Jook Joint Band

We’re Back. Yes the Jook Joint Band has regrouped. We have got over the trauma of being bass-less. Having had the good fortune of replacing our errant bass player Nick Glorie with keyboard impressiono Paul Alexander. Paul brings with him a colourful and diverse experience in music and the allied arts. He has somewhat of a Ska(ed) background having played in varying iterations of that well known ska group Special Brew.

So we have been down at the Freo Men’s Shed practicing and getting Paul familiar with our style of country blues/jug band music. He has taken to it like a duck to water and has expanded our music in (previously) unconsidered directions. He also comes with plenty of verve and energy and has already put together a gallery of photos for the band and posted them throughout the metaverse. We look forward to Paul’s continued support and involvement.

The band has scored a gig at the upcoming Blues at Bridgetown, festival of blues & roots music Festival. This premier blues festival is coming up in the second weekend in November and will once again take over the town’s streets, pubs and parks. We are looking forward to playing there again and catching up with friends and supporters such as Di and Kay.

Prior to the gigs at Bridgetown we will be playing at Fire In Your Belly on the 9 October, a new Live Music venue in Fremantle with great food, drinks & service.

A few weeks later we return to the Perth Folk and Roots Club at the Inglewood Bowls and Sports Club on the 23 October, so all you Perthites put that date in your calendars. This month on 25 September the Folk Club is featuring local and international blues legend Steve Tallis and the Catherine Wheels trio.

We follow up on the Perth Folk & Roots Club gig with a private party in Freo on the 6 November so we will be primed and ready for the gigs in Bridgetown the following week.

So looking to see you all soon – dance shoes on and party attitude in your pocket.

You would have received the recent emails and the texts from your car service company, your optometrist, your local member and all those others you brushed past in the year just gone. They wished you season’s greetings with the smothering sincerity of their advertisers and marketers. Well the one you have really been waiting for is here:-

The boys from the Jook Joint Band wish you and yours a very merry Xmas and all the best wishes for the New Year. Get out and enjoy it!

So with that out of the way we can review the year, tease you with upcoming shows and give other news of import.

You will recall that in our last newsletter we mentioned doing a gig at the WA Men’s Shed Association state dinner. Well as it turned out the dinner was all about presenting Bill with his nomination as the Vice Patron of the WA Men’s Sheds. The Queen’s main man in WA, the Governor, is the Patron so Bill couldn’t fill that spot (just yet). They reeled off the details of Bill’s contribution and efforts over the many years of his involvement and the award was certainly well deserved. Congratulations Bill from all of us for you appointment as Vice Patron of Men’s Sheds of WA.

JJB at Perth Folk & Roots Club

The other big news is that our bass player Nick has decided to take an extended break from his band commitments as our bass player and alto bass singer. As from March he has decided to commit his every available waking moment to getting his Albany house renovated and back to its former glory. This is a long term project and will need all the effort he and Biddy can throw at it.

So what are we going to do? Well we are putting out a call for a replacement bass player to fill in for the medium to long term. We would be pipped if they came with a stand-up bass but this is not by any means a requirement. What is a requirement is a sense of humour, great tolerance (they have to put up with Sean and Peter after all) and an interest in the music we play. So if you are interested or know someone who knows someone please put out the word and have them contact us.

We have a slow start to the New Year in that we don’t have any gigs until 13^th February when we return to The National in Fremantle for a Sunday arvo session. We haven’t played at The National for a while so are all looking forward to getting back there. We do a follow up show there on 13^th March.

We also have a number of irons in the fire for a couple of music festivals in the new year so look forward to confirming commitments and dates for those soon. So check out our social media pages in the coming weeks!

So go forth and enjoy your festive season. Eat too much, drink too much and just have too much fun!

All the best from Bill, Larry, Peter, Nick and Sean. Thanks for all your support throughout the year. See in the new year.

September 2021

To quote the lyrics of that fabled song – “I question my perceptions…query my existence… but I cannot deny…”  Yes Covid-19 is still with us.

Some have lost close ones and others seemingly suffer endlessly the long term physical and/or emotional effects. Most of us in this state look across the borders and thank god we are not them. Others bemoan we are not them. For most of us in Western Australia it messes with our lives here only in trivialities such as the time it takes for our Amazon packages to be delivered or our limited travel options.

It does manage to twist and turn our lives in other ways as well. I notice our last newsletter back in June was spruiking an upcoming gig for the Jook Joint Band at the Perth Blues Club – well that didn’t happen did it. But fear not the opportunity re-presents itself this coming Tuesday 7 September at the Charles Hotel. The renowned ‘Midnight Jammers’ will be preceding JJB to the stage so ensure you get there early to catch them.

Prior to the Blues Club gig we play at the Australian Men’s Shed Association Long Lunch. All the guys in JJB are members of the Fremantle Men’s Shed. We regularly use the studio at Freo Men’s Shed for practice and are honoured to support the men’s shed movement in this small way.

We follow up on the Blues Club gig with a show at the Pirate Bar, Mt Hawthorn on Sunday 10 October at 5:00 pm.

Following the Pirate Bar gig we are looking to have an extended break. Some of the boys will continue their in-depth exploration of this wondrous state. Sean and Bill are off to explore the goldfields. Peter makes further forays into the south west disguised as a wine and food connoisseur. Nick intends to make some serious inroads into getting he and Biddy’s Albany abode shipshape. He has the architects plans to hand and is awaiting shire approvals and is chomping at the bit to get down there to be consumed by the endless works and labour involved in bringing back to life one of Albany’s historic landmarks. Larry…. well… he has been developing a somewhat unhealthy internet relationship with Brian. Now it is all Brian says this, Brian does that, see how Brian does it. Larry is living the life of Brian we thinks. Well he has certainly picked up quite a few tricks from him. Guitar tricks that is – Brian is Larry’s guitar teacher guru. And we have been blessed with the fruits of their association. May their relationship continue to be long and bountiful.

So for those who are not stick in the muds and manage to get themselves out and about midweek we look forward to seeing you this Tuesday night at the Charles Hotel. The rest of you we will be expecting to see Sunday 10 October at the Pirate Bar.

Stay well, stay safe and enjoy!

P.S. The fabled song mentioned above is “Gilding Penguins” – written and performed by the Jook Joint Band – well it’s not likely to be claimed or played by anyone else is it!

October 2020

With a community aroused and coupled with an economic stimulus the year continues quickly to its somewhat satisfying climax. “We are so lucky” will echo about the burbs as we look aside from our felicitous position to the less fortunate world. And we have been lucky, as for most of us life has returned to normal after such a bad start to the year with the virus disrupting so many aspects of our lives.

Jook Joint Band was quick to take advantage of the relative freedom allowed in the West and lined up some great gigs. Since the last newsletter we played at the Perth Folk and Roots Club. Keith and John organise a show the fourth Sunday of each month at the Inglewood Bowling Club as well as other gigs so have a look at their website www.perthfolk.org and see what is on offer.

In August The boys followed up with a great gig at Rodney’s Bait ‘n Tackle. Those western suburbs guys and girls know how to have fun of a Friday night. There would have been more than half of the (restricted) crowd of about 100 up and dancing by the end of the evening. It’s understandable why this bar has maintained its position as one of the top bars in Perth as the bodacious atmosphere prevails and the choice of ales, wines and food is constantly top shelf.

We followed up that gig with a road trip to Albany with the excuse that we were going down to assist Nick doing a bit of work on he and Biddy’s place down there. We didn’t do much work as the weather wasn’t permitting but we did enjoy the hospitality of Nick and Biddy. Jook Joint Band played at the Albany Blues Club @ 6 Degrees. We were preceded to the stage by The Wayward Earls. They were a hard act to follow as they are a well-known and very talented local band. We thank the club members and the bar staff and management for their warm welcome. Those guys are lucky to be located in such a hot spot of musical talent and creativity. If we get another chance to play there in the future we will jump at it.

Last week we played at The National Hotel in Freo. It was like coming home. Daniel Low, our number one fan, had been salivating in anticipation of enjoying his regular chicken parma – and he was not disappointed. Thanks to all the crew who came along. It was good to get the support.  The National Hotel continues to be one of the prime supporters of local Western Australian music and presents a range of musical styles from cover bands, rock and roll, blues, original artists, duos, ska bands and of course jug bands (JJB). Larry, our lead guitarist, plays with Special Brew one of Perth’s pre-eminent ska bands, so he gets to play additional regular gigs at The National.

Our next gig will be at the Swallow Bar this Sunday. If you find yourself at a loose end come along. We will be playing from 4:00-6:00 pm. This is one of our favourite places to play…it’s intimate atmosphere is conducive to working oneself into an intoxicating frenzy which results in one indulging in fine wine and great food.

At this point we have a couple of more gigs booked to finish off the year at The National Hotel on the 8^th November and the 13^th December. Get down there and whilst you check out the band make sure you take the time to get up and see the spectacular Rooftop Bar.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Especially those of you have found it hard to shake the hermit like existence imposed/excused by covid.

Check out our web site www.jookjointband.com for full details of all our upcoming shows.

Are we there yet? In our last newsletter the comment was made that time was speeding up and the years passing faster and faster. Then we get to annus horribilis,  2020, and does it flash past? No. But the good news is the pace is picking up.

In the meantime the lads in the band have been whiling away their lockdown time doing constructive activities, or so they say. If you push them to give an example of those activities of the past five months or so- they’ll tell you truths and lies. You’ll be regaled with stories of instrument skills increased by earnest lessons and bleeding fingers, of reaching suburban nirvana by the practice of esoteric yoga postures (misguided forms of lessons past), gardens planted and houses painted (funny how it exactly matches in with the old paint job), and so on.

The pubs and bars have reopened for business, musicians are back playing and it’s time to get out and support those bringers of fun, leisure and pleasure. The lads in the Jook Joint Band have been practicing and they are about to get out and about playing gigs.

Click on the image to view our Quarantine video

Our next gig is the Perth Folk and Roots Club at the Inglewood Bowling Club at 5:00pm 26th July. So draw back the curtains, throw open the doors, dust off your dancing shoes and come on down and enjoy yourselves. Catch up with friends, meet someone new, sit in the corner and clap loudly or with one hand if you want to show off – we don’t care- just be there.

In early August Bill is seeking the warmth and is heading up to Broome.

Back in time for Rodney’s Bait ‘n Tackle gig on Friday 21 August…be there for the fish raffle, every Friday at 7. Next one is yours!

Nick is heading south to Albany for a few weeks at the end of August to continue renovating the grand old house (future tense) that he and Biddy purchased with the view of retiring to in the fullness of time. The rest of the guys are heading down there to give him a hand putting up a verandah. And we have been fortunate to be offered a gig at the Albany Blues Club (5 Sept) at the Six Degrees which is literally just up the road from Nick’s place. So take a road trip and come join us. ‘The Wayward Earls’ will playing on the same night so that is real bonus as they comprise of some very talented and experienced blues musos.

Then we are looking forward to playing back at The National Hotel in Fremantle on Sunday 11 October. And are booked for follow up gigs there in November and December.

Hoping you are all keeping well and look forward to seeing you soon.

Check out our web site www.jookjointband.com for full details of all our upcoming shows.

It’s a bit of a heavy heart moment but Jook Joint Band won’t be able to play our next few gigs at Rottnest Gov’s Sports Bar, South Beach Markets and Rodney’s Bait ‘n Tackle in March.

Our drummer and vocalist Pete, has just returned from New Zealand yesterday and as such he is now subject to the Federal Governments mandatory self-isolation decree due to COVID-19 Corona Virus.

We are really disappointed of course but more so sorry for the inconvenience its caused for you and the venues that support live music.

We will be in touch in April and hopefully they will be able to slot us back in the near future.

Stay Safe

For updates on Jook Joint Band, visit jookjointband.com or follow via Facebook, or Instagram (@jookjointband).

Ho Ho Ho. Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas. Crikey – this one has come around even faster than the last one. But it is a season most of us look forward to, given the excessive eating and drinking that comes with it.

Jook Joint Band has been out and about on the hustings bringing its version of joy to the community at large. We may not be Father Xmas (more like Grinch – me thinks) but we try and do our bit.

We have recently played at the Freo Harbour Bar, the Pirate Bar and The National Hotel. The Pirate Bar was a new venue for us and it was a blast with a small but warm crowd. Our latest gig at the National really went off. The full house were screaming for more. We had the pleasure of being joined by the crew from one of the local dance studios. With their talented and enthusiastic dance moves they really helped set the scene for what was one of the most enjoyable gigs we have played.

Pirate Bar, Mount Hawthorn

We are rounding 2019 off with a gig this coming Friday night at Rodney’s Bait ‘n Tackle in Mosman Park (Stirling Hwy, near Glyde St, across the road from the Mosman Park rail station carpark – plenty of spots available). If you get there early, by 7.00 pm, you can participate in what has to be the best and most iconic fish raffle in WA. It is strange that a fish raffle can be so much fun! It sets the scene for a night of rowdy merriment.

We have quite a number of gigs booked for early 2020 which we have managed to squeeze in between the hectic holiday and travelling commitments of the lads. But we look forward to seeing you this Friday at Rodney’s to round 2019 out.

The JJB boys – Bill, Pete, Larry, Nick and Sean wish you and yours the very best for Xmas and the New Year.

For more information on JJB go to www.jookjointband.com  and  Like our page on Facebook to keep up to date.

Look forward to seeing you all up on the dance floor.