Jack(on Hambone and Harmonica and Vox) Ken "Great North Wind" Schmeckal (Bass) and Donnie Miller (on Box's) and the spirits that possess us to go on. Plus our women, God bless em'. Not to mention my management at Bones and Blue records Darrel Sage. He's kinda important.
Influences
John Campbell, The Luther Allison gig I saw in Chicago in 78. Pink Floyd at the Cow Palace in 74. Definately Johnny Winter at Bill Grahams Day on the Green show at Oakland arena. Jimi Hendrix at Kalakaua Park In Honolulu when I was friggin 14, man I was so lucky. My Mom who took us there on vacation, how cool is that! My Pop, God bless him. A Kat named David Hole out of Australia, at a club in Guam, Blew me away with his overhanded slide technique, on a Les Paul no less. My Missouri pal, Ron Conkin, shit he's hot and never got signed. Watching Bo Ramsey go from Bars to Stars.
IN Concert Tv show in the 70's. Saw Creedence for the first time, and of Course the Beatles; with a little Motown thrown in. There's more, but you get the point.....I dig it all, even classical. But I draw the line at Rap. I respect it, but I don't have to dig it. And not to forget, all the great players I've preformed on stage with, you know who you are.
Sounds Like
"I'm trying to appeal to everyone, rock, alternative and blues fans; but not anymore...listen to the new stuff on my next album. No more baby...nuthin but the blooze; I ain't lyin." Howlin Jack
Jack is currently living in the backwoods of Missouri; creating new material and playing shows on the chittlin circuit. Bluesplayer and protege' of the late John Campbell. His new material is reflective of his blues evolution and musical journey. Often drawing on his personal experiences and life observations; his new album to be released in Spring of 2009, will reflect that growth. Stay tuned
friends and fans. "Howlin Jack" so nicknamed by Australia's premier guitarist "Mauri Berg" has come into his own right by determination and grit and by honing his chops with the likes of Missouri's Ron Conkin and a melting pot of talented players from Missouri's river bottom which includes the Great Bo Ramsey, T-Bone Mcpherson, David Daniels, and others. In this cookie cutter world of blues wanna-be's Jack has earned the right to be on the forefront of the blues field. Honing his chops and carrying on the true tradition of the one, four , five but with a twist. Injecting his raw energy into his live performances and connecting with his audiences on a personal level; on any given night, he might jump off the stage and wail right in your face or grab the mike and howl with an urgency of a wailing coyote. A Multi-instrumentalist, Jack is as comfortable picking up a harmonica and playing some down and dirty licks from days of old to slapping on an old bottle neck and hammering out some screaming slide on his old resonator. He's as comfortable playing Leadbelly to John Campbell or throwing in some contemporary Blues-rock to have the younger kats stomping away. His first self-titled album "Black Kat Tones" released on Mooncricket records garnered him regional and national exposure, and earned him a nod by the premier blues magazine "Kansas City blues" revue, as well as the San Antonio Times. His close association with Bones and Blues records out of Colorado and Darell Sage record founder and CEO have brought Jack to the attention of thousands of listeners and fans that might not have been. Jack is now a regular featured performer of the late great blues Master John Campbells Blues Tribute shows; held annually every year. "Howlin Jacks" latest album "Choppin Wood and Cuttin Teeth" will be released in spring of 2009. A two year project, that has been fraught with delays, and personal family issues; is coming to the light again with renewed fresh vigor and new material. No longer content with trying to please everyone on a commercial level with making a diversified record; Jack is aiming his sound into a smaller, tighter and trimmed down acoustical genre.
Gone are the blazing rock twin harmonies, and the alternative feel of the first album. As Jack says...."I wanted to get down to the basics, I wanted to lose the volume but wanted to keep the bigness and fatness of what the old blues masters did with thier minimalistic style. "Think boxes, instead of drums, and that amazing fullness of the old radio recordings; yet with a modern twist and lyrics of what I really feel and not some baby baby I love you nonesence". So stay tuned and check out what this Homegrown Missouri man has got to say. He's got a lot on his plate and he's ready to serve it to you, hot, spicy and full of Bones and Blues! Ken Schmeckal (Kansas City Blues Review)
Hey Howlin Jack and The Alligators - are you ready for the invasion of Hillgrass Bluebilly in Austin for 2010? Support your local "dirtyfoots" & support Hillgrass Bluebilly LIVE events.
We have some January events for you to attend:
Jake LaBotz & Ramsay Midwood team up as Hillgrass Bluebilly Presents: Earthy, Rugged, Gritty & Soulful on Saturday January 23rd @ Jovita's
and
Friday January 29th @ BEERLAND - Hillgrass Bluebilly Presents: Wille Heath Neal w/ the Boomswagglers
Also, our debut album on Hillgrass Bluebilly Records - HIRAM & HUDDIE, has been nominated for "BEST CONCEPT ALBUM" for the 2009 Independant Music Awards featuring Scott H. Biram, Possessed by Paul James, Wayne Hancock & other well-known artists we all love & enjoy.....
We are rockin in Denver this Thursday Night, October 29th, at Andrew's Pub on Lincoln ( 1111 Lincoln st. - 11th and Lincoln, across the street from "the Church and Dazzle" show starts at 10pm -- FREE
Hey Howlin Jack and The Alligators ,hope you're well! Check out our new video for our next Molly Malones Show, this Friday 16th.! Msg us if u want in on our FREE GUESTLIST Hope you can make it, Cheers!
Jack! Good to hear from ya my man! I haven't checked this profile in, well, forever, so My apologies to you for not getting back to ya sooner. I have a new music profile that I'll hit you up from. That's the best place to find me on myspace these days, Although I've kinda defected to Facebook a bit. Tell you lovely lady hello!
Online Now!
