by Nicholas Stahl
The population of Lawrence, Kansas, is quickly growing. Hordes of people are flocking towards the blue beacon of light, engulfed in a red state. Familiar faces will be outweighed by the masses of secondhand strangers who will grace this town with their presence for a few short days. Graduation weekend, an overwhelming event that leaves downtown Lawrence swollen with activity. Good or bad, the bars flood with soon-to-be graduates and their relatives, providing an interesting and unpredictable canvas for Lawrence culture to be spread upon.
Whether or not the Replay strategically placed the second annual Spring into Summer Festival on the most overly populated weekend of the season, it proved to be a great day for live Lawrence music. So many great bands played inside and outside of the Replay all day. However, due to a day job, I did not get to enjoy too many of those acts. I did make it just in time to experience some serious fun. JabberJosh is quickly becoming a Lawrence staple that is proud to show all the out of towners just how incredible the residents of Lawrence Fucking Kansas are. For the weekend, JabberJosh is my beacon of light, guiding me through the sea of graduation weekend.
As I wandered up to the Replay, I was thrown off by the huge stage constructed on 10th street, just East of Mass St. The music outside was just wrapping up. I got the privilege of catching a bit of the Hearts of Darkness set. HoD was nearly the exact opposite from what I was about to witness. There were countless musicians onstage, most likely in the double digits… JabberJosh is a two piece. Regardless of having just two members, Jabber Josh might be louder than any band that played all day.
Giving the audience just enough time to catch up with the humor, they exploded into another song. Even the songs have clever, quirky titles. Songs like, “Sticking together is what good waffles do” and “Why the fuck would you reissue Frampton comes alive?” remind the audience of just how much fun these dudes have playing music, as the visual wasn’t enough. Will pounds away, blurring into some sort of percussive monster as Sam bounces around, usually resorting back to one of the best power stances any of us have seen in a long time. JabberJosh’s combination of energy, talent, and wit makes this band a Lawrence treasure.
Near the end of the set, Sam got out the infamous birthday list. At every JabberJosh show, Sam reads out famous birthdays for the date they are playing (yes, every show). It is quickly becoming a well-loved tradition among the local crowd and I can only imagine the appreciation it receives on tour.
I hope that one day JabberJosh receives more exposure in far away towns. They make all other Lawrence bands proud to say, “that band is from the same town as us.” Nights like the Saturday before graduation are almost like playing out of town. There are so many unfamiliar faces, but the pressure is eased by knowing that no matter what, you are home. This too shall pass. Often frustrating, the crowds can either enhance or diminish the effectiveness of a set, unless JabberJosh is playing. Ultimately, Jabber Josh plays as if they are always home. Playing music is where these two brothers belong. Their love for playing radiates from any stage, cutting through the cold, dark bar scene, littered with hecklers and the uninterested drunks, making anyone who loves music as much as they do feel a little less out of place.
by Nicholas Stahl
JabberJosh is the musical equivalent of running the 40 yard dash
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Fally Afani
- . May 16, 2012
