From 1983-1995, Jr. Gone Wild helped introduce Canada to a new musical sound. Credited with innovating the Alt-country genre, dubbed “cowpunk”, over the course of five acclaimed albums, this Edmonton, Alberta band fused elements of folk and rock with a punk attitude, while building a devoted fan base through epic live shows. For their initial 12 year run, Jr. Gone Wild would hone its own version of alt-country on albums that have become cornerstones of Canadian music culture: Less Art, More Pop!, Folk You, Too Dumb To Quit, Pull The Goalie and Simple Little Wish.
Still fronted by the immediately recognizable vocals of Mike McDonald, and stylings of lead guitarist Steve Loree and bassist Dave “Dove” Brown, the groups newest addition is McDonald’s nephew Quinton Herbert on drums. After a reunion concert in 2013 the band began thinking about a new album, reflective of all they’ve learned and experienced over a lifetime in the music business. The result is Still Got The Jacket, a 16 track album due out on November 12th that makes it clear that the band’s chemistry still thrives, and continues to be steeped in twangy rock and melodic country-punk.
Mark Twain once famously said, “Politicians, old buildings and prostitutes become respectable with age.” He never got a chance to consider whether rock and roll musicians do as well, although most would likely prefer to retain their youthful glory. Somehow, against all odds, Jr. Gone Wild has done that with Still Got The Jacket, and in the process reminded us what alt-country really means.
To truly be a groundbreaking songwriter is a tremendous accomplishment and McDonald is without question one of our nations best. His first foray into the music industry was in the Spring of 1979 when he was just sixteen. Certainly a local hero in Edmonton (among other things, he “discovered” the legendary Spartans Mens Club, hosted the Rosebowl jam for over 15 years, and started the nationally known and still running Hair OF The Dog Saturday afternoon gig at The Blackdog Freehouse). In the late ’90s he put together the Mike McDonald Band, which released an album and commanded an enthusiastic Alberta-based following. Unadorned by the electric chaos of a band and massive volume, Mike’s solo show is edgy folk, peppered with story and commentary, often hilarious. He’s a true alternative to affected bombast and disingenuous self aggrandizing.
Mike McDonald is the real deal.
For more on Jr. Gone Wild visit: jrgonewild.com
For more on Mike, visit his website: mike-mcdonald.com
