Even casual jamband fans, who are only somewhat familiar with Widespread Panic, typically recognize the name Jerry Joseph when it pops up in a WP setlist a couple time a year. What they may not know until becoming well versed in the band’s history is that the popular WP song, “Climb to Safety,” is actually a JJ tune. With the help of such exposure through Panic, Jerry has developed a strong subset following amongst their fanbase. Now, with the release of his 2nd full length album, Conscious Contact, Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons are hoping the music will spread to an even wider audience. In doing so, Jerry mixes songs to satisfy his loyalists, and other, more catchy tunes to attract the masses, creating an album that flows well from beginning to end.
“Coliseum” opens the album and immediately grabs your attention. Along with the title track, these two selections would definitely have a live audience reaching peak levels. In contrast, “The Kind of Place” and “Ten Little Fairies” are little, melodic numbers that will entice those listeners who lean away from Panic. Along with these, Jerry throws in a couple of powerful ballads like “Pure Life” further exemplifying his talent as a songwriter. The special inclusion of “The Fastest Horse in Town” features the dearly missed Michael Houser on lead guitar. The unique, string bending sounds of Houser make the song, and the album a must have for any Widespread Panic fan.
Furthering the Panic connection, the record is produced by WP bassist David Schools (who also contributes keyboards to a song) and features WP drummer Todd Nance, however Jerry Joseph, and his bandmates Junior Ruppel on bass, and Brad Rosen on drums, have put together an album that showcases their diverse abilities. They can certainly play the hard, roots-rocking numbers, which can be expected from prior recordings, but by blending in the delicate pieces, they offer another vital characteristic of their collective identity, and the end result is a nice balance somewhere between the two.
