How does a young singer/songwriter from Rome, Georgia get one of the music industry’s most respected drummer/percussionists to join him on stage?
He impresses the hell out of him, that’s how.
On a recent gig at Buffalo, New York’s Sportsmen’s Tavern, edgy roots rocker Jefferson Grizzard found himself backed by drummer, percussionist Sandy Konikoff. (Bob Dylan, Stan Szelest, Ronny Hawkins and the Hawks, Joe Cocker, Garland Jeffreys, Grinderswitch, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, BB King, John Cale, etc).
“My album, A Crack In The Door, made its way to Sandy,” says Grizzard. Mike Caputy, from my label “Back Porch Syndicate Records” was the conduit. “Sandy contacted me and said that if I ever came to Buffalo to play, he’d love to be a part of the band. When we got the gig at The Sportsmen’s, we contacted Sandy and he just said, ‘I’m in.’”
According to Sandy Konikoff, “He blew my mind, man, when I first heard the CD. I was blown away, quite frankly, by how intelligent Jefferson is in his writing and how he phrased his lyrics and songs. I was his age when I worked with Bob Dylan and let me tell you this kid really writes ‘em. Jefferson’s writing knocks me out. Then at the show (in Buffalo) his performance really came off. I see similarities between Jefferson and Bob, in that the songs are the thing, man. Lyrics like ‘Standing there in all your repose…’ or like in his song Forces They Fail, ‘ My girl she calls to me, asks me why I can’t see that she’s up and gone, It’s a shame she says, but the rules of this game, they aren’t open to interpretation’ Woah…that’s heavy man. That really kills me. Or in the song I Got The Spirit he writes, ‘To live like this it’s so great, Just like a kid in a candy store, too many people in this world filled with hate, causing anger, pain and war’ That’s Dylan man…to me…that’s Dylan. He’s a full throttle natural. He has no phoniness. His confidence is second nature. I was knocked out with that. The spirit was there…the energy and spirituality…I was surprised from someone so young. That knocked me out. “
And it’s not only Sandy Konikoff who’s impressed. Prior to his Buffalo show, Grizzard made some time to track some new music with Robby Takac, founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls , at Takac’s GCR Studios. According to Takac, “Even though Jefferson is only twenty-two years old, he crafts a song with the influences of a much more experienced ear and delivers them with an off-the-cuff approach stripped of many modern production cliches.”
Jefferson Grizzard is currently playing dates to support “A Crack In The Door,” his debut album, produced by Ben McRee. His recent shows included Buffalo, New York and Asbury Park, New Jersey. For more information on Jefferson Grizzard, to see his official music video for “Since You Came Around” or to receive a free download,” please visit http://jeffersongrizzard.com/.