|
news front |
|
A&E Jake
Laufer is a young American musician who has been compared to everyone from
They Might Be Giants to The Clash. Regardless of what you may find in the
man’s music, there is a talent in him that can’t be ignored and shouldn’t be
missed. Laufer’s
visit to Kenyon is just one stop on a four-day tour taking him across Ohio
and Pennsylvania. This “quick jaunt,” he says, “feels just right [because] my
hockey team misses me if I stay away too long, even if they’d never admit
it.” Laufer
is a captivating songwriter with a sweet voice reminiscent of a kid with his
first guitar. His lyrics are full of intriguing stories and feelings, with
such influences as The Who and Black Sabbath. He also has a grasp of the best
ways to balance his lyrics with his instrumentation, in order to make his
songs send the strongest messages possible. Consider “Walkabout,” in which
Laufer’s lyrics explore his search for something that he can’t explain. After
listing nearly every possible description for what he could be looking for, a
burst of guitar and saxophone kicks in and takes over, showing the importance
of his search is really too strong for words. Laufer
is also able to convey a sense of humor in his music. In “Paste-Eating Johnny
vs. Mrs. Edison”—which, by title, recalls a Moxy Fruvous piece (and there are
moments when Laufer’s work certainly sounds a bit like that quirky group)—we
find the funny and poignant story of a grade schooler’s crush on a cool kid’s
mother. The
vigor Laufer puts into singing that he’s “wicked awesome” is an example of
the humility he brings to his art. He combines the experience of Bob Dylan
with the enthusiasm of Jad Fair in order to present songs that illustrate how
much he loves music. In addition to singing and playing guitar, he also plays
an Arabic drum called a dumbek. He insists he does not know how to play the
instrument, and that it’s “for the neighbors to decide” if he sounds any
good. Laufer
is also the leading force behind the band Sherpa Underground. They are a
quartet that combines the sounds of punk, rockabilly and pop, “sometimes
within the same tune.” Starting
in Washington, D.C., the group has been steadily working to become one of the
best acoustic experiences in the mid-Atlantic. Laufer
is a talented man with a sound that he describes as “all over the place.” His
strongest incentive when making music is to “just try not to be boring, [to]
give a little incentive for paying attention.” His favorite crowds are the
diverse ones that “are really nice and appreciate those who try to entertain
them.” This Saturday, come out, watch and try to be enthusiastic. news
. op/ed
. features
. a&e
. sports Copyright © The Kenyon Collegian 2003 |
