大象传媒

Jawbone live from SXSW

He started out busking on a New York subway, but while Bob Zabar aka Jawbone may have moved on to playing 'proper' venues his one-man band set-up hasn't changed one bit. This week's session, recorded live at SXSW festival in Texas, is the sound of one man sat behind a drum-kit, alternating between blues guitar, harmonica and raucous holler.

Hailing from Detroit, Jawbone has straddled the genres of blues and country for several years. It all started with the harmonica, some singing and a name he took from the panel of a truck. Eventually the limitations of just playing the harmonica led to Jawbone embracing the guitar, with amplification provided by jump leads and a 12 volt car battery.

"I wanted to play rock and roll clubs, and be loud, and try to make some excitement, you know? So the guitar was an inevitable addition, and then came the bass drum. It's a real instrument. Musically, it gives you that bottom end, sure, but more important -- BAM! BAM! BAM! BOOM! -- it's got authority."

He says he owes much of his success to John Peel, for whom he recorded a session in April last year. In an interview with UK-based magazine Artrocker, he said: "I just sent it in the post. The fact that he found it is a miracle. That led to everything, to hooking up with Loose Records. It made all the difference in coming over here (the UK) and doing shows."

Peelie bestowed the prestigious accolade 'album of the year' on Jawbone's debut 'Dang Blues.' Released in 2004, 'Dang Blues' was self-recorded live in Jawbone's basement studio (aka Litterbox), a simple set-up whereby Jawbone set the levels, strapped on a guitar, hooked up a harp, sat back behind the bass drum and let rip.

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