Jack J Hutchinson

Caught me a little on the hop this one, didn’t expect the new Paint No Fiction album through the door quite this early before it’s Dec 1st release - still, the joys of Pledge Music.

Most obvious thing from the artwork at least, this is very much rooted say around 1972, the Art Nouveau font and psyched-out William Morris design. Then the opener, Deal With The Devil hits you straight between the ears in a no-holds barred Black Crowes manner, driving guitar, swirling Hammond, joyous stuff. Pulling it back a little, Written In Stone I’d say owes a bit to the likes of Bad Company; so great outro guitar from Jack. Hip Slickin’ has a great, dirty riff running through it before it ebbs to alow the vocals before firing back in; a tight, punchy number. The acoustic number, Hold Me Close, again puts me in mind when Rodgers & Co oscillated between Free & Bad Company with maybe a touch of The Faces in the backing, especially Alberto Manuzzi’s Organ break (2:20 mins in), Staying acoustic and getting really rootsy blues comes Cut The Noose;; chugging acoustic riff until 3:10 in when again, Jack fires off a searing electric solo.
Slight change of gears comes the piano driven Set Your Heart For The Sun; somehow, NOT the title track from jack’s previous release, but still a steady, infectious, little rockin’ number. This leads us nicely into a fiery rocker, Rattlesnake Woman, rockin’ like it’s 1972 with flashes of led Zeppelin happening. Skin & Bones, another acoustic number Jack duelling with Tom Brundridge’s honking harmonica skips along; in the same vein, I Got Your Number pushes up the tempo as jack stretches out on slide resonator. Slowing for a very good ballad, Send Me A Signal, we stay acoustic but with violin backing for a near Celtic or Bluegrass feel. Finishing the album on another ballad, this time the powerful Hard Right In My Dreams; bit of a strange one as has a [very] early E.L.O kind of sound to it, but excellent soundscape to the ears.
Not the longest of albums, but I’m not going to have my customary whinge about that as this is very much of a early 1970’s vibe of album, and back then if you got anything much over 40 minutes, then it had better have been in a gatefold sleeve… No, this is a cleverly contrived “period piece” and any longer and it wouldn’t have worked as well - one of the better releases of late 2017.

If Pledge Music's demise hasn't put you off crowdfunding new releases, get yourselves along to Kickstarter where Jack has recently started funding for his next release Who Feeds The Wolf. Only been up a couple of days but already beyond the 50% mark.

lead-off single - Justified: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDIbtXr3TTw

'Bout time this thread was re-visited.....

Just delivered today, an advance copy of jack's new EP, What Doesn't Kill You (out sept 2nd) where the title track, lifted from jack's most recent album The Hammer Falls, has been re-recorded, re-mixed and generally breathed on by Kevin Shirley, generally knocking a few rough edges off. Similar treatment is given to Down By The River and The Hammer Falls, while Days of Thunder is a new track, specially written for the event.

But it doesn't stop there; there's a 2nd disc, jack's first ever DVD, made of promo videos for 5 tracks from The Hammer Falls album, plus the earlier release World On Fire and a "behind the scenes" montage. Interestingly, the video for Halo was produced by Jack's contemporary & mate, Kris Barras (another name we should shout more on here).

In all, without directly copying any band from the era, Jack reminds me of what I used to really like about 1980s Hard Rock. Roll on October when he's touring the UK again...

Jack's on the crowdfunding trail again, for a new solo album:

For the last 6 months I’ve been working on a new collection of songs with my producer Josiah J Manning. We’ve written some of the bluesiest, hard hitting rock this side of the Atlantic, plus a selection of heartfelt Americana that will tug at your heartstrings.

Imagine the Black Crowes and Blackberry Smoke having a drink with the Winery Dogs and you'll get the idea!

So this is where I need your help. I’m asking for help to fund the final stages of the recording process. This includes: 9 days recording at Momentum Studios, plus the mixing and mastering of the record, artwork, CD manufacture, and coloured vinyl manufacturing! Christiane Gilbrook is working on an incredible artwork for the album and it deserves to be seen and heard on vinyl.

I believe in the power of music to make a difference to our lives - the last few years have undoubtedly proven this. I believe these new songs are some of the best material I’ve ever written and with your help I hope to make it reach as many people as possible.

Risks and challenges
We are hoping to complete the recording and mixing by the end of April 2023 in order for the masters to be sent for vinyl manufacturing. If everything goes to plan, and the vinyl test pressings are all ok, you will have copies in advance of the worldwide release in October 2023.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ja … uve_backed

Edit: - as of 30 minutes ago, the original funding target was reached.

UK Autumn Headline Tour dates for Jack have been announced: -

16 Sept - South West Rally: St Austell
26 sept - TMNC; Coulsdon
27 Sept - Half Moon; Putney
28 Sept - Flying Circus; Newark
29 Sept - The Bullingdon; Oxford
30 Sept - Echo Hotel Music Club

1 Oct - The Partiot; Crumlin
4 Oct - Trillians; Newcastle
5 Oct - Bannermans; Edinburgh
6 Oct - Nightrain; Bradford
7 Oct - Louisiana; Bristol
8 Oct - Cornwall Rocks
27 Oct - Hallelujah Festival; Hartlepool

3 Dec - Planet Rockstock

Newcastle: Trillians - 4th Oct 2023

Another top night's entertainment in 'Toon last night. No, not at the Football rink, though my mate Andy says that could be heard half-way across the city centre. This event took place down in Trillians, and while the crowd was a little smaller, there was just as much excitement, while Jack, Charlie & Phil, along with local-ish support Scott Michael Cavagan & band did their upmost to crank out the decibels.

So, on to Scott Michael Cavagan: my mate has been on for a while that I should catch these guys, but don't you know it, the closer they are, the harder they are to catch. And that's a shame, because these guys are really damn good; polished and crunchy; like being run down by a brand new JCB. I'll grant you, a bit "heavier" than my usual tastes these days, but a band I want to see again.

Speaking of bands that I'd see again, and again, and ag... you get the picture; Jack & the band are always a treat. Again, on the heavier side of the spectrum, but the craftsmanship doesn't get hidden, and there's always a bit variety throughout the set. This time around, Jack is airing new songs from the new album that's in the pipeline, letting the rub shoulders with slightly older material, even from the RHR project and a Fleetwood Mac cover. So far as the new material goes, it's already my "album of the year" and it's not out yet.

Simply put, cracking good support band and Jack on top form. Enjoying the night so much, especially after the previous night's shenanigans with Winery Dogs might have been a big ask, but jack has one other card up his sleeve; while the Americans have the kudos, Jack has charisma in buckets - some great craic on stage through the set, as well as football commentary.  What more do you need.

Have a blast at Hartlepool....

Newcastle Cluny2 - 30th April

What can I say? Another cracking night down Ouseburn and a storming show from Jack J Hutchinson and his band of miscreants, Charlie & Phil.

Entering the venue, good to catch up with ol' mate John Tate, acting as the evening's "chucker-in", though we did miss his flare as demon raffle-ticket seller... The night got underway with a great solo turn from local leg-end Bad Bob Bates, with something old, something new and very little swearing.

However, the main event put paid to that, opening with Don't Let The Forkers get You Down; well, that's what it sounded like in my ears; the auto-correct in my appliances. Joking aside (for now), it's been a while since Jack last played The Cluny, but he and the band took to the stage like they owned it, and by lad, they did. Great set from Jack, showcasing the Battles album, with singles Constellations, Road To Hell; Love Is The Law; Days Are Gone & Bullets being featured before taking us back and forth through the preceding albums including revisiting Paint No Fiction for Written In Stone. Alternating between the Les Paul and the Telecaster, I don't think I've seen a better performance from yer man.

No offence to previous venues Jack's played, Trillians, but the sound tonight was right on the nail, never has Phil's drums been so crisp, and he's no stranger to the venue with other bands down the years; and all 5 of Charlie's bass resonated fully. It just surprises me though that the turn out wasn't what it should have been; with the choice of [literally] underground venues, maybe Newcastle has become a bit claustrophobic, or maybe it's Jack's decision to drop the clog-dancing geishas from the encore (doubt it). Whatever it was, at least some of us enjoyed a text-book show of hard, rockin' Blues, delivered by "one of the good'uns".

Full set from islington O2 Academy; Feb 8th 2024: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI4KaK07zm8