By Bill Reed
Jeremy Facknitz — it’s a hard name to forget, especially after you see the guy perform, with his Buddy Holly glasses, his Barenaked Ladies charm, and driving folk-rock songs that are all his own.
Jeremy Facknitz and the Anthony Davis Band were the featured acts at the Showcase at Studio Bee on Thursday night.
Facknitz is a Detroit native, by way of Boston and elsewhere, who happily landed in Colorado Springs in 2007. With his acoustic guitar (and occasional trumpet), he fronted the tight Charlie Milo Trio.
Facknitz said it was the first gig the band has played together, but after five weeks of rehearsals they sounded like old friends, with nice harmonies, and arrangements that framed his quirky songwriting without overwhelming it.
Facknitz is a charismatic guy with an appealing voice, who isn’t afraid to have a little fun at his own expense. “As a skinny songwriter with glasses, when you are angry about something you don’t beat somebody up. You write a song about it.” That was his intro for kiss-off song “Bye Bye Boston” as well as “Songwriter Strikes Back” — an ode to the drunk guy in Detroit who kept yelling for “Freebird” while he played.
He also covered Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” - “this song is all about me” - by putting it to a stomping country rhythm, complete with trumpet solo. As a solo artist, Facknitz clearly developed a driving rhythm style on the acoustic to propel his music. When his sound is backed by a band, the layers of rhythm and harmony are quite tasty.
He’s not all fun and games. The song “Bijou Bridge” was a good example of how his songs dawn on you, as the rhythmic undercurrent builds, and then an avalanche of words come pouring out. And the tune “Jim Devlin,” about a 19th century baseball player who threw ballgames, was haunting.
I hope to hear a lot more of this guy. His new album,
“Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” is out. Find out more at
jeremyfacknitz.com.
 | Currently listening:
Indian Summer
By Dave Brubeck
Release date: 2007-08-07 |
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