Funding for Down Home Radio is provided in part by The Puffin Foundation and by Jug Free America – A notable 21st century jug band
Jug Free America was a jug band I played in, which existed from 2001-2005. We played a mix of old jug band tunes, early blues/pre-blues, old-time, country, ragtimey stuff and acoustic reggae. I don’t usually go around promoting my own stuff on the show, but just objectively, this band is worth checking out.
Posted here is our final CD- “Jug Free America- California: 2005″
(Click Here to download)
This was recorded on the fly by Chris Patchett at his house in Berkeley, CA in the summer of 2005, shortly before the band broke up. I think we got real good by the end! This album has never been released anywhere, so this is its debut.
- Eli (host, etc. Down Home Radio)
“These guys are really good” – Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Jug Free America moved to Oakland, California in the fall of 2004 from their previous hometown of Oberlin, Ohio. They played gigs around the Bay Area through the fall of 2005. The group formed in Ohio in 2001 while students at Oberlin College. From 2001-2005 they played gigs all over the United States and in Poland, where they toured in 2004.
See below for more information- personnel, track listing, etc:
Band Personnel:
Lech Wierzynski – vocal, trumpet, guitar, harmonica – Currently plays in the band The California Honey Drops
Nansamba Ssensalo – vocal, jug, tub – Currently plays in the band The California Honey Drops
Michael Coleman – vocal, washboard, drums, kazoo – Currently plays in the band Beep!
Harry Bolles – vocal, guitar, slide guitar, harmonica – Currently playing solo/ad hoc gigs
Jacob Groopman – vocal, manjo, guitar, percussion – Currently plays in the band Albino!
Jay Gandhi – bansuri (flute), vocal – Currently playing Indian classical music with various groups
Eli Smith – vocal, banjo, guitar, manjo, harmonica, kazoo – Currently playing solo gigs and as part of the Roots ‘n’ Ruckus music collective, and hosting Down Home Radio!
Track listing for -
Jug Free America: California 2005
1. Candy Man
2. Nice Time
3. Leavin’ Here Blues
4. Small Axe
5. Bye Bye, Sweet Roseanna
6. On The Road Again
7. Lonesome Whistle
8. Cackle Hen
9. Who’s Feels It Knows It
10. Go a Letter From My Darlin’
11. Summer Time
12. Tough Luck
13. K.C. Moan
14. Keep On Movin’
15. Longest Train
Click Here to download liner notes as PDF.
The website- http://www.jugfreeamerica.net
Clipping – Oberlin News-Tribune, March, 16, 2004
At the Beachland Tavern, Cleveland OH, 2003.
Festival at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, OH 2003 or 4
At 87 E. Lorain St. Oberlin, OH 2004
Clipping from the paper:
Jug Free America poster from the tour of Poland
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Great stuff! I haven’t been able to get “Small Axe” out of my head since I listened to this the other day. Bob Marley + Banjo + Washboard = rhaatid!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Really really digging this stuff. Many thanks for uploading it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Your music has knocked my socks off. Have sent links to all my friends.
Thanks for all the joy.
May 26th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Thanks! Glad you like it.
December 18th, 2008 at 5:57 am
I’m with Bill Ackerbauer! Great rhythm…
July 16th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Superb! As a jug-conoiseur and washboard-player, I give you my full stamp of approval! And I’ve added you to my blogroll.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Go Brother Go Awesome Post on Wrath
June 10th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Saw you guys open for Jack at the Beachland Tavern and downloaded a bunch of songs and still listen to them to this day!! Good stuff!!
June 13th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Awesome. Yeah, that was a great show, that’s back in 2003 I think. I have that recorded on minidisc somewhere, maybe it’ll come out on Down Home eventually… Just played the Beachland Ballroom a few weeks ago with my new old time band The Dust Busters, it was cool to be back there.
June 19th, 2010 at 2:00 am
Thanks for your comments.Your music has knocked my socks off. Have sent links to all my friends.
Thanks for all the joy.
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