“We played a show at El Diablo Lounge and (Poulton) showed up after we had all done about 75 shots of tequila. He was walking in as we were walking out and said, ‘Hey, I want to record you guys.’ He told us his vision for what he wanted it to be,” remembered Wells.
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That was enough to convince the boys to embark on an adventure they still fondly remember to this day.
“(Poulton) had this studio in a house in northern Kentucky. He didn’t have a car at the time, which was hilarious. So we would pick him up at his place and drive down to Kentucky,” Wells chuckled. “We loaded in with all of our gear and buckets of fried chicken, and cranked up the amps and recorded.”
Hence, the sessions for the Kentucky Fried Ritual EP were under way. Poulton was open to experimentation, which proved to line up with The Jackalopes' ideals.
“That was the most fun recording experience I ever had,” Bradley said. “It was a party in the studio. We got to experiment more.”
“We’re like miking the hardwood floors and screaming into the wood to get different textures. Everything was just loud and on. I think it really represents who we were and are as a band,” Wells added.
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After two weekends of recording, The Jackalopes returned with what they now consider some of the best work they would ever do. But soon after, Bush would leave the band unable to devote as much time as needed. The group went on to re-record and release those songs, but infighting and all other things that could be placed into the "artistic differences" file dissolved the band, leaving Kentucky Fried Ritual in limbo.
"It was lost to the ages," said Bradley "The session turned out so good and it sounded so good. A few years ago we put out a collection of all the unreleased (material) we had. (But the Kentucky Fried Ritual) tracks were so hot, they didn't sit well (together) sonically."
So when the annual question of whether The Jackalopes would re-emerge from the depth of Dayton’s rock cemetery this year was asked, the group decided to honor Bush, now back with the band.
“Leading up to this year, we knew we were going to play — and we had this piece of history sitting in the vault. It would be nice to get it out,” Wells said. “But more importantly, Nathan Bush has been a member of the band longer than any other drummer who’s been in the band, and yet he has very little recorded work out there. It was kind of a big deal for us to put something out there that had the Bush Man on it.”
Credit: Jim Ingram
Credit: Jim Ingram
This Saturday fans of The Jackalopes will finally have the opportunity to own a dusted off, yet still scorching piece of the band’s history when they host the In Nomine Daytonas celebration show, their first in two years, at Rock Star Pro Arena. The release will also be available online in most major locations.
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But how is it playing the loud, hard and fast tunes, written in much younger days, all these years later? Ronnie T. smiled at the opportunity.
“For me, it’s younger. I get to be younger once a year,” he said.
Insisted Bradley, “Rock ‘n’ Roll keeps you young! It’s the fountain of youth.”
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Wells admitted that he has to work to get his vocal chops in shape for the punishment Jackalopes’ music puts him through. But he’s always mentally able to reach back into his 20s and relive who he was then — even if it’s just for an hour or so.
“It was always about freedom and aggression. For me, that place exists in me still. I’ve always had one little moment before we go on stage where I tighten my fists in a particular way and I kind of shift from foot to foot, and I’m that guy again,” he explained.
Wells then smiled and tipped his cap to another Dayton punk icon.
“I will always feel young, though, as long as Ed Pittman (from Dayton hardcore band Toxic Reasons) is still alive and in town telling us all how long everything has existed and that he invented it!”
WHAT: In Nomine Daytonas: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Horror Show with the Jackalopes, Grave Robber, the Lurking Corpses and others
WHERE: Rockstar Pro Arena, 1106 E. Third St., Dayton
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8. Doors open at 6 p.m.
COST: $10 advance, $13 at the door. All ages
MORE INFO: www.rockstarproarena.net
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