Jake Klar Is Gold At Rockwood Music Hall

Rockwood Music Hall has consistently been a venue where you can strike gold and find some great music, and that’s exactly what happened when I saw Jake Klar perform at his EP release party on Thursday evening. Along with a great sense of humor that got the crowd giggling in their seats, Jake’s vocals were as authentic as you might find on a back porch in Mississippi. His folk/Americana with an interesting inclusion of rock came across quite authentic, with nimble finger-picking and lively harmonica to round out his performance. Accompanied by a two guitarists and a drummer, the band was cohesive and relaxed on stage despite having been paired recently, and seemed effortless as they transitioned easily from one song to the next.

Jake Klar

One song that immediately caught my attention was called “Devil’s Bread.” Joking about piecing the song together from the bible and sci-fi novels, the song’s vocals were laden with reverb, and married to its toe-tapping melody. It was so good I wondered why no one had snatched it up to use on a soundtrack yet. Klar also held an excellent stage presence and made the most of the small stage, moving about with ease.

Jake Klar

As the night ended, each person in attendance was rewarded with a copy of the new EP, Crescent St. Blues. The physical EP was one of the most well presented physical copies of an EP I’ve held in my hands in a while. A stark white sleeve with very subtle letter pressed words etched into its cover, and the track listing got the same treatment on the back. Inside the EP, black and white artwork and the thank you’s were added on a separate insert. Peering closely inside, I saw that my limited edition first pressing was number 40 out of 100. The attention to detail here is impressive. As I learned later on that night, the songs on the EP were just as detailed and beautiful as how they were presented on the outside. This is definitely an EP you want to curl up and sit with for a while.