Jake Speed & The Freddies

I don’t think I’ve ever written anything about Jake Speed without mentioning Woody Guthrie. Call me lazy, but the political Folk pioneer is such an obvious influence on Speed’s songs and lyrics it almost seems dishonest not to mention it.

While listening to World Come Clean, Jake Speed and the Freddies’ brand new release, I never thought of Woody once. On the album, Speed and his band still work within a traditional Americana format, but the songs are a bit more expansive and the claustrophobia of Folk clichés is alleviated by the more dynamic
songwriting and performances.

The album’s songs are far less predictable than ones from previous Speed releases, showing the maturity of Speed as a songwriter, refreshingly not purely working within the idioms of Folk music. There are shades of Rock, Blues, Country and Gypsy Jazz (and, yes, still lots of Folk) in the mix and The Freddies’ turn in typically
perfect performances, showing they may just be the best Roots band in the city.

Thankfully, Speed’s lyrical approach remains socially/politically aware, with jabs at the U.S.’s current sad state. Most of the songs began as “Songitorials,” from Speed’s weekly song offerings for CityBeat throughout 2007, “Speedy Delivery,”
based on current events. While these issues have often been diluted with a tinge of sharp humor on previous Speed recordings, here, Speed plays it more straight. In fact, there’s a sense of urgency and even a little anger in the feel of many of these tracks, something largely absent from Speed’s discography so far.

The fiery nature of the lyrics is translated wonderfully by the musicians (Freddies Justin Todhunter, Kentucky Graham,
Chris Werner, and assorted "guest Freddies"), who perform most of the songs with the energy of a Punk Rock band. The album shifts gears halfway through with gentler songs that turn the anger and despair into hopefulness about the world and
the future. Giving the album this kind of duality (and breaking it up so exactly) creates an enjoyable and interesting listening
experience.
Some see Speed as a bit of a novelty act, his aw-shucks shtick and throwback duds making him seem like a costumed strolling troubadour at some Renaissance Fair-like Pioneer Days festival. But those people aren’t listening or paying close
enough attention. World Come Clean should go a long way in dispelling such surface observations.

— Mike Breen Oct. 2008

- City Beat Magazine

Press Quotes about Jake Speed & the Freddies

On Songwriting

“…the voice and style of Woody Guthrie and the observational humor skills of Will Rogers.”
CityBeat “Best of 2006 issue”

“ a vital presence on the local Folk/American scene whose albums and songs often deal with social issues of local and international interest.
Mike Breen, CityBeat 2005

…“His finely crafted songs are in the best Woody Guthrie tradition – they tell great stories, with a bit of lyrical edge coming thru the folksy delivery.”
Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post: 2002
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On Performances

“All the audience participation demonstrated that the crowd clearly had fun joking around with the band.”
MaryKate Moran, UC News Record: 2006

“…beforehand, Speed explained the story (of the song) with finger puppets.” MaryKate Moran, UC News Record: 2006

“During “Volvo Girl” a song about the unreliable car Speed’s wife drives, the band led the crowd in a ‘YMCA” style dance spelling out “V-O-L-V-O” MaryKate Moran, UC News Record: 2006

“Watching Jake Speed live is like being transported back in time to when Huckleberry Finn Rules the Mississippi River and Photos were printed in earthy sepia tones. 2004.”
Katherine Sontag, Univ of Cincinnati News Record:

“Speed’s rich, nasal, folksy delivery has the storytelling power of Woody Guthrie and the slyness of son Arlo.”
Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post 2002

On Songitorials™

“Each week, Speed will write a new song on the (citybeat.com) site dealing with different social issues of the day in much the way Woody Guthrie’s column once did.
”
… “Think of it as a singing editorial with a healthy dose of wit and humanity.”
Mike Breen, City Beat: 2006

- various - see citations