The Jacob Jeffries Band has been going strong since its inception some five years ago. And the crew continues to forge ahead, gathering Jacobians (a term for followers the band's frontman may not have realized he was coining on Facebook just last night) with each and every stop, gigging relentlessly around SoFla and points beyond, and releasing one record after another since 2008, with heralded EPs Life As An Extra and Wonderful, as well as '09's full-length Waiting For the Piano Movers.
But an almost unhealthy work ethic is only a small part of the band's success, and the praise that's been heaped on it, including Best Of awards in both Miami and Broward Palm Beach. At its heart lies an indelible talent for songwriting.
"I think a good song is catchy," says Jeffries. "Not just catchy, but substantial." And he points out, "A great song is dense with emotion and unique intricacies, both musically and lyrically, that you can't help but smile at."
The Jacob Jeffries Band's songs display all of that and more, including sincerity, honesty, and sharp wit as well as influences ranging from Ben Folds to the Beatles.
This crew has been known to whip through sets in a frenzy of keys, guitar riffs, and dexterously crafted lyrics. All the while, Jeffries himself will pause between songs to interact with the audience, offering a joke or a small anecdote. And here, too, lies a measure of the band's success -- that connection it establishes with the crowd.
"I do love performing," Jeffries says. "I write these songs alone in my living room, just me and a piano. So when I get on stage and unleash them on an audience, it is just an incredible feeling to let the songs out of their cage and run around people's heads for a bit."
Jacob Jeffries Band. Wednesday, January 26. Transit Lounge, 729 SW 1 Ave., Miami. The show starts at 10 p.m. and there's no cover. Call 305-377-4628 or visit transitlounge.us.
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