'Looking Both Ways' with Jakob Freely & The Mixtape Bandits
By Kelly Vormelker, Staff Writer
July 23, 2008 | 5 p.m.
Once modest in size, acoustic trio Jakob Freely has evolved into an electric five-piece band, with the group gracing Athens many times in both forms. An inside account of the band's transformation, however, shows that the band's members are still modest men.
Dave saunters into Donkey Coffee of Athens, Ohio, tousled hair sticking up and out of place, giving him an effortlessly charming appeal. Paired with loose faded blue jeans and a crooked smile, Dave invites conversation and exudes enthusiasm from the scuffed bottoms of his weathered sneakers to the tips of his brown bed-head. Dave and Blaine, two parts of the five-part equation, sit comfortably, slowly sipping coffee that is still too hot.
Blaine is decidedly slicker than the relaxed Dave. He sits in a crisp, bright green pinstripe button-up with a hot pink T-shirt peering out from underneath. A straw Hollister cap tops off his urban look. Blaine bends his head and two pensive, piercing eyes peer out from beneath the brim of the California rocker hat. He is decidedly more apprehensive than Dave is, most likely a result of his short time acquainting himself with the band. Dave leans forward, eager to rattle on about the eccentricities of Jakob Freely. He will do so, peppering the conversation with random anecdotes that not only reveal behind-the-scene facts about Jakob Freely, but also begin to uncover the band’s robust sense of humor.
The two talk hurriedly. Though Blaine may still be unsure during interviews, it is clear that he is passionate about this project, just as Dave has been since the initial conception of Jakob Freely. They talk, interrupting each other when something pops into one of their spinning heads. They discuss the challenges Jakob Freely has recently been through, its expansion, the current tour, their own inspirations. They joke and one makes fun of the other. The conversation would be typical of coffee house chatter if it weren’t for the digital recorder silently tracking each casual and, at times, insightful utterance.
Melodic, energy-driven pop-rock band Jakob Freely is driven by its personable relationships with fans. Brothers Dave and Bobby Huffman lead Jakob Freely to these connections. One look at the brothers or at their small-town upbringing and it is apparent that they could never be part of a pretentious group. Dave (vocals, guitar) and Bobby (lead acoustic guitar) sprouted from their secluded hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio. The two managed to grow tall amongst sprawling fields and a rather barren music scene. The boys eventually found inspiration and formed the acoustic group Jakob Freely, perhaps with initial inspiration stemming from the diverse music scene of Athens, Ohio. Whatever reasons first brought them to Athens, they eventually stayed long enough to record two records in Athens’ 3 Elliot Studio while touring throughout the Midwest.
Self-titled debut, Jakob Freely, and The Elliot EP feature smooth pop melodies backed by acoustic rhythm and lyrical prose. As a trio, Jakob Freely had fun with its music -- band members did not take it, or themselves, too seriously. They still do not take themselves seriously, but, ready for a change, Dennis Foreman, former bongo player, moved on to what may prove to be browner pastures, while Dave and Bobby decided it was time to add more depth to their hits. The boys needed a way to move past the limitations that an acoustic sound set.
Enter three guys affectionately dubbed The Mixtape Bandits (contrary to Dave’s vote for, The Tokyo Rockets), who expanded Jakob Freely into an eclectic five-piece set. Blaine Dillinger (lead electric guitar, keys), John Gregory (bass) and Derek Graber (percussion) make up the appreciated addition. The Mixtape Bandits are the byproduct of the funk/rock band And 5 Makes 20, and the three helped bring energy and precision to Jakob Freely for its newest record, Look Both Ways.
“They've added a fuller sound to the songs, going from solely acoustic to the backing of a full band. The live shows are definitely more rock and roll now, and they have attracted a new contingent of fans,” producer Josh Antonuccio said. With the new addition of The Mixtape Bandits on the record and on tour, Jakob Freely has blown-up into a lively electric band, bringing a perfected sound to old and new hits alike on Look Both Ways.
The album showcases eight new tracks, as well as four previously recorded and now re-worked tracks. “I would have liked to write straight, all new original material. But at least with these four, I never really pushed them in the past,” Dave said.
Fans will be surprised at the new electric feel to some of Jakob Freely's old favorites. The once acoustic “Always Coming By” starts out similarly, but as the first chorus ends the song explodes with a robust electric guitar riff, practically knocking fans out of their seats. Title track “Look Both Ways” has a stronger, smoother backdrop, producing just a bit more enthusiasm. “Chase” and “Don’t Push” are two never before recorded tracks on the album that successfully blend the old acoustic Jakob Freely with the rock'n'roll vibe of The Mixtape Bandits.
“Lunacy,” a mellow, wistful song, is something fans never would have expected to hear from the goofy members of Jakob Freely. The emotional track is about war, specifically the lunacy of war and loss. This track slips a serious note into the otherwise lighthearted album. In comparing all of the band’s albums, the change on Look Both Ways is obvious. Look Both Ways is simply more precise, energetic and well-rounded content-wise.
“Before, the only thing that we focused on was the core of the song," Dave said. "Once I came up with chords, melody. and words, I would give it to Bobby. He would add some harmony and we would have a song. Now, everything sounds complete, things were missing before. Now we can play for an hour-and-a-half and it doesn’t get old – at least it doesn’t to us."
Blaine reveals the challenge that an outsider has coming into a seasoned band. “My task with this band is preserving what was there," he said. "They already had such great songs. It is really different to make [a song] full without detracting from the melody. To add something rather than take away was really difficult. That is probably the biggest challenge, it is different to take someone else’s stuff and make it your own.”
Like its predecessor, Look Both Ways was also recorded amongst the snow-covered, rolling hills of Appalachia at 3 Elliot Studio. Here Jakob Freely worked with producer Josh Antonuccio (Bradley Hathaway, Southeast Engine) once again.
“I just really connected super-well with him," Dave said of Antonuccio. "Even though I don’t write his way, I love the same type of music that he does. I think that’s important because when we talk to each other about where we want things to go, we both understand. He can throw out a reference to a record and I know exactly what he is talking about because I like that record too."
Antonuccio echoes Dave’s sentiment, saying “Dave is a great songwriter and performer. There is a good synergy between him and his brother Bobby that gives the songs a sense of character and distinction. With their recent involvement of The Mixtape Bandits, they've taken their sound and introduced elements of funk, pop-rock, soul and indie music. It's an infectious combination.”
Before The Mixtape Bandits, Jakob Freely was entirely melody driven and could only go so far as an acoustic band. Now, with the official release of Look Both Ways, its music has a new revitalized energy that carries with it the possibilities of grandeur.
After a successful show, the members of Jakob Freely step off stage, and, instead of disappearing into the depths of a dressing room or onto a stale tour bus, each member walks directly into the crowd. They will proceed to make their way through the crowd, talking to the audience about the show, about life, and “Does anyone need a beer?” Surprisingly many audience members know the individuals that comprise Jakob Freely, and the guys know them by name as well. This is the result of an intense dedication that Jakob Freely has to its fans and a commitment to communication with them.
The band throws parties for their street teams -- that is, groups of fans helping to promote bands they back. In the past, the guys have even sent out checks to the winners of monthly drawings on their Web site as a way to give back to the fans. The band is also now furthering this communication with the help of the Web site Fancorps.com. Fancorps.com helps bands, managers and companies organize and manage street teams. No matter what the medium, this interaction with fans is essential to Jakob Freely’s persona and maintenance.
“Without that [communication], we wouldn’t exist," Dave said. "Because at this point, we get zero radio play -- if we do, I don’t know about it. Occasionally we get some press. So it is really just up to people to go out to Myspace. and it is up to us to maintain relationships with people. They need to be sincere, too. The biggest thing that bothers me about bands at this stage, is that they act like they are too busy, and that’s not the case, I don’t care who you are." It is obvious that the band does not have one ounce of pompous ego pumping through its accomplished veins, but it a little bit would be justified.
Dave sums up his mindset with the band in one last explanation, noting “The best chance you have in connecting with your audience, I think, is if you have fun. If we play a show and we are upbeat, people walk away laughing. I like that.”
It is up to the fans to reveal what that laughter truly means, but if past experience holds true, it comes from experiencing a genuinely great time that a genuinely great group of guys showed them through a live show.
With the digital recorder turned off, Dave and Blaine let go of any last inhibitions they were holding onto from the pressure of providing eloquent, “on-the-record” answers. Old and new fans will head out this weekend for the official release show and party for Look Both Ways. This weekend, and the next, and the next, the band will play for fans who personally know the individuals comprising Jakob Freely -- guys that know them by name as well.
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Look Both Ways has been released online, and fans can order advanced copies through the band’s Web site. However, the official release show will take place this Saturday, July 26 at the House of Crave in Columbus. This show also marks a “temporary goodbye” to Bobby -- temporary being the hopeful buzz word. Bobby will be popping in and out while taking a break to spend more time with his family. Fans should take note and give their favorite curly-headed goofball a big bear hug and a good, hard smack on the ass, good enough to last for some time. Fans can order a copy of Look Both Ways online and receive a free ticket to the release show in return.
Behind the high gas prices, the sweaty bandmates and the food deprivation of a summer tour lies Something Fantastic, the band’s second festival of the summer. This event is largely a Bandit production, and it is the first time around for the festival. Something Fantastic is slated to take place at The Woods at Kaeppner’s Place in Logan, Ohio, August 15 – 17. This festival is coming right out of the gate as a three-day event. It will feature some repeat acts from Freelyfest, as well as some new additions.