Jessica and Erez Eller, Washtub Bob Nield, Brother Todd Stoughton, Tim (Mad Dog) MacSweeney, Tom Parker, Phil Juhas on the Jug, and Erik Lambro and Alex Hunt on washboard (s), sometimes one at a time, sometimes at the same time sometimes, despite the CT Blue Law against this double washboard deal. You never know who might show up - Tim once had a dream that Tom Jones showed up to sing with us, but it hasn't really happened - yet.
Jugs Across America
(A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker)
Thanks to Banjo Kellie of the Escape the Floodwater Jug Band, I was forwarded this killer anthology of what is perhaps the most neglected element of Americana—jug music! There have been damn few practitioners over the last half century, most notably the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, and almost no one's keeping the tradition going, but music like this is exactly the sort of material Robert Crumb finds so imperishable. I have to agree 100% with him. It's incredibly fun, stuffed with nuance and idiosyncrasy, and always attractive to the ear. In fact, most people will find, when they reflect upon it, the times they really took most to musicians like Flatts and Scruggs and Roy Clark was when those cats were engaged in flat-out boogied-up bluegrass and jug.
Jugs Across America features 20 different bands, all jumpin', jivin', pickin', grinnin', sassin', and havin' theyselves a helluva time, Jethro. Extremely compatible to swing, bluegrass, flapper, Dixie, hot jazz, and Tex-Mex, jug is the funnybone in the heart of Americana blent with a virtuosity as would make Benny Goodman himself rollick. Spike Jones practiced this kind of material, as does Dan Hicks, and wait'll you hear this hambone in Fritz Richmond's Barbecue Orchestra playing the lips in Sweet Sue. Each one of these jokers, jivers, and jig-time jack-of-all-trades is a master of his or her instrument (and voice!), tickling it until strings and reeds laugh and romp like an Olympic sprinter on nitrous oxide.
I gotta mention Escape the Floodwater's part, as it's their label this badly needed anthology appears on. They're more anarchic than most, rawer and funkier, semi-lo-fi and DIY, a country store ensemble stranded in consumerville, funny as hell and as spirited as any. Nasty, too! Many of the bands here are, as far as I can tell, contemporary, but I ain't promisin' nothin' 'cause all the songs are so drenched in authenticity that being given a blindfold test would unnerve even an ethnomusicologicist.
Do yourself a favor and latch onto this disc. It's bursting with catchy rhythms, smart-ass lyrics, innuendo, hot playin', hilarious takes both instrumental and vocal, and is more fun than any comedy film ya might otherwise spend time on. Broadminded connoissieurs of the Bonzo Dog Band, 10CC, Monty Python, Spinal Tap, and the kind of material that used to appear on The Doctor Demento Show will find a wealth of gems and probably get hooked. I don't see how ya couldn't.
Influences
Toad and the Jugadelics are mentioned in the entry for Jug band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
“Jug bands have continued to exist and evolve to the present day. John Sebastian still leads the J-Band, which included not only musicians from the modern folk revival such as the late Fritz Richmond from the Kweskin band, but also Yank Rachell, mandolin player and jug band leader from the original era. Some bands remain faithful to the original roots, while others continually expand the jug band repertoire to include other folk music, popular music, and classical music forms, such as The Hobo Gobbelins, The Kitchen Syncopators and the Inkwell Rhythm Makers. Two Connecticut-based jug bands, The Blue Lights and The Jugadelics reflect commitment to jugband traditions, including the utilization of home-made instruments, while infusing original songs in the jug band style…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jug_band
Sounds Like
Well, Toad and the Jugadelics! Sort of acoustic /electric / traditional / progressive / original / bluegrass / folk / rock / R&B and "the unexpected cover," played on some of the most despised musical instruments known to humankind! You know - 21st Century Jug Band music!
Samples at the Soundclick site and http://www.myspace.com/jugadelia and http://jugadelics.com/
Or, better yet, click play below:
Toad and the Jugadelics really no longer exist as a band at this time, but I'm leaving this uphere for Old Times sake. There was something magical that made people smile when Todd or Bob would start up a song and I could slide in on it. I truly loved it and will truly miss it.
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BUT Please DO VISIT "The Jugadelics" AT JUGADELICS.COM
Wow, I came across you folk just too late. I was quite sorry to see that you were no longer together. You had a very special spirit to your music. You all just came across as happy and really enjoying yourselves. Love the music, please update me if you start a new group. Thanks for the add. God Bless, Bob
Hello Friends, Many Thanks for being my new "space" friends. Find your music really very nice and love it very much !! I've put one of your song on my space. Wish you many many success !! Have an excellent weekend ! Musical Greetings, Rose-Marie, Belgium
Hello Toad and Friends, Nice to make your E-quaintance. Thanks for the friend add. Have always loved the jug band sound, and you folks have it down. My friend Google and I tracked you down after I saw Tim MacSweeney post my "Talking Post-Trauma Blues" on his blog. Wishing you peace and music! -Tom
The late jug master (1939-2005) plays some of the spookiest tones ever on the previously unreleased "Visiting Day." Recorded by the Jailhouse Jug Band, the tune is currently spotlighted on the Jug Bandolier player.
Hey Guys, Thanks again for coming down to the station. Had a great time ! ! !
Keep Juggin'
PeAcE, LoVe, n' Jug Music
Beware the Juggernauts,
They're Juggernuts !
