December 31, 2003 Seattle Weekly Weekly Notable Shows
TOP TEN 2003 MUSICAL EVENTS
If you like Blink-182's hard-charging, anthemic, junior-league punk, inject THE JET CITY FIX's Play To Kill at will.
The Jet City Fix - "Play to Kill" The Jet City Fix, a five piece band from Tacoma, Wa. whose drum stick twirls and slick licks have already taken them to Europe and back, not to mention opening a show with Motorhead, are moving quick with their debut album "Play to Kill". Apparently it's good to be in The Jet City Fix. I would say definitely when you add the ingredient of recording legend slash guru slash el capitano Jack Endino producing TJCF's next album. That could equal great chemistry. This is a group of people who have their shit together and are putting something out well and fast. Hard work pays off. I read lots of reviews on this disc waiting for its arrival and the one thing I kept hearing were the words "pop punk". Luckily this shit ain't no fucking pop punk. Its a rock record. Thank god. (I swear if anybody sends me a pop punk record for review they are going to be terribly sorry). The vocals are on the melodic side so I can see that angle but I think in the end the vocals are really in a rock vein. And that's pretty hard to complain about. Another nice thing is that the actual recording of Play to Kill is pretty damn good. The drums are sweet. Not only the beats by drummer Dana Sims but how they are laid down in the mix. Exactly how I like'em. Tight and hard hitting. The snare and bass sound huge. Now who doesn't lke that? The guitar tones put the icing on the cake. Nice string bending rock solo on "Dumb Luck", one of the many hit tracks. Other honorable mentions go to "Sick of Drugs" and "It Don't Matter". Oh and the bass you ask? "It's bass". Nah, just kidding, it's like the drums. Tight. Thumpy. Moves at a strong pace. Great ryhthm section. This album has a straight forward rockin' feel to it overall.
On their explosive debut, The Jet City Fix blends guitar-soaked, blistering modern rock with melodic pop-punk.
It was a Halloween Eve dilemma of epic proportions. On one side, I had Nada staffer Sonja singing the praises of Seattle/Tacoma’s Jet City Fix and imploring me to check them out when they came to Arizona. On the other hand, I had received word that their Tucson show had unexpectedly shifted from the comfy, familiar confines of downtown’s Vaudeville Cabaret to a southside all-ages venue I’d never heard of. (I had also stumbled upon an MP3 of the JCF’s “hit” single “Dumb Luck,” which I immediately did not love.) Outside of a few Descendents tunes from roughly a million years ago, “pop-punk” makes me break out in a full-body rash and urges me to lash out at complete strangers in a blind, unthinking rage. Seriously. As always, my affectionate esteem for Nada’s sexual advice columnist took precedence, and out I staggered into the mysterious Tucson twilight with local rock anti-hero Vic Crouton watching my back. In retrospect, I’m glad I did… We arrived at a very small, low-key gathering of slightly inebriated (but very polite) people, eight of whom were about to play music and perhaps seven who had arrived to listen. The venue turned out to be a tiny art gallery that doubles as a performance space. Its advantages were immediately apparent when the five guys in The Jet City Fix suddenly plugged into their amplifiers and started to tear through some impressively nasty headbangin’ riffs. It was a lot like having AC/DC play in your living room. Guitarist Ty McDonald was raging like a pre-rehab Billy Duffy inches from where I stood, my hair a-flyin’ in appreciation. Drummer Dana Sims twirled his sticks throughout a thunderous heavy metal workout, mixing Tommy Lee flash with technical precision. Despite the fact that his vocals were barely audible, frontman Shane Flauding worked the mic stand with enough finesse and strutting arrogance to engage the tiny audience. The overall effect was reminiscient of a genuine Tacoma house party, except without the eventual fatalities or a late night run to Frisko Freeze. These boys flat-out fuckin’ rock, make no mistake. By the end of their set, each member was drenched in sweat; no mean feat on a cool desert night. (I was relieved to discover Jack Endino is producing the JCF’s next album. A lesser amount of polish and glossy overdubbing on this band’s music, the better. With the formidable star-maker Don Robertson as their manager, they don’t need to steal Blink 182’s act to become naked and famous…) Tucson’s fearless punk trio Shark Pants headlined the gig with their quirky brand of Detroit-style garage rawk. Neither the bassist’s broken foot nor the drummer’s bare-bones kit could stop this band from kicking serious ass that night. The Jet City Fix had blown some eardrums, but Shark Pants were there to blow minds and break necks with songs like the addictive anthem “Porno Snakehead” (the title track from their new CD on San Pedro, California’s Recess Records.) I strongly recommend checking them out. Props are due to Shark Pants’ guitarist and lead vocalist Isaac for putting this gig together; Centro Digna #135 rivals fellow Tucson all-ages art gallery Solar Culture as an intimate setting for great rock shows. The Jet City Fix is worthy of praise for taking a tiny gig in Tucson as seriously as their huge concert the next evening in Phoenix, filling the Marquee Theatre on Halloween night! Next time these guys come through town, there’ll be no dilemma as far as I’m concerned. I’ll be back, front and center… wherever the show may be.
Tour time seemed to have served the boys well as they played a spectacular set to all 140 people. I like them better on a larger stage as they have so much energy that on a small stage it can get a bit overwhelming. I was again guilty of watching most of the show through a lens. Very much a fan’s band the guys where extremely driven off the energy of the predominately female crowd. From the Shane (vocals) sliding down the stairs in front of the stage to inviting everyone to “come dance with us.” A positive of seeing the show from behind the lens, was that I got to see what an amazing drummer Dana is. Due to the size of the stage and the number of band members he was hidden some what but is worth watching as he incorporates some cool theatrics. If you haven’t seen them already then go as they are on the road to success and may not be your little local boys for much longer.
The JET CITY FIX, from Tacoma, WA USA is one of these bands mixing pop punk with hard rock'n'roll/glam which means that people who are either into AC/DC, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, the BACKYARD BABIES or GREEN DAY and ALKALINE TRIO could party together at one of their shows. They've been together for a little more than a year now and are decided to give people a good time quoting the legendary Spinal Tap "Have a good time, all the time!". I'm impressed with the quality of this first album, the music rocks, the vocals and production are good and songs like "Dumb Luck" (there's a video for this college rock type song on the band's site) or "Bullet" won't leave my mind. The band also offers us a good cover version of "Sick Of Drugs" (The WILDHEARTS.) Get this record if you like your punk rock played by long-haired guys or your hard rock played by guys with mohawks. In short, as they say themselves, they love to rock and I'm sure that the JET CITY FIX could be your next favourite band!
JET CITY FIX IN ENGLISH: "Here's some loud stuff, the six scamps from Jet City Fix have been breast fed by Motley Crue and Guns N' Roses and they seem to love punk rock (Social Distortion before all.) What you can hear is a melodic kind of hard rock'n'roll with poppy parts like the ones you can find in bands for chicks... besides, you'll find three or four great songs like "the fix" or the boogie punk song "fire it up" (sounds like a mix between Aerosmith and Electric Frankenstein.) They're an awesome band full of energy on stage. Ah ah, this bass player looking like a pitbull in heat, you should see this!"
Some say this place has had its day So go the lyrics to "Jet City's Rockin'" - one of the 12 hard-hitting tracks off The Jet City Fix's debut album, "Play To Kill." The words reference the band's desire to resurrect Seattle's dried-up rock 'n' roll scene, but could just as easily be applied to the Twin Harbors, once a hotbed for live music but now home to just the occasional original show. "We want to take our rock to all people of the Northwest, Aberdeen included," drummer Dana Sims says. "We love to play shows and are excited to play for the people of Aberdeen." Actually, the Seattle-based band has been taking its attitudinal tunes to more than just a Northwest market. Though they've been together less than two years, they've already toured overseas in Spain, opened for metal mavens Motorhead and had their song "Dumb Luck" played during MTV's recent Video Music Awards. Most recently, the band finished a tour of the West which included stops at clubs in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver. "It was our first tour on our own where we weren't supporting anybody," Sims says. Tour highlights included a sold-out theater show in Tempe, Arizona on Halloween and an all-ages show in Reno, where 100 kids "freaked out" during their set. "We also played the coolest little bar on earth in Fort Collins, Colorado," Sims says, adding that the tour wasn't all rosy. "We had two shows that were 'play to the other bands and the bartender'-type shows but on the whole, things went well." After the first of the year, TJCF is heading back into the studio to record its second album. This one will be produced by Jack Endino, who has worked with former Northwest noteworthies like Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Aberdeen's own Nirvana. In addition to Sims on drums, the band includes Shane Flauding (vocals), John Wokas (guitar) and brothers Ty and Justin McDonald on guitar and bass. Aside from the punk rock attitude, musical similarities to those grunge acts are minimal. With catchy riffs ala Buckcherry, The Jet City Fix's songs run the gamut from early Guns N' Roses heavy metal (in particular, Flauding's yelping vocals and excitable stage presence) to modern day pop-punk bands like Sum 41. TJCF's drummer has a simpler definition. "We're full throttle, high-energy rock and roll," Sims says.
A group of explosive bands are going to rock the CUB Ballroom with their unique sounds at 8 p.m. Thursday during "An out of this world rock show." The concert, organized by the ASWSU Student Entertainment Board, offers punk, ska and rock lovers a chance to see four talented, up-and-coming bands. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door of the west entrance to the CUB the day of the concert. 10 Minutes Down is one band featured in the concert. 10 Minutes' trombonist Ted Teske said the band is classified as ska, but is a little harder-edged, basically classified as punk-ska. Teske explained the most exciting aspect of their performances are how the band's energy sparks crowd involvement. "We play a real fun style of music," Teske said. "We get up on stage, bounce around and have a great time." Teske said the band accumulated its first strong following at Gonzaga University. Coming a long way, the group recently participated in the 1999-2000 Vans Warped Tour. Locally, 10 Minutes played at this year's Dryfest, a philanthropy organized by three WSU fraternities. Teske said the band's members are from California, Oregon and Washington and each bring a little variety to the production process. "We have a big ska influence, but as our lineup changes so does our sound," Teske said. Headlining the performance is the Seattle rock quartet, Alien Crime Syndicate. This new-aged rock band, acclaimed for its edgy, yet upbeat tracks, has become a Seattle favorite in recent years. Great riffs and hooks are paired with a semi-electronic feel that strikes a pop feel. "When people watch us play they can tell that we're having just as good a time as they are," said bassist Jeff Rouse on the ACS homepage. "And sometimes more; a lot more." In its five-year existence, ACS has opened for Sugar Ray, Weezer, American Hi-Fi, Girls Against Boys and Harvey Danger. In 2000, ACS played numerous regional venues, including two full capacity shows at Bumbershoot, Experience Music Project and North-by-Northwest. The Seattle band, the Jet City Fix, is also performing. After piecing a five-man band together in early 2002, TJCF hit the music scene running with its first concert. Within the following two months, the band completed its debut album "Play to Kill." "Play to Kill" incorporates emo-influenced vocals with punk riffs, characterized by '80s monster ballads. Lyrically, TJCF has a catchy punk rock feel that inspires sing-alongs at times. On TJCF's homepage, vocalist Shane Flauding said, "we're a little glam, a little punk, pop, hard rock, all just kinda smashed together." Rounding out the lineup will be Tacoma natives Post Stardom Depression, who have toured with Queens of the Stone Age and the late Dee Dee Ramone.
Interview with The Jet City Fix about recording now that their album is out, check their web site for buying information as I highly recommend purchasing the disc b/c they’re cool! Q: How did you prepair for recording? Q: What are your favorite tracks on the cd? Q: What was the writing process used for this album? Q: What was the hardest part of recording? Q: Are you signed to a label or are you DIYing it? Q: Now that you have a cd out do you see an increase in your show attendance/fan base? Q: Who would you like to tour with? Q: What are you doing to promote your album? Q: If you had to do it all over what would you change? Q: What advice would you give to younger/new musicians looking to record for the first time. Q: Who produced and mixed the cd? Q: When you become famous what would you order to have in your dressing room? (I asked my god sister what she wanted to know about making a cd and that was it!)
THE JET CITY FIX *Play to kill*
Forming a new band and nurturing it into maturity can be a frustrating process. It takes time to find like-minded musicians, write listenable songs and learn to play well together. It's a process that can take years. And for young musicians putting a band together for the first time, a long and winding road is fine, even necessary. But for those who've been around the block a couple of times, it's not an attractive prospect. For the Washington state-based Jet City Fix, a long climb to the top wasn't even on the table. Within two months of forming, the band wrote and recorded its first LP, Play to Kill, and within a year had amassed a loyal fan base in the Pacific Northwest, toured across the United States and Canada, and even played dates in Europe. According to drummer Dana Sims, the band wasn't going to wait around for someone to hand it success, and instead chose to take matters into its own hands from the get-go. "We made a conscious decision to do it this way because we had much higher goals than plodding around being in a local band, and talking about making a record," says Sims. "We wanted to go places, so we decided to put out a record sooner rather than latter." In less than a year, the Jet City Fix has played more than 100 dates, sold a fair amount of records and received a substantial amount of press (some extremely complimentary, some not so). On certain songs, Play to Kill comes across as a little half-baked. Sims reflects, "In retrospect, there are a lot of things that we probably would have done differently. But for the time it was made in, and the vehicle that it's been for us, we're still really proud." The band's sound is a mixed bag, the result of varied tastes and stylistic sensibilities. And though Play to Kill meanders a bit here and there, it doesn't stray far from a tried-and-true rock 'n' roll aesthetic, with standard themes of heartbreak and hard times. The band's vocalist, Shane Lauding, was chosen after the rest of the band formed, and after an extensive search. When they finally came across Lauding, he had just left an emo band and needed some vocal retooling, so to speak. "In my last band, I sang like a boy who had just been kicked in the nuts." After practicing for only a couple of weeks with JCF's material, it was clear they had found their man. Even so, Lauding remains a bit of an oddity among the band's hard rockers, especially on the road. "Shane has some leftover quirks," says Sims. "He definitely brings a different CD collection to the van. And he knows boy bands better than anyone. He can sing and recite 'N Sync and stuff like that to a T, which is equally hilarious and frightening at the same time. It's kind of fun to hear him sing those songs, but we draw the line at letting him play the CDs. No boy bands in the van!" But if there are any stylistic incongruities, they're not obvious on Play to Kill. Maybe that's due to the fact that, like straight-up rock 'n' roll, emo also deals with starry-eyed girls and lovesick boys. Granted, emo's tones may be different from rock's, but the band says Lauding is coming along just fine. As Lauding confesses, "Sure, sometimes were not on the same page, but most of the time we are. And I don't know how it works -- but on stage, we just click, and I love it." Jet City Fix When: Monday, Oct. 20; 10 p.m. Where: The Cooler Lounge (1905 N. Decatur Blvd.; with Straight Out of Junior High) Admission: $5 Info: www.coolerlounge.com
There I was, hanging out with friends and enjoying the euphoric effects of Crown Royal on the rocks, when it happened. I must have left the room, possibly for more booze or maybe to take a leak. When I returned, the tube had been hijacked - changed to MTV's "Road Rules Vs Real World Challenge." As a rule of thumb I try desperately to avoid reality programming. I find it dumbing and untruthful. It's usually about as far from reality as you can get. In the real world, you see, people pay rent. But I let it slide; I was tipsy, and trying to be a gracious host. I figured:"if the drunk girls at my house want to watch the 'Real World,' so be it. Who am I to judge?" Searching for a point in all of this, other thanmy trying to connect myself with inebriated females? You may be out of luck, but I think this is what I was going for: As the camera panned out from the hot tub cleavage scene, just before commercial, a familiar sound came through the speakers. It was The Jet City Fix, one of Tacoma's best groups, and their song "The Life." Hot damn, they've made it I thought. It's not every day you hear a band from Tacoma on "The Real World." I scheduled an interview. The timing couldn't have been better. Not only was Jet City being exposed on MTV, but they also had a set of shows planned for Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, to promote the release of All The Kings Horses.. - a compilation CD featuring four Fix songs, as well as efforts from Instant Winner, Post Stardom Depression, the Dirty Theives and Chinatown. Both shows - the first an all-ages event at Club Impact Friday night, and the second Saturday at Hells Kitchen - will feature the bands from the comp CD. I had two main questions. First of all, I wondered how a band from our little town made it to MTV. "That's good management. That's Don (Robertson); He's an angel. That guy definitely works his ass off, and does a lot of good things for a lot of cool bands," explained Fix bassist Justin McDonald. Later I found out this was McDonald's first interview. He should probably get used to them; the signs point toward it not being his last. "I was eating a bowl of cereal in my living room, and just watching MTV when I heard it. At first I thought it was just some band I liked, because I knew the song, but then I was like, Holy f**k, it's us." "I called my mom." Holy f**k brings up a good point, and my second main question: How will a band notorious for singing of illicit drug use and porn star sex translate in the Christian confines of Club Impact? "It's great; the shows there rock. Since we started, just over a year ago, the crowds have gotten progressively larger," explained McDonald. Yes, but surely they tone down the drug and sex references. "Absolutely. I don't mind at all. If we have to tone down the lyric content, we just up the stage antics. Instead of saying f**k, we might just jump up in the air." "It's Shane's (Flauding, TJCF's front man) job, since there's a lot of profanity. Shane has to remember not to make any nasty outbursts, and he's pretty good about it. I think we've noticed him slip once or twice, but we won't talk about that." No, we wouldn't want to talk about that, would we? I didn't think so. So, whether you're a youngun' thinking of attending the Impact show on Friday, or a boozed up, haggard old-timer saving your beer money for Saturday's Hells Kitchen show, either way you need to get your ass off the couch and catch one of the hottest acts around. Everyone knows, once you've been on the "Real World," the sky's the limit.
Having twice missed what I heard were totally fucking killer sets opening up for Motorhead/High On Fire/The Dwarves in Seattle and more recently, at The Brickyard with the Spitfires, imagine my shock when I eagerly cranked this up and a strange brew of Buckcherry cum Good Charlotte slaps me in the face. No shit. It wasn't until about the 5th or 6th track that things started to pick up. I'll chalk up the first half of this album to the band's uncanny knack for writing near perfect pop-punk songs, but my personal favourites are "Bullet", "Love It Or Leave It" and the very Motorheady "The Fix". Singer Shane Flauding destroys the mic and his vocal chords like a young Steven Tyler possessed by a fifth of Jim Beam...Ty and John sling their guitars like a high-noon knife fight between Thunders and Slash...all this backed up by the tightest riddum-section since the glory days of Williams/Rudd. This hasn't left the stereo at work or home and is easily one of the best straight-up rock records in quite some time.
Opening band Jet City Fix played an asskicking set of rock n' roll that seems poised to break through to a wider, and larger audience (read: stadiums and arenas). One thing that I noticed about them, is that they have great melodic songs without losing their edge, which is a much needed thing in this "rock revolution". Usually bands suffer from being too wimpy if melodic, or too one dimentional if they rock really hard. Not Jet City Fix, as they rock hard AND memorably. They had the chops, the attitude, the look, and the talent to pull off being the best thing since.....themselves, I guess. As well, the singer has a great voice, and the Misfits gloves were a nice touch.
Pique News Magazine - Whistler, BC Canada NO PLACE LIKE A SECOND HOME By Shelley Arnusch Who: Jet City Fix Say what you will about Seattle, it’s definitely got a cool nickname. Due to the significant aerospace industry headquartered in the northwest metropolis Seattle goes by "Jet City," a moniker that proved irresistible when a new hard-rocking band was trolling for names in early 2002. The band added the concept of having their songs be a musical "fix" their fans would come to crave like street level smack, and the Jet City Fix became official. That’s the story according to lead singer Shane Flauding, told while killing time with the rest of his bandmates in an Edmonton hotel room. Edmonton is the first stop on the Seattle quintet’s tour of Western Canada with Vancouver rockers the Black Halos. They’ll go as far as Winnipeg, then come back this way to headline the Boot Pub’s Punk Night this Sunday. It will be the Fix’s first time playing Whistler. A live intro for the local crowd to what Flauding calls "a conglomeration of punk, and glam, and rock, and a little bit of emo," courtesy of himself and drummer Dana Sims with brothers Ty and Justin McDonald on guitar and bass. Rounding out the group is guitarist John Wokas, an addition to the band via a ‘musician wanted’ ad answered while he was still living in New Orleans. Obviously the kind of rock ’n’ roll chemistry that would inspire Wokas to make the move from one corner of America the beautiful to the complete geographic opposite has got to mean something. Touring and life on the road, especially the road through Saskatchewan can wear any band down. But Flauding says Jet City welcomes touring as a chance to get away from day jobs, and the rest of the everyday hassles of normal life. "We’re all best friends," he says, "so there’s really no drama on the road." Still, there’s no place like home, and Jet City has found a second one just north of the 49th, where the scene appears to be mirroring that of their hometown. "We have a lot of friends in Vancouver," he says, naming specifically metal maniacs 3 Inches of Blood, and last week’s Punk Night openers Chinatown. "I think the same kinds of things are going on. There’s the experimental bands, and there’s the straightforward rock ’n’ roll bands that are kind of dominating right now. It seems like it’s the same in Seattle and Vancouver, and I feel at home in Vancouver, I like being up there." Seattle, says Flauding, is currently supporting a healthy music scene. "There’s lots of good places to play, and people come out almost every night to see a show," he says. It can’t help but remind music lovers of the city’s sound-defining heyday in the early 1990s, though Flauding claims the Jet City Fix’s Seattle heritage shouldn’t necessarily invoke a tie to the era. "I don’t think we’re looking to carry any legacy, we’re just out to have a good time," he says. It should be just that for those who make it out to the Boot this Sunday. "Expect high energy rock with all five members going full speed ahead," says Flauding. "We just love to do what we’re doing, so it just kind of happens for us. We get on stage and explode. It’s an outlet for all the stuff going on in our lives."
Every critic who has reviewed a show by Seattle’s The Jet City Fix seems to use the same superlatives to describe the quintet’s brand of straight-ahead, no-frills rock and roll. Words like “catchy”, “masterful” and “brilliant” seem to always be in the mix when they talk about the songwriting and mean, loud chops of this band that’s only been together for a year. The Jet City Fix, playing the Boot Pub on Sunday, formed in early 2002 after drummer Dana Sims quit the band he was playing in, because he was tired of playing in someone else’s band. Starting from scratch, Dana phoned a longtime friend who gave him the phone number of brothers Ty and Justin McDonald, who wanted to play in a band together. The three clicked instantly and the first TJCF songs were written in those first jam sessions together. Needing more members, the three placed an ad for a guitarist and John Wokas answered from New Orleans, saying he would be moving to Washington soon. As promised, Wokas called the band when he arrived, and againi it was like they had been together for years. All that was missing was a singer, and Sims had heard of a “mythical kid” in Tacoma who would fit the bill. Although they had no name or phone number for this mysterious vocalist, the boys in the band still finally managed to track down Shane Flauding – discovering that, yet again, the chemistry was perfect between all the members. Nine months later the debut album Play to Kill was released, and TJCF was on stage with the likes of Link Wray and the Black Halos. Catch this up-and-coming band, Sept. 28 at the Boot Pub.
Jet City Fix - Play To Kill There’s nothing better than watching a band with obvious chemistry and intense love for performing their music in front of a willing crowd. Such was the case at The Jet City Fix’s August 28th show at the Crocodile Cafe, also showcasing Chinatown, Post Stardom Depression and The Black Halos. If you didn’t make it to the Thursday night free show, you really missed out on something special. The Jet City Fix features five high-energy members, including three guitarists. That’s right. Three guitars. Lead singer Shane Flauding commands center stage as their frontman, eloquently and energetically screaming, shaking, grinding and rock star posing. Not that the other members let their presence be forgotten; brothers Ty and Justin McDonald, John Wokas and drummer Dana Sims lend their incredible talent to the indelicate recipe of rock, pop and punk their music is created of. Those who came to see Post Stardom Depression and arrived a bit early to secure their alcoholic drinks and spots in front of the stage were treated to the frenzy of loud music and sometimes mournful lyrics that makes up The Jet City Fix, who took the stage prior to PSD. As the lesser-known band, The Jet City Fix made a lot of new fans and followers that night. Those who were smart enough purchased themselves a copy of the band’s debut album, Play To Kill, which includes their catchy songs like “Drowning,” “The Life,” and “Sick of Drugs.” By the time Post Stardom Depression had finished their set, I didn’t even have enough energy to stick around for the Black Halos, who finished out the night at the Croc. My head was still spinning from my mind being blown by The Jet City Fix. As my fellow contributors of NadaMucho like to say, they rocked my panties off. All I have to say is thank you, boys. To buy a copy of The Jet City Fix’s Play To Kill, visit their website at www.thejetcityfix.com. September 11, 2003 THE BLACK HALOS, JET CITY FIX
Jet City Fix, Camarosmith, Hagfish, Zeke The show started with Jet City Fix. This Seattle band played loud and energetic rock 'n' roll. The lead singer shook pelvis (clad in tight jeans) while the guitarists did synchronized lifts and poses. More frail-looking and stylish than a lot of the crowd, JCF still rocked with their shag haircuts in a heartfelt and real way. They were flashy, but it was not overdone. They did have some competition for attention when a woman was worked into a frenzy by the band's grooves and started gyrating to the music, then upped it a notch by violently spinning around in circles and flailing her arms. This inspired the lighting guy to turn on the strobe light as she ended her dance by writhing around on the dance floor in front of the stage. The rest of the crowd lined the walls and stood with their arms crossed and giggled at the woman's somewhat impressive moves. The band snickered a few times at the display, not upset with her stealing some of their thunder with her stripper-like contortions. The only part that wasn't rock 'n' roll was the fact that the singer was sipping hot tea as they played. Other than that, they had all of the bases covered: talented musicians who looked like they were enjoying themselves, good stage presence, and a cheetah-print drum kit.
JET CITY FIX at Skatefest The forth annual Grays Harbor Skatefest will spotlight the Harbor's best young skateboarders and bring regional pro boarders to Aberdeen's Pioneer Park beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. PHOTO CAPTION: Wet city's rockin' (and it's about time)
Genere: Scan Rock, Power Pop Che bel disco che è questo "Play To Kill" che riesce a mescolare sonorità tipicamente hard rock con quelle sporche dello scan e con le melodie del power pop, come se in un unica band ci suonassero membri di BACKYARD BABIES, BUCKCHERRY e LIT. In alcuni casi, come in "The Life" o "Jet City's Rockin'", l'interpretazione di Shane Flauding è da plagio, l'assomiglianza con JOSH TODD è impressionante mentre è da elogiare il loro tentativo di creare un album vario, dove alternano pezzi più punkeggianti (che strizzano l'occhio a MTV) ad altri di chiara scuola nord europea per arrivare a brani decisamente più americani e rockeggianti. La ciliegina sulla torta è la cover di "Sick Of Drugs" dei WILDHEARTS, altra band da cui il quintetto americano prende spunto... a questo punto non posso fare altro che consigliarvi questo CD che, pur non essendo il disco del secolo, riesce a far passare tre quarti d'ora in completa spensieratezza... il rammarico è che se tutti i gruppi partoriti da Seattle fossero stati come questi Jet City Fix, forse il genere non avrebbe vissuto tutti questi anni bui.. promossi! (If you can't read Italian, here is the English translation:)
What a great name for a rock band! And a just as speedy story behind how they met up to form a band. Feeling unfulfilled, they quit the bands they were in and pressed on- knowing they would eventually meet up with the right people they were fueled to play with. This was in early 2002. Brothers Ty, and Justin McDonald (guitar/bass) wanted to play together, the two met up with Dana (the drummer), and put an ad in the paper. John Wokas (guitarist) in New Orleans, responds to the ad even though he wasn’t Seattle-based. They tell him to call “if” he gets there, thinking “Yeah, whatever”. About a month later he does call and sits in on a rehearsal where the rest of the guys decide he’s in. Now they need a singer. After lots of crap auditions over a month’s time, they meet mystery guy Shane and give him a tape to practice with. After a week, he nails the songs, thus forming the last member of this five-piece band. Shane: “We’re a little glam, a little punk, hard rock, all just smashed together”. “Invisible” explodes with hefty guitar rides, and clean beats upon hitting that little play button. The sound from track one, onto track twelve, climbs out and sticks with you so humming friendly music can be heard by your loved ones. That’s a smart move, to add all those catchy bridges, and also a very commercial move- near mainstream or fodder for college radio to mull around in. “Bullet” is the great rock song on the album. The dynamics are used in the freshest way to say (chorus) “I need you like a bullet to the back of my brain, I need you like a summer full of pouring rain, I need you like the desert needs more sun.” It’s a little 80’s cliché, but the way they decide to say it within a souped-up hard rock style, the lyrics sound like the first time you might have heard someone else say/sing it. Pervasive guitar leads consume this whole disc, and who doesn’t like guitar rock or rich guitar leads? And keep in mind that not a lot of time has passed here (early 2002) and the fan base these guys have already established in that time is massive, as well as record an excellent, if not commercial album. These are viable circumstances for this band. Moreover- these guys actually get along and like each other- they are friends. That makes for vast possibilities for a rock band, and its fans. So, rock on Jet City Fix!
(If you can't read Spanish..here is the English translation): A new band of tatooed rockers playing high energy rock and roll, looking for a perfect "Hit" composition that will reach the top. You only need to listen to "Dumb Luck", "Drowning", "Sick of Drugs" and "Bullet", mid-tempo songs that will pleasure big crowds. In a wild and "rockier" way, you have "Invisible", "Jet City's Rockin'" and "The Fix". They are friends of Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla), that has designed their CD cover. File them with the Black Halos.
With a name that oozes sleazy rock n' roll, but a look that hints at emo at least on the sleeve of this album, you could be somewhat confused by The Jet City Fix. What do they sound like? Well, not really what they look like. 'Play To Kill' is loud and proud and rockin' and rolling like a rattlesnake on Red Bull. Think Backyard Babies but born and bred in the US. These guys even cover The Wildhearts' 'Sick Of Drugs' which is a nice surprise. Lots of guitars, lots of energetic drums and vocals with attitude. The only thing they could do with losing is the 'The' at the start of their name.
Can I be really corny? Can I tell you that if you don't check out The Jet City Fix then you will be really dumb. Dumb as in 'Dumb Luck', the single taken from their debut album 'Play To Kill'. Yeah I know... Feel free to groan in unison. But 'Dumb Luck' is a raucously fun rock anthem that fans of Wildhearts, American Hi-Fi and any adrenaline fuelled pop-punk-rock bands will dote over. Impressive stuff. Visit www.thejetcityfix.com for info.
Citing a line from Spinal Tap as your band's philosophy should score some big points with the tongue-in-cheek pop-punk crowd. Then again, the line The Jet City Fix has chosen is among the less sparkly Spinal gems. "Have a good time, all the time"? Yeah, I think it was Motley Crue's motto, too. No matter. The Jet City Fix's "Dumb Luck" is no "Big Bottom," but it is a well-done exercise in I-want-the-girl pop.
By now you've probably heard, The Jet City Fix are the real deal. After taking Tacoma by storm following the April 22 release of their debut CD, Play To Kill, and a string of high intensity local gigs, the word is out. Playing Hell's Kitchen this Saturday, July 26 along with Down By Law, Pseudo Heroes, and Pistol For A Paycheck - Jet City's rockin, and it's about time. Even better the show's all ages and starts at 7 p.m. Coming to the plate with a corked bat of crunching guitars, a chest thumping rhythm section, and pure rock 'n' roll vocals, TJCF hits for power and average. Together for just under a year, they seem to only be getting better with age. The critically acclaimed Play To Kill, recorded after the band had only been together for two months, is a fine example. "People say our CD is insane because it's all over the place," explained Jet City's Shane Flauding. "We get along very well. We all listen to different styles of music. We're patient with each other, and we all put in our different musical influences." Evidence of this is abundant on the disc. It sways from poppy emo to 80's metal, to straight ahead rock 'n' roll, and then does it all again. Trying to pin TJCF to a specific sound would be impossible, except to say it's loud, fast, hellacious fun. I'm proud to say The Jet City Fix are from Tacoma. "Our name is definitely getting out there. We're getting some radio play, and more people are starting to show up at our shows," offered Flauding. "We're definitely a live band. We're going to rock the world." What better place to start than Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma - the best club in town, with possibly the best band. Check out The Jet City Fix this Saturday, July 26 before they conquer the world.
The Jet City Fix is a pure rock and a roll band with meaningful lyrics and great guitar riffs and solos, not caring what anyone else thinks of their music. The album starts out with a song simply by the name "Invisible" with their incredible guitar solos and then immediately goes into their hit song "Dumb Luck", a catchy song that will get stuck in your head. The song "The Life" shows their love of rock and roll. Some of the stand out tracks are "The Life", "Dumb Luck", "Love It Or Leave It", and "The Fix" I give The Jet City Fix's debut album "Play To Kill" an A+. With meaningful lyrics and powerful riffs this band could go a long way in rock and roll history.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It is a wake up call to all of the unoriginal bands out there that you can succeed in putting out a great album while being a little different than everybody else. "Play to Kill" is 12 songs of guitar driven rock that cannot be easily categorized as anything other than rock and roll. It's so easy to deliver the comparison of this band as Aerosmith with a punk edge. They mix the elements of old school guitar rock with a punk style delivery and score a damn good album. This is one of those bands whose music ability is far better than most you will encounter on your pop charts today. That isn't to say that they don't have that pop abiltiy to them. The songs "Dumb Luck" and "Drowning" are songs that deserve to be heard by this world. They both have ridiculously catchy hooks, but aren't silly ass songs with lyrics that could be written by any 5th grader with spare time on their hands. Another wonderful thing about this album is that every song isn't about the proverbial "girl that got away". The Jet City Fix is one of the most energetic and fun bands around. One listen to this album will have you wanting more from this Washington quintet.
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