Published: May 23, 2009 9:03 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Jackpot Donnie
Jackpot Donnie
Jackpot Donnie serves up an interesting and entertaining mixture with their fusion of Rock and Reggae. This combination of both genres makes this band stand out in the music industry. Even more appealing about Jackpot Donnie is that the members of the group all seem to connect with each other musically.
If you are not a fan of their music, after reading this article and listening to the band's music, you will be instantly hook.
Jackpot Donnie:
Matt Love: Lead Vocals, Guitar
Brian Wise: Guitar
Adam Campbell: Drums/Percussion
Dave Langley: Bass
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Brian: 2008 was a big year. We released our first full-length album and had a lot of great gigs to support it. We played to hundreds at our record release, which was a great thrill.
Dave: Yeah, and playing rock music to a throbbing crowd of 500 at Excalibur in Chicago, where normally, rock bands fear to tread was a real treat.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Matt: I think finishing and releasing our first album was huge. We had been playing together as a band since 2003 and we finally produced a full-length album featuring all of our favorite songs we had written over that period of time. It was nice to finally have something concrete to stand behind..
Isaac: Describe the music scene in area.
Adam: Chicago can be a fickle bitch. Draw can depend on weather and sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to when people are going to come to your shows. It can also be difficult because we don't fit nicely into any of the predefined scenes i.e. Punk Rock or Electro.
Brian: Definitely, and there's a lot to compete with in a major city, so it's kind of a dog-eat-dog atmosphere sometimes. That's why we recently created the Chicago Roots Collective (CRC). It's a community of like-minded Chicago musicians, and our main goal is to create a community of musicians that supports one another. It's kind of amazing that something like this hasn't been done before.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Dave: We typically play our best and find our best crowd reactions at Elbo Room in Chicago. I credit their top-notch management and crew for the outstanding working conditions.
Matt: The people who work there are the coolest people in the city, by far. They take care of the bands that come through, which is rare these days.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Adam: Without question, 311 has helped to shape our sound. However, I would list them as our jumping off point. I think we elaborate on Ideas we have gotten from many bands including Ween, Queens of the Stone Age, 311, Bill Withers and many more. I believe that Jackpot Donnie is an even amalgam of all of the music that we listen to.
Dave: Locally, Mr. Blotto has perfected what it means to be a midwest live act. Any band that can schedule an entire year's worth of Friday and Saturday night shows in one fell swoop, and in addition run their own successful outdoor festival every summer, is a band that I can admire.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Brian: We're four friends that like to play good rock n' roll. Yes, it's a bit cliché, but that's the truth. We like to provide a party-like atmosphere at our shows. If people's asses aren't shaking, then we probably aren't doing our jobs.
Matt: I think Jackpot Donnie is all about fun! In a time where most bands are all about trying to be "marketable" or "stylish," we're just trying to put on a good party for people so that they can dance, feel good, and leave feeling glad about how they spent their night.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Adam: Geoffery Emirick, the man responsible for the Beatles "sound."
Dave: Ween. They are the masters of songwriting and live performance, and I would give anything to learn from them, even for one night.
Matt: Widespread Panic.
Brian: Have we mentioned we like 311?
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Dave: High-energy rock and funky reggae fit for the party of your dreams!
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Adam: The number one adjective I hear is energy. We try to bring the energy as much as possible at our live shows.
Matt: I've also noticed a real strong response to the cover songs we play. We like to occasionally play stuff that people have heard all of their lives, which are easily recognizable, and add our own little interpretations to each song.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Brian: Our official website is at jackpotdonnie.com. You can also find us at myspace.com/jackpotdonnie. We have official sites on Facebook, Twitter, and all the usual locations. jackpotdonnie.com is the best place, because that's where we regularly blog and keep our fans updated with what's going on in the band, and also just our normal exciting day-to-day activities. If you could see me I'm using the "quote" fingers around the word "exciting."
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Matt: Well, we're already working on a brand new EP - due in late 2009. Then after that, we're just going to continue playing shows all over Chicago and the Midwest region as we expand our home-radius.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Brian: Everyone around is very supportive. We have a steady group of family and close friends that help to create the community around Jackpot Donnie. Thanks to anyone who has ever come out to a show or listened to our music.
Isaac: Final words…
Matt: If you're just looking for some fun rock n' roll to let loose to, then I hope you come check out our music! And make sure you visit with us afterwards cause we love meeting as many new faces as possible every time we play. Cheers!
