L to R: Andrew Gianni, Warren Namingha, Keith Glass, Dennis Reed Jr., LaiNIE REID
"The SONGS HISTORY FORGOT TO WRITE."
The WNY five-piece take their musical cues from early American folk music, bluegrass, Appalachian music, Irish fiddle reels, blues and pop. In this rich musical bed they plant original lyrics about local historical events to create what guitarist Dennis Reed Jr has called "the songs history forgot to write."
Topics include: the only public hanging in Buffalo ("Where Is Love?"); the deadly allure of the Niagara Falls ("O Mighty Niagara"); Tonawandas lumber strikes, suspect inventors, the War of 1812, and many more events drawn from Western New York's actual, fascinating past. The songs have a light touch and a humanity that, the group hopes, helps them amount to more than an aural PowerPoint.
Yellow Jack has recorded two full-length studio albums in its three years together: "A Horse Apiece" (2020), and "Highway 62" (2022). Traditional songs appear alongside their original material on the albums (which is the case in their live shows as well). You can find them on all major music services, and purchase items from their Bandcamp page.
Live EVENTS
Yellow Jack is not your typical "bar band." At one of their shows you are more likely to hear songs about the Erie Canal (of which they perform half a dozen traditional, and have written two) than "Mustang Sally" or The Doors. Songs from Harry Smith's "Anthology of American Folk Music" handily outnumber Stevie Ray Vaughan tracks. And audiences--hungry for something that connects them to their past and acknowledges their intellectual curiosity--are responding.
Consistent with their love of roots music, Yellow Jack also curates the best of the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Woody Guthrie, the Carter Family, Pete Seeger and others for inclusion in their eclectic live sets. Combine all this with blazing fiddle reels and breakneck bluegrass, and you might just have a good time.
The group pairs well with all sorts of venues and functions, from breweries to libraries, and from private parties to historical society fetes. Drop us a line!
MEMBERS
Dennis Reed Jr - Guitar, banjolele, harmonica, vocals
Andrew Gianni - Mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals
Keith Glass - Bass, vocals
Lainie Reid - Fiddle, tenor banjo, vocals
Warren Namingha - Percussion
Andrew Gianni - Mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals
Keith Glass - Bass, vocals
Lainie Reid - Fiddle, tenor banjo, vocals
Warren Namingha - Percussion
SOME places we have performed
Buffalo Wings and Brewhouse (North Tonawanda)
Canalfest of the Tonawandas
The Cave (Buffalo, NY)
Community Beer Works
DHU Strand Theater (North Tonawanda)
Duende at Silo City
Hilltop Inn and Grove (Lancaster)
Hot Mama’s Canteen
Music is Art (Terrapin Station Stage)
Mohawk Place
North Tonawanda History Museum
Nietzsche’s
Penny Lane (Clarence)
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Sweetness 7 Cafe
Witter’s (North Tonawanda)
Woodcock Brothers (Newfane)
Canalfest of the Tonawandas
The Cave (Buffalo, NY)
Community Beer Works
DHU Strand Theater (North Tonawanda)
Duende at Silo City
Hilltop Inn and Grove (Lancaster)
Hot Mama’s Canteen
Music is Art (Terrapin Station Stage)
Mohawk Place
North Tonawanda History Museum
Nietzsche’s
Penny Lane (Clarence)
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Sweetness 7 Cafe
Witter’s (North Tonawanda)
Woodcock Brothers (Newfane)