Souljacker live at the Temple Bar Oxford review

Souljacker

One of the best things about discovering bands and listening to new music online is when you can turn what initially begins as a virtual experience into a live music experience. The first time that I heard Souljacker was on their Myspace page after I was tipped off by a friend to check them out. I really liked their sound and had to wait about three weeks to see them play live at the Temple Bar in Oxford, England - and last Saturday the wait was finally over.

The Temple Bar has been around for quite a few years now, and in the "old days" was a place where a lot of musicians would gather and hang out. Over the years, there hasn't been much going on there and I never really heard anyone talking about the Temple Bar - good or bad.

Things are different now. New owner Barry has opened the doors to musicians and has set up an open mic night on Wednesdays and live music on Saturday nights. There's a great atmosphere, the bar staff are friendly and you can't beat Barry's enthusiasm toward live music and helping bands and musicians hone their craft, while entertaining the punters.

It was good to see the room begin to fill up as Souljacker started their set. They play guitar rock - originals that sound like old classics ("Jimmy Drank My Tea"), along with classic covers by bands like Free, Motorhead and Jimi Hendrix Experience. They even played a funky cover of "Ghostbusters", which caught me by surprise. The crowd loved it.

Souljacker played two sets - and for each set, the crowd was engrossed. The band is full of confidence which, considering how young they are, is refreshing to see. Singer/guitarist Patrick Burley (and his soulful vocals) is entertaining and interacts with the crowd like an old pro. Same goes for guitarist Hamish Denny. The guitar solos are stand-out and drummer Josh Catling is incredible. As a unit they're tight and sound like they've been playing for years.

I think that it's easy to forget that while the area (Oxford) tends to be over-saturated with indie bands, that there are other styles out there. Saturday night proved to me that the public is hungry for something else.

If steered in the right direction, Souljacker could reach many more people who have missed hearing new rock bands on the scene. They are definitely a band to watch out for, and if they're playing in a town near you, I highly recommend going to check them out.

Souljacker Band Members:

Patrick Burley - Guitar/Vocals
Hamish Denny - Guitar
Rowan Mayo - Bass
Josh Catling - Drums
Robbie Moore - Keyboards

For more information and live show dates go to:

Souljacker on Myspace

Photo Credit: Dave Tommo

By: Jenny May - Band Weblogs






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About Jenny May

Jenny May is the founder of Band Weblogs. Based in Oxford, England (originally from New England), Band Weblogs was created in 2005. With a passion for music, Jenny May has performed with bands in the US and the UK, her music has appeared in films, she was a vocal coach for the Yamaha Rock School and has worked on music projects with musicians such as Jon Fishman (Phish), Fyfe Dangerfield (Guillemots) and Cisco Adler (Shwayze). Jenny is currently writing music commentary and reviews for Band Weblogs and writing, recording and performing music with songwriter and musician Dave Tommo.
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