It wouldn’t be right to call this piece “Meet , The Jellybricks”, they’ve been at this since 96. Solid American roots, rock n roll. Reminds me a little of Soul Asylum and early REM and that’s a good thing. The Jellybricks, are the 2012 winner of the “Coolest Song in the World” from Little Steven’s Underground Garage for “Rock & Roll Suicide” Their new Album “Youngstown Tune-Up” was recorded over 11 days in Youngstown, Ohio. It is the band’s 6th release, available March 9th on Pop Detective Records . The album is reflective of their maturity as a Band. It’s full of cool catchy songs and it’s a lot of fun to just sit back and listen to some kick ass rock…..
Hi our name is….
The Jellybricks
And our sound might be best described as….
two guitars, bass, drums, and vocals – driving, fun, rock ‘n’ roll music built on melodies, harmonies, and volume, or … “sweet like jelly, hits you like a brick”
We are…..
Larry Kennedy – guitar, vocals
Garrick Chow – bass guitar, vocals
Bryce Connor – guitar, vocals
Tom Kristich – drums, vocals
We are originally from…..
Larry hails from Youngstown, OH. Garrick is from Reading, PA, Bryce was born in Camp Hill, PA (but grew up with Garrick in Reading), and Tom is from Palmyra, PA
The band was formed in Mechanicsburg, PA – and is generally considered to be from Harrisburg, PA
The first time we met was…..
In late 1995, Larry traveled from Youngstown to record some solo demos at The Green Room studio in Harrisburg. Garrick was working there as a recording engineer at the time, heard the demos, and subsequently invited Larry to move to Harrisburg to form a band. Ultimately the band members convened for rehearsals under the name “The Jellybricks” on January 16, 1996. The first song we played together was “Bad to Me,” a Lennon/McCartney song originally released by Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas in 1963.
We knew we were going to be a Band when………
The day Larry packed up his car with scant belongings and hit the road for Harrisburg, it was understood that even though we hadn’t played a note together yet, we were going to be a band. That gamble has now paid off for eighteen years and counting.
Before starting the band we were employed as…….
You name it – this band has earned paychecks collectively or separately working in a steel mill, on a railroad construction crew, in retail, in restaurants, at the car wash, in a screen-printing shop, a bicycle shop, selling insurance, giving lectures, writing books, and even delivering newspapers. We all agree that playing music is the best job of the bunch.
Our craziest gig ever was….
We’ve had many, for different reasons, but probably still the “craziest” would be back in July of 1997, when we were still pretty new to the scene, but landed a slot opening for Live at the opening of their “Secret Samadhi” tour. That was the day that we abruptly made the transition from being a pub band to playing at Hershey Stadium. The nerves were rattling … but we had a great time!
The first song we wrote was…….
There were many tunes written before The Jellybricks were formed, but the first songs written collaboratively as a band were probably “The Clock” and “Undercover,” both from our debut album, Kinky Boot Beast. The band started out with a collection of songs written by Larry, but over the course of six releases, we have collaborated in every way possible, and therefore our albums are peppered with musical ideas from all four members of the band.
It’s about……
“The Clock” is a bit of poetic musing on the subject of wasting time, and “Undercover” hints at suspicion and paranoia in a relationship, but both songs are full of colorful word-play, subject to a listener’s interpretation
What we are currently listening to….
The Jellybricks have a collective love for most things rock ‘n’ roll – but currently, we’re really enjoying the debut release from The Split Squad, “Now Hear This.”
A few albums we could never part with….
would include, but would not be limited to: Abbey Road by The Beatles, Live at Leeds by The Who, Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M., Especially For You by The Smithereens, This is the Modern World by The Jam, Woodface by Crowded House, London Calling by The Clash, Blue by Joni Mitchell, Pleased to Meet Me by The Replacements, Glass Houses by Billy Joel, Young, Loud & Snotty by The Dead Boys, The Queen is Dead by The Smiths, The Head on the Door by The Cure, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
This list doesn’t even scratch the surface … there’s just too much great music to mention.
For fun we like to…..
Write, rehearse, record, perform, travel, and most importantly, make each other laugh, almost continuously.
The one thing we want you to remember while your listening to us……
is that just like you, we are completely naked underneath our clothes
Expect…..
to hear us playing lots of songs from our new album, Youngstown Tune-Up – live in a town near you, plus new music videos, and more of the usual Jellybricks’ brand of silliness and fun (because we just can’t help ourselves) from us in 2014
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