Ben Blakeney; Guitar, Vocals & Banjo George Hyde; Guitar, Dobro, Slide guitar & Vocals Dave Thirkettle-Watts; Bass Samantha Wass; Guitar, Keys, Piano Accordion, Tambourine & Vocals Ross Goodale; Drums Kelly Lane; Violin & Vocals
Influences
Hank Williams, The Scientists, The Drones, The Pogues, The Bad Seeds, Tom Waits, Gillian Welch, Gram Parsons, Mark Lanegan, Patsy Cline, Lorretta Lynn, The Gun Club, Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, The Fall, The Band, Neil Young, Bukowski, Roland S Howard, These Immortal Souls, The Byrds
Powered by a steady musical diet of old time country legends and
modern day guitar bands, Ben Blakeney is the skilful master and
commander of Perth ex-pats Jack On Fire. The core of the band have a
rich history, with Blakeney, Samantha Wass (acoustic
guitar/keys/accordian) and Dave Thikerttle-Watts (bass) having played
together in eight piece West coast dreamy popsters, Institut Polaire.
Jack On Fire is completed by Wass' old friend George Hyde, a fellow
country music aficionado, and superb guitarist. Hyde's style perfectly
compliments Blakeney's intensity. Rounding out the band is Hyde's
school time chum Ross Goodale on drums, and the latest addition,
Melbourne native Kelly Lane adding extra richness to the band on
violin.
After steady gigging in Perth, Jack On Fire relocated to Melbourne in
early 2008, where their reputation as a dynamic live force spread
quickly. Their collection of songs are brilliantly crafted and
fiercely executed. Traversing swamp-rock, bluegrass and country noir,
they possess a truly unique sound.
Passionate and driven, Jack On Fire have recorded an album's worth of
material, due for release later this year.
By Laura Miller
RTRFM 92.1 and Drum Media Perth
"With their inspirations being the Gun Club with some Nick Cave thrown in the mix they have done what any good band is able to do and transcend their influences to present a unique sound that can only be described as their own." Marc Edwards, Xpress
"They literally fill the stage and fill the room with a rambunctious set of rich, deep textured melodies heavily based on guitar filled alt country tunes." Boo Meister, Inpress
"Running along the same hot-blooded vein of WA bred and battered produce as the Kill Devil Hills and the Drones, Jack on Fire possess that violent desperation only found in the harsh dry heat of a frontier chapel" Steph Kretowicz, The Wire
"Ben Blakeney, beard-clad and bluesed-up, has that great rock aesthetic that tops off the act and does it justice. The six-piece melange additions like crankin’ violin so well it’s impossible not to move with them." Laura Glitsos, Xpress
Christmas is coming soon. Are you looking for a Christmas present and would like to help handicapped children? Than please request the list of donations in kind from HelpCharity, www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity , by sending me an e-mail at Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de . Many donations in kind are autographed.
If you don't have the chance to request the list of donations in kind, please add HelpCharity to your Top Friends!
Thanks for helping me to support handicapped children!
Christian
Founder of HelpCharity Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 (0) 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 (0) 171 6903352 E-Mail: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Internet: www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity Internet: www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Hey hey monsters...... Cayn Borthwick Band are playing a very intimate and very free show this friday at Grumpy's Green on Smith st with support from Ten Pound Henry (Miles O'Neil of Suitcase Royale). Music starts at 8 and goes till late.... ..
Let your prickly ears rejoice to the sounds of the Orphanage on our profile page. Four tracks taken from the last night of our beer-soaked Sunday Residency at the Old Bar in may, for your listening pleasure.
Also, we've only seen like fifty percent of your band at our residency so far. COME! COME! COME!
