“I founded the band in 2002, but it didn’t really turn into a real band until 2006,” Jake “Black Jake” Zettelmaier said.
At the time, Black Jake and the Carnies band members lived within a city block of each other and through a twist of fate, they were brought together.
“It was destiny,” Zettelmaier said who is the singer, songwriter and banjo player for Black Jake and The Carnies.
The six man bluegrass playing group includes Zettelmaier on banjo and vocals, Joe Cooter on bass, “Gus” Wallace on the fiddle, Zach Pollock on mandolin, Billy “The Kingpin” LaLonde on vocals, drums, and other assorted asundries like the washboard and Jesse Miller on the accordion.
With so many distinctive instruments, the band’s sound is bound to be unique.
“We don’t really have a genre. We just call it crab grass but it never took. It’s like punk bluegrass circus music. Who wouldn’t want to listen to that?
We have a traditional sound but it’s new and original, not the same old boring crap,” Zettelmaier said. “People who are strict music traditionalists who only respect musicians who play like people have played before- they get mad at us. We don’t stick to traditional styles. No one plays the way they’re ‘supposed to.’ ”
The music is up tempo and fun and according to Cooter, “if you like lyrics, we’ve got ‘em. Jake knows a lot of big words and he uses them.” Miller said “It’s good music if you want to expand your vocabulary.”
Beyond an English lesson, the band brings meaning to their work.
“The point of the band is to make people feel better without lying to them. A lot of entertainment just lies to people. Everything’s a happy ending. But sometimes it doesn’t work out. People fail,” Zettelmaier said.
“It’s about dealing with the realities of life without being depressed about it,” Miller said.
Although their name is odd, it makes a bit more sense after attending one of their live shows.
“You’re never gonna see a band like ours. We’re the most fun to see live. There are guys out here who are so much more talented but when it comes down to it, we put on the best show,” Miller said.
On stage shenanigans include games much like you would find at a carnival. The audience can interact with the band shooting balls at a target.
“The end result is everyone’s throwing ball in our faces and we’re throwing back and it’s a good time. The audience is not just being bored by another band in a bar,” Zettelmaier said. “If we’re on stage, we have to give the audience something besides the music. We have to give them something besides what they can get on a CD.”
Other stage stunts include shooting off a magician’s flash-gun from a banjo.
“If you blink you’ll miss it but if you don’t it’s pretty cool,” Miller said.
Black Jake and the Carnies know how to entertain all audiences.
According to Miller, “Anyone with an open mind will like us. Old people like us, kids absolutely love us, rowdy teenagers like us. We got prisoners to get up and dance for us. I’m pretty proud of that. However, we played in Holland and we put all we had into but we couldn’t get the Europeans to dance.”
“We went on a tour to Europe last April,” Zettelmaier said. “We play mostly Midwest but we try to get out when we can. It’s hard to get six guys with jobs and families to go touring, but we’re proof that you don’t have to give up doing what you love to do. Keep doing it.”
The band members serve up an interesting blend of musical styles and bring a non-traditional genre to the table.
“We’re very different politically and religiously, but that’s good because we have good discussions. It’s good company and good conversation,” Cooter said.
“We try to get together and make something great,” Miller said.
Black Jake and the Carnies are playing at Woodruff’s Bar & Grill at 10 p.m. this Friday for a cover of five dollars.
They’re also scheduled to play at Metro Times Blow Out in Detroit, the largest local music festival in North America from 10:20 p.m. to 11:20 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.
Black Jake and the Carnies will be recording a live EP and video with Group Box Studio in Detroit.
Until then, the best way to find their music is at blackjakeandthecarnies.bandcamp.com , or you can add them on Facebook.
“My self esteem is dependent on it,” Zettelmaier said.
