Jobber at Alphaville (photo by Kate Hoos)
One of my favorite discoveries of 2022 has been Jobber, the new post grunge band that just recently released their debut EP, Hell In A Cell. I described them in a review of their single “Heel Turn” as “Belly meets Veruca Salt meets Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins.” I think that’s a pretty solid assessment and for their heavier moments, singer/guitarist Kate Meizner (Hellrazor/The Glow) has also mentioned that Helmet was an influence as well. It’s all there in their sound and it all coalesces into something that would fit perfectly in either 1993 or 2022. (As a middle aged “never got out of my grunge rock phase” woman, you know my heart lives in 93 and anything that reminds of that time is special.)
And aside from their supremely well crafted music, one of the most interesting things about this band is that they are pro wrestling themed—or perhaps “centric” might be a better way to phrase it—as it is presented as the subject matter of their songs rather than a gimmick or a theme in the vein of Mac Sabbath (McDonald’s/Black Sabbath) or Okilly Dokilly (Ned Flanders); there are no Macho Man costumes or vintage Hulkamania tees in site. Sure there’s jokes, such as the opening track of the EP which features (manipulated) audio of Mankind talking smack about the band, but the songs are all serious in nature and aren’t just about wrestlers or in-ring moves in a base level way, rather that all serves as a framework and entry point for discussions about life, feelings and politics; “interesting” hardly seems to do it justice as a descriptor really.
Given the pairing of an early 90s era grunge sound with this compelling subject matter, it was a no brainer that I’d love this band (I am a child of the 1980s/teen of the 1990s after all). It was a joy to get to see them play finally and I loved hearing the songs live, particularly the title track of the EP which is a major standout, the bouncy “Entrance Theme,” which features a decidedly ungrunge addition of keys for a really cool juxtaposition of sounds, and the busy drums of “No Holds Barred” (named for the 1989 movie which was Hulk Hogan’s first starring role and an oft-watched VHS tape in my house as a kid) courtesy of Mike Falcone (Hellrazor, Ovlov, Speedy Ortiz).
Suffice it to say, this is a band that fucking rocks and has some real shit to say presented in one of the most unique ways that I’m currently aware of all wrapped up within big, catchy riffs. I’m definitely more than looking forward to what they bring to the table when they tackle their first full length.
Read more about the meaning behind their songs/the songwriting process here and here.
Jobber’s set was bookended by Golden Apples who hail from Philadelphia and played a set of pleasant bedroom pop tinged shoegaze and Virginia based group, Dazy, who is touring behind the new album OUTOFBODY. They closed the night strong and brought plenty of their own big riffs to town with an Everclear edged 90s vibe to sweeten the deal.
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Kate Hoos)
GOLDEN APPLES
JOBBER
DAZY
