Listenable (label)
16 October 2015 (released)
08 October 2015
Jared James Nichols has an awful lot going for him: he plays guitar with a verve and joy that you don’t hear often these days, his songs are pretty damn fine, he loves the 70’s bands like Grand Funk Railroad and Mountain and he doesn’t appear to have any fear.
This EP is a taster for appearing as support to the mighty Glenn Hughes starting October 17th and features three new songs written by Nichols and covers of Grand Funk Railroad’s ‘We’re An American Band’ and Humble Pie’s ’30 Days In The Hole’.
It is very much a throwback to his 70’s heroes but he isn’t copying someone else’s style – he has an original style and he struts his stuff as though the music was the latest thing ever to appear on the rock scene.
His vocals have some of the qualities of Paul Rodgers (although with less of Rodgers’ sheer power) but also touches of Steven Tyler. The version of ’30 Days In The Hole’ has real funk and strut to it and rocks like a beast. Of his own songs ‘Fallin’ Down’ really hit the ear with a massive drumbeat and great riffery – Nichols’ solo screaming like a banshee.
This is going to appeal to a lot of older listeners but also to the younger ones, as his fresh arrogance and soul are utterly sassy.
If his live set is anything like as good as this EP suggests he is going to be a treat.
