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December 2007 Tis the season, so break out those festive sweaters, load up on egg nog and shake off the "Jingle Bells" fatigue with Country Ham himself, and of course, The Onion.
For those of the Jewish persuasion, we hope you had a happy Hanukkah. Fans of Christmas and/or Kwaanza, we hope your holiday is outta sight. For you many pagans out there, Happy Winter Solstice. Whatever your fancy, the Season's very finest and good cheer -- from all of us here at Jack Graceland. For those needing some fantastic holiday gifts, visit our General Store and buy some good ole Jack Grace gear. What's in store for 2008? Jack says...
Check out some of our MySpace sites for some new tunes and play buddy Gary's new game while yer listenin': (it combines spelling with poker: SpookerCards. Jack says it's pretty fun. )
September 2007
In other news, Jack's debut at Belmont Park was a rousing success. Jack made a huge breakthrough to a younger audience, and Daria played the ponies for the first time (not a bad first outing -- she actually made some money). There are plenty of other Gigs to choose from, so check 'em out. Jack just finished writing a hilarious new trucker song that he's sure to debut to a grateful audience in the near future.
May 2007
If you can't wait that long, head out to Banjo Jims for the few remaining Sundays this month and enjoy Van Hayride as they finish up their two-month encampment there. There are plenty of other Gigs to choose from, so check 'em out. There are plenty of new tunes to learn, old favorites to swoon over and some Neil Young covers once in a while that sound great every time. Summer movie season is almost here, and if you choose wisely, you'll get to hear our hero in the theatres in several new flix, namely "Hopin' For Some Good" in the opening credits of Four Lane Highway, "Trying To Get Away From Nothing At All" in I'm Reed Fish (trailer), "Trying To Get Away From Nothing At All" in BUFFET: All You Can Eat Las Vegas. and revisit Beerfest on fabulous cable TV and hear a short burst of "What I Drink And Who I Meet At The Track". Speaking of the track, we're heading there soon, so watch out. Jack lost big on Derby Day and wants to make his money back. He was a little disappointed that his horse was in first place for the entire race until Street Sense blew by him. Tough break, but he did win three or four years in a row, so his time was gonna come sometime. Come by the Rodeo Bar on May 31 for the premier party for I'm Reed Fish.
April 2007
And speaking of Mom, Mother's Day is approaching fast. Isn't about time you got her something nice for all her troubles? Check out the General Store and get her that Steak reissue and maybe a T-shirt. That will make her smile. In other video news, Jack has completed a short documentary about himself soon to air here in Jack Graceland. We'll make it nice and easy to stream but if you're still on dial-up, you should probably get yourself some broadband. With all of these exciting downloads coming, you won't be able to stand the wait. Jack has been playing a lot of Gigs lately, interspersing new tunes in among the classics. Get out and hear for yourself. If you're under house arrest, content yourself with some MySpace action at our various outposts: www.myspace.com/jackgraceband Come back soon when you've upgraded your gear. We'll be ready.
February 2007
We're off to see Lady Daria's Pre War Ponies at Barbes. You should probably move to Brooklyn so you can enjoy these kinds of things. Otherwise, be content in your cyber enjoyment and visit our various My Space sites. You know, you really should get out more. http://www.myspace.com/jackgraceband
Away for Extraordinary Rendition
October 2006
If you recall, "What I Drink..." is from Jack's long-awaited follow-up to I Like It Wrong (and who doesn't?), his very first concept album, The Martini Cowboy. This record, still on sale here exclusively at Jack Graceland's General Store and at select personal appearances, is still un-released. Several record companies are still stringing our hero along, playing a cat and mouse game about signing the band, etc. You know that sad story. Just buy it now, then when some hotshot A&R dude finally gets his act together and a bigtime label releases it with cheesy new artwork, you can say you had the original. This month, with the wife off cheating on Jack with her other band, the Martini Cowboy is shooting a movie in beautiful Connecticut, writing more songs, plotting the future of Van Hayride and working on perfecting his Chicken Piccata recipe. With the dearth of Jack Grace Band shows, you may end up feeling a little lonely. In that case, check out Jack's MySpace funfest. (Bookmark it. No, I mean it. Do it right now. -- Ed.) and/or read the blog. Download "Rotary Phone" and listen to some other tunes available exclusively on MySpace. Of course, Jack Graceland is still home to the only known Bossa Country tune, "Try Not To Cry", so you can download that here , hum it incessantly for the next few days and really try the patience of your co-workers. Stay tuned for exciting news concerning Jack's first ever reissue!
[Deleted by Karl Rove]
February 2006  Don't
let that Seasonal
Affective Disorder get you down (yes, it IS real, and no we are
not going to make any SAD puns here, so if that's what you're looking
for, you're outta luck fella). Check out Jack and Hugh Pool at the Rodeo
on Feb. 28 for a benefit for the families of those unfortunate Virginian
miners (and you think you got troubles). There are more shows happening
in March, so check the Gigs for more info.
You lucky kids in Easthampton, MA get the extra special Jack Grace birthday
show. Jack has pushed back the release of The Martini Cowboy to coincide with the debut of his new talk show on FX, "Keep on Eye on the Drunk Guy" or something (not to be confused with his best-selling memoir, Keep an Eye on the Eyetalian -- now available as an Audio Book!). We've got a Web-exclusive sale of his new opus in our General Store, so you need wait no longer. If you like, you can have a little taste first. "Try Not to Cry" is Bossa Country, shaken but not stirred. Or how about "Rotary Phone" (Zappa fans, listen carefully: there's something special in there for you.)? By the way, the mailing list
is no longer turning all of us into balding old geezers (which is good
'cuz I'm a girl -- Ed.), so sign u
 p
with confidence and see what Jack has to say about dogs, whiskey and other
stuff important to us.Check back next month to find out what Jack's special Beatles birthday present is (I think he's gonna really like this one! -- Ed.), and of course, beware the Ides of March.
January 2006
Jack and the gang are venturing into uncharted territory with a once in a lifetime (maybe) performance of the seminal Neil Young recording Everybody Knows This is Nowhere (in its entirety, baby). We at Jack Graceland are very excited to hear at last these classic songs performed by such talented people, but since it's at the Rodeo Bar, there will also be free peanuts, delicious margaritas (so many flavors, but try the pomegranate...yummy. — Ed.) and, of course, the buffalo. If you can't make that (like there's a reasonable excuse, really), you could always attend Daria's birthday bash at Hank's Saloon on the 20th. If you really want to prove your mettle, go to both shows and buy her a drink each time. You know she's worth it. In other news, in Jack's own words,, the 21st century is well under way and ...
And one note for the future: The 80's should stay in the 20th
century along with Prohibition and the polio outbreak.
So, in conclusion, buy the CD, buy Daria some drinks. We hope you didn't over-extend yourself over the holidays. That would be a shame. Happy New Year.
[Seized by Department of Homeland Insecurity]
September 2005
In other news, the group's heartthrob Russ "the Fuss" Meissner ties the knot at the end of this month. Sorry ladies, he's officially taken. Congrats to Russ and Tara, best wishes and good luck. It's not easy being married to a Canadian. Oh yeah, that CMJ Festival is about to hit NYC like a Category 5 tittie twister in September. Our hero does double duty at the Rodeo Bar this month with both Van Hayride and Jack Grace Band peforming. Damn, that makes me thirsty. Git on over and have a margartia (This month, I recommend Prickly Pear - Ed.). Jack's also hangin' at the Ear Inn, hawking schnitzel and cold beer at Cafe Steinhof and hogging the photo booth at the Lakeside. Get out and see a show. These are just some of the public performances scheduled for the near future, where, as Jack explains,"...it happens with a bunch of instruments, some people, a room and some beverages. We hope you can be a part of it. You could go to one of these designated areas or you could go to Africa and live naked with an elephant family. It is your choice." Jack thinks you could also ...
June 2005
VH has been getting a lot of attention lately, but the Jack Grace Band has been far from idle. Final mixes are nearly complete, and The Martini Cowboy is almost ready for mastering. There are some great new songs, including a Bossa number that you can't get out of your head. With the summer sun finally making its appearance here in NY (and possibly other areas of the country as well) it's probably time to beef up your wardrobe with Jack Grace T-shirts from our General Store. Or if you are looking for that special item for Father's Day, remember what Jack himself has pointed out so many times before: "Jack Grace CDs and T-shirts make fine gifts for all the people you kinda like."
December 12, 2004
The Christmas season has reared its consumer-baiting, Walmart-stampeding, credit card over-spending head again. This year, we think you should forget the hassle and spend all of your money at the Jack Grace General Store. The Martini Cowboy is about to gather his people together into the studio once again and get those great new songs recorded for all of you hungry music lovers out there on a CD to be titled The Martini Cowboy, naturally. The man himself is looking forward to getting back to work and says, "This begins the fun part which continues until we get the CD's in hand. Then the promotion begins, which is, well, not as fun. Other things that are more fun at first:
[Why won't they just leave us alone?]
May 31, 2004
Jack's sound continues to ripple across the country's airwaves. Check the radio listings for a station near you. While you are enjoying "Ice Cold Beer" or "When I Drink Whiskey" your mind might wander, and you might find yourself wondering what Jack is doing right now. Chances are he's working hard on some new songs for the next record, The Martini Cowboy. He's written at least 8 incredible tunes (some of which are about drinking, naturally) with new characters we'll all someday cherish. Well, maybe not Uncle Luther... Jack is also busy playing around town, so catch him before he goes away to impress the folks at some other venues in the nation's heartland later this summer. Daria looks and sounds lovelier than ever, Drew is back from his stint with Graham Parker with a new attitude and a fistful of DVDs. Poppa J is still good-naturedly driving his station wagon full of gear, and many other fine players are sure to liven things up. Maybe even Russ will come out of hiding.
April 15, 2004
Another respectable paper writes, "What’s a man with a Johnny Cash voice and a penchant for singing about Bloody Mary mornings, noons and nights to do? Canvass the city with his honky-sqwanking tears-in-beers songs and whip up a respectable following. Not bad for an urban cowboy." (The Village Voice) Not bad indeed. Oh, and there's that New York Times piece that got us all in a tizzy last month. You can find out what all of the fuss is about by attending one of the Gigs. So cozy up to the band at the Lakeside Lounge on the 17th. Jack has some advice for this show: "Get there early if you'se wanna table (before some East Village knucklehead wannabees sit there and say 'oh there's music?' while sipping on their Michelob Ultras, talking loudly over the band about whom they identify with most on 'The Apprentice'). Oh they'll be there anyway all right, but if we take the tables, we can heckle them in force (The secret heckle code for Saturday's performance is: 'Man, it feels low carb in here tonight')." Of course, if you prefer peanuts, visit the Rodeo Bar on the 29th, have dinner and catch the show. Their shrimp fajita is really quite special. Mother's Day is only weeks away and what would she like more than flowers? I Like It Wrong naturally, so buy now, pay later with your charge card (or hers...) .
March 15, 2004
This month also found some long overdue attention for the Martini Cowboy in the form of a New York Times feature, "A Honky Tonk Man Whose Turf Is the Hip-Hop City". It's still up on the Times' Website, but you gotta pay to read it. We have it here for free, so check it out. We're all very excited. I Like It Wrong is selling like hotcakes, so get your copy just in time for Easter. Our General Store now features three easy to use payment methods through PayPal, CDBaby or Amazon. Buy one for your mom too. It doesn't contain any explicit lyrics (check if you don't believe us), and it would make Jack's mom really happy. We would like to thank our sponsor Absolut Meatball for its continued support. Don't forget to have an Absolut Meatball Martini the next time you're out in a fine drinking establishment. Join us at the Rodeo Bar later this month for a special Jack Grace birthday concert, and maybe we'll all have one with you.
February 22, 2004
I Like It Wrong is now available. Our new General Store is crowded with product ready and waiting to be shipped to your eager hands. It's a safe, it's secure, it's PayPal. Everyone knows how to use that. Amazon and CD Baby are also coming soon, but they will sell out quickly. Get supplies while they last. If you need to test drive the new baby, check out some tunes in the Music section and eyeball some artwork while you're at it (lyrics are fun too). We would like to thank our new sponsor, Absolut Meatball. The Absolut Meatball Martini is the perfect complement to a substantial portion of Jack's own Southern Fried Veal Piccata. Then there's the miniature version of Manhattan made of meatballs... The choice is yours: fine dining Jack Grace style or another sorry helping of Mcflabburger with Freedom Fries. You know what to do...
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We
admit it. We get a little lax about news updates during the dog days...
It's just because we're so busy enjoying the thrills of summer. Now that
fall is here, we're getting our act together. Just in time too, because
Jack's long-awaited bit on the 
Jack
has completed the taping of his stint on the Onion's fledgling online
News Network, starring as Wayne McMurtry. It's the only chance you'll
get to see Jack perform "new country" (of which we most heartily
disapprove most of the time). We'll be sure to let y'all know when it's
up for your viewing pleasure.
The
Onion has done it again. Not content to be the world's premier satiric
newspaper, now they've gone and launched The Onion News Network. Our hero
is set to star as new country star Wayne McMurtry in an exclusive online
piece that rips those "let's open a can of whoop-ass on those furriners"
types with the Onion's usual hilarious take on current events. It's coming
soon, so if you are checking this important news update on your mom's
computer, it might be time to get your own.
Steak
is back! You old-timers who misplaced your prized copy of Feasting
on Famine, you're in luck. Jack has decided to reissue the opus that
gave us "Big Bear," (blame it on) "Tequila," "Parent's
Country Home" and more. You newbies who have no frickin' idea what
I'm talking about, you better go to 
"
Another
year has come and gone. Goodbye to hurricanes and Republican scandals
and hello to more Republican scandals, ice fishing and the imminent
release of 
Summer's
nearly over, New Orleans is under water, and Dubya is still president
for another three years. Things are looking pretty bleak.
Good thing, then, that Jack has made good on his promise to offer a little
taste of things to come. While The Martini Cowboy's official release
isn't for several months, you can hear a choice cut 
Van
Hayride founder and pianist (as well as our newest addition to the Jack
Grace family) Jon Dryden explains: "...[Van Halen] sing about bad
love and whiskey -- they are country songs." He's right of
course, and the rest of us are amazed this didn't occur to someone sooner.
"Jaime's Cryin'" is quite clearly meant to be performed in this
way, and Van Hayride proves incontrovertibly that Jack can indeed perform
armed with only his goatee and a microphone (although it was odd seeing
him guitar-less the first time). 
Jack's
tune "Hopin' for Some Good" is featured on NPR's Open Mic, a
showcasee for self-produced, independent artists where visitors can hear
and rate new music. 
More
praise for 
Here
in Jack Graceland, your shot glass never runs dry, income taxes are never
due, and the Martini Cowboy continues his heroic mission to save the world
from the scourge of mediocrity. After all, it's not your grandfather's
country music. So says the New York Press, which goes on to note,
"Grace's ferocious steel guitarist tours with indie rockers the Silos,
his drummer is a jazz cat and the man himself slings more than a few sparks
from his big, hollow-body Gibson. With a wink and a grin and a few shots
of tekillya, they'll quote from Led Zep, the Bee Gees and Neil Diamond
before they bring it all back home." All of these statements are
true. 
Last
year when the Ides of March rolled around, things weren't so rosy in Jack
Graceland. The nation was about to go to war,
We
are still deep in the throes of the coldest season here at Jack Graceland.
Having weathered some chilly weather and enjoying a brief respite from
the frigid temperatures, the Martini Cowboy was generous enough to share
some important insights with his loyal subjects in the form of