JPT SCARE BAND

"Live at Crosstown Station" (Ripple; 2026)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

The oddly-named JPT Scare Band have released a very interesting collection of live tunes, recorded at the Crosstown Station in Kansas City in 2011. The band's sound is unique, with super-fuzzy guitars (especially a deep thrusting, vibrating bass), blistering leads and sounds that bring to mind the Doobie Brothers (if they were high; as on the opening track, "Hungry for Your Love") and tracks like "*Amazons," which sound like deep, deep cuts from extremely early Black Sabbath albums. Add to that, the appropriately titled "Acid Blues is the White Man's Burden," which is just over eight minutes of blues-heavy, guitar and soul-shredding vocals. This track would make B.B. King proud.

And, as this is a live album, it's important to note that it sounds like a live album. You can hear the raw, edginess of the music, as well as the sounds of the venue, including a responsive audience, the sound of drink glasses clinking, and the occasional echo off the venue walls. There are many bands that just sound better live, and I think JPT Scare Band is one of them.

I don't know why this album took fifteen after it was recorded to finally get released, but I'm sure glad it did. It's made me want to delve back into the band's catalog and see what I missed (or have perhaps forgotten). Based on what I heard on "Live at Crosstown Station," I have a feeling there may be a lot.

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"Acid Blues is the White Man's Burden" (Ripple; 2010)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

Unearthed from obscurity, Kansas City psychedelic proto-metal group JPT Scare Band have been around since the early 70s but have only been releasing albums since the mid-90s. The band’s latest batch of tunes stemming from a multitude of basement and studios sessions comprises the collection "Acid Blues is the White Man's Burden," a fuzz-laden seven track time machine trip through the formative years of hard rock via a bevy of organically organized hazy blues jams that wouldn’t sound out of place between Hendrix, Cream and Zeppelin on classic rock radio.

Throw in some garage rock charm, a dash of Blue Cheer rhythmic rattle, explosive fretwork fireworks melding Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimmy Page and an unadulterated rock'n'roll spirit and you’ve got the makings of a band long overdue to collect the praise and adoration they richly deserve.

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Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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