Fat Jackson rocks on, Full Frontal

Becky Holland

AMERICUS — Local improv band to release CD on Sept. 12



BY BECKY HOLLAND

becky.holland@gaflnews.com

americustimesrecorder.com



AMERICUS – Imagine, you are on a easy riding country road ... a slight breeze slips in to give you a kiss through the cracks of your windows ... the sun is smiling and the green of the grass is bright. The cotton is in full bloom.

It is a good feeling.

Then the music stops playing and you realize you are sitting at your desk, headphones on, listening to a copy of the soon to be released album/CD, called Full Frontal, featuring local band, Fat Jackson.

From the slow moving ballad, Jenny, to the short quip Hand Turkey to the head nodding Bottom Feeder, Full Frontal is a treasure for those who miss the days of music with lyrics and music that balance each other out.

And that makes Josh Blankenship, Rusty Cheek, Eric Megahee, Steven Moreno, and Pat Owen, smile. The band, Fat Jackson, has been together for over three years, as a improv/jam band. With the release of the CD, Full Frontal, fans and soon to be fans(after you catch their act, you will become a fan, no matter your age) will get a taste of the flavor of Fat Jackson.

The five friends each have regular day jobs—pharmacy tech, electrician, fire sprinkler designer, food and beverage manager, and warehouse worker—though it is the music that they love. Most met in college.

Blankenship said “College didn’t work out for all of us.”

But a shared love of music did.

“I was singing, and doing musicals when I was growing up,” said Blankenship. Megahee said, “I was doing church stuff, and probably when I hit 6th grade I started saving money for guitar lessons, until then I played the drums.” “My parents were into the gospel band, and I was in chorus through school and liked playing the piano,” said Cheek.

Moreno got his degree from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2006, and claims that he has been influenced by “the Allman Brothers,” and other such groups. Called the one that the female fans seem to be drawn to, or that is what Blankenship says, Moreno does act at times as the spokesman of the group.

Owen calls “Miles Davis” as one of his leading musical influences. “I didn’t get started playing music until a friend of mine, when I was 24, talked about me learning a song. He was entering the Navy, and said I better learn it because we were going to play when he got back.”

Owen had known Cheek for most of their lives, and through “music.” Blankenship and Megahee meet in the late 1990s through school and mutual friends. Owen also knew them and had played with them some. Moreno was brought in later, and the band was formed.

The name Fat Jackson came, said Cheek, “from Steven. We had been tossing about a name. And Steven said something like Fat Jackson, and we all liked it.”

Blankenship said, “We don’t do Skynard covers.”

Cheek added, “Or Molly Hatchett.”

Moreno said, “Our music could be described as a generically rock blend of all of our influences.”

Megahee agreed, “I would say southern “IMPROV” jam.”

Blankenship said, “We don’t do Skynard covers.”

Cheek added, “Or Molly Hatchett.”

Moreno said, “Our music could be described as a generically rock blend of all of our influences.”

Owen described their music and style of play like a “a comfy fishing tree.”

“Fishing tree?” Blankenship asked, while Moreno, Cheek and Megahee looked at Owen with wide eyes.

“Yeah, you know, you are sitting by the pond, your rod and reel and leaning against that tree,” Owen said.

According to Blankenship, Cheek and Megahee, each finishing out the other’s sentences and sometimes talking in between when the other took an excited breath, the CD, which will be officially released on September 12, at Pat’s Place for a CD Release Party, is full mostly of “original stuff.” Each one of the five band members has taken a swing at the writing gig, though Blankenship seems to get the high nod for being the writer. Owen said, “When it works, it works.”

Moreno, said, “We are waiting on them to arrive, but we will be releasing them at Pat’s with a big celebration beginning at 8:30.” The CDs will cost $10.

For more details about the band, call 942-5570 or 942-0141.

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