Buffalo Rising Online

Mar 5th 2008, 10:12am By Susan Marie

Welcome to Handsome Jack's new CD, Heatseeker.

I became associated with Handsome Jack watching live video from a performance at Sherlock’s in Erie, PA. It instantly reminded me of the Aud. You remember the Aud? Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in downtown Buffalo? Just . . .like . . . that. My chest began to reverberate with the ferocity from the bass and drums. The dual guitars made me rise from my color-coded seat. That first wail of vocals raised my fist in the air. Handsome Jack transported me to that hard rock 60’s & 70’s scene. The only difference is this is 2008. This four-piece powerhouse has managed to take that sound, own it, reinvent it and transform it into their latest CD, entitled, Heat Seeker.

Handsome Jack consists of: Jamison on lead guitar and vocals ~ Joey on bass/vocals ~ Rick on guitar and Owl on percussion and vocals. Heat Seeker is an 11-track monster loaded with demonic guitar riffs, pounding drum skins and deep-throated growls. The artwork on the cover is reminiscent of concert posters from Cream, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane.

The 2nd track on this CD, Love Machine, starts with a mean bass line and a bluesy guitar riff with percussion pulverizing its way to a wrecking ball of vocals. The title speaks for itself. Listening to this tune is parallel to hearing AC/DC jam with Cream.

Blood, the 4th track is a classic in your face anthem. With lyrics like: “Well . . . I want your blood . . . I need your blood . . .” you know these guys don’t mess around. Musically, you can catch influences such as Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix.

The title track, Heat Seeker, is a down South blues monument. There is a brazen raunchy element that is to be admired in percussion, twin guitars and vocals when you hear: “Better watch out tonight . . . Yeah, I gotcha in my sight . . . “ The four of them are collective, unabashed and intoxicating. This one will get you hopping onstage to join the guys in shooting this tune out and over the heads of everyone on the floor.

Brown Water is a wicked little ditty with acoustics and harmonization. This is a tune about heartbreak, drinking and being down in the dirt. Life as it is, as good as it gets. The strumming here is phenomenal. The Rolling Stones must be proud.

To contact Handsome Jack, go to http://www.myspace.com/handsomejack. They have played Buffalo to Boston to Texas. Go see them LIVE it is a MUST. Catch them on You Tube and you will see what I mean. Handsome Jack is breathing life back into music. Exactly what this entire scene needs.

Grab their CD; I need to get a new subwoofer.