News

The JD Set Returns And Honours Pixies

• 3rd Feb 2011

The JD Set returns to London on 24th March at XOYO where TIM WHEELER and a host of friends will pay tribute to the Boston indie Godheads Pixies.

Taking songs from across the band’s five albums Tim will be joined by EMMY THE GREAT, AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR, MA MENTOR and THE CROOKES. With so many great tunes to choose from there are sure to be debates about what Tim’s supergroup should cover so keep an eye on link in February when rehearsals start to see what makes the cut. Tim said of this unique and very special night:

I've chosen to cover Pixies for The JD Set for a few reasons. The first being that they're one of my favourite bands of all time and had a especially big influence during the years when we were starting Ash. My introduction to alternative rock happened when I was 13, some kids older than us played a school concert of Stooges, Mudhoney and Pixies songs. I remember sitting in a friends car a couple of weeks later, simultaneously baffled and excited, listening to “Bone Machine” at the start of “Surfer Rosa”. The weirdness, coolness, backwards drum beats, discordant guitar notes, tortured lead vocals, sweet female backing vocals. Surreal biblical and sexual lyrics. So many strange and interesting elements, it was like nothing I'd heard before and opened up a whole new world to me.

They were a massive influence on my songwriting and the ash sound. I became obsessed with the Trompe Le Monde album when I was 16, the sci-fi lyrics kickstarted my own sci-fi phase when I wrote songs like “Girl From Mars” and “Angel interceptor”.

They have a mighty and diverse catalogue to choose from, their songs are so much fun to play and they've influenced so many bands since. It's going to be great reworking these songs with Emmy The Great, And So I Watch You From Afar, The Crookes and Ma. Mentor at the JD Set this year.

The JD set is one of the most anticipated events on the music calendar and has been creating moments of music history for almost ten years. Having featured some of the biggest names and most critically acclaimed acts in UK music from Elbow to The Wombats, The Joy Formidable to Editors, last year’s event pioneered a new approach with the artists choosing a legendary act to honour, creating new versions of classic tracks and unique collaborations between legendary figures such as Tim Burgess and hotly tipped new acts like Dutch Uncles. Taking place at intimate venues, these shows are a rare chance to see rock legends and the next generation of stars up close and personal for free, courtesy of Mr Jack.

Further JD Set shows will follow in Glasgow and Manchester before the summer, keep an eye out for details.

Jack Daniel’s has a long and illustrious history of supporting music. From the creation of the Silver Cornet Band in his home of Lynchburg in 1892 to entertain his community and workers music has been inextricably linked with Jack. Resonating through the history of rock ‘n’ roll from its early beginnings as the rock star drink of choice, Jack Daniel’s have been the creators of not just the JD Set but also Jack’s birthday, a star studded night that has visited both Tennessee and London in recent years and played host to jaw dropping moments such as a Frank Black, Guy Garvey and Richard Hawley in collaboration whilst the likes of Patti Smith, Duane Eddy and countless others have been part of Jack’s ongoing celebration of the power of music to bring people together and create unforgettable moments. Many things have changed since 1892 but Jack Daniel’s love of music and the way they make their whiskey stays the same.