Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Mark Alan, Martin Sexton, Willie Neslon, The Man in Black, Black Crowes, Marc Ford, Paul Bogan, Townes Van Zandt.
"Van Auken's style is incisive and genuine. He is a rock classicist with a singer-songwriter streak. His propensity for blending rock, blues, folk and country allows his songs to move in various directions, while keeping the same destination.
It's easy to swamp him with flattering comparisons. Finding a home somewhere in the midst of Tom Petty, Lyle Lovett, Van Morrison and The Faces, Van Auken is somewhat akin to acoustic folk-blues, not quite country, and can rock loud like the best red-blooded Amercians.The expressive immediacy of his voice is distinctive and demands attention, calling to mind the soulful songs recorded back in Muscle Shoals, as well as the rock classics heard in his mom's van while growing up." THE WILLAMETTE WEEK
"...the smokiness of his refined honky-tonk mixes with impressive guitar work."
...January 22, 2003--- The Oregonian
"Shuffling boogie rhythms, double-tracked harmony guitar solos, mellow vocals - what is this, 1975? Actually, it's the sound of "Soundtrak", the brand-new album by Portland singer/chops-blessed guitarist Jaycob Van Auken." ...January 24, 2003
hm. i think you need to schedule a show sometime between july 23rd and august 2nd, because that is when i'll be in portland...and i want to hear some van auken while i'm there.
Hey Jaycob. This is your cousin, lol. Sometime can you put Seashells up here? I would love to add it to my playlist. Miss you and hope you're doing great. Love ya.
