Photo by Lisa Czech
Jake Swamp and the Pine is playing at Brighton Music Hall on June 1st, exactly a year since Drew of Jake Swamp debuted at BMH. Get ready for some new music, new band members, new merch, new jokes, and plenty of swearing.
A lot has happened in Drew’s life since he last performed at BMH: he’s a married man (congrats!), he’s added electric guitar to the mix, and he’s working on a new EP. However, some things are still the same: Drew still has his usual one jar of Teddies’ Crunchy Peanut Butter as his post-gig snack and he’s still sending yummy vegetarian recipes via his email newsletter.
Joining him on stage are Austin Beveridge on bass guitar, Chris Haley on electric guitar, Jonathan Ulman on drums, Josh Gold on piano and spoons, and High Tea on beautiful background vocals. Opening for Jake Swamp are their good friends Dan and the Wildfire and Coco Smith, who was recommended by neo-soul singer Jill McCracken. Drew is checking off all these collaborations from his bucket list and also said that he would love to officially collab with Copilot and Ben Cosgrove in the future.
For the new EP, Jake Swamp wrote songs from a different place, focusing on a cathartic release of emotions relating to societal pressure. “The songs are a combination of a ‘not-angry-to-a-fuck-you’ vibe that you can bop around and dance hard to.” Inspired by Noah Kahan and boygenius, Drew is focusing on making his songs more relatable, more indie-rock, and wants listeners to resonate with the different emotions in the songs.
One of his new songs, titled “Shoveling Shit,” was inspired by assumptions people have about us millennials — that we’re lazy and our problems are self-inflicted, rather than inherited. In fact, this song has Drew’s favorite lyrics that he’s ever written: ‘I’m told that I am lazy and to quit being complacent/At least I did not inherit my dead grandfather’s racism. It’s time to change your mind. But it’s our fault, it’s our problem; shoveling shit with a silver spoon.’
Jake Swamp even has new limited edition merch in the form of posters and camp counselor shirts because he loves the 70s vintage look. It also pays tribute to all the time Drew spent outdoors at camp, since the outdoors has always been an inspiration for his music.
Jake Swamp has a couple surprises up his sleeve, starting with a secret cover: a folk version of the classic “All Star” (listen to a sneak peek). He’ll also be holding a pre-show picnic at Allston’s Ringer Park with picnic snacks (TBD if Teddies’ Crunchy Peanut Butter can be a pre-show snack)!
“I want people to walk away with their new favorite band and have a fun, safe time while dancing, crying, and having a blast! Let’s get as many fucking people through the doors as possible!” So come on out to Brighton Music Hall on June 1st and spend your Saturday with Jake Swamp and the Pine!