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Willie Jack and the Northern Light
There has always been those band names with a name in the title but had nothing to do with the band itself. Alice in chains has no members named Alice, Jefferson Airplane has no Jeffersons or Airplanes (I checked), Jethro Tull is the name not a member, Thompson Twins aren’t related or even twins!, Hootie and the Blowfish has no Hootie or Blowfish!, and locally Toolshed Jack, Ricky and the Ricardo’s, Aaron Charles, Asking Andy have nothing to do with Toolsheds, Ricky’s, or asking anything! I know it can be confusing but it’s a good way for people to label something. After all how many of us were upset when Alice in chains didn’t have a hot chick singing or seeing the first Hootie and the Blowfish video (they use to be on Mtv before it sucked) and there were NO BLOWFISH! Our new Featured band for January and first of 2014 has this same problem. So who’s Willie Jack or is it Willie and Jack and do they live near the Northern lights? Guess we’ll have to see.
Willie Jack and the Northern Light has been playing their own style of music for more than a decade bringing fun, excitement and fine musicianship to every venue you can imagine (festivals, clubs, special events and gatherings) throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. Drawing heavily from a multitude of influences and styles, yet flavored with their own sense of original expression, their genre has been labeled Jam, Experimental and Americana.
No stranger to the festival scene, Willie Jack and the Northern Light has appeared at Bears Picnic every year since the Central PA festival’s inception, opening for the likes of New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dark Star Orchestra and Splintered Sunlight. Other noted appearances have included the NY State Harvest Festival, the PA State Greenway Conference, Gasstock, LibertyFest, Trails End HarvestFest, Jam Along the Creek, Peace of MindFest The Dam Show, Kind Roots Festival, and S.H.A.R.E Fest and Willies Midnight Crazy Train Campout. Not the venues you would see regularly on our page since they’re special occasions and not many venues now days have “jam bands”.
Coming from a gifted musical family, WJ’s front man Jeff Oshetski is also lead guitar, harmonica, and vocals. Jeff has shared the stage with members of the New Riders, as well as the Zen Tricksters and opened for many national acts. Equal virtuosity can be heard whether he is playing acoustic or electric, and he has a strong soulful voice.
Joe Raup formed the band with Oshetski, plays rhythm guitar and adds clear vocal harmonies and sweet rhythm accents. Joe also shares most of the songwriting duties with Jeff.
The Bass (not the fish) is Wes Fahringer, who, you guessed it, also shares vocals. Wes is a Penn State graduate and all round great musician.
Joe Ciarvella, the bands drummer and Producer, also comes from a gifted musical legacy. He signed on in April of 2011. Joe recorded, mixed and produced the band’s debut album in Willie Jacks private project studio, Peach Mountain Records. Joe toured the country with many noteworthy bands including International JamBand pioneers, The Zen Tricksters. Joe also has played with many former Grateful Dead members and their extended family of bands...i.e. (Members of Phil and Friends, Ratdog, JGB, NRPS) Joe has played music with legends of the Jamband scene and brings this unique perspective to the collective stew. (You can see some of Joe’s drum set in our Schuylkill drummers album)
Mike Whalen on keys has really allowed this band to go to another level of musicianship. Mike can add beautiful piano runs or jump into synthesized funk fills and when he and Oshetski share leads.
WJ released their debut album, "Where You Want To Be," in July 2012, Willie Jack & the Northern Light continues their tradition of delivering the goods to the fans...
Whether playing acoustic and exploring rural roots or jamming electric and going into experimental realms Willie Jack and the Northern Light always delivers a little more than just a fine show. With a loyal multi-generational fan base and positive relationships with other regional musicians, one can never tell what surprises might turn up at a Willie Jack show, but it’s ALWAYS a good dance, a good listen and a great time.
CD Press Release:
“Willie Jack & the Northern Light,
release debut album…”
Peach Mountain Recordings, proudly presents, “Where You Want To Be,” the debut album by, Willie Jack & the Northern Light. Gritty and informal, while at the same time polished and eloquent, the album carries the contagion of inspiring spontaneous foot tapping. “Where You Want to Be” is the kind of album that articulates good time feelings.
Simply put, if your radiator, significant other and your sanity all overheat at the same time, this is the music that meets you where you are and enables you to transcend the moment; to the place of comfortable groove. In other words, this music puts you, “Where You Want To Be.”
Willie Jack & the Northern Light has earned the reputation for satisfying the thirst of eclectic audiences on the club and festival circuits. The band plans to continue its over 10 year tradition of infectious vibes through amazing music as they tour, promoting their new album. “Where You Want To Be.” Available now!!
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/williejackthenorthernlight
http://www.reverbnation.com/williejackthenorthernlight
http://www.facebook.williejackthenorthernlight
Contatcts:
Joe Ciarvella: 570-449-3070,
Joe Raup: 570-850-3138,
Article about their Debut CD
“Willie Jack & the Northern Light Release debut album”
By Phil Simon, Simon Says Booking, Live Music News and Review,
Tour dates around the Mid Atlantic to follow.
Peach Mountain Recordings, proudly presents, “Where You Want To Be,” the debut album by, Willie Jack & the Northern Light. Gritty and informal, while at the same time polished and eloquent, the album carries the contagion of inspiring spontaneous foot tapping. “Where You Want to Be” is the kind of album that articulates good time feelings.
Simply put, if your radiator, significant other and your sanity all overheat at the same time, this is the music that meets you where you are and enables you to transcend the moment; to the place of comfortable groove. In other words, this music puts you, “Where You Want To Be.”
Willie Jack & the Northern Light has earned the reputation for satisfying the thirst of eclectic audiences on the club and festival circuits. The band plans to continue its over 10 year tradition of infectious vibes through amazing music as they tour, promoting their new album, “Where You Want To Be.” Available now!!
We had a chance to catch up with some of the band members to talk about their process:
Mike Whalen, WJNL keyboardist:
As we've been playing these songs live for the past year--- especially since Joe C (Joe Ciravella formerly of the Zen Tricksters and Post Junction), joined the group --- we have developed a level of familiarity with the tunes which made the studio process very comfortable.
The obvious difference from our live versions would be the length (laughs): where we often improvise songs out to ten minutes or more, the studio versions are much more clean, abbreviated, and melodic. Definitely less banging on my part! (laughs)
In a live performance, you may react to different notes you hear and rhythms you pick-up on --- making each rendition unique. I really never play things the same way twice ---- I use live performances as another way to practice and experiment. At the Peach Mountain studio, i did want to stick to the basic melodic structure and simple fills developed over the past year. Keep it simple, Simon, was my plan! (Laughs)
But entering the studio situation was similar to "live" situations because i was reacting to what was put in front of me --- I was hearing the percussion and bass tracks for the first time.
If I recorded again today, who knows how it would turn out? But I'm sure I would not be as satisfied…
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