Re: [Harp-L] JD Wilkes

[nonidesign@xxxxxxx]

THE OBJECTIVE PART:
For the most part JD's style is amplified Chicago style adapted to the band's music which is a mix of styles including blues, country and everytihng from carnival music to Klezmer in between. The Albums "Believe" and "Cockadoodledon't" have a stronger blues/country feel to them than their most recent release. On any of their albums his harmonica playing is quality with good tone and surprizing riffs. It is not overdone and the use of the harp is tastefull. JD is a great entertainer with undeniable showmanship (he's a frigging maniac live). He is also an intelligent player with more than evident talent on the harp. 

THE SUBJECTIVE PART: I have three of their CDs. My favorite is "Cockcadoodledon't" which has the song "CB Song" on it. You might know that song from one of the Geico TV commercials (the one with a guy cruising in his car bopping to the music with the Geico gekko animated character sitting next to him). There is a smoking version of "Bullfrog Blues" on this album as well. "Believe" is also a good album and I think it was relaeased before "Cockadoodledon't". 
I also have their latest album "Pandelerium" which is, for me, mostly a disappointment. The Shakers seem to have become infatuated with Klezmer music (the latest flavor of the month) and while I like it in small doses I can hear too much Klezmer music pretty quickly. I call this album Klezmer meets early Oingo Boingo as it has a feel like Danny Elfman's band with a touch of hurdy-gurdy carnival thrown in with deep beat treatments. Overall it sounds like an album desperate to make the band likeable to anyone who can help make them a hit. I liked the first albums better as they sound like a band doing what they like to do, not what they think they're supposed to do. I really like this band and hope they make it big, I just hope they don't end up catching a bad case of Huey Lewis.




-------------- Original message from john kuzloski <jkuzloski@xxxxxxxxx>: -------------- 


> I was talking today about harp in an alt country band 
> (not a genre I follow). I was wondering if that would 
> mean acoustic playing through a vocal mike. The 
> person I was talkng with said not necessarily -- 
> consider the Legendary Shack Shakers. So I visited 
> the All Music Guide website -- the harp player lead 
> singer is Colonel J. D. Wilkes -- apparently the band 
> (and front man) are pretty wild. I just ordered a CD. 
> Can anybody say a bit about Wilkes style (hopefully 
> with more substance than judgement)? (I don't recall 
> much mention of him on the list.) Thanks! (In the 
> meantime, I'll search the archives and google a bit.) 
> --John K. 
> 
> __________________________________________________ 
> Do You Yahoo!? 
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> _______________________________________________ 
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org 
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx 
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l