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Rock ‘n’ roll ain’t what it used to be. Some may see that as a bad thing. I don’t. One of the greatest things about the genre is its capacity for change. Today, the hot fuss in the South Mississippi rock scene revolves around three local acts; Aura, Falls From Grace and Jane Doe’s Dead. The latter is the most interesting this week.
Their self-titled album is available at Sound Shop in Edgewater Mall, Beachtown Sound and Ya-Ya’s in Biloxi. It does more perhaps for their current local standing than it does for any high-minded hopes of the band “getting signed” or “becoming rockstars.” The great thing about it is, though, they don’t seem to care about any of it in the first place.
The album is, in a word, heavy. It’s got the high-flying heavy metal solos and the deep heavy metal drums, but it is literally soaked in an aggressive, mad, heavy vibe that is unforgiving of the listener’s musical tastes.
The band (Chris Noble – bass, Josh Gillie – vocals, Tim Black – guitar, Kevin Gordon – drums) started performing locally last year, most notably at the old Kirk’s Biz’Zar on Pass Road, Gulfport. Their live shows have historically been nothing short of thrilling, if you’re into heavy rock. They made their connections locally and gathered up some fans. But what really earned them their stripes, and their hard-partying reputation, was their opening gig at CPR Fest 14 this summer.
Since then, the band has been tearing up stages throughout the area and into Louisiana. Their album is good for the most part, but it could be better. There are several brilliant tracks that really capture the Jane Doe’s Dead live experience. “Evil Man,” “Afraid Of You” and “Ego Star” are standout tracks with driving rhythms and fantastic drumming. The key, however, is capturing the live experience.
Gillie’s vocal style is interesting, but can take some getting used to if you’re not familiar with its influences. Gillie sings with a substantial vocal trill and vibrato through most of the songs. It produces fantastic results on some songs, but sounds forced and contrived in others. He could stand to dial that back a tad, and take some lessons from the “less is more” school, in my opinion. However, that same vocal style is found in some of the better known New Orleans metal bands, specifically ‘90’s metal act Acid Bath. His vocals run parallel to the band’s general style, which also shows strong influences to the New Orleans “sludge metal” scene.
“I think it’s a metal album,” Noble said in a recent interview. “We had no idea of what it was going to turn out like. We just had an idea of writing songs and throwing them out there and jamming. (The album) ended up being what we got out of our ideas. I guess that’s the way the coin fell, but it definitely wasn’t our intention, that’s for sure.
Jane Doe’s Dead intention has always been to deliver a powerful show. Some of that power is lost in translation to the album. Considering the band has only been together for just over a year, however, they’re to be commended. With the recent addition of local music veteran Tim Black on guitar, their star can only continue to rise. Gordon’s two decades of drumming experience only sweetens the deal.
The thing about this band, though, is the live performance. I’m actually quite pleased the album falls short of expectations. If a band can’t deliver live, they just can’t deliver. Jane Doe’s Dead has given me chills in a live show. The album is just a taste of what they’re all capable of. You’ve just gotta see them live. That’s where the magic happens. And tonight, you can see it for yourself. They’re performing with Uncrowned, Falls From Grace and Aura at the Ocean Springs Civic Center on U.S. 90. The “Monster Ball” all ages show is $5 if you’re in costume and $10 without a costume. See you out there.
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