The Whigs, What Made Milwaukee Famous, and The Dead Trees May 6th at OEJ

“A fiery, young and timelessly tuneful rock trio, they spike Nineties indie rock with Sixties pop craftsmanship and Southern-rock twang.”–Rolling Stone

“Late-‘80s/early-‘90s nostalgia that combines the gravelly rock of The Replacements with the off-kilter pop of Guided by Voices–amazingly good.”–NPR


With their fierce intensity and explosive punk rock energy, The Whigs had a specific mission in mind for their new album, Mission Control; to capture the energy and spirit of their live show. Mission Control is a raucous thirty-seven minutes embodying all things forgotten in alt rocks uncompromising optimism.

Focusing on songs, playing them hard and with heart–its no surprise Mission Control captures a raw and gritty spirit that makes pop music interesting. The album is a reaction, a reengagement in the bare-boned aesthetic and melody of indie rock music and its left-of-center predecessors.

Tracks like the blistering opener “Like a Vibration” and the cymbal thrasher “Need You Need You” really jump off the speakers and set the album’s no-holds-barred tone. But The Whigs prove their versatility by switching up the mood on the melancholic “I Never Want To Go Home,” the crowd favorite “Right Hand On My Heart,” and the psychedelic “Sleep Sunshine.”

Hailing from Austin, TX, What Made Milwaukee Famous came together in 2003 to create a playful indie rock sound that’s well suited for fans of Brendan Benson, Spoon, and the Wrens.

Click here to hear The Whigs

Click here to hear WMMF

Click here to hear The Dead Trees

Click here for tickets

$10 adv/$12 at door

Doors at 9

Rigor Mortis, Arson Anthem, and Evil Army December 15th

Rigor Mortis (featuring ex-members of Ministry, Revolting Cocks, and Gwar), Arson Anthem (featuring Hank Williams III, Phillip H. Anselmo and Mike Williams from EYEHATEGOD), Evil Army, and If He Dies, He Dies team up for a night of metal at One Eyed Jacks Saturday, December 15th.

Texas death metal pioneers Rigor Mortis are performing with their original lineup that consists of Bruce Corbitt(Texas Metal Alliance), Mike Scaccia(Ministry, Revolting Cocks), Casey Orr(Gwar, The Burden Brothers), and Harden Harrison(Speedealer).

Arson Anthem's line up brings together heavy hitters Phillip H. Anselmo(Down, Superjoint Ritual, Ex-Pantera), Hank Williams III(Superjoint Ritual), Mike D. Williams (EYEHATEGOD, Outlaw Order) and Collin Yeo. These three shows mark the first official performances for the band and with the hectic touring schedules of the members involved these shows might be the only ones for a while.

Arson Anthem LIVE

Rigor Mortis live 1988

Rigor Mortis live 1988

Fiction Plane at OEJ November 28th

Fronted by singer/songwriter Joe Sumner — who is the adult son of pop/rock superstar and former Police vocalist Sting — Fiction Plane is a mostly British alternative pop/rock outfit that started to acquire a U.K. following in the early 2000s. The fact that Sumner is Sting's son has inevitably been mentioned quite a bit in the British press, and yet, Fiction Plane's members have never gone out of their way to exploit the Sting connection. If anything, they have downplayed it; when MCA did a promotional mailing for Fiction Plane's debut album, Everything Will Never Be OK, in 2003, the official bio didn't even mention that Sting was Sumner's dad. Thus, no one can accuse Sumner of trying to ride his father's coattails. Nor can Fiction Plane be accused of going out of its way to emulate Sting or the Police; even if Sting has affected some of Sumner's singing and writing, U2 is actually a more noticeable influence. His voice, in fact, has a somewhat Bono-ish quality. But while the highly sociopolitical U2 can be very idealistic, the words that are typically used to describe Fiction Plane's lyrics include cynical, dark, melancholy, and world-weary — and it should be noted that Sumner has cited '90s angst-rockers like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins as influences.Born in England in the late '70s, Sumner was only a baby when the Police recorded their 1978 debut, Outlandos d'Amour. As a child, Sumner rebelled against music; he hated taking piano lessons and was more interested in video games. Nonetheless, he began studying the guitar at the age of ten and went on to learn the drums as well. It wasn't until 1991 — when Sumner was 14 — that he really became passionate about music. That year, Sumner heard Nirvana's amazingly influential Nevermind, which inspired him to start writing songs. A few years later, Sumner was jamming with his bass-playing friend Dan Brown, who shared his love of Nirvana and went on to become part of Fiction Plane. The start of Fiction Plane came in 1999, when the band was still called Santa's Boyfriend; subsequently, former art student Seton Daunt was hired to play lead guitar.

In 2001, they recorded a demo called Swings and Roundabouts, but their first official album, Everything Will Never Be OK, wasn't recorded until after they had signed with MCA and changed their name from Santa's Boyfriend to Fiction Plane. When David Kahne (known for his work with everyone from Tony Bennett to Sublime, the Bangles, and Sugar Ray) produced Everything Will Never Be OK in 2002, Fiction Plane didn't have a full-time drummer — and the person who ended up filling in on that album was session player Abe Laboriel Jr., who had been a member of Paul McCartney's band. After that, Sumner and Brown hired an American drummer, Paul Wilhoit, to go on tour with them. MCA released Everything Will Never Be OK in the United States in March 2003.

Fiction Plane "Death Machine"

Fiction Plane "Two Sisters"

Black Cobra "Sugar Water"

The Sword "Iron Swan"

The Sword "Winter's Wolves"

Dan Deacon and Ultimate Reality at OEJ January 4th

Ultimate Reality is a collaborative performance by Baltimore’s Dan Deacon(known for the critically acclaimed "Spiderman of the Rings) and Jimmy Joe Roche. It combines an intense musical composition for electronics and drums with a psychedelic montage of Arnold Schwarzenegger films(no, really) that is projected at a monumental scale. The live energy of the performance has allowed the piece to freely move between art and music venues and grant it a wide audience of appreciation.

The forty minute music composition, written by Dan Deacon, blasts from three sets of loudspeakers during performance. Driving and cinematic, the electronic piece is accompanied by two live drummers who pound a marching rhythm.

The footage was appropriated by Jimmy from Schwarzenegger classics such as Terminator 2 and Total Recall to accompany the composition for Ultimate Reality. Jimmy has transformed the violent struggles of these films into a mesmerizing sequence of fantastic images where popular science fiction icons seep in and out of mirrored layers of kaleidoscopic color.

Dan and Jimmy are Baltimore-based artists who have worked together for the past five years. Ultimate Reality represents their latest collaboration produced during their residency at Wham City. The performance premiered at Wham City during Baltimore's Whartscape Festival last year, and has since been shown at Anthology Film Archives in New York City, Corcoran Gallery in DC, The Walters Museum of Art in Baltimore, and The Silent Barn in New York with Thurston Moore.

Dan Deacon and Ultimate Reality in Brooklyn

Dan Deacon and Ultimate Reality at Whartscape

The Redwalls "Don't You Wanna Come Out?"

The Redwalls "Edge of the Night"

The Redwalls "Thank You"

Garage rock duo The King Khan and BBQ Show stops at OEJ November 6th

Now, I could tell you about Mark Sultan, I mean, BBQ's past in bands like Les Sexareenos or The Spaceshits, and that his new album will be out soon on Bomp. I could tell you about King Khan's pseudo-celebrity in Europe, or his past in The Spaceshits, or how his band's new album is a split with The Dirtbombs. But you probably wouldn't give a shit. These names and facts probably mean nothing to you. Let's talk about the real nitty gritty - The King Khan & BBQ Show. First, I must say that these guys are fuckin blood brothers, man. Real tight. They played all over the place before in an aforementioned band outta Montreal. And they're the best of friends to this day. When King Khan (then 'Blacksnake') decided to stay in the land of kraut and honey, they always maintained that they would soon lay waste to this miserable world. And so they began in 2002. BBQ visiting my man King Khan, and jamming in his Nazi-bunker rehearsal space. The black magick remained intact. Songs flowed endlessly like blood from a cancerous abcess. They took it easy, honing their craft, playing sporadically around Germany and Spain to crowds outraged by their incredible sound and nasty live show. Orgiastic, anarchic, hypnotic and personal are the shows to this day. I've seen the blow-jobs and blood, the pick-ups and puke, the dancing and the laughing. Two guys. One smashing snare, bass drum and tambourine with his bare feet, molesting his guitar and singing like a possessed angel. The other spinning and howling like a freak while belting it out on his guitar like a real gone savage. What does it all sound like? It sounds like five men. People throw the typical suspects into their descriptions as a defense against the real sound: The Velvet Underground, 13th Floor Elevators, Black Flag, The Falcons, Sam Cooke, The Users, The Sonics, The Cramps, Bo, Jerry Lee, The Gonn... Their sound is all of this and more, but all of their own. The show? A mess. Love songs, punkers, improvised riot-starters, dance-floor shakers, sing-along stompers, wild rockers - you name it. They always drench the crowd in raw energy, and they're always the last ones dancing and drinking at the bar. The LP/CD will be out in March on Hazelwood Records in Europe and in January/February on Goner Records in the US. It was recorded by DM Bob in Hamburg. A single on Italy's 'Solid Sex Lovie Doll Records' will precurse the disaster. The 'real rock n roll' monicker has been used and abused, yes, but I can't think of any better way to describe this party. --Allen Ginseng

The King Khan and BBQ Show "Fish Fight"

The King Khan and BBQ Show "Pig Pig"

The King Khan and BBQ Show live in Kalamazoo

The White Rabbits at OEJ November 2nd

The raucous indie rock sextet from Brooklyn come to New Orleans in the wake of an appearance on Letterman, a top three SXSW vote from two UK publications, and band of the day and song of the day features on Spin.com and NPR, respectively. They released their first LP, Fort Nightly, this year.

"It's a great debut for a band with an impressive, distinctive sound"—Pitchfork Media(8.1 rating)

"Exuberant Brooklyn rock with no fuzzy distance, either sonic or ironic"—The Village Voice

White Rabbits came to NYC via the arid plains of the Mid West. Although they have been in The City for just over a year they have, in that sort interval, managed to catch the attention of Say Hey Records and producer Chris Zane (Calla, Asobi Seksu, Les Savy Fav) with their stellar songwriting ability and instrumental aplomb.

Lead by dual vocalists, Greg Roberts (Guitar / Vox) and Steve Patterson (Piano / Vox), the 6 piece is rounded out by Alex Even (Guitar / Vox), Adam Russell (Bass), Matt "The Duck" Clark (Drums) and Jamie Levinson (Percussion). With a certain joie de vive, playfulness and charm, White Rabbits thematically evoke the more decadent and bygone era of days spent on the green, old cinemas--"Tourist Trap", tragic mothers--"Navy Wives", and restrained, but no less awkward domestic disputes, with the first single, "The Plot."

Added to their arsenal are 3 part vocal harmonies that texture the album throughout. White Rabbits even showcase the occasional group chant, best exampled on Fort Nightly’s opening track, "Kid On My Shoulders," as it thunders to its conclusion. White Rabbit’s penchant for more tropical excursions such as on "I Used to Complain Now I Don’t," featuring the horns of Beirut’s Jon Natchez, are, at times, reminiscent of The Specials or Madness.

The band also has a keen ear for the occasional cover song, and the old instrument switcheroo on stage. Anyone who has had the chance to see White Rabbits live will be able to attest first hand to the joy and effervescence that they exude on stage. True camaraderie in fact. Their sets have gained the band a large and growing audience and led them to share bills with Peter Bjorn & John, The Walkmen, Richard Swift and others. A full tour is planned for the late spring as well.

White Rabbits have succeeded in realizing a tremendously vibrant and creative debut record with Fort Nightly. They communicate joy without being cloying or saccharine sweet, and the listeners could easily find themselves clapping along to any one of the darker moments. White Rabbits combine style and panache, both musical and personal, for a thoroughly fresh and unexpected experience. This is certainly one to follow though the looking glass…

White Rabbits "I Used to Complain Now I Don't"

White Rabbits "Kid on My Shoulders"

The White Rabbits on Letterman

Supagroup rocks One Eyed Jacks Friday!

Come on down Friday as local hard rock heroes Supagroup party in commemoration of new album, Fire for Hire. Opening up is The Way High Men, who have taken way too long to get back to N.O.

Pay $10 to get in and get the new Supagroup CD for FREE.

Supagroup "Let's Get Wasted"

Supagroup "What's Your Problem Now?"

Witchcraft, Saviours, and Evil Army for Halloween!

"Retro-doom...highly underrated"--POPMATTERS

"Ridiculously catchy superrock...’70s-style riff-o-rama...the Swedish second coming of Pentagram and Ozzy"--DECIBEL

Swedish hard rock band WITCHCRAFT comes to One Eyed Jacks on Halloween in support of their new album, The Alchemist. It’s already being hailed as “timeless” and “a masterpiece” that “Metalheads, indie fans, and music teachers alike could unite around.”

WITCHCRAFT, recently cited by Down front man Philip Anslemo and guitarist Pepper Keenan as the inspiration for that group reuniting to record their latest opus, is a hallowed name in underground rock circles. Flying largely under the radar of the popular music landscape previously, the band is now poised on the brink of breakthrough success worldwide.

Also on the bill is Oakland metal band Saviours. Here’s what the press is saying:

"Sabbath-era doominess, NWOBHM/punk rawness, and Maiden-esque, elegant, harmonized lead guitar lines" - THE BIG TAKEOVER

"If Mastodon were on their way out, Saviours would be their heir apparent. With a triple guitar attack and classical metal sensibilities, this Oakland-based group won a lot of people over this year, playing dates with such high-profile names as High on Fire, The Sword, and Pelican. Down and dirty just the way you love it"-- ZERO Mag

Known for their refreshing take on the classic metal of decades past, SAVIOURS are rapidly becoming frontrunners in today’s thriving heavy metal underworld. Spewing blasphemous lyrical hellfire over an endless arsenal of harmonized leads, locomotive rhythms and riff heavy, locking guitars and bass, SAVIOURS spit poignant venom that swings and thrashes somewhere between Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, ‘Kill ‘Em All’ –era Metallica and Thin Lizzy.

Saviours "Holy Slaughter/Crucifire"