Black Jake & the Carnies, "The Original Kings of Crabgrass", are a punk/bluegrass band out of Ypsilanti, Michigan. "Crabgrass" refers to the group's stylistic mash-up of punk, bluegrass and americana.
The current and variously pseudonymous members are Jake "Black Jake" Zettelmaier (banjo, foot percussion, bones, lead vocals, lyrics, Graphic art), JJ Przewozniak (fiddle), Ozzie Andrews (bass guitar), Kyle Kipp (guitar), and Jade "Buttons The Clown" Ashekerra (accordion).
The band released its debut album, Where the Heather Don't Grow in 2008. The song "Happy Easter to Ya" was on the Jackson Citizen Patriot's list of best new songs of the year at number No. 21, beating out many better-known groups such as R.E.M. My Favorite Songs of 2008, No. 30-21, Bill Chapin, Jackson Citizen Patriot
Black Jake and the Carnies have performed live shows throughout Michigan, as well as in Ohio, Black Jake & the Carnies, Hullabaloo Toledo City Paper Indiana, Where the Heather Don't Grow Black Jake & The Carnies, D.M. Jones and Chicago, and a performance on Brown Student Radio's show, "Phoning It In". Phoning It In- Black Jake & the Carnies They recently had their debut performance at The Ark, Ann Arbor's venerable folk venue. Black Jake & the Carnies to be in Ann Arbor Today, Rachel May, Detroit Free Press Black Jake & the Carnies, Current.com
References
External links [ AllMusic Review- Where the Heather Don't Grow] Americana.uk Review- Where the Heather Don't Grow Black Jake & the Carnies on MySpace