The Static Jacks listings

Since they formed in 2009, Westfield, New Jerseys the Static Jacks (lead vocalist Ian Devaney, guitarists Henry Kaye and Michael Sue-Poi, and drummer Nick Brennan) have earnestly burned their own path through indie rocks crowded field. Ignoring musics fickle trends, the Jacks have forged a unique blend of punk, garage, and soul sounds for a sonic punch to the gut and heart. The bands self-released Laces EP (2009), a riley glimpse at fleeting youth, saw the group hit its stride. This was bolstered by several tours with various indie notables including the Futureheads, Biffy Clyro, Young the Giant, and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Throughout, the Static Jacks held fast to a D.I.Y. and collective ethos, writing songs in full collaboration, designing their album and t-shirt art-and they became a band of brothers, well beyond friends making music.

Now, the fruits of the last two years have ripened into a full-length, If Youre Young, due out August 30th on Fearless Records. Recorded and produced by Chris Shaw (Ted Leo, Bad Brains, Elvis Perkins in Dearland) at Stratosphere Sound in New York City, the album expands Laces look at youthful trials and tribulations, from the peerless bliss of love found to the barren hell of heartbreak to fear of the ever-looming future, of growing old, of stagnation-topics at once personal and also deeply universal. Yet as the Jacks explain the record, "Even if now youre not young, you were once, so youll get where these songs are coming from." And If Youre Young is nothing if not wise, mature, and introspective, a hardwon product of experience rarely delivered by twenty-somethings. As well it marks the first time the bands had a full-on studio at its disposal for nearly a month, with the tools and freedom to build its songs into rich, dynamic beasts.

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