About JGLB featuring Tommy Duncan, Ray Blade, Ben Jammin, and Johnny G. Lyon. by Jaquelyn Gordon Start by knowing, these guys are passionate. Although when the mood calls for it, JGLB has learned be pleasantly subtle, at their core they want to bulldoze you. Steamroll you. When Ray Blade is bringin' down that left hand, WHACKIN' that snare drum, you don't need to read no book to tell you what ROCK AND ROLL is. Instinctively, you know this is it. And the passion, while sensual, is also a bit maniacal. You will understand what I mean by "sensual" when you see that JGLB gets a bit "lost" in their music, by virtue of their soulful commitment. So while they exert tremendous effort, it is somehow effortless. By maniacal, I mean that JGLB is gonna proceed obsessively with their take-no-prisoners approach, come hell or high water! But, like I said, it's rock and roll. Cause even though JGLB plays some damn good blues, they ain't no blues band. Even though JGLB plays some sweet reggae music, they sure as hell ain't no reggae band. And even though JGLB occasionally plays some DAMN GOOD old-school Johnny Cash Style country music, they damn sure ain't no damn country band! JGLB IS A ROCK AND ROLL BAND, DAMMITT! What I mean is, they're hitters. Don't get scared when I say that! I don't mean that they're too loud, or heavy metal, or that they're in any way violent people. What I mean is, they play their instruments in a uniquely forceful manner. Okay, not if a tune calls for a kinder and gentler approach, but when it's time to rock, these guys know: it's all about your level of conviction, and your commitment to the big beat. "I wanna play my guitar like Jerry Lee Lewis plays piano," explains Johnny. He hastens to add that his guitar's name is "Woody." But what kind of rock and roll do they play? Johnny calls it "soulful and melodic, rhythmic and chaotic, hittin' and shoutin'!" But lemme try to tell ya, JGLB has few stylistic limitations. They can play almost any style, and capture the essence of it, while smoothly adding their own neccesary roughness. But what JGLB really wants to do more than anything else is: get YOU shakin' that thang, if ya know what i mean! And to do that, JGLB will frequently play their own versions of (somewhat familiar) soulful covers from artists ranging from Barry White to the Rolling Stones, with Marvin Gaye and Stevie Ray Vaughn thrown in there too. In fact, JGLB has been described as James Brown soulful hyper-vocals over a J Geils manic rockin' rhythm section, with Santana meets Chuck Berry style guitar. Perhaps you're thinking, "JGLB is a cover band." Well, that's hard to deny. "But, we've written and recorded songs that have been played all over the world," says Johnny. "What's more, every weekend when our band plays, the most-requested song is usually 'Call Me Lover Boy,' written by myself and (former JGLB member) Rob Stoney. But because we're PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS, we get to play every weekend. And I'd rather play more than less. Being in a band like ours keeps me rockin'!" On a recent evening, a JGLB set included "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers, "Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Johnny Cash, "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley, songs by Barry White, The Beatles, Wilson Pickett, Prince, Jan and Dean, The Pet Shop Boys (?), the Commodores, Hank Williams, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Elvis, Stevie Ray, The Stones, Ludicris (???), "Europa" and "Oye Como Va" by Santana, "Town Without Pity" by Gene Pitney, "What's Goin' On" and "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" By George Harrison, a BUNCH more rockers, and a handful of original tunes. This lasted about 2 and a half hours. Then they had "special guests" Loretta Lindsay, Dirty E, and Otis Velt, and they tore the roof off the sukka! Loretta Lindsay did a Patsy Cline song, Dirty E did "Sex Machine," Otis Velt did "Shout," and the joint was out of control! Another JGLB rock and roll fever night! JGLB finished up with their own "hit," "Call Me Lover Boy," followed by a blistering take on Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane," flowing seemlessly into Roy Buchanan's "The Messiah Will Come Again." Kinda breathtaking, to be honest. They'd exhibited brute soul power through much of the set, but finished with the most precise finesse... a set that lasted almost 4 hours, uninterrupted!