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Rocket 88 brings a smile to the music scene
Adam Carder
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment The Daily Mississippian (Oxford, MS)
The thing about Rocket 88 that stands out the most to me is that when they're onstage, they smile a lot. It's not a Polaroid smile, though. It's the kind of smile that you make when you know you've just gotten away with something, and you can't believe it.
The point is that they're smiling because they are having fun - a "splashing in puddles" kind of fun. It's nice to see a band that can still see the humor in getting paid to play music, especially in a town where more than a few bands take themselves a little bit too seriously.
We did this interview on Monday at the table in front of the bathrooms at Parrish's. Finding an electrical outlet for the tape recorder was a bit tricky, but it was pint night, so I couldn't be fazed.
The entire band showed up, sans Robert Chaffe, and we spent about an hour talking mostly about stuff that wont' be featured here, even though it was all about music.
You can catch Rocket 88 tomorrow at The Longshot, and if you want to hit the road, they will be playing at St. George's Grocery this Friday in Jackson and Taylor Grocery on Sunday.
You can check out Rocket 88's music online at http://www.myspace.com/rocket88music and http://www.rocket88music.com.
Adam Carder: How would you describe your sound?
Jamie Posey (vocals, lead guitar, harmonica): It's a gumbo of roots rock with a twist of Mississippi, a dash of old-line country for the redneck in you and a heap of juke joint gospel to get you right with Jesus.
AC: If Rocket 88 ended today, what would be your personal highlight?
JP: We were playing Longshot one night, and Jim Ellis from the Revelators stepped in and sang "Please Be Patient With Me."
Rosamond Posey (guitar, violin, vocals): I think if it were all over today, as far as Rocket 88 goes, I'd be upset that we didn't make an album. I think that overshadows my highlight.
AC: Would you want to do a studio recording, or do you think that a live album would better reflect your sound?
RP: I think studio. I think a lot of our songs are well thought-out and deserve studio time, you know?
Nathan Robbins (bass): That's a good point.
Ryan Rogers (drums): For me, it's not one particular thing, because I haven't been with the band as long. But it's those points in the show where everybody's yelling and everybody's happy and you look at each other and you can see it on their face.
NR: I'm kinda like Ryan. It's not necessarily any kind of accomplishment. It's gotten to the point where it's more like a family environment, you know? Once you get to that point, it's just fun to be around people you click well with, and music is just a fun part that goes along with it. Then you've got those moments like Ryan was talkin' about.
JP: When Robert stands up, it's groovin'.
RP: That's when you know it's a good moment... Or he's had too many J䧥r shots.
AC: What's the best advice you've ever received?
JP: It immediately jumps to me. We took a three-year break, and when we got back into it, I was kinda tentative. And I was telling this to Max Williams, and he was like, "Sometimes, you just gotta reach back and grab the dragon." Later on that show, he was playing and we just happened to catch eye contact and he just absolutely ripped it. I take that with me.
RP: I think mine is just to make sure you're doing something that you love. If I thought it was work, I wouldn't do it. But it's not work. We have so much fun.