Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind are as good as it gets. Saturday 8-8-2015, at Calacino’s in Beckley, WV, we were treated to true musicians playing as a band. We heard Jason play the same venue in March this year, but to me this new performance showcased a group that has grown to work together as a team to put out music of a raised caliber. I enjoyed the give and take between all the artists, each willing to hold back as another took the lead. Dynamics yielded songs with emotion and feelings, and restrained volumes allowed for clarity of highlighted passages. The tunes had enough variety to retain my interest all night.
As entertainers, they started on time, played good sets, interacted with the audience, and even played an extra 3rd set of 45 minutes.
As a good showman, Jason brought up the club owner, Jerry Zaferatos to play harp in that last set. It was a crowd pleaser. But in honor of the 60th birthday of our Huntington Harmonica Club member, Paula Stewart, he signed her harp case and let her lead his band in the tune “Red House”. By the end of the tune, the dance floor was full and the crowd very happy.
If he comes near, make a trip to hear Jason Ricci. ---------- theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
I too heard the "Jim Morrison" sound on a few tunes and I like it. What I wanted to point out was not Jason, but "Jason and the Bad Kind". It was the way they worked together as a team that I appreciated so much.
Jason's lead vocals are probably not his strong point (perhaps he is searching for a persona), but no one can deny the power of his harmonica playing. ---------- The Iceman
