Page 78 - ION Indie Magazine_JanFeb 2019

Bumper Jacksons has a unique blend that they call “country swing, old-time blues, brassed-up bluegrass.”
But there is something more to their mix that is hard to pinpoint. Clearly the traditional is the foundation for
their music. But unlike so many other bands who simply try to revisit the past, Bumper Jacksons puts an
edge on it – something soulful, sometimes a bit funky. Their formula was concocted craftily enough that you
are too busy letting the music consume you to stop and dissect it.

Opening up with a handful of their originals, their sound was quickly distinct, and they had the room from
the first measure. Coming to their first cover, more could be understood about their creative approach to
pairing musical origins with their own sound with their version of “Delta Bound” – an early 30’s “Indigo
Chant” first recorded by Sid Peltyn, then by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and later by Rosetta Howard.

Ms. Myhre’s voice starts as mellow and contemplative, building over a repeating rhythm that grows in
intensity to a peak…and then fades away again. This was the time in the set that left me thinking, “Wow,
what a voice she has!” …only minutes later to be followed with “Wow, what a clarinet sound she has!” When
a great voice holds an instrument, especially a clarinet, you fall into an assumption that their instrumental
role will be to support and blend but not stand out. That was not the case with Jess Eliot as she followed
verses with a few choruses by reed. How often do you hear a clarinet solo and think, “That was fierce!”?
That was the case here.

This song and the sets that followed were a showcase for the rest of the band. Dave “Duckpin” Hadley looked
effortless as his pedal steel guitar exuded soulful emotion. Joseph Brotherton got gritty with his trumpet.
And laying the backbone of the feel was the driving rhythm of Dan Samuels on drums and Alex Lacquement
-- whose skillful upright bass really has a hand in the Bumper Jacksons’ music. Their mix of musicianship
made it apparent that the crucial ingredient in the Bumper Jackson formula is the people in the band and
how they come together to create the band’s sound.

A few songs deeper into their first set was the title track of their last album “I’ve Never Met a Stranger.” It’s
an upbeat country-western anthem that could be a soundtrack due to its catchiness. Their music video for
this song is a must-see!

Another spectacular music video from Bumper Jacksons is “Old Bird.” Coming across that is what introduced
me to this band and made me an immediate fan. “Old Bird” is also a great composition which showcases the
genre diversity they have – most of the song being a light-hearted bounce, but occasionally transitioning
into a funk-rock break-down.

Myhre’s beautiful voice was integral to the reflective and thoughtful song from their first album “St. Claude's
Waltz.” She demonstrates her range as a vocalist both in the music and the emotion she puts into the music.

As the first set came close to a wrap, Chris Ousley engaged in an interesting trumpet duel with Joseph
Brotherton -- only Ousley sang the trumpet parts. It was impressive and entertaining as the two traded bars
back and forth.

For their second set, Bumper Jacksons came out in costume for Halloween, which was just a day before. The
quirky interplay of front-duo Jess Eliot Myhre and Chris Ousley had further opportunities to entertain as the
pair presented themselves in banana suits. Overall, the band exhibited how much fun they have with the
music throughout.