I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: July 7, 2022] Jacklen Ro

I had not heard of Jacklen Ro before this show.  I wound up being a couple minutes late to thieir set and missed a song or two.

But I really enjoyed them.  A lot.

The band is a four-piece: Jackie Giroux (vocals/guitar), Caelen Perkins (guitar/vocals), Lauren Hickey (bass) and Caden Bartlett (drums).  They’re from L.A. and they write folky indie rock.  They’re punk enough to be on a bill with Skating Polly although their vibe is far more indie than punk.

Especially since Jackie Giroux plays acoustic guitar and Giroux and Caelen Perkins sing with delightful harmonies.  But what I especially liked about them is that their harmonies are lovely but they are not polished.  The songs are fun and emotional.  Not raw, because that implies a harshness.  Just stick with unpolished–a warm and inviting sound.

They were also warm and inviting with Giroux being full of smiles and compliments (and wearing no shoes).

“Self Control” is the new single.  It is spare but fun with a big friendly chorus.  The song is fun on record but live, the low end really gives the song more energy.

They said that “I Just Stare” was written for their history teacher (his wife loves the song).  It’s a folky/punky almost comic song with bouncy moments.  Super fun.  Live it reminded me of The Dead Milkmen (sonically).

Before “Time Bomb” Giroux noted that her guitar was breaking as they were playing.  But, hey “that’s punk, baby.”

“Time Bomb” has a super fun chorus (although it is much slower than one might expect for a song with  that title).  At the end of the song Caelen got up at the front of the stage and played a wicked guitar solo.  Members of Bugsy were there to headbang and egg him on.

Giroux announced that Caelen wrote “Sunshine Girl.”  It started as a quiet folk song but had some (by now standard) shouted/fun sections.  I don’t need love / I just need a friend.

They ended with “Listening to Me Sing” a song that began as a kind of slow jazzy number but which they totally jammed out for a few extra minutes at the end, with some yelled (but still in harmony) vocals.

It was a great set and I’m bummed I missed whatever I missed.