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Jukebox the Ghost show review at the Rhythm Room, October 15, 2008 - Holy Cow!

October 16th, 2008 Posted by: Dust Devil

Greetings,

All right people, there have been many occasions when it took time for a band to grow on me. Catherine Wheel, Stiff Little Fingers, CAKE, Radiohead (I still don’t like Pablo Honey) … there are many more. Then, there are those bands that I like from the get-go, but it still takes time for the true genius of the music to sink in and really overwhelm me.

I saw Jukebox the Ghost at the Monolith Music Festival just a month ago. They were great, they were fun. I bought their disc Let Live and Let Ghosts after their show that day and have played it numerous times since. Good Day is a great song, the disc is infused with great pop melodies, I like the double lead vocal attack and I am a big fan of the piano used in an indie-pop format. Therefore, going to see Jukebox the Ghost again since they were in town was a no-brainer for me.

Well, I was not ready to be blown away in the manner I was! Folks, once again, I liked this band from the moment I heard them at Monolith, but there were several other bands that had a more immediate impact on me since that weekend in September. The work of Band of Horses, the Pomegranates, Snowden, A Place to Bury Strangers and the Fratellis have become vital components of my music library. The music of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings isn’t a genre I listen to all that often, but I can guarantee I will make a point of seeing them live any chance I get. Even Cut Copy, a band that only had a minimal impact on me initially, has become a fave.

Jukebox the Ghost does play a very happy, energetic, form of indie-pop. That opinion has not changed. What has changed is the realization there is nothing simple and basic about this band. Quite the contrary, there are some very complex song structures in the music and very insightful lyrics. This band has crafted an extremely well-thought out and designed style of music.

An obvious reason is the piano play of Ben Thornewill. Let’s throw out the Peanuts reference I have used in the past. The sound is reminiscient of that, but it is very obvious when you pay attention the classical piano training he possesses. That fact alone adds to the creativity of the music, but Tommy Siegel is a stellar guitar player and Jesse Krisitin does some very unique things on percussion. Tommy and Ben blend their vocal styles and harmonize together well. All these elements combine to produce some inspiring indie-pop that really does not sound like anything else out there. That is very hard to do today, because how often is a band able to produce something refreshing? And no, they do not sound like Ben Folds, which every review I read seems to focus on that.

Oh yeah, how about the concert review?

Jukebox the Ghost came out and opened with my favorite song, Good Day. The piano rhythm in this tune is one giant hook, what a great way to start off the set! The band never let up from there playing nearly every song from their debut Let Live and Let Ghosts.

Two things really jumped out at me this time compared to when I saw them at Red Rocks. First, there are a lot of quirky little breaks during their songs, and a band that had not put a lot of effort into playing with one another had ample opportunity to screw things up. This trio did no such thing, and every song sounded flawless.

Second, Jukebox the Ghost has a definite “theatrical” edge in what they do. When I am listening to the disc, I forget that many of the songs immediately begin when one ends. This is precisely why I stated earlier this band has written some complex music. I don’t mean complex in a negative way, but in the sense that I felt I was listening to a rock symphony of sorts. The songs act as pieces of music rather than just individual tunes. Miss Templeton’s 7000th Dream features Tommy strumming an acoustic guitar and singing a folk inspired ballad, which leads right into the very powerful Static. My Heart’s the Same is a beautful piano driven ballad, with momentum building and building until the song leaps into Lighting Myself on Fire, a number worthy of filling a dance floor. The trifecta of Fire in the Sky, Where Are All the Scientists Now? and A Matter of Time is extraordinary. Tommy once again commences things on acoustic guitar, singing about Judgement Day. Ben and Jesse charge in, and parts two and three of the trilogy showcase the band harmonizing with constant tempo changes. I love great music, and I love even more watching a BAND play well with one another. This show will easily make my Top Ten for the year, they were that good.

Support Jukebox the Ghost! I have met members of quite a few bands this year. The Pomegranates were great guys, very sincere and it was obvious they just enjoyed having the opportunity to be at Monolith. What more can I say about the Mobius Band, some of the coolest guys I have ever met. Thanks again for the show back in May in Denver! Jukebox the Ghost are great guys as well, I had an opportunity to meet them after the show. A scary thought … Ben told me he was sick during their show at Monolith and was once again at this show. He was sick, and they sounded that good?! Wow!

Cheers,
The Dust Devil

Check out this live video of Hold it In!

Filed under: Event Reviews, Cheers and Jeers