The Jaggernauts Release First-Ever, Collaborative 7-Inch Vinyl
Eau Claire band and Madison-based The Known Unknowns channel punk-rock staples, will perform live on July 10 at Mousetrap Tavern
Evelyn Nelson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
In the glow of a clear blue sky and a packed house of area residents for the Sounds Like Summer concert series, The Jaggernauts offered a glimpse into their upcoming milestone: a debut seven-inch vinyl project and a joint effort alongside Madison-based band, The Known Unknowns.
From an old-school punk perspective, the first thing bands think of when collaborating is doing a split seven-inch, Adam Luchsinger of The Jaggernauts said. This foundational value – with the support of their shared record label, Crustacean Records – sure enough morphed into the decision to release Meet Skeleduck and Intel 101.
“The chance to do a vinyl with a band who are friends of ours – a high-quality product – is super cool,” Luchsinger said. “We are part of a family of bands that are active and we’re playing (with) regionally.”
Across their two new tracks, slated for release on vinyl on July 10, The Jaggernauts beckon fans to immerse themselves in the lore of Skeleduck – the latest character in the group’s auditory world-building.
Matt Florence, The Jaggernauts guitarist, said their songs are often inspired by other subjects, including the true story of a plastic toy duck saving the show.
“Skeleduck is in fact a plastic duck that goes on the top of my amp whenever I play; that I pretend is there for quality control,” Florence said of his good luck token. “If Skeleduck is not there (on stage), then I assume I’m just going to screw up horribly.”
Darwin Sampson, otherwise known as Special Agent Quantum D – who plays guitar and does vocals for The Known Unknowns – said he feels an authentic crossover with their friends from Eau Claire. The new tracks' roots are embedded in rock-and-roll, with “catchy if not quirky hooks.”
“(The Jaggernauts) have a rich, deep catalog of supreme rock tracks; we have a limited sample size, but it's growing,” Sampson said. “They have a mystique to their songwriting we strive to match.”
Both bands, whether in “I Won’t Go Back” or “Intel 101,” reveal themes of social criticism on the corporate world and dissatisfactions with life – based on decades of work in the regional punk scenes and where the world stands today.
Together, as Sampson said, the two groups boldly reconfigure rock and roll to achieve a freshness that hopefully catches listeners' attention. Rooted in 20 years of connection – among founding musicians and the backing of Crustacean Records – these regional partnerships cultivate the necessary longevity to navigate the complexities of today’s music industry.
“The way music is consumed has completely changed, catching anyone’s attention in a social media driven echo chamber is trying at best,” Sampson said. “We like to navigate the times with friends. Without these partnerships it would be far less fun and enriching.”
With these intentions in mind, both bands – with the support of Oshkosh-based Degoey Moore Band – will perform new songs live at 8pm on July 10 in Mousetrap Tavern (311 S Barstow St., Eau Claire). There, copies of the seven-inch vinyl ($10), coozies, tee shirts and CDs will be available for purchase.
For locals who just can’t wait until July, an early Meet Skeleduck listening party – hosted by The Jaggernauts – will take place at 9pm on June 26 at The Acoustic Café in Eau Claire (505 S. Barstow St.).
Either way, the bands – by their own analog and alternative means – celebrate the rituals of deliberate, tangible and personal music consumption.
See The Jaggernauts and The Known Unknowns perform their dual vinyl, Meet Skeleduck and Intel 101 at the Mousetrap Tavern on July 10 in downtown Eau Claire. Copies of vinyl and CDs will be available for purchase at Revival Records, Abraxas Wax and The Local Store.
