New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Jar-e's magnetic frontman Jon Reid has played in rock bands, jazz bands and duos, but as a solo artist he's able to flesh out his raw ideas on the fly. That's how the horn-heavy, Latin-beat driven single "Casa Believe," from his upcoming sophomore record 'Chicas Malas' (Exotic Recordings, 02/24), came to be.
Reid, who's based in Asheville, NC, recalls: "I wrote this song when I was broke and stranded in Bushwick, Brooklyn after a tour. All I had was a guitar, and I didn't want to have to ask anyone to help me out."
Then these words came to him: "Feeling these things are just ordinary things and I should not need advice / But ordinary things are just not my thing and I've never not been surprised"
With this lyrical epiphany, he started writing the song. "I kept playing the same chords over and over," he said. "All of a sudden, the melody started coming to me" - and the song was finished in just 15 minutes.
"This song flips the idea of walking alone on its head. It suggests that admitting our weakness and our need for other people is the wiser and ultimately stronger choice." Reid then scrounged up enough change to hop the train to labelmates Saint Bernadette's apartment - and made it home.
Listen to "Casa Believe" for the full story here:
https://www.shorefire.com/media/Casa%20Believe_20090113_161511.mp3
Jar-e is wrapping up tour dates with Toubab Krewe. The 'Chicas Malas' CD Release party is February 28 at the Rocket Club in Asheville, NC and March 2 at NYC's premiere nightclub Nublu. See below for more.
Jar-e 'Chicas Malas' Track listing
1. Fever Break
2. Heyday
3. 3 Leaf
4. Casa Believe
5. An Idea
6. Lorca
7. Safe To Say
8. The Pedestrian
9. Rosary
10. Ramparts
Tour dates (more to be added):
Jan 29 - Columbia, SC - Headliners w/ Toubab Krewe
Feb 5 - Wilmington, NC - The Soap Box w/ Toubab Krewe
Feb 6 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle w/ Toubab Krewe
Feb 7 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre w/ Toubab Krewe
Feb 28 - Asheville, NC - The Rocket Club CD Release Party
Mar 2 - New York, NY -Nublu CD Release Party
Mar 3- Bridgeport, CT - Acoustic Cafe
Instrumentation:
Jar-e - vocals, Fender Rhodes
Dave Mack - bass
Ian Cunningham - drums
Matt Smith - guitar
Simon Goldburg - trumpet
Scott Mills- sax
Meredith DiMenna (Saint Bernadette) - backing vocals
Stephanie Morgan (Stephanie's ID) - backing vocals
Jar-e on the Web:
https://www.myspace.com/jare
https://www.exoticrecordings.com/
https://www.exoticrecordings.com/jare.html