the Lyric Featuring James And The Devil

Tim Wenger | December 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

the Lyric

By: Angela Kerr

Highlighting James And The Devil – No Big D

JamesAndTheDevil.com

Photo Credit: Ralston Photo

I first met James & the Devil (aka J &The D) who hail from the city of Denver, Colorado through an introduction that Kyle Christy of Drum City Guitarland made. At the time I was working with CREATE MSU Denver and the development team of OWN IT 2013. After describing to Kyle our willingness to create a free concert for the tri-institutional campus at Auraria, Tim Kae of Drum City Guitarland not only sponsored the event, but Kyle directed me toward Adam Carpenter, one of the original founding members of J & the D (founded in 2007). Adam who serves as bassist extraordinaire, back up vocalist and band Manager reveals his humble and fun loving personality which comes alive on stage and through text which is the only way I had consistent contact with him. After a few of these exchanges—I was hooked and had the opportunity to work with J &the D over the eight week OWN IT event development. They arrived ready to rock, as true crowd pleasers and team players as sponsors for the event.

James Campbell, the “J” in J & the D, rhythm guitarist, the passionate lead vocalist and lyricist for the band submitted No Big D as the song lyric that meant the most to him. The song appears on their new album release SampleThis which is a rock your socks off ride filled with influences of bluegrass, hip hop, funk and jam that make it impossible to stay in your seat. I know because I saw them perform the songs at Herman’s Hideaway on November 2nd to a packed Halloween Costume-Character crowd. And yes, Miss Piggy won the costume contest—I mean who else was in the room? They lead off with the Halloween movie theme and then broke into…”fire in the disco….we’re up all night to get lucky,” as the crowd danced in synch to the beat. There was no room to dance on that floor independently so everyone danced in mass—together. Quite the site to see -such an enthusiastic fan base. The interaction between the band members provided pure entertainment no matter how they paired off—an insight to their offstage relationships. James Crutchfield, on electric guitar and back-up vocals shreds while the guitar is literally behind his back. You have to see it. Matt Stoner keeps the beat steady – a serious role for this hard charging band. No one can underestimate the significance of the timekeeper—especially when executed with Stoner style. Finally, enter the classically trained David Ross on the fiddle and background vocals. Pure talent.

An excerpt from No Big D: “Can you hear me? I’m the thing inside that makes you different. Could you hear me? I’m your only chance—your voice of reasoning. Cause we bleed, however, we will not be broken ‘cause we believe, together we can beat the system. Hear me—when you’re acting like it’s no big deal and see that we are working toward a bigger picture.” Jim, as everyone calls him suggests: “This is an acknowledgement of a failing system of our earthly welfare. It continues to hold most of us down, tries to conform us—keep our voices and opinions quiet, and keep up borders to exploit our differences. But I believe there are many who stand to liberate the world, and do what’s right for humanity despite this constant effort to contain us.” This song reminded me of a recent comment made by a Sociology Professor instructing for Metropolitan State University. He was lecturing on a DVD called Food Inc., and made a reference about the accountability each one of us has in the direction our society and our world is taking. He made a distinction about the difference between authority and power, stating: “Power is not being forced to do something. Power is when you don’t even know there is a question to be asked.” Jim’s lyrics reflect this inability to contain doing what is right—all that is needed is reflection and action. “Cause we believe, together we can beat the system.”

After the show, the entire band is offstage and mingling with their fans. The conversation comes easy and familiar as if they had personal relationships with all of them. Definitely an area where J & the D shine is their offstage approachability and willingness to communicate with people. Gracious and honest in their delivery, the interview in the Herman’s greenroom after the show was a myriad of people coming and going as each band member came to share a few words as they were simultaneously packing up for the night. I broach the question about my favorite topic—”who writes the lyrics and how do you guys create the songs?” James Crutchfield who I am immediately told is “Buz,” chimes in with “the lyrics are 90% Jim and 10% the remaining members of the band.” When I ask about Jim’s background he says he studied computer science in school. I see Matt Stoner enter the room, he lights on the couch for a brief moment and then gets up and leaves saying nothing. To this Jim states “Where’s the drummer? He is a colonist,” which I understand to be a reference to his Halloween Costume. Jim continues with: “Our drummer works for a legal magistrate.” That is the last I saw Stoner for the interview. We will say he is a man of many beats and few words. Adam chimes in and informs us they have taken two weeks off—which is unheard of for this hard working touring band. There is additional commentary about how much they’ve missed each other during this period, and Adam again shares that he and Jim live together, so never far apart—he can hear Jim rapping in the bathroom above him. These men are never far from the music. I then turn my attention to Dave Ross who I am told is a twin. I find out that Ross has played the fiddle since the age of 7 which means 26 years of relationship with that instrument. No wonder it bends at his command. “My brother (who plays guitar) and I were frequently in competitions, and were heavily involved in Children’s Choir and Orchestra growing up. My grandparents were my bluegrass influence and I also studied Jazz Theory.” To this commentary Jim suggests: “To be six feet tall and play the fiddle naturally attracts the women.” I would say it would not only be stature and talent, but conduct resembling the finest of gentlemen – a knock out, roaring fiddle player; the fiddle compositions being a huge influence in the overall J & the D dynamic sound. Ross and Carpenter also work together as Communication Specialists—so the band that lives together and works together finds not only immense camaraderie but efficiency in scheduling the intense amount of details required to keep a band performance ready and on the road a majority of weekends throughout the year.

After all the chiding, I return my focus to the lyric. Jim tells me: “I have written over a hundred songs. The only ones that supersede are the ones that are general and felt.” “People want to come out and let go. They don’t want to get serious.” “Many times the crowd does not care what they lyrics are about, especially younger generation.” Jim continues with: “Sometimes my lyrics are angry and sometimes passionate.” Buz adds: “That is Jim—energy and passion.” I reflect upon their performance and I need no further prompting for good understanding. Jim continues: “You know when it is a good song when you can sit down with a guitar or at a piano and sing the lyrics—no affects. I write a ton of songs that never make it to the live show.” To this commentary I ask about how they describe their unique sound. Everyone chimes in and speaks at once, my pen flying and the feeling reminiscent of my Brazilian relatives who carry on 5 conversations simultaneously with complete understanding: “James and the Devil…well we are just mental—fighting our own demons.” Adam describes the music as: “Bluegrass infused rock and funk.” Jim adds: “We are new mountain music, a niche variety show band that is not just metal, not just reggae.”

The doorman at Herman’s had provided a copy of Sample This, to my concert mate Garret Curtiss—I note with a quick review of the back cover that several of the tracks were recorded live. I promise to return the album to him (ok so he hasn’t gotten it back yet) and I walk to my car and put it in my CD player to keep me company on my ride home after the interview. The disc starts out with the melodic “This ain’t another Generic Love song baby; there is just no other way for me to explain it.” A catchy boot stomping tune highlighting the dance between the male and female characters, adding the message “love me when it’s over.” Ross is highlighted with fiddle and harmony—delicious. Jekyll is up next with that mountain music sound: “Take a look outside, got to open up your eyes…the moon has got me riled up and it pulls apart my mind. With Adam on background vocals: “Boom, POP OFF, Come on you want some more?” Followed by Alabama Lemonade Tea—”begins with a whaling fiddle ….”Alabama lemonade Tea, it’s good for you its good for me—you have one and I’ll have three….they fill it full of whiskey….and it looks like tea—yeah!” The rhythm section absolutely rocks this one. Huckleberry … a story about a young man out on the prowl…”don’t pull any tricks, the cops are out thick and they’ll put you in jail this time.” And then there is No Big D which in no small way is one of my favorites on the album—yes for the lyrical content but also the passion that Jim puts into the message vocally. The band rocks this song inside and out with a rhythm – almost a Celtic feeling and sound; it penetrates my Irish bones and it is impossible to sit still—there is no voice of reason when this song is played—it is pure composition. There are 11 songs in total including All These Years featuring Green River Vibe. James and the Devil are 2013 Westword Showcase Winners in the “Avant Pop” Category. What’s coming up for J & the D? Visit their website @ www.JamesAndTheDevil.com or their Facebook @ www.facebook.com/JamesAndTheDevil.

If you would like to submit a lyric go to www.thecoloradomusicbuzz.com and complete The Lyric application. An email will be sent to me for consideration.