Jack and the Cadavers Revel in Throwback Sound
The rock subgenre that Jack and the Cadavers specialize in is older than the band’s members, but they’ve nailed it, nonetheless.
The Lisbon-based band would be right at home in the shoegaze indie-rock scene of the mid-1990s with the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Mazzy Star, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth and The Cure.
Jack and the Cadavers released its debut album, “You and I,” on Sept. 27. It will bring back memories for many and sound fresh for others.
The quartet consists of siblings Noah (guitar, vocals), Avery (bass, vocals) and Josh (guitar, vocals) Pennington, and Aaron Bowles (drums).
Not surprisingly, the Penningtons got their introduction to this style of music in their own home.
“Our parents were kids of the ’90s, and they were into the indie scene in the ’80s and ’90s,” said Noah, 21, who is the primary singer and songwriter.
A 1991 photo of their parents, Greg and Carrie Pennington, graces the cover of the album. Greg was 15 and Carrie was 14 at the time. The two have been together since middle school and married since 1995.
Noah has another reason for being partial to the music of his parents.
“Bands like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr., they cared about songwriting and they didn’t sell themselves out,” Noah said. “In a similar vein, we grew up listening to The Strokes and all sorts of indie rock.”
Noah’s big sister, Avery, is 27, while Josh is just 16.
Jack and the Cadavers came together at least a year ago during a jam night at Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana. That’s where they met Aaron Bowles, who fit in with the vibe.
“We all have influences from that era,” Noah said, “although Aaron is all over the place.”
Since then, the band has played many shows in the Youngstown area. Up next is a 3 p.m. set at Birdfish on Saturday, Nov. 2, followed by an evening show at West Side Bowl in Youngstown on Nov 5.
The band has caught the ear of its contemporaries, perhaps because it is so different. “They don’t have a lot to compare us to,” said Noah, who took up the guitar when he was 17 but has played drums most of his life.
Noah majored in music at Trinity Bible College in North Dakota.
The band has absorbed the songcraft of its idols and also the methods they use to produce waves of sound and songs that are melancholy, melodic and moving.
“Me and my brother love using effects pedals for guitars, and we used them all over the new record,” Noah said.
The happy or sad sounds that the Pennington brothers’ wrest from their guitars is rooted in some odd chords.
“We use a lot of major seventh chords,” Noah said. “They sound a bit complex on the ear.”
The self-produced album was recorded at Bowles’ home. Its nine songs include the previously released singles “Who Am I to You?” and “Lost and Found.”
With the album under its belt, the band is now thinking about making a video to go with one of the songs.
“We’re thinking of either ‘Reverie’ or ‘Panorama,’” Noah said.
The new album is available on all major streaming services. To learn more, follow the band on Facebook or go to Bandcamp.com.
Pictured at top: Jack and the Cadavers perform at West Side Bowl. The band’s members are, from left, Josh, Avery and Noah Pennington, and drummer Aaron Bowles. (Sherono Photo)
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