Jared James Nichols
Highwayman EP
(Listenable Records)
Jared impressed us on his earlier visit to the metropolis. As soon as he heard we were there at his Camden gig at The BlackHeart, he came over to thank us for his 20 Questions feature and hang out. That night his power trio rocked the house with a lot of drive and yes, some tender moments too, on a Robert Johnson song rendition.
Now Jared and crew are back over here in the UK on tour with the mighty Glenn Hughes and has opted to treat us to a new five-tracker ‘Highwayman EP’. It kicks off with the old Grand Funk Railroad stomper ‘We’re An American Band’ ( maybe they’ll do Blue Cheer’s ‘Out of Focus’ for us, someday?) all boomy drums, thundering bass and slide guitar intro plus strident vocal. You’ll be singing along, I guarantee you. The band sound is captured well by Joe Perry’s lad Anthony,btw. Great slide solo midway before the double-stops pin the chorus. Authoritative, in a word.
‘Old Glory’ from the album follows with its grinding hanging fuzzchords and BOC style riff THEN the group delivers an old Humble Pie tune in the shape of ‘ 30 Days In The Hole’ with a Southern breeze and unhurried delivery over an emphatic bassline. A great listen.
The edgy and pumping ‘Fallin’ Down’ and swaggering roll of ‘Gone’ complete the disc content. Top rate vocal here and the group is subtle in its dynamics. It’s as if they have learned from the best, Bad Company especially and taken it all aboard to present their own take. No wonder their people believe in them as a unit….
This ensemble scores with skill, enthusiasm, an organic punch and personality. Nothing can stop this kid..and on this form, who’d want to try?
Pete Sargeant
Jared James Nichols’s new EP ‘Highwayman’ is out now on Listenable Records. In addition, Jared James Nichols is currently touring the UK as a special guest on Glenn Hughes’s tour with Doug Aldrich at the following venues:
Thursday 22nd October 2015 – Limelight, Belfast, Northern Ireland http://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/38004ED6982A0BA7
Friday 23rd October 2015 – The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland http://www.triplegmusic.com/
Sunday 25th October 2015 – Picturedrome, Holmfirth http://www.seetickets.com/Event/glenn-hughes-special-guest-jared-james-nichols/picturedrome/886458
Monday 26th October 2015 – Robin 2, Bilston http://www.therobin.co.uk/whats_on/giginfo.asp?gigid=4222
Wednesday 28th October 2015 – Fibbers, York http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/184723
Thursday 29th October 2015 – Club Academy, Manchester http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glenn-hughes-jared-james-nichols-tickets-17479801557
Friday 30th October 2015 – The Snooty Fox, Wakefield (***Jared James Nichols show co-billed with The Dave Hanson Band***) http://www.snootyfoxlive.com/
Saturday 31st October 2015 – Duck and Drake, Leeds (***Jared James Nichols show co-billed with The Dave Hanson Band***) http://www.duckndrake.co.uk/
Sunday 1st November 2015 – Electric Ballroom, London http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glenn-hughes-jared-james-nichols-tickets-17479740374
Jared James Nichols will then return to the UK in January 2016 as a special guest for Motor Sister’s tour which will stop at the following venues:
Wednesday 6th January 2016 – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes http://www.wegottickets.com/event/331525
Thursday 7th January 2016 – Aquarium, Lowestoft http://www.seetickets.com/event/motor-sister/the-aquarium-claremont-pier/907622?aff=id1bandsintown
Friday 8th January 2016 – Yardbirds, Grimsby https://www.ents24.com/grimsby-events/yardbirds/motor-sister/4426763
Tuesday 12th January 2016 -Cathouse, Glasgow https://www.ents24.com/glasgow-events/cathouse-nightclub/motor-sister/44277
For more information visit the following:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jaredjamesnichols
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JJNicholsMusic
(Thanks to Peter at Noble PR for help with this review)
