Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormons get reboot

(this piece was published by Planet Jackson Hole)

Jerry Joseph’s public story of beating a heroin addiction and passing through discouraging times explains the rough edge in his personality, and in his cathartic lyricism. His philosophy of substance over production textures with respect to songcraft is an attribute Joseph links to the sharp contemporary songwriters that he respects—Elvis Costello, Warren Zevon, Tim Bluhm, and Nick Lowe.

Joseph paid his dues with reggae rockers Little Women in the mid-‘80s, which also included guitarist Steve Kimoch for a brief era, of whom he’s been playing duo gigs with as of late. Joseph described Little Women as “a mash-up of Burning Spear and the Grateful Dead dressed up like the New York Dolls.” Jam giants Widespread Panic were big fans of the band, adopting some of Joseph’s tunes as staples in their own sets—“North,” “Chainsaw City,” and “Climb to Safety.”

Joseph was named to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame this year, corresponding nicely as his band The Jackmormons celebrate twenty years. The current band lineup includes longtime collaborators Steve Drizos on drums, bassist Steve James Wright, and another great songwriter/guitarist in Jeff Crosby, which has made a name for himself in the region—first with jamband Equal Eyes, and more recently with his Americana/rock project Jeff Crosby & the Refugees.

I’ve been waving the banner of this kid Jeff Crosby for a couple of years now,” Joseph told Jambase last fall. “I put out his record and I think he’s the real deal. I don’t know if playing with me is the smartest move he could make [laughs] but he’s fucking awesome.”

Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormons, 10 p.m. Wednesday at Town Square Tavern. $10. 733-3886.