Have you ever been to a show where you hoped during every song that it wasn’t the last, because you didn’t want the show to end? Jukebox the Ghost’s set at DC9’s five-year anniversary party was one of those shows. There was yelling and dancing and clapping and the kind of frenetic energy normally only seen at house shows.
I arrived halfway through J. Roddy Walston and the Business’ set and was immediately drawn to the twangy country-rock filling every corner of the room. Their bassist had metal-as-fuck hair, and the band members were obviously enjoying themselves. Their set ended when one of DC9’s owners came on stage to introduce Jukebox the Ghost, who he thanked for playing “even though they’re too big now to play at DC9.”
Jukebox the Ghost seemed overjoyed to be back on home turf (they recently relocated from DC to Philadelphia) and immediately dove headfirst into their set. They’re a band whose live show clarifies their recorded material, and the energy blindsided me; I came in not feeling particularly invested in their debut album, Let Live & Let Ghosts, but walked out excited to listen to it as soon as I got home. Keyboardist/vocalist Ben Thornewill’s intricate piano trills provided a surprisingly effective anchor to the songs, as he hammered away at the keys with precision, successfully carrying melodies from simple to bombastic and back again within the span of a single song. Guitarist/vocalist Tommy Siegel provided both unobtrusive chords and expertly shredded solos, while drummer Jesse Kristin kept the beat both thumping and danceable. They tore through every song, pausing briefly for the occasional midtempo quiet moment, but the energy never subsided.
As their set came to a close and I thought things couldn’t get any better, they came back with an encore consisting of two excellent covers, “Beautiful Life” by Ace of Base and -- this is where they won me over completely -- Rage Against the Machine’s “Guerilla Radio.” Hearing most everyone in the venue screaming “All! Hell! Can’t stop us now!” and watching the band stumble around the stage screaming along was the perfect end to a nearly perfect night. They couldn’t have picked a better way to finish, because I don’t think anything in hell can stop Jukebox the Ghost.
