THE JACKS Discuss Their Self-Titled Debut EP, Joining Edgeout Records and More!

Photo Credit- Ashley Osborne

THE JACKS—Jonny Stanback (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Tom Hunter (lead guitar, vocals), Scott Stone (bass guitar, vocals), Josh Roossin (drums/percussion)–have signed with Andrew Goodfriend at the TKO Booking Agency.

Their self-titled debut EP was recently released on June 28th via EDGEOUT Records/UMe. To blend and bring their British invasion sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s mixed with southern rock influences to the modern music era, THE JACKS joined forces with legendary producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Maroon 5, Blackberry Smoke) and mixer Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele, Hozier) at Los Angeles’ famed Sunset Sound Recorders.

TKO’s Andrew Goodfriend added, “We are very excited to represent THE JACKS. They’re an exciting young band that we are looking forward to growing at TKO.”

After their first single, “Walk Away,” first launched on May 17, the band has been keeping busy. That same afternoon, they performed for thousands of new fans at the first-ever Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival. They also teamed up with the NHL for a promo using their single that aired throughout the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They performed as the on-stage band at the 2019 NHL Awards, and most recently as part of Ringo Starr’s Peace & Love birthday event.

“THE JACKS make straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll for those who think four-piece bands will never go out of style and those who live in the present — i.e., they don’t give a whit if what is bursting through their speakers sounds too uncomfortably like the Stones, the Strokes or even the Black Keys.” — Buzzbands.la

Connect With THE JACKS Online Here:

Website- www.thejacksbandla.com

Facebook- www.facebook.com/thejacksbandla

Twitter- www.twitter.com/__TheJacks

Instagram- www.instagram.com/thejacks

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9-phg8TZkzEkjAfBMA31gg

Learn more about THE JACKS in the following All Access interview with their bassist Scott Stone:

Thanks for your time! What is on tap for the rest of your day?

We’ve been locked up in the studio finishing our second EP! Will probably be in here ‘til midnight without much sight of the outside world.

Now that we are well into the 8th month of the year, how would you say that 2019 is treating the band so far? What have been some goals this group has had this year? How close are you to reaching them? 

2019 has already been the most exciting and rewarding year for us. We released our first EP through our label (EDGEOUT Records) and are thrilled with the response we’ve received so far. Another huge goal that we achieved for us was to sell out our Troubadour show. The Troubadour in West Hollywood has always been a dream venue for us to headline and that night was truly special for us.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be in this group together? Was it hard to think of a name that you could agree on? Has anything surprised you about this musical journey so far?

I’ve known Tom (lead guitarist) my whole life. We started playing together in middle school and to be honest I can’t really picture being in a band with anyone else. We got Jonny to join at the end of our college career and Josh about a year later. Since then, we’ve become brothers and there’s no one else I could see myself playing with (unless of course, Paul McCartney needed a new backing band). The name definitely took some time for us. We went through a few names that were so terrible that I can’t even repeat them. We came up with the name “The Jacks” after one of our four-hour cover shows we used to play. A regular at the bar called us “the Jacks of all trades.” Tom had the idea to shorten it to just The Jacks and we all liked the way it sounded. I feel like in a band, you know it’s a good name when it’s the first one that nobody immediately hates. In terms of surprises, I have always believed in this band whole heartedly. All of our successes don’t shock me, but if I look back on where we started and was able to tell myself where we would be today, I probably wouldn’t believe it. We still have so much left to do and so much music left to put out, but I can safely say I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity we have had so far.

How do you think your hometowns have influenced the sound and how you all carry yourselves in this group? If not, what do you think does influence this group?

Our hometown definitely plays a huge part in our sound and demeanor. Orange County has an incredible music scene filled with tons of great musicians and bands. All of those bands have inspired us to become better and to strive to improve our music. There’s definitely a common sound there and I think we somewhat stood out by not following the same trend. We’ve gained a lot of support from there and knew we had something special just based on the response we got in our local venues. In terms of our demeanor, Orange County taught us to be tenacious in our efforts, but to never take anything too seriously. At the end of the day, we are working for a dream and if we can’t enjoy the process, then all is lost.

I always like to ask bands if you all hang out socially apart from the music? In other words, when you aren’t working on music, do you guys enjoy hanging out for fun?

We all live together and hangout pretty much 24/7. The guys are my best friends and we always seem to share the same interests. If you mean hanging out with other bands and musicians, right now the rock n’ roll scene in Los Angeles is a pretty tight knit community. Some of our closest friends play in some incredible bands in the area and seeing each other grow is as rewarding as our individual successes.

Photo Credit- Ashley Osborne

Let’s talk about your newly released self-titled EP. What was it like putting this collection together in LA the famous Sunset Sound Recorders? Did anything surprise you about the overall process? What was it like working with prolific producers and mixers?

We could not be more proud and excited about the debut EP. Working in Sunset Sound immediately makes you step up your game and want to create the best music possible. Just the sheer amount of amazing records that have been recorded here, made us feel a part of something really special. The biggest surprise was how close we became with our producer (Matt Wallace) and engineer (Will Kennedy). Not only was the working process really fluid, but we bonded with them over the common goal of making this record the best it could be. Obviously Matt is a genius, but he has a great method to get the best out of each player in the band. Lastly, having Andrew Scheps as the mixer was another dream come true. Since we formed the band, he has been on a short list of ours as an ideal mixer. He added his own ideas to take the songs to another level that we didn’t even know was possible.

How do you think your first single released from this EP, “Walk Away” prepared listeners for the rest of the collection? What was the inspiration for this song in particular? What was it like hearing it play during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs? Are you guys NHL fans?

“Walk Away,” to me, is the embodiment of what our sound is. We want there to be a raw emotion to it that is somewhat rough around the edges. We hope our fans and new listeners can really hear us behind the instruments and feel like they are there with us. This song doesn’t have a specific inspiration, but more of a collection of different experiences we’ve all had. The general theme is frustration in yourself for being unable to quit something that you know is bad for you. Having the NHL use it was a huge moment for us. A lot of my friends and family heard it during the playoffs and a few promo videos before I ever did. We can’t thank the NHL enough for supporting us thus far. All of us are big hockey fans.

What are some other songs on this EP that you especially proud of and excited for people to hear?

Personally, I love all of them. I think they show everyone who we are and what’s to come. If I had to pick my favorites, “Hello My Friend” and “Understand” are up there. “Hello My Friend” is a song we’ve had for a while and is really personal to all of us. Each member of the band has a different meaning of it and seeing how it has connected with our fans is very encouraging. “Understand” is always one of my favorites in the live set. Every time we get to it, I feel like we connect with the crowd on a new level.

Why do you think TKO Booking Agency is the right place for this group right now? How did you go about deciding to sign with them recently? What about being apart of EDGEOUT Records? What does that mean to this band?

We are so excited to be a part of TKO. Andrew Goodfriend has been a longtime supporter of the band and understands exactly what our vision is for our future. Even before we started working with him, he offered us shows and got us some great opportunities. As a young band, I cannot tell you how much it means to have someone like him passionate about us. It was an easy choice and we couldn’t be happier. The same goes for EDGEOUT. The team is incredibly passionate about rock n’ roll and has helped provide everything they can to us from the beginning.

Generally, how do you guys go about writing your music? Do you write together or separately?

Typically, Jonny or Tom will come in with an idea or concept for a song and from there the band really collaborates on it to all put our influence into it. A lot of times, before a song is fully finalized, we will test it out in front of live audiences to see how it does and what parts can change.

Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

I can’t speak on behalf of all the members but for myself, I’ve always been a diehard live music fan so I connect most with the stage. If I had to guess, Tom prefers the studio, Jonny anywhere he can write, and Josh will love anywhere that there is a drum set.

Where can fans see you perform next? What do you think makes for an ideal show for this group? What has been a favorite show of yours in the past?

Our next show is in Hermosa Beach, CA for their summer series event on August 18. I’m not sure if there is an ideal show for us, anywhere that there is a strong sound system we love to play, whether that’s in a dive bar or a stadium. I think my favorite show was this last one at the Troubadour. Playing to a sold-out crowd of your fans and family is a really special feeling. I think we really connected as a band.

How has social media impacted this band? How often are you all on your different sites interacting with fans? How have you been able to utilize it through the years?

We mostly use Instagram (@thejacks) to connect and interact with our fans. I think it’s a great way to spread the word about your band at an early stage. I think it has helped gain new fans from people who discover us through that platform.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how you all think being musicians and in this band still gives you the most joy in life today? Do you find that your music is an escape to all the current events?

Music can be a really powerful thing. It can either be an escape or a great voice to influence and motivate people’s beliefs. I’d say that being a musician though wasn’t much of a choice for all of us, it was what we needed to do. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

What musicians have really been inspiring you since you first started making music?

There’s a ton of bands but the shortlist is: Cage the Elephant, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Vista Kicks, Arms Akimbo, Creature Canyon, Warbly Jets, the Black Keys, Bass Drum of Death, Twin Peaks, White Reaper, Harbour, and Oasis. There’s a ton that I’m missing.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

We hope people enjoy the songs however they want to and have a good time while doing so. We hope that one day it can inspire people to write the music they want to. I think a lot of my favorite bands don’t have a very specific message, but let you derive your own meaning from it which then becomes personal to you. We hope we can do the same.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about this group?

We love you all!