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Feature Artist
JACKYL

By


G. Horstman
Artist: JACKYL
Title: "CUT THE CRAP"
Label: Epic
Rating:
To quote the lyrics from one song on "Jackyl's" new album, "Here we are, back again. Bigger than life and twice as ugly." In my opinion this pretty much sums up their latest release and Epic label debut, "Cut The Crap." There's no doubt that "Jackyl" has had their share of hit singles from their previous three albums, but the latest one has a much harder edge. On the first single, "Locked and Loaded," Brian Johnson of "AC/DC" joins "Jackyl" in a singing match with Jesse James Dupree - the first time he's ever recorded with any band other than his own. With the wild style of Jesse and Brian, the single is already climbing the charts, and it certainly drives the crowd wild at their concerts. You could say there's more than a little sarcastic social commentary on this album, but the subjects in question have needed to be addressed for a long time. "Jackyl" has done this with they're own brand of rockin' tunes and always right to the point lyrics.

The first track on the album, "Dumb Ass Country Boy," starts with a brief guitar intro and some really great lyrics, then blasts you with a hard rocking, hard talking song, that covers all kinds of subjects, but basically talks about wanting to change the world - or at least "change the world's diaper that is" as they put it. I have to admit the lyric "Who are these goobers that say what's cool and what's not cool/ what's hip and what's not hip," sure struck a chord with me.

Next up is the first single from the album, "Locked and Loaded." As I mentioned, Jesse Dupree and Brian Johnson both sing lead vocals on this song, and the exchange is really something to hear. Jesse's voice is so close to Brian's it's almost hard to tell them apart! This is another hard rocking number, with some great guitar riffs, catchy melody, and good backup vocals from the rest of the band.

Things turn to more serious, but hopeful, lyrics on "Open Up." The song has sort of a melancholy melody line, but the lyrics are great and the harmonies and guitar bridges fit perfectly. This is one of my favorite songs on the album, but not the type that gets radio play, so I doubt it will show up as a single. Still, it's one of the many reasons to buy this album. So are the next songs, "Misery Loves Company" and "Let's Don't Go There." The members of "Jackyl" have really outdone themselves with melody patterns, harmonies, variations in the beat and different types of songs on this album.

Known as the "chainsaw band" for their use of a chainsaw as an instrument in at least one song on every album, the title song, "Cut The Crap," is the song on this album. It definitely adds to an already rock out song, and surprisingly sounds like it's right in tune with the rest of the instrumentals. For the uninitiated, "Jackyl" added the sound of a chainsaw to their albums right from the beginning, because when they started practicing in a garage Jesse's father said the music sounded like a chainsaw - which he promptly added to their instrumental repetoire and has become a favorite part of their live show. First used on their self-titled debut album in the song "The Lumberman," the sound fits infinitely better on "Cut The Crap." Obviously it also works with the lyrics to this particular song.

"God Strike Me Dead" is another song on a more serious note and switches to a more acoustic sound. With melody lines, guitar riffs, harmonies and lyrics that pack a real punch, the instrumental part of the song is a perfect background to the lyrics, "God strike me dead/ If I'm never gonna see my soul come together again/ My lifeline's stretched and now it's thin/ Please God strike me dead/ If I'm never gonna see my soul come together again."

The next song is a perfect parody of the Grammy Awards, called "Thanks For The Grammy." Filled with heavy sarcasm and very truthful statements, it also has a great instrumental background. I just love the lyric "If I'm dreaming just let me be/ Until I see the hypocrites faces/ As they congratulate me/ I don't hold a grudge/ They know not what they do/ They just chase the trends/ Set by me and you/ So I may not have won a thing/ But I got peace of mind/ And I'll just sing my songs/ To the people who wanna/ Have a good time/ Have a gram on me one time." This send up of pretty much any awards show, says out loud what's probably really going on when the losers congratulate the winners.

"Speak Of The Devil" deals with domestic violence in a most thoughtful and unusual way. Again returning to acoustic guitar, which gives it far more impact, the lyrics talk about "As the devil beats his wife tonight/ All hell is breaking loose/ Across the blackened sky. . ." with a crack of thunder in the background. The song continues with questions about what the devil's wife did wrong, and then admits it's the devil coming out in the individual beating his wife. This is an excellent song that deals with a truly serious issue.

The last song on the album, "Push Pull," is a rowdy, rockin' song about sex. This song doesn't pull any punches, and the placement of the words "Push, Pull" pretty much says it all. Jesse Dupree thought this song would get them a parental advisory on the album, but not this time around. It's not quite as strong as the songs from their first album "Dirty Little Mind" and "She Loves My Cock." But it is quite a song!

Whether you're a "Jackyl" fan, or just a rock fan in general, this is really a great album. By far the best one "Jackyl's" done yet. It's full of energy, hard driving songs, great guitar riffs, super melody lines, and thoughtful subject matter. Even if you're not a fan of this type of music, it's worth giving it a trial listen. You may just want to make an exception in this case. It's definitely a great addition to any album collection. Check it out!

INTERVIEW WITH
JACKYL
(CHRIS WORLEY - Drummer)
2/13/98





  • AMZ - I've been through your press kit, which is very thorough on recent activity, but could you give me just a little background on the band?

  • CW - We got signed in probably 1992 with John Kalodner. You know, he signed bands like "Aerosmith" and "AC/DC" in about '73 or '74, and he loved our band. The first album (Jackyl) came out in '92. Then
    "Push. . ." was the second album in probably '94 or '95.

  • CW - After the first album we were touring, and at the beginning of our second album we went out with "Aerosmith" for a year at least. We'd leave and go home for a week and then they'd call us back, and then they'd call us back every time we'd leave.

  • AMZ - How was it touring with Aerosmith?

  • CW - You know it's weird. You grow up listening to a band's albums and you go "If I could just meet 'em," and then you're playing with them and they're talking to you like family. It's a great feeling. And we did "ZZ Top" and they were really, really fun. That was probably the best tour. They were just around all the time. The "Aerosmith" guys would fly in about 3 hrs. before the show and leave about an hr. after. But "ZZ," they were there from the moment you got there, and then after the show they'd all come in our dressing room and ask "Do you want to go to the casino, you want to go to this bar. . ." and we'd all go together. That was very cool. "Aerosmith" didn't do that. They kind of stayed on their own side.

  • CW - After that there was the live album (Night of The Living Dead) we did about two years ago, and now we've just done the new album, "Cut the Crap." And that brings things pretty up to date.

  • AMZ - I think the new album is really, really good. The best one you've done yet.

  • CW - I think it's the best one we've done.

  • AMZ - I'd prefer not to rehash your teaming up with Brian Johnson of "AC/DC" for "Locked and Loaded," but on the songs where Jesse's singing, he sounds very close to Brian - I could almost mistake who's singing. Has anyone ever mentioned that?

  • CW - When "Jackyl" first started, everybody said we sounded like "AC/DC."

  • AMZ - But only his voice does, not the music.

  • CW - Exactly. But people's usually hear the voices first, and that's why they said we sounded like "AC/DC." But also if you hear an "AC/DC" record with Bon Scott, Jesse sounds exactly like Bon Scott, because we do an "AC/DC" song now - "Live Wire." After you hear it tonight you'll swear he sounds like Bon.

  • AMZ - Well, I wondered why the local rock station was playing so much "AC/DC," and then after I got the copy of your album I figured out it wasn't them. We only have one decent rock station in this town.

  • CW - But the radio stations are starting to come back now. Even though they're playing the new alternative stuff, they're also playing classic rock, and they're trying to figure out what the next thing's gonna be. They don't know, so they're playing a bunch of stuff. They call it "Active Radio" now. They play everything because they're afraid they're not gonna be playing the "next" thing or the "new" thing, so they're playing everything. You'll see it happening more, because they gotta keep up with all the stuff.

  • CW - I like rock, but any music that's good is good. Period! No matter what it is. The way I look at it, I'm a rock head. I've worked with "AC/DC," "Aerosmith" and "ZZ Top," and that's just my genre of music. But I like anything that's good, and I won't deny anything that's good.

  • AMZ - I like to hear that, because people want to put categories on everybody, and everything is so mixed. I'm sick of having to put rock/alterna/pop/hip-hop on songs or albums I review.

  • CW - Well, there are some bands they're calling rock bands and they're not rock bands. Bands do not belong in the category if they're not rock bands. They're putting so many alternative bands into the rock section now. I don't like to see things categorized anyhow, because good music is good music no matter what.

  • AMZ - There was some mention made in your bio and some of the other interviews about the hard rock/metal music scene. What do you see happening here, and do you think it will reverse any time soon?

  • CW - What, the rock scene?

  • AMZ - Yes.

  • CW - People, like I said, have no good reason not to like something until they hear it. I mean I like some of the alternative songs, but there's no energy there's no . . . I hear the songs on the radio and they're great, and then I see these guys live - it's not there. People know when we go out to play tonight they'll stand up and get chills up like they used to do. You don't do that with these new bands. We're a real band, the real thing, and people love the music. It has energy. We put out energy and the crowd gives back the energy. It's what our show's all about. These other guys don't do that. They DO NOT do that! If you go to see like "Van Halen," you walk in and you just look at the stage and there's so many amps and stuff and it gives you the greatest feeling. These other bands come in with one little bitty amp. We give the people their money's worth. We pack everything we can to put on a great show - like stuffing a size 12 foot into a size 6 shoe. We put everything in there we can get in the car, because people deserve it. They really do! I go out there and play, and I hurt myself every night giving people what they deserve.

  • AMZ - But you're doing it.

  • CW - I'll tell you what, that's straight up. If people think we're making money at this they're wrong. I get up there and do it because I LOVE playing. We don't care about the money any more.

  • CW - We're going to be coming out with our own book and little movie. It's already done - sort of a documentary about a week on tour from the time we get up until the time we go to bed. There's a lot of interviews and information in it. It's gonna be "Jackyl," kind of a day in the life kind of thing. It's gonna let people know what goes on.

  • AMZ - I love the line in "Dumb Ass Country Boy" about "Who are these goobers who say what's cool & what's not cool, what's hip & not hip." Those match my sentiments exactly.

  • CW - Yup, when we wrote that line, we were really wondering who were these goobers making people listen to stuff, because that's what they do. You get stuck with that one song because you hear it a million times on the radio, and you wonder who said it should be that one.

  • AMZ - Do you see the same thing I do - that rock/metal concerts are crammed with fans but you never hear these bands on the radio or MTV or even the music awards shows any more?

  • CW - Yeah. Did you see the last MTV awards? What a waste! That used to be a good show.

  • AMZ - I'm waiting to see who gets the Grammys.

  • CW - "Spice Girls." It'll probably be "Spice Girls." (Sorta laughs)

  • CW - I'm with you on all of that. It's silly. Look at the Billboard Top #1 most requested song this week or most played this week and there's just something wrong there.

  • AMZ - Even the local station has a request line, and people are calling in to request your opening band but they won't play the requests because they're not signed to a major label.

  • CW - Well, it seems to me if you have a request line at a radio station for the people to call up and ask to hear a song then you should play it if that's what they want to hear. That's what a radio station's about. It doesn't matter if you're on a major label, it's all a corporate thing now, and all the radio stations are going to be owned by one company pretty soon. It used to be somebody could only own 3 or 4 stations, but all that's gone now and it's going to end up with one huge owner.

  • AMZ - I was impressed with the song "Open Up" - both musically and lyrically. Actually this is my favorite song on the album. As a personal observation, I thought most of the album was about wanting things to change - from how music is played to weed to abusive relationships and so on. Is that pretty accurate?

  • CW - Stuff we wrote about it stuff we've experienced. There's a couple of songs on there I can tell you are about relationships, like "God Strike Me Dead." You listen to the words and lyrics.

  • AMZ - And are you trying to project a light at the end of the tunnel?

  • CW - Yeah, you pretty much hit the nail right on the head there. The most important thing though, is that we just love to play and entertain people.

  • AMZ - I see you've entered the Computer Age. Can your fans contact you from your Web Site and do you like to hear from them?

  • CW - Oh yes! You Bet! I think the address is inside the album cover, and we do read ALL that stuff. We get a real kick out hearing from people.

  • AMZ - Do you think having a presence on the Internet can increase your popularity - including being reviewed in a web-zine like this one?

  • CW - I really don't know. I know that TV and radio does a lot for you, especially TV. I heard somebody quote "If you're not seen on TV you're nothin'." It's a fact that if you see somebody on TV that's it. I'm not saying which is right and which is wrong, but I've heard that quote before.

  • AMZ - I've seen your band called rock & roll, metal and heavy metal. Do you even try to name what you do, or are you as sick of categorizing as I am? And if I have to put something about a category - if for no other reason than many readers rely on that when they make their purchases - what do YOU prefer to be called?

  • CW - I don't know. Just call us "JACKYL." That's because that's what it is. We are that band. I guess sometimes we're kind of a southern rock band, but when you see us live we're a rock band, so we're just "JACKYL." We don't need to categorize the music. Like I said before, good music's good music and a category doesn't matter. I see kids out in the audience in "Korn" shirts. But they like us because we rock! We get out there and we put on a show and we sweat and we rock.

  • AMZ - If you ever get any, what do you like to do in your spare time?

  • CW - I play golf. I'm an avid golfer. I play every day when I'm not on the road. It's funny because my best friend owns a golf course and I took lessons since I was 9 yrs. old, so I'm really, really good. I've been playing forever. Then I get out there with all these old men on Sunday morning and they're looking at me really weird, and then when I beat the shit out them they're like "Hey, I'm your buddy." (Laughs)

  • AMZ - Is there anything else you'd like people to know about you?

  • CW - No. I guess we're just us, and if you don't like our music fine, but first take a listen to it before you make a judgment on us just being a rock band. Listen to the music. If you like it, buy it. If you don't, don't. I'm not pushing our music on anybody. I do it because I like playing what I play. I don't do it for anybody, and I'm not changing like some other bands are trying to do, just because that's the in thing. I do it for me. I do it for the music.

    Live In Concert!
    JACKYL
    With Special Guest
    CRUSHED
    Celebrity Theater
    Phoenix, AZ
    2/13/98

    Reviewed By
    G. Horstman
    Photos By
    Grinder
    		•
    In their last performance before leaving on their own tour, Phoenix based band "Crushed" opened to an enthusiastic crowd on hand to see "Jackyl." Phoenix is a tough crowd, especially on opening bands, but "Crushed" was well received. Opening with one of the crowd favorite songs from their self-titled debut album (reviewed in the 9/1/97 issue of AMZ), "Whistling Past The Graveyard," they got the night's entertainment started with a bang. I've seen this band live a few times, but this was the first decent sized stage they've performed on, and they took full advantage of it. The rock/metal band finally had the room to really put everything they have into their show.
    Following with more audience favorites from their album, the songs "Lit," "Stars And Tinsel Rust" and "Brimstone In A Barren Land" really had the audience going. Next up was a new number, the first of several which will appear on their second album, called "Trick 900." Lead singer Mark Lauer definitely has a way of projecting some great vocals from what is a very soft spoken voice when you talk to him.
    Returning to one of their older songs was "She Moves Through the Fair," a song with an intro of the celtic song also used in the "Lord Of The Dance" show, but which moves into a hard rock number after the first few lines.This was followed by the first single from their album, "Crescent Draggin Wagon," which is currently a highly requested song on local radio.
    "Crushed" closed their set with three new songs, also planned for the second album. "Love My Way," "Bell Hooks" and "Ornamental." Even though their debut album has only been out since mid-September, the band has quite a repetoire built for their second album already. A small change and style and more polish and maturity show up in these new songs. After completeing their set to enthusiastic applause, it was time to get the stage ready for the band everyone was waiting for - "Jackyl."


    "Jackyl" opened their sold out concert in Phoenix with a dramatic entrance by Jesse James Dupree to the sounds of an intstrumental intro that went right into the first song on their new album, "Dumb Ass Country Boy." The fans were going crazy from the time the first note was played, and nobody stayed in their seat for this concert! "Jackyl" is very fan oriented, and they insisted on General Admission seating so everyone had a chance to get a good seat - not that anyone stayed in them. Although this particular venue has no room for a true Moshe Pit, fans crowded around the stage 20 or more deep through the whole show. The audience was loud and exuberant, singing along with the band and having probably the best time I've seen in a crowd in the past several concerts I've attended.

    Jesse (lead singer) made several forays into the crowd to high-five as many people as he could, and Jimmy Stiff (guitar) and Jeff Worley (guitar) took their turns too. Tom Bettini (bass) stayed pretty much to the back of the stage, but Chris Worley (drums) treated the audience to his tiny red speedos and sleveless t-shirted form by standing up behind the drum kit after every song. These guys have one hell of a good time when they're performing, and they are constantly involving their audience in the show, either by encouraging them to sing along, or talking and questioning them between songs. I don't remember the last time I heard so much stage patter from the headliner, except for maybe Ozzy Osbourne, and even he doesn't do as much.
    Egging the crowd on right after the first song, Jesse began covers to several songs by several bands, playing just enough to get the audience into that particular song, then switching to another one. This guy sure has timing. He also really knows how to work a crowd!
    From this little medley, the band headed into "Twice As Ugly," another song from the new album. The three front men, Jesse, Jimmy and Jeff spent a lot of time switching places and getting together for guitar duets and solo riffs that really added to the song. This is also when I first noticed that Jesse's mic stand had a shotgun strapped to it, and his mic "wire" was a bullwhip. These country boys bring everything into their show. I was so busy watching the show I may have missed noting a few of the songs, but I think the next one was "Just Like A Devil" from their first album.

    Then it was time to talk to the audience. Crowd response was so loud and enthusiastic, I never heard a request for "louder" from the stage. By now everybody was singing and dancing as soon as a new song started. "I Stand," also from the first album, really had the audience going, and there were some great guitar solos in the middle of this song. "Push Come to Shove" from the second album was up next, and the emphasis on PUSH from the band was matched by the chants from the audience. During this number, Jesse was high-fiving everybody he could reach while he sang.
    For the next number, Jesse sat down on the drum riser and started it off with a great harmonica solo, soon joined by the guitars and bass one by one. This turned into a rousing rendition of "Dixieland," again from the first album. This was really a great performance number, with a lot of audience contact by Jesse and the guitar players. Lots of white spot lights and guitar solos were featured in this number, ending with a loud bass solo.
    Of course everyone went nuts when the first strains of "When Will It Rain" filled the venue. One of the most popular singles from their debut album, it was obvious this song was a special fan favorite. Jimmy Stiff and Jeff Worley played some really awesome guitar solos in just about every song, and this one was no exception. Neither was "Secret Of The Bottle," which can only be described as a pure drinking song. Giving everybody a break for a few minutes, "Jackyl" then held a soundcheck party.
    More great guitar solos and duets accompanied the cover of the "AC/DC" song "Live Wire." Jesse was back in the audience again through an extended guitar intro, and panties, bras and hats were sailing onto the stage from all directions. This was a first for me - seeing the underwear pitched at the stage, and I've been to one hell of a lot of major concerts. "Jackyl" is obviously well loved by their fans - female and male! "Down On Me" turned into a huge audience sing along, and a good time was had by all as they say. Jesse started "Dirty Little Mind" with a short rap, while he climbed up on the tallest amp to stir up and direct the audience. All of their previous singles were big "sing along with the band" numbers, and this one was no exception. Talk about good ol' rock & roll!

    The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived - the sound of the chainsaw being started up and revved. Jesse came around from behind the drum kit brandishing the chainsaw as the band broke into "Cut the Crap." The chainsaw plays a pretty big part in this song on the new album, and it lasted even longer during the concert. After a rousing rendition of "Cut the Crap," Jesse started to do a number on a wooden bar stool brought out onto the stage with the saw. Then the music changed to a more bluesy rock as "The Lumberman" was accompanied by the chain saw. At the end of the song, all eyes were on Jesse as he cut the hell out of the bar stool, set it on fire and grabbed a beer. Not your usual stage fare to say the least!

    Finishing this display, Jesse grabbed a guitar and launched into "She Loves My Cock," another fan favorite. Then I heard the weird strains of the National Anthem only to see him singing "do-do-do-doo-doo-doo" into the guitar pick up in the center of the guitar. Quite an interesting rendition actually. With that "Jackyl" left the stage to wild applause and stamping feet. Since no venue turns the house lights on until the band isn't coming back, it wasn't a matter of IF they'd play an Encore, but WHEN.

    After an appropriate amount of time, the band returned to the stage, grabbed three guys out of the audience, and one stage diver, to sing back up on their new single "Locked And Loaded." Although it's a singing match between Jesse Dupree and Brian Johnson on the album, "Jackyl" carries this song off very well without Brian, and with their amateur friends singing along.

    A totally rock out, hillbilly dancing, unexpected shot from the gun on the mic stand (which sure made me jump) rendition of "Red Neck Punk" was the final number. All the guys on stage were dancing, Jesse was hitching around in circles in the middle - when he wasn't singing or shooting that damn gun - and you could tell the band was having just as much fun as the audience. One more time around the stage area, high-fiving the audience by all the band members except Chris, led to the shotgun blast that ended the song and the show - well almost. The last thing the audience saw before the stage lights went out, and the house lights came up, was Chris Worley standing behind the drum kit mooning the audience. One more tradition at "Jackyl" concerts, although it's usually Jesse that pulls this stunt. Quite an "end" to a totally fun and impressive evening!


     

     

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