Contact the band via email: The Jukes
The Jukes Story.
Part 1.
The road to the The Jukes has been a long one.
The band started to form when Sean (after playing bass for BlueHeat550, a London based blues band) returned from the UK and wanted to continue to play the tunes that had been "the soundtrack to life".
After many months of adverts, phone calls and emails, the first rehearsal kicked off in late 2006 with a full line up consisting of vocals, harmonica, piano, 2 guitars, bass and drums.
Very shortly after, the vocalist left, taking his harp with him.
Plenty more ads followed and another vocalist was bought in and not long after that he left too.
Another vocalist wasn't forth coming and the rehearsals quickly turned into instrumental jams, which left the remaining original Jukes a bit flat.
Not to be out done by the front men, the piano player picked up his keys and didn't come back.
The motivation for continuing was draining faster than band members were quitting, so The Jukes were put on hold.
A love of the music never died, and Adam (one of The Jukes original guitar players) called Sean up several months after the last session suggesting that they try again.
A conversation and a cup of coffee later, both were convinced enough to recall the drummer and more adverts were plastered about the town looking for that elusive vocalist.
Having received some promising responses, several more rehearsal sessions were quickly arranged.
The drummer quit after the first one.
Part 2.
After a week or so latter a rehearsal room was once again filled with the sounds of cymbal stands being adjusted and snare drums being hit, the faint hum of speakers as amplifiers were being switched on, instruments being tuned up and fingers loosened while trying out of a couple of new riffs, testing microphone levels and blowing a few notes and just generally trying to remember that long ago learned chord… all the while attempting to shake off the effect of much more recently acquired hangovers.
Someone eventually counted of a shuffle and so it began…
It wasn’t a particularly structured session, but there was enough good playing among the odd dropped note and mistimed ending to suggest to those present that The Jukes had finally found their line up.
Part 3.
A forgotten kick drum pedal, a lost guitar slide and a couple more rehearsal sessions
later, the feeling was that somehow our collective mojo was miss-
If only you wouldn't clap so hard...
Part 4.
Another month has passed and The Jukes have recruited a new drummer.
In fact he was their first drummer… so does that make him new or old?
Perhaps, maybe, just a tad confused.
The long sort after keyboard player never showed up, but The Jukes were very happy to welcome the not inconsiderable talents of another 6 stringer into the fold.
The first rehearsal session with the latest line up went without a hitch and left everyone at the session convinced that this time it is a definite goer.
Part 5.
It's been a busy couple of weeks for The Jukes.
The band was joined by a keyboard player for a couple of rehearsals, but unfortunately the curse of The Jukes has been laid upon him.
The band put in some hard at work during rehearsal to get ready for the first ever gig, which was held at Grand Central.
Despite a few dropped notes, missed cues, more than one improvised intro and playing a couple of tunes in a different key to the set list notes, the gig went down extremely well and the band's brand of Chicago blues was well received by both the patrons and staff.
The Jukes have also, finally, made it into the recording studio.
A selection of the resulting demo tracks can be found on our myspace page (www.myspace.com/thejukesnz) and more tunes can be found on the The Music page.
These tracks were recorded 'live', with no overdubs, mistakes and all.
The band wants to extend a big thank you to Michelle of The Rock Factory for the recording, mixing and mastering.
Part 6.
Three gigs down and more to come, things are going well for The Jukes.
After a really enjoyable debut gig at Grand Central the band could not wait to play again, this time at Bar de Baz.
It is an intimate little venue which is perhaps more suited to acoustic performers rather than an electric blues band.
The gig was shut down after the second set by Noise Control officers, much to the astonishment of the great crowd in that night.
Maybe the band was just too much competition for the Speed Dating happening in the next room.
However, the band would like to extend a big thanks to the Council for helping to write the rock and roll chapter of The Jukes history.
There would be no such problems at the next gig at The Dogs Bollix Irish Bar.
In fact, The Jukes were in danger of not making any noise at all, due to eleventh hour issues surrounding the PA.
However, these were rectified by fantastic crew at The Rock Factory.
Next time up, the band are getting back to where it all started, Grand Central.
Noise Control permitting.
Part 7.
The Jukes always enjoy playing at Grand Central.
It is really is a great little venue for live music.
The stage is tiny (the drummer has to be shoved out of the way underneath the stairs – and some might say incidentally that is the best place for them) and it doesn't take many people to patronise the bar before it feels full.
The bar staff always look after us, and it's open till the wee hours of the morning, so after we have finished our last we can relax and have a drink or two with the punters.
We doubled our rock and roll points tally, when the local constabulary paid the bar a visit.
The rumour was they were looking for underage drinkers, but we think that they had heard there was a good little band on.
Either that or they were there to revoke the bar's music licence due to a violation of the Trades Description Act.
The day after that gig, The Jukes were playing again, this time at The Greenhithe Blues Festival.
The guys really enjoyed playing two nights in a row… "almost like a real band" quipped one of the guitar players.
The Jukes were on the bill with 3 other fantastic bands and opened the show.
We had a 45 minute set and played really well.
There is something about knowing your playing in front of other musicians; somehow it seems to lift your own performance.
The owner of the studio where The Jukes rehearse (and a suburb guitar player in his
own right) has this to say:
The Jukes have been rehearsing at The Manor for the last couple months but I hadn't had a chance to see them live yet.
My bad.
I know how good they are from rehearsals but I've been hearing reports from their live gigs that say they ratchet up a few notches and turn on a killer performance.
They opened the show last night.
Modest but appreciative crowd at that point but I have to say, The Jukes were damned fine.
They inhabit the Chicago blues as if they lived in the suburbs and visited the clubs and bars of their heroes every week.
[NZGuitars.com] Forum members Bluebass and StrayFalcon kind of run the show from opposite ends of the stage.
Between them reside vocalist Mark, drummer Gavin and guitarist Andy.
Mark's gravelly vocals and blues harp are perfect for the sound.
Shit he's good.
Gavin, a big burly guy, is notable for having the smallest drum kit on earth.
I mean it's tiny.
I've seen snares bigger than his kick drum.
But shit he's good.
Andy Sweetman lives up to his name on guitar.
Just effortless.
Strat and fender blues deville sounding right on and given a lift now and then by his custom FuzZiebRo boost pedal.
Bluesbass brings a big tight bottom end to the sound.
Strayfalcon is always remarkably restrained for most of the performance but when he cuts loose on lead he is truly otherworldly.
The bastard!
Cheers Anthony!
The band take a short break over the Christmas period as the band members disappear to all parts of the country for a bit of well earned R&R.
It seems like it has taken forever to get to where we are now, but that is because it took such a long time for the right bunch of guys to find their way into the band.
It's interesting to reflect, once the line up was established, on how far the band has come in such a short space of time.
The Jukes would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.
Try to avoid Slade and Cliff Richard as much as possible and we wish you a prosperous and bluesing New Year.
Part 8.
With Christmas a distant and rather blurring memory and the New Year well underway The Jukes kicked off 2008 with a gig at the Masonic Tavern in Devonport, sharing the bill with Los Diablos and The Winchesters.
Los Diablos are a very good tight trio, mixing a blend of Claptonesque material with their own original tunes.
The Winchesters are something else.
The young, recently-
Both bands really are worth checking out.
Next up is a gig at Auckland Jazz and Blues Club, which The Jukes are looking forward to immensely.
The club members are a very knowledgeable crowd -
A smaller gig at the Karaka Country Lodge serves as a prelude to the Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest.
The Jukes are excited to be included in the line up for just a well known and patronized event.
It should be great fun all round.
Part 9.
It's been more than a few months since the last blog entry and plenty has
happened since then.
The band's gig at the Auckland Jazz and Blues Club was an extremely interesting experience.
The looks on some of the patron’s faces as the band were setting up, must have been somewhat similar to those that greeted Alexis Korner when he took his band into London's Marque Club back in the 60's.
The first few songs of the opening set were greeted with a smattering of applause and after the club's chairman had reminded the members that this was a "jazz and blues club and those that didn't like it should go home" the crowd loosened up and started to enjoy it.
The Jukes were joined on stage by Johnny, a very good harmonica player who had obviously come prepared with his bag of harps.
The chairman’s words had obviously struck a chord (excuse the terrible pun) as the band was glad to receive several encouraging comments afterwards as we packed up.
Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond anyone's control the gig at Karaka didn't happen but the Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest was a thoroughly entertaining evening.
Thankfully the rain stayed away and the band really enjoyed itself playing to good gathering of spectators and amongst such a variety of other acts.
Gigs at the Thirsty Dog (where Johnny joined us on stage again) and The Crest Hotel soon followed and the band would like to extend a big thank you to Dean Morris of Live Music Marketing Management (www.liveblues.co.nz) for the work he has put in to trying to revive the blues scene around the town.
After several blogs without a mention of the Curse of The Jukes' Drummers, it struck again with Gavin leaving the band.
Several rushed adverts and auditions were quickly arranged and after and an outstanding debut at Grand Central Chris Harford joins the band to fill the chair.
Part 10.
Chris’ baptism of fire continued as The Jukes were busy during June and his ability to learn on the job was a fantastic asset to the band as we were playing more gigs than having rehearsal sessions.
Gigs at Grand Central and the Cock & Bull Pub (in Lynfield, where The Jukes will be starting a residency stint in August) preceded a shared gig with the Gary Harvey Band at Club Groove in Newmarket.
Club Groove is one of Auckland’s newest live music venues, but Gary Harvey is one of New Zealand’s longest severing bluesmen and he and his band dish up a high octane mix of blues and rock and roll.
To share the bill and the stage with Gary and his boys have been one of the highlights of The Jukes career to date.
A big vote of thanks must go out from the band to Mike, who filled in on drums for our gig at the Dogs Bollix, who again did a fine job with minimal rehearsal time with the rest of the band.
Playing again at The Crest Hotel and Grand Central signal the start of an extremely
busy period for The Jukes, with The Jukes confirmed as playing the Bay of Islands
Jazz and Blues Festival, the Sonny Day Tribute show and a host of other gigs.
Part
11.
69 sleeps until Christmas.
It’s almost a year to the day since The Jukes played their first ever gig.
They say a year is a long time in politics, but it’s even longer in the life of a band.
The Bay of Islands Jazz Festival was an absolute pleasure to be part of.
Three days of listening to and playing jazz and blues in surely one of the most beautiful locations to host a festival was a tremendous and fun experience.
The band would like to thank Shirley May and her team for their wonderful hospitality, and hope that we get invited back next year.
Not to be out done was the Sonny Day Tribute show.
Held on the 17th August at the Broadway Pub & Cafe in Newmarket, it bought together some of New Zealand’s finest ever musicians to pay tribute to Sonny.
Fifteen tracks on one CD are pretty much all that was released by Sonny in terms of recorded material but on the live circuit he was a giant, one of the greatest singers and musicians New Zealand has produced.
The concert has been described as being fitting tribute for a musician so well regarded and missed by the New Zealand music fraternity, and it was extremely well attended by the public and anyone who is anyone in the blues scene looked to have turned out.
The Jukes can only hope that our small part of the day was enjoyed by the crowd and that Sonny would have approved.
As the first birthday of The Jukes comes around both the bands guitarists announced their intentions to leave the band, but for very different reasons.
Adam has been playing guitar since about 1842 and is taking a well earned break, although he will be helping out when required while the band recruits a new player.
Andy is going to pursue his interests in his other two bands.
The remaining Jukes would like to thank them both for their outstanding contributions in helping the band to this point, as wish them both well in any of their future projects.
As the personnel in the band changes, one constant remains.
The music.
The Blues.
If the next year is as eventful as this one has been, it’s sure going to be interesting.