Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers
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Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers, purveyors of hi-octane honky tonk and long recognized as the hardest working band in Brooklyn, have just released their long-awaited debut CD “Coney Island Cowboy” and are ready to take on the world. Started in late 2001, on a whim and as a side project, Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers honed their craft playing primarily covers at a weekly residency at Hank’s Saloon (Brooklyn, NY) and at underground loft parties. They continued to perform in and around Brooklyn for the first few years of the bands existence. As recognition of their dedication, musicianship and entertaining live performances spread, the band branched out to other venues in New York City and beyond, with the occasional foray down South or up to New England. By early 2007 the New Jack Ramblers were Mr. Kershaw’s main band and he had begun writing more original material specifically for the Ramblers. It was during this period also that the press began to take notice, with favorable reviews in TimeOut NY, the NY Times, NY Post, and, yes, Playgirl Magazine. Playgirl chose the original Sean Kershaw composition “Moonlight Eyes” as its Pick of the Month - July 2005 even though it had not been officially released. Sean Kershaw was also invited to Gracie Mansion to meet Mayor Bloomberg when the CMA Awards came to New York City in November 2006. More recently the Village Voice featured Mr. Kershaw on the cover of an issue devoted to Brooklyn Country music and it’s resurgence in popularity. The CD “Coney Island Cowboy” started as a gleam in Sean’s eye just a couple years ago. After a four year hiatus Sean had begun writing original music again. The means to make the CD also came together around the same time. With the assistance of friends offering investment backing and professional contacts providing their services at or below cost, Sean was able record “Coney Island Cowboy” in August 2008. Longtime friend Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids had offered to record Sean’s music at his Kudzu Ranch Studio in Mebane, NC and contributed a guitar solo on the trucker classic “Six Days on the Road”, the only cover on the CD. All 14 tracks were recorded in three days and mixed in two, what with the New Jack Ramblers being a well-oiled machine due to their constant live performing and Rick’s expert ear and no-nonsense approach at the mixing board. The result is a juggernaught of a CD that has all the punch and swagger of well-produced (but not overproduced) rock’n’roll and the loose, easy feel of western swing and honkytonk. Not to mention the adrenaline and excitement of a live show. The CD was released with much fanfare on August 26, 2009 at Sideshows by the Seashore in Coney Island, with Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers headlining. Sean was also supported that evening by such acts as sideshow performers Insectavora, Donny Vomit and Serpentina and local bands Uncle Leon and the Alibis and Julia Haltigan and the Hooligans. The video for the title track, Coney Island Cowboy, has been filmed and is expected to be edited and released by the end of September 2009.