Reviews
Praise for Sunday Never Comes
Although from the Pacific Northwest, Oregon pickers, Jackstraw, play like they grew up in the mountain south. Their sound is as Appalachian as a bowl of soup beans and cornbread. -April D. Wolfe, Common Folk Music 2011
For nearly 15 years, Jackstraw has been a sturdy foundation of Portland’s thriving roots music scene. With a sound firmly planted in stringband traditions, the group’s music is still somehow resiliently pliant, shrugging off museum-piece austerity for a personable, daisy-fresh sound. Their sixth album, Sunday Never Comes, is an easygoing affair that features the band’s newest member, banjoist Cory Goldman from Water Tower Bucket Boys, and songwriting contributions from the group members as well as likeminded local songwriters like W.C. Beck and Caleb Klauder. With precise, nimble picking and a continually forward-thinking outlook, Jackstraw breathe young life into old-time bluegrass via their tightly strung, hollow-bodied wooden instruments, and imprint a fresh Pacific Northwest stamp on a well-worn, pleasingly familiar sound. – The Portland Mercury, Dec. 2011
Jackstraw’s dual frontmen, Darrin Craig and David Pugh, are able singers and pickers, but more important, they share a clear musician vision on Sunday Never Comes. Jackstraw is classic without feeling precious; highly instrumental but not jammy; funny but never cute. The band can tackle songs of vastly different emotional weights and keep them safely under the same aesthetic roof: “Hurts When I See You” is a haunting, lovely waltz that stands in stark contrast to the title track, which mixes sepia-toned sentimentalism and gallows humor as it trades train-whistle verses and galloping instrumentals. … To be clear, there’s nothing particularly new about Jackstraw making a great modern roots record. This one is just particularly great. -Casey Jarman, Willamette Week (Portland OR) Nov 30, 2011
More Reviews
Jackstraw impresses me with their tight-knit, skilled musicianship, their crackling energy and repertoire which includes both traditional gems and fresh new tunes. A young band like this helps set the tone for new bluegrass in the 21st Century. Pete Wernick (Hot Rize)
Jackstraw has added some much-needed youthful energy to the ranks of contemporary traditional bluegrass, . . . It’ll be a pleasure to hear Jackstraw’s next recording. Dirty Linen Magazine
… comforting proof that the widening popularity of bluegrass threatens neither authenticity nor energy. John Foyston – The Oregonian – Portland, OR
If their mandolin-driven, high-energy songs don’t give you the desire to get up and dance, you might want to have all your vital organs checked. Megan Patrick – Daily Evergreen – Moscow, ID
This avant-garde bluegrass band from Portland, Oregon plays on the cutting edge of acoustic music with wild solos and a great mix of traditional, original and inspired material Cartwright’s Music – Salem, OR
, . . . enough hell-bent speed to make a punk band envious! Dan Short – Casco Bay Weekly – Portland, ME
More evidence that bluegrass is in full bloom renaissance again, as young bands this talented bring to it all the energy of youth & rock, all the while firmly within the tradition they know & respect,… Tim Da Flower Punk Lynch – PauseRecord.com
Their shared passion for soulful acoustic music makes them blood brothers. Curtis Waterbury – CitySeartch.com
Playing out of Oregon, Jackstraw proves to any listener that you don’t have to be from the south to pick irresistible tunes guaranteed to make you want to get down. Ray McKrow – The Spectator – Valdosta, GA