Jabe Beyer fronts the band that bears his name, whose influences are as diverse as country, bluegrass, punk, and good old-fashioned rock and roll.
The great thing about rock music is that it is possible to blend together several styles of music, mix it up, and serve it in a unique way. In order for a band to pull this off, there must be a high level of talent present. Jabe’s third release, “Drama City,” is a good example of making this formula work.
“Drama City” (Woodeye Records) which will officially be released in April, takes the listener on a melodramatic journey of Americana through Jabe’s own personal experiences.
The music is loaded with banjos, mandolins, and slide guitars, combining to create an acoustic feel and organic sound. Songs like the opener “Those Times are Over” and “Crazy Anne Marie” are sure to get your feet moving. “Cold Cold Wind,” “Can’t be That Bad,” and “Pitch Black Road” are beautifully crafted mellow tunes that put the listener at ease.
Jabe has been compared to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Neil Young, but his style is closer to the “Alternative Country Scene” which includes well known bands like Wilco, The Jayhawks, and Sixteen HorsePower
The group’s constant gigging and touring prove to be the lifeblood of the band–selling the majority of their CD’s on the road. Jabe’s previous release, “Outback Country Vampire” sold in the thousands–quite an accomplishment for a self-sufficient band from New England.
Last year Jabe toured every city from here to New Orleans, and is preparing to do it again. Jabe promises to be a great live show, and “Drama City” is worthy of adding to your CD collection. If you are interested in purchasing a CD or seeing the band live, you can check out www.jabe.net.
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Q&A with Jabe
Q: You’re compared a lot to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Neil Young. Have you been influenced by these artists?
A: I listen to so many different kinds of music, and I feel like there probably is a difference between being influenced by somebody, and being a fan of somebody. I like a ton of bands, but I don’t know how much they influence what I do. If people listen to it and say my influences are Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits, then I’m not going to complain. I don’t know what the Bruce connection is to be honest. People need something to compare you to in order to define you in some way. I would rather be compared to Bruce then you know, a John Denver or something.”
Q: Do you think your style is unique in today’s world?
A: If you’re a person who pays attention to the mainstream thing, and you compare some bands to that, then we are unique. If what people are paying attention to is MTV and “Rolling Stone,” then yeah we are totally unique. I don’t see banjos, fiddles, or mandolins on MTV, and that stuff is all over our record. I’m so far removed from that world anyway. I don’t watch that stuff, I don’t have much interest in it. Its not unique in the world I live in. All my friends and all the bands I enjoy play similar music to mine in one sense or the other. It is more organic. I totally like folk music. I like rock ‘n’ roll. I like all that stuff.
Q: Do you feel that because of your style you attract a variety of fans?
A: I feel like the scene that we fit into is the ” No Depression Scene” (named after an Uncle Tupelo song). People who know of this know what to expect. A lot of people come to see us, and don’t know what the hell it is. They know they dig it, but say ‘what do you call that kind of music,’ and I’m like ‘I don’t know.’
Q: You’ve achieved a nice level of success.
A: Success? Really? I wouldn’t say that.
Q: Are you content where you’re at or do you have big plans for the future?
A: I’m having a good time. As long as things are moving forward and the music stays at the forefront, I’m all for it. We are at the point now where we’ve played almost everywhere in Boston and the Northeast, and the key is getting the band on the road again to get to the next level. Not everyone in the country is going to come to Boston to see us, we have to go to them.
Q: Is the album reflective of what’s going on in your life?
A: Totally! Every damn word on the record is true, except for getting murdered with an ax part. The only way I saw myself getting through last year was to have songs as an outlet. It is so over the top, it’s almost funny, so why not poke fun at it and call it drama city. I was in Boston, and that was like Drama City. Everywhere I went, there were people breaking up, not talking with each other, people getting into fights, people getting arrested, people going to jail, people losing their kids, you got to turn it into something good.