Luna Shakur

Genre: Electronic, disco funk

Bio: Garçons is comprised of singer/songwriter Deelo (who has also been featured on a couple Keynes Woods tracks) and producer/director Julian Strangelove. Their 2018 debut EP “Body Language” was the result of a month-long writing session in Strangelove’s Ottawa apartment.

Track: Froggin

Why We Like It: It’s a jubilant danceable delight as funky elements glide and strut through R&B glimmers and disco flamboyance while the Afro-beat rhythms create that shimmy ready foundation and infectious groove. With jangly keys and effervescent bass line this track prances in, swagger soaked and ready to fill the dancefloor. With a suave melody soulful vocals and hyper tempo its one infectious hook riddled ditty. 

You can follow Garçons on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/realgarcons

Watch the video for ‘Froggin’ below 

Color Palette

Genre: Synth pop

Bio: Color Palette (comprised of Jay Nemeyer, Joshua Hunter, Matt Hartenau, Rogerio Naressi, and Maryjo Mattea) is an Indie/Electro/Rock band from Washington, DC. The band released their debut full-length album, ‘Vaporwave’, in May 2016. They have shared bills with the following notable artists: Charli XCX, The Naked and Famous, Mother Mother, Day Wave, Yumi Zouma, Mr Little Jeans, The Kickback, Spirit Animal, and VanLadyLove.

Track: Marrakech to Bombay

Why We Like It: It’s a wispy synth driven track that flutters through pulsing beats, ethereal synths and floaty electronics. The reverb laden vocals coo the sweet melody as the band take their sound to a very Tame Impala -esque quality. The soft guitars chime and grace the background with innocence before the song builds becoming more psychedelic and heavy as it reaches its outro.  With the exhilarating crisp soundscape swooshing through the sweet melody and intricately layered instrumentation it’s a polished and well crafted track.

You can follow Color Palette on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/colorpalettedc

Stream  ‘Marrakech to Bombay’ below 

Jack Berry

Genre: alternative blues rock 

Bio: Nashville-based alt/blues rocker, Jack Berry has gained the praise of critics throughout Nashville and beyond, earning him spots at well-known festivals, including CMA Fest, North by Northeast in Toronto, New York City’s CMJ Music Marathon, SXSW’s Red Gorilla Festival and Hard Rock Cafe’s North American battle of the bands winner.

Track: Mad Behavior

Why We Like It:  It’s a slick swagger-dipped, blues/rock number that strolls in mean as hell ready to toss your hair and slap you in the face with Berry’s cool rock ‘n’ roll. The slinky raw guitar jangly slices through punchy drums while Berry’s powerful vocals exclaim passionate wails and growls. Instantly danceable this track will play around in your head for days. The haunting dark backdrop and ghostly backing vocals create a spine chilling effect while the stinging prance on guitars and foot tapping rhythms guarantees repeat listens. 

You can follow Jack Berry on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/JackBerrymusic/

Stream ‘Mad Behavior’ below

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A Chat With, Alt Rock, Blues, indie rock, Interviews, New Music, Rock

A Chat With : Jack Berry

After reviewing Jack Berry’s new album ‘ Mean Machine’ earlier this month, we decided to have a chat with him about his new album and to get to know him a little better.

How Did ‘Mean Machine’ come about?
I had a bunch of songs I was working out and I got a call to use an old track (“Kiss Like”) for a Showtime show but I had to re-record the instrumentals. We went in, recorded it in an hour and the engineer just says, “Well, you’ve got the studio for the day…want to record anything else?” Three days later we had Mean Machine.
Did you find it difficult to decide what tracks you wanted on the album and what order to put them in?
Which songs were already set, but the order I treated like a concept album. Lyrically everything is correlative and the story carries itself throughout and I arranged the tracks to justify that.
The songs on the album all keep in with the same theme of conflicting emotions only portrayed in different ways was it difficult to keep the same theme through all the songs?
I certainly didn’t plan it to be that way, so it wasn’t difficult to stick to it. It’s more difficult to just stay out of the way of the flow. Let it breathe.
Your songs are full of swagger and confidence does this reflect on your personality?
Most of the figures I placed as heroes growing up had bravado in spades. Like Clint Eastwood or Muhammad Ali – but I wouldn’t say I walk the streets like Shaft. I’m a lot more laid back than what my music suggests…til I’m not.

Which of your songs are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of The Bull. The storyline alone was a fun thing to create and everything fell into place from there. I never planned for it to be so heavy but that’s what I love about it – the rise and tension. Parts of other songs still give me chills which is weird I reckon, to get that feeling from your own songs but I’m pretty good at detaching myself from the project as a person and artist.
There are some really great riffs in this album, were they difficult to come up with or did they come naturally?
Thank you for saying that. Naturally I suppose. The difficult part was refining them. I could hear them in my head but I’m only a sub-par player so it took time to do the riff justice.
Do your songs draw inspiration from personal experiences?
I like to use the content or vibe as a sort of score or soundtrack to my personal experiences so in a way yes, but not verbatim.
From your album you get a sense that these songs would be epic performed live, what is your Favourite song to perform live and why?
The live show brings the ruckus, I can tell you that much. I try to bring the energy of a punk show in rock form. We’re all dropping in sweat by song three. “Bad Dog” is typically the closer and for good reason.
What advice do you have for people who want to start a career in music?
Once you commit to starting that road, don’t turn back – only way you’ll make it is being relentless. Especially these days. It’s a beautiful thing to have so many artists among us, but it makes it a bitch to survive and get noticed.
What has been your biggest challenge in the music industry so far? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Keeping my mouth shut about other genres or artists that receive so much fame and attention. There’s just no point but I’m so opinionated and certain things like country, which is just pop music with shit lyrics these days, not at all a candle to what it use to be but…ah dammit. See. Shut my mouth.
Any Plans to come to Ireland in the future?
By order of the Peaky Blinders I assume.
What is next for Jack Berry?
Shows, shows, more shows. Then back to the drawing board. Scatter some whiskey and tacos in there and that should cover it.

Whiskey and tacos sound good! might do that myself! stream ‘Mean Machine’ below.

https://soundcloud.com/jackberrymeanmachine/sets/mean-machine

Album Review, Alt Rock, Blues, indie rock, New Music, Rock

Jack Berry ‘Mean Machine’

Nashville-based alt/blues rocker, Jack Berry has released his album ‘Mean Machine’ via Consequence of Sound and it is a horde of gritty rock, lustful blues and swagger all mixed together, bubbling and festering creating a beast of a 9 track album.
The album begins with ‘King of Diamonds’ a slick groovy blues track with sizzling guitar riffs and punchy drums. Berry’s gritty vocals brings a bite to the track while the instrumental bridge gives us that groovy dance vibe. ‘Human Woman’ again is a bouncy blues rock track with a great hook and riff. The call and response feature in the bridge between the backing vocals and main vocals is a refreshing break before a final blast on instruments. ‘ Bad Dog’ is a “whisky warming” riff based catchy track. This song is full of swagger and confidence and is insanely infectious. Barry howls over a heavy guitar and drum sound as you feel every drum beat pulse through you and make you move while the guitars demand attention with their enticing luring solos.
‘Other Shoe’ slows things down with an emotion filled vocal full of regret and sorrow. Berry’s vocals become more husky in this track with harmony on backing vocals in parts. This track is full of anguish and pain which is conveyed exceptionally through Berry’s amazing vocals. ‘The Bull’ and ‘Told Me Not To’ follow in a similar blues emotion filled melody with attitude, laying the path for ‘Coal’.
‘Coal’ has a  “Black Keys ” feel yet with Berry still maintaining his individuality. With a dirty bass line, slick guitars and a pulse beat that hits you like a hammer in the chest this song packs a punch. ‘Kiss Like’ is a mosh worthy heavy driving track full of energy. This track is full of smouldering emotions with lustful fiery guitars and ravaging drums. ‘Heavy Hopes’ finishes off the album on a high with a “Led Zeppelin” style sultry vocals, kicking beats and of course no song on this album would be complete without the dynamite guitar riffs.
‘Mean Machine’ is a brilliant gritty album from the ever talented Jack Berry
Stream ‘Mean Machine’ below