The Bloody Jug Band performed at the Hourglass.

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John Theisen, the lead singer of the Bloody Jug Band, ordered some cards with a sketch I did of the band at Fringe. We met behind The Hour Glass (480 S Ronald Reagan Blvd Longwood, FL) where we made the exchange. I decided to stay to watch the first set and have a drink. There must have been a comic con convention in town because folks at the next table were dressed in Star Wars regalia. i wish they had made it into the sketch, but they sat down after the scene was blocked in.

The Bloody Jug Band draws inspiration from historic Jug bands of the 1920’s and 30’s as well as the darker side of
Blues and Rock n’ Roll, The Band carves out its own niche in a genre of music that has
never seen such a bloody incarnation. Their high energy dark themed music is quite addictive. I love that tips go into a tiny coffin. Salvador Dali overlooked the performance with a smirk as if in approval of the sinister, surreal lyrics and driving beat.

Lone Wolf

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The next performer at the Jug-ly Art & Antics fundraiser at the Peacock Room was the Lone Wolf. He set up behind a simplified drum set with a megaphone attached to the base drum. He had a harmonica set up with a brace to hold it to his lips. A tin can hung below the harmonica perhaps for added acoustics. His voice was raspy and deep. Something about singing into a megaphone made the vocals seem bad ass. I worked quickly trying to capture him in the dim light. His drum set was bright green and he disappeared into bloody reds. His girlfriend stood directly in front of the stage checking her iPhone occasionally. He called out to her once, to help him find the slide for his guitar. He was the quintessential one man band.

Next on the line up were the Kitschy Kittens Burlesque Troupe. Suddenly the room was jam packed. A thick wide and tall gentleman stood right in front of me. Two slender women dressed in German Tyrolean dresses got on stage. They each got a beer out of a cooler and popped off the caps. They began a seductive dance to a beer song. I only caught a glimpse of the one girl when she moved to stage right. Soon frilly under garments were flying into the crowd. John Theisen kept picking them up and putting them back on stage. The girls began to sway and stagger as they sipped and danced. Before I could close my mouth and put a pencil to the page, it was over. The girls bounded off the stage, their shiny symbol shaped pasties bouncing. They gathered their garments and exited stage left. Perhaps I’ll have a clean line of sight and get a sketch next time.

Another band started to set up their equipment on the small stage. They were all young college kids in stone washed cut up jeans. The Getbye was emblazoned on a drum set. I considered another sketch but decided I had enough eye candy for one night. I headed home. I had started the evening thinking I would sketch the Bloody Jug Band. I will have to catch them another night. Hopefully plenty of money was raised for a Gift for Music and the Crealde School of Art.

Jug-ly Art & Antics

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John Theisen from the Bloody Jug band told me about this fundraising event at the Peacock Room. When I got to the Peacock Room I was fascinated by a phosphorescent blue tree in the main bar area. It would have made a great sketch but I heard music in the back room so I headed that way. The pool room had an exhibit of jugs from all over the country. The art exhibit was inspired by Traditional JUG Bands and the Americana Movement. The jugs were on shelves and with the dim lighting it was hard to see the name plates. I lit them up with my iPhone. Some jugs were already sold as indicated by the red dots. Orlando artist Mike Siedsma had his own wall filled with fanciful face jugs.

On a table there were a dozen or so cigar box guitars for sale. The artist, Jim Mitchell, stressed that cigar box guitars have a long, rich history in American music. He handcrafts each instrument one at a time so he is always open to clients individual needs. People were encouraged to pick up the guitars and try them out. John Theisen pointed out to me that the Bloody Jug Band would be using several in performances later that evening. All Proceeds from art sold that evening went to benefit, A Gift for Music and Crealde School of Art.

GT Springer was on stage performing some lively rock and roll covers. At one point several members of the Bloody Jug Band got on stage to join in on the vocals. Someone shouted “Freebird!” As the guitar gods performed, a washtub single string joined in performing in a green spot light.