Review by Teresa Hopkins

Artist: JARED JAMES NICHOLS
Album: Old Glory And The Wild Revival
Label: LISTENABLE RECORDS
Release Date:  April 14, 2015

Tracklist:
01.  Playing For Keeps
02.  Crazy
03.  Let You Go
04.  Can You Feel It
05.  Now Or Never
06.  Haywire
07.  All Your Pain
08.  Get Down
09.  Sometimes
10.  Blackfoot
11.  Take My Hand
12.  Come In My Kitchen
13.  You Won’t Last (Live at the Viper Room)
14.  Playing For Keeps (Live at the Viper Room)

The Blues are still alive and well, as proven by a young man hailing from the great state of Wisconsin, U.S.A..  Logistically, it didn’t make sense to me at first.  That’s not to say that Wisconsin doesn’t have a thriving music scene—it does!  But guitarist and singer Jared James Nichols truly stands out with a legitimate fever and talent for Blues, possessing the kind of mojo typically attributed to those Masters of the genre from another time, another place, much farther south.

Human anachronism, maybe?  At first listen, as well as first glance, I am inclined to think so.  And I don’t even want to tell you how long he’s been playing.  (All of 10 years—and he initially wanted to be a drummer).   Could be some sort of magic wafted its way from SRV’s stellar performance at Alpine Valley back in 1991 on that fateful night to Nichols, who lived a hop, skip, and a jump away, inspiring him to make a spiritual trek to the crossroads deep in the Delta.  I don’t hear that specific reference in an obvious way in his playing, though.  He says artists like Son House influenced his desire and his style, because he truly resonated with the music, heart and soul, of the Blues.  Whatever the case, I am enjoying listening to this collection of electrifying tunes from his full-length debut album, “Old Glory And The Wild Revival”.

Jared James Nichols hasn’t reinvented the wheel here; however, he surely has brought back how good it was the first time we felt it roll.  Nichols and his Swedish bandmates, Eriik Sandin and Dennis Holm, are a power trio with a wonderful stripped-down, raw feel and a great big sound.  To see and hear Nichols perform, it’s clear that he really feels the music.  Earthy and elemental, he doesn’t use a pick, giving him a deeper connection with his instrument and a tone that’s warm and smooth.

Handling the vocals was serendipitous, too:  apparently they were in a spot one day and nobody else was around to do the singing.  But no worries—this also seems to come naturally to Nichols, whose voice at times recalls a younger mix of Lonnie Mack, James Dewar, and Ronnie Van Zant.  That was just another step in the right direction.   Helping to bring out the best of the trio’s musical offerings are producer Eddie Kramer (known for his work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones) and engineer Warren Huart (Aerosmith).

‘Playing For Keeps’, ‘Crazy’, ‘Let You Go’, and ‘Take My Hand’ rock steady with a decadent vintage feel that I love.  The upbeat ‘Can You Feel It’ eases into the one-two beat of ‘Now or Never’, a terrific acoustic tune.  I really like the solid, funky groove of ‘Haywire’; it’s the one that sticks in my head (the most) long after the album is over.  There’s a not-so-subtle Lynyrd Skynyrd influence in the tracks ‘All Your Pain’, ‘Get Down’, and ‘Sometimes’, but I think that with the current Classic Rock Revival going on, it’s a welcome and appreciated reminiscence proving that music like this is timeless.

As his old running grounds were surrounded by reservations and the culture of Native Americans, Nichols came to “love the spirit and vibe inherent in Native American culture”.  With ‘Blackfoot’, an energetic ballad, he pays apt tribute to tribe, of whom he calls “truly badass motherfuckers”.  Nichols brings it down to a cozy, back-porch Delta feel a la Son House with acoustic dobro slide playing on ‘Come In My Kitchen’ before amping things back up on two live tracks, ‘You Won’t Last’ and ‘Playin’ for Keeps’, recorded live at the Viper Room.

All in all, there’s a nice continuity and flow to the songs, yet each track stands out strong individually.    This album gives us a proper introduction to Jared James Nichols and his diverse talent on the six string as well as behind the microphone with variations of the blues genre.

I think that if an artist has the ability to bring to the present something that makes you want to re-explore the past with even more enjoyment and appreciation for what inspired both of you, that is indeed the mark of a successful artist.  “Old Glory And The Wild Revival” is a terrific debut album, and if you dig blues with your rock, you need to go out and get this one.

(rating 8.8/10)

Band Members:
Jared James Nichols:  Guitars, Vocals
Eriik Sandin:  Bass Guitar
Dennis Holm: Drums

https://www.facebook.com/Jaredjamesnichols
https://www.youtube.com/user/JJNicholsMusic

Jared and the guys are opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd on several European tour dates in 2015.  Now that’s a bill you gotta see and hear!  For more information: http://www.teenageheadmusic.com/pages/tour/JJN.htm