Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Jack Berry who chats about his new LP, “Mean Machine.â€
About Jack Berry:
Originally from Reno, Nevada, Berry created his first album for a school project while studying in Los Angeles. After performing along the West Coast in a duo, Berry decided that he was meant for a career in music and relocated to Nashville. After several months of sleeping on a couch and working to catch the attention of the local press, Berry’s “ample supply of good hooks and riffs†(Nashville Scene) eventually gained the praise of critics throughout Nashville and beyond, earning him spots at well-known festivals, including North by Northeast in Toronto, New York City’s CMJ Music Marathon and SXSW’s Red Gorilla Festival.
Since then, Berry has logged dozens of shows from Nashville to New York City. He most recently appeared at No Country For New Nashville’s December showcase in 2015 and earned the runner-up spot in Hard Rock Rising’s Battle of the Bands. Mean Machine is poised to serve as Jack Berry’s breakthrough record
Review Fix: What are your goals for this LP?
Jack Berry: Mean Machine is a statement. I’d hope it would reach enough ears to provide me the opportunity to reiterate and solidify myself.Â
Review Fix: How was “Bad Dog written? Is there a story behind it?
Berry: Bad Dog derives its name from the fictional character Slevin Kelevra in the movie Lucky Number Slevin. Throughout the film the character plots and manipulates his revenge on a higher authority, one that’s actions altered his life substantially and not for the better. The song takes on the vibe of rebellion and refute while also accepting the notions of being labeled a miscreant. “You might say/that I was built for a cage/ and I had been all along / but Ima keep drinking and playing my games / I’m good when I’m gone.” It’s that expressed sentiment of responding to a persecution by simply saying, “Yeah, well who the hell asked you?” That metaphorical middle finger.Â
Review Fix: Is there another standout song on the LP?
Berry: That’s a tough question. Probably just all of them.Â
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you?
Berry:I like to say it sounds like a fistfight in a church. If I was to compare previous inspirations I suppose it’s Elvis and Ozzy trading the punches.Â
Review Fix: What makes this album a special one?
Berry: This is my first record since moving to Nashville years ago with the specific intent to make it here. These songs were born here and I damn near died in the meantime. It’s like my Frankenstein monster — it’s alive. It’s alive.
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