So this review is bittersweet. This was the last appearance for Jackyl at the iconic Amos’ Southend. I came to realize something during Jackyl’s performance. Amos’ isn’t just a place where bands have played and fans have seen bands. Amos’ is a place where friendships were made. Husbands and wives met. Friends met to relax after a long week of work. In true Jackyl form they started their show by reminding everyone that they are family.
Now that we got that out of the way let’s talk about the one and only Jackyl. Not only did I have the privilege to attend this show but I was actually the Light Director on this show. So let me give you my review for the WHOLE day. Jackyl’s crew arrived on time and was polite and professional from the moment they walked in until the last box was on the trailer. I’ve been to the last four Jackyl shows in Charlotte. If there is anything that I can tell you from behind the scenes it is this:
Jackyl wants two things.
1) The fans to have the best experience they’ve ever had.
2) The fans to feel like they are part of the show.
If I hadn’t been able to meet these guys over the last four years I may have never known this. I may have continued to be someone who thinks it’s all “just a show” or that “it’s about the money”. So the crew went to work setting up and the whole time were cracking jokes with the Amos’ staff and not being demanding as some other bands are. So about thirty minutes later Jesse arrives (Jesse James Dupree). Greets everyone and starts asking about lighting. You see in their eyes if you can’t see the show then why go? They’re right. Would you pay for a movie if it was audio only? Anyways we go to hanging some crowd flashers and through trial and error come to realize that one was having an issue. Jesse spent the next five hours looking for lights for you. Their fans.
Silver Tongue Devils kicks off the show. I’ve never seen these guys or heard any of their material. I feel though that they have a good road ahead of them. Seems they have a few timing issues to get smoothed out but other than that I enjoyed their sound and stage presence.
Direct support for Jackyl on this show was Black River Rebels out of South Carolina. Now I must admit I’ve seen them a few times and was not impressed. That being said my opinion is now changed. They hit the stage with high energy that didn’t stop until they left stage. Great guitar rifts as well as great fills on the drums made for a great set.
So in between Black River Rebels and Jackyl taking stage is about fifteen minutes of great classic rock music played by an iPod from front of house. When AC/DC started everyone in the building sang as loud as they could. You didn’t know the speakers were on. They lights came on and it was on. Full band, full volume and full lights. It was a rock show like no other. I took my 9 year old son for his first Jackyl concert. His draw dropped when they hit stage and I’m not sure he blinked once. The band played but the crowd sang so loud you could barely hear Jesse sing. I guess when over 900 people know your songs and sing at the top of their lungs it can be loud. In true form they joked with the crowd. Reminisced about all the years they’ve played at Amos’ and even gave a shout out to John. The owner of Amos’ Southend. As always they ended with “The Lumberjack”. Firing up the chainsaw one last time. They played the song with everything they had and even took a break to let Hannah Lee take one last photo of Jackyl and their “family reunion” at Jackyl’s Bar & Grill. When it was time to do the final cutting of a barstool at the final Jackyl show at Amos’ they hit us with a curve ball. Jesse lit the barstool on fire. It was ironic and humbling. Everyone paused for a second and then cheered at the top of their lungs as he slammed it down breaking it multiple times. That was it. The final ride.
In closing even if I wasn’t a Jackyl fan or working the show I’d love every minute. It is the definition of high energy, in your face, Rock N’ Roll. I hope this review let you know more than a regular “show review” does. In the future if Jackyl is in town don’t buy a ticket…… Buy two and take a friend.
“Rev”
John Merry
R~K Entertainment
Jackyl
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