Raleigh’s The Jackets are relative newcomers to the Triangle music scene but just because the band may be new, doesn’t mean it’s members aren’t already seasoned vets. Half the band, John Teer (guitar/vocals) and Chandler Holt (guitar/bass/vocals) make up bluegrass standard-bearers Chatham County Line. Roger Gupton (guitar/bass/vocals) and drummer Evans Nicholson are well-known for having toured and played with a number of local bands.
The Jackets will start up a residency at Motorco this coming Sunday. Dates/times are located below and all events are free.
Holt and Nicholson talked a little bit about the upcoming residency.
The Jackets as a band are relative newcomers to the Triangle music scene but the band’s members are not. How did The Jackets come together as a band?
Holt: For sometime Teer had coveted the idea of starting a rock band to show off his monster guitar prowess. He and Roger met and started loosely putting some stuff together w/Evans until I basically hijacked the band. I started forcing them to play a bunch of my tunes. It seredipitously became a lot of fun and seemed like something we should keep doing.
How did the idea to take up this residency come about?
Holt: The Jackets are going to start a recording project very soon and we decided a residency would be a great way to get well rehearsed and try some stuff. Plus, nobody does these things and we just thought it would be fun try it. Most importantly, Chris Tamplin at Motorco was totally into the idea and said he would host it.
Nicholson:
I think the idea to do it at Motorco was Chandler’s. But, since he lives so close, I also think he did it so he wouldn’t have to drive to any of the gigs.
Can fans expect to hear anything new or different?
Holt: We’re definitely going to mix it up a bit on different nights. We’ve got some new tunes that we’re going to be trying out which might mean some different arrangements from night to night. We’re also gonna just do some covers and just try to have fun and stretch out a bit. Look for some more fiddle in these four shows.
Nicholson: Fans can hear and see what a rehearsal is like for us. They can also see what we look like during the day in sunlight ( for the Sunday gigs ), so that may be interesting! Plus, since we’re billing it as a practice, that means we can play songs we don’t know and will possibly mess up – no pressure! Right? So that’s good…
What are The Jackets working on right now?
Holt: New tunes and getting a record out in 2011.
Are there any plans to tour?
Holt: Yes, we’re not sure when or where though.
If The Jackets were NC BBQ, which style would the band be?
Holt: The style of Red Bridges in John’s hometown of Shelby. That stuff is crack!!
Do you have any favorite records or shows from last year? Feel free to list away…
Holt: Honestly, I’m a bad person to ask this question. I’m a bit partial to Chatham Co. Line Wildwood. Did anybody else release a record last year? As far as shows, I got to see The David Rawlings Machine and Wilco at a festival in Holland. It was killer! Troika in Durham also sticks out as a great introduction to a lot of new bands like The Small Ponds, Onward Soldiers, Futurebirds, Filthybird and Birds & Arrows.
What’s the last record you bought?
Holt: It might have been a Mount Moriah EP or a Jonathon Byrd record? I tried to by more local music this year. There are so many cool bands in this area and the quality of these band’s projects is deserving of more national attention in my opinion.
- Sun Jan. 16 – Rehearsal
- Wed Jan. 19 – Performance (pint night!)
- Sun Jan. 23 – Performance – Acoustic w/Django Haskins from Old Ceremony
- Wed Jan. 26 – Performance (pint night!)
- Sun Jan. 30 – Performance
