Concert review: Jukebox the Ghost at The Ottobar 3/10
As a music writer, I hear a lot of good stuff that I know will not get the attention it deserves.
That's why I'm incredibly happy to tell you that Jukebox the Ghost filled The Ottobar last night (a Tuesday night, mind you). Even better: A ton of people in the crowd knew the words to their songs, and sang along with the trio.
Next week, Jukebox will set off on a tour opening for Ben Folds. Good things are in store for these guys. Lord knows, they deserve it.
Last night, they played most of their debut album, Live and Let Ghosts, as well as a bunch of new tunes.
Jukebox performs playful piano rock with morbid underpinnings ...
Listen to their music and the hooks grab you, the musicianship wows you, and only then do you realize the song is about someone lighting themselves on fire to warm the nearby homeless people.
Niiiiiiice!
Now, when I say "the musicianship wows you," I'm not saying these guys are show-offs. Far from it. I'm sure they could unleash some rather nasty riffs if they wanted to. But they don't. They keep songs tight and focused, only adding occasional flourishes. One of the best things a musician can learn is not to overplay, and the guys in Jukebox have it down.
If you have the chance to see Jukebox, take it. They might not be playing clubs this size for much longer.
(Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
