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As Captain Jack Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill once said, “Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed.”
Similarly, anyone who goes to the University of Maine without having heard The Mad Jacks perform is improperly experiencing college life.
It is from this British World War II soldier that four easygoing UMaine students — Erwin Cusack, Sean Strothmann, Sean Callahan and Blake Webb — drew their inspiration for naming The Mad Jacks, a band that has heated up the local music scene with their unique sound, ranging from classic and modern pop-rock to indie punk covers.
While “Mad Jack” wielded a claymore, or giant sword, The Mad Jacks come carrying guitars, amps, microphones, a drum set, loads of talent and a simple goal: to make people happy.
“Basically, we just want to get people dancing,” said Cusack, a fifth-year biology student who his bandmates credit with singing, writing lyrics, rhythm and shredding guitar.
If you’re looking for these music-makers, chances are you can find them at Woodman’s Bar and Grill weekly or in the basement of their apartment, plucking strings, singing songs and banging drums purely for the love of music.
The Mad Jacks have known each other since freshman year, but began making music as a collective during their junior year, when they all lived in Hart Hall.
“It only took us a week in the dorms to get in trouble,” Cusack said. “But other people living there were like, ‘No, we like the music, keep on going.’”
To define The Mad Jacks’ style in a word would be next to impossible, but a quick run through their repertoire might provide a better picture.
“We’re blessed with having pretty broad, eclectic tastes,” said Strothmann, a fifth-year anthropology student who mans the drums and provides occasional backup vocals.
“We’ve got The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Sublime, The Rolling Stones, Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand, The Wombats, The Kinks…” Cusack said, trailing off with `more influences in mind.
Callahan, who plays bass, sings and plays harmonica, was quick to point out one important aspect of their set list.
“If no one knows The Kinks, that’s our original,” he said.
“We cover Killer Tofu from ‘Doug’” Cusack said. “We did ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ [by Johnny Cash] one night, too, which was sweet because people started swing dancing. It was a good time.”
It’s clear The Mad Jacks are no one-note group. Since last May when they played an impromptu intermission set for the popular local band Restless Groove, they have quickly gained acclaim from college students and Orono-area music-lovers alike.
“I think that’s one of the best parts, seeing people actually enjoying [our music] while we’re back there playing,” Strothmann said.
When The Mad Jacks take over Woodman’s, a large, lively crowd often forms close to the band, full of people singing and swaying to the beat.
“I was talking to a guy after our set last time. He came up and he was like, ‘Man, I hope I don’t embarrass you guys while I’m up there dancing,’ and I’m like, ‘No, that’s exactly why we’re here,’” Cusack said.
Not only do they write their own music, play a mean bass, drums and harmonica and cover the classics with ease, but The Mad Jacks are aces at recovering from procrastination. They recalled learning a whopping 35 songs on Sept. 1, just weeks before they were set to perform for the first time that fall at Woodman’s.
They now boast approximately 53 songs in their repertoire and refuse to play anything they don’t have down-pat. The band is willing to integrate new songs and take requests from regulars, but “not from the Free Bird guys.”
Along with their frequent appearances at Woodman’s and a memorable show for fraternity Alpha Omicron Pi at a car show held in September, The Mad Jacks have made an appearance at a 21-and-over house party at an “undisclosed location.” They were sure to offer their musical presence for hire or for fun “if anybody’s looking for love.”
Webb, the band’s bass player, said, “Anything we can’t get arrested at is really the preferable show,” offering a slight disclaimer.
Though happy with the following they’ve rightfully earned so far, The Mad Jacks hope to branch out a bit over the next few weeks.
“We’ve pretty much been playing at Woodman’s, but we’ve been talking to The Bear Brew,” Strothmann said. “A lot of people book way in advance. I think the local music scene is actually picking up now.”
As for the response The Mad Jacks have received, they couldn’t be happier.
“[We’ve been] beyond well-received,” Webb said. “We actually thought there was a conspiracy, that people were just pretending to like our music.”
Cusack agreed, saying, “There were a couple nights that I thought people were just patronizing us.”
Since their May 7 appearance at Woodman’s, the band has been appearing both solo and in tandem with Frank and The Red Hots on a regular basis.
“It was just a lot of our friends at first that were coming, but now there’s actually people coming to the shows who I don’t know,” Strothmann said. “They’re coming to every show.”
The Mad Jacks have the luck of making a name for themselves in a relatively small college town that welcomes new acts with open arms.
“If you’re just starting out, [Woodman’s] is a good place to go just to hang out and have fun,” Strothmann said. “The local music scene is just the best I’ve ever seen. Tom [Menzie] from Frank and The Red Hots split a couple gigs with us already; everyone is completely supportive of each other.”
As for their future, the band is hopeful, but taking it one gig at a time.
“As of right now we’re kind of ignoring the fact that we’re going to be splitting up [after graduation],” Webb said. “We’re probably going to be coming up here and playing every once in a while, at least once a month.
“I’m good for once a month — we can decide this right now!” Webb said, addressing his bandmates as they sat in their practice space.
The Mad Jacks have written two original songs, though if you ask Cusack, he’ll say three.
“Our first song we called ‘Second Original.’ It’s mostly instrumental,” Webb said.
“Second Original” is, as its title implies, a new version of their first song. Their second track is “Fun Key House.” When asked to clarify the spelling of this clever tune, the band left it open-ended.
“Do it however you want,” Webb said.
“You can name the song for us,” Strothmann said.
Cusack is working on writing five original songs at the moment, and Strothmann mentioned their latest instrumental efforts.
“Let the record show that this guy is a machine with lyrics. He’s a wordsmith,” Strothmann said, pointing to Cusack. “We’re definitely sitting on quite a bit of original potential.”
Though The Mad Jacks are mainly a cover band at this point, the four friends are happy with what they’ve accomplished so far, with the Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See” being a band favorite and Modest Mouse’s “Float On” being a constant crowd pleaser.
“I like that we have original stuff, but I really just like playing stuff that people enjoy dancing to,” Cusack said. “Honestly I don’t care what we play, as long as people are having fun.”
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