Every once in a while you hear a band and you simply can’t get them out of your head. That’s what happened when I first heard The Static Jacks back when they opened for The Wombats in November. They’ve been in my brain ever since, and my brain is a better place for it.

The Static Jacks, a group of guys from New Jersey who have been playing together since high school, have pulled together a tight, dynamic sound and they own it. They self-produced their first EP, Laces, back in 2009. After its release they proceeded to tour with some names you might know (Futureheads, We Were Promised Jet Packs, Young the Giant, among others). The music on Laces is reflective of the band’s point of view: young, questioning and ready for tomorrow.

In August of 2011 they released their first full length album on Fearless Records called If You’re Young. The band takes pride in having maintained control of the artistic vision for their band. Guitarist Henry Kaye has produced the artwork that became the cover of If You’re Young as well as stage props in the form of large cardboard signs with their “girls” painted on them.

The release of If You’re Young was followed by …can we say epic? Yes, I believe we can. By what can be described as an epic tour supporting The Wombats in the fall of 2011. Live, these guys blow it out with pure energy and sound. The Static Jacks are the kind of band that makes you realize it can be really detrimental to skip the opening band.

So what is their sound? Heavy beats, fast and thick guitar work and singer Ian Devaney’s voice flowing like velvet over gravel as he delivers every song with conviction and passion. The guitar work by guitarists Michael Sue-Poi and Henry Kaye is spot on. The guys create sound and energy that’s catching, driving, and flat out makes you move. Top it off with Nick Brennan’s solid and focused drumming. Nick plays with a great energy and it totally ties the whole package together.

The Static Jacks are touring in Europe this February, including supporting dates with Howler, Group Love and The Wombats. There is talk of an EP to be released this spring as well that will include new material written on the road this fall.

So in the words of the Static Jacks themselves…"what the fuck is coming next"? Watch and listen because whatever they have up their sleeve, it’s bound to be fantastic.

In the meantime...

[Note: The pictures below were taken January 19th at Williamsburg Music Hall in Brooklyn, NY where the band was opening for Misson of Burma. While not an official member of The Static Jacks, Andrew Santora has been playing bass live with the band through the fall tour and into the spring.]