Jason Wilber
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LOST DOGS: JASON WILBER FOUND!
July 31, 1998  Nashville, Indiana

© Jerry Briggs 1998For the second time this summer, I was able to catch Jason Wilber and his band in a live performance.

After visiting them in Bloomington for the June 6 CD release party, this visit, just a few miles outside of Bloomington, proved to be interesting and entertaining.

Jason is certainly in both good spirits and good voice. His original songs, eleven in number, are regularly done in his appearances, along with a whole lot of other numbers that didn't make the CD.

The CD, "Lost In Your Hometown" features this song among the titles. Jason has a nice way with words, as this song opens:

'At a second-hand shop where they sell some people's past
You try on a wedding coat and decide that it won't last.'
© Jerry Briggs 1998

Jason's imagery comes up in many of his songs. "Evelyn", the best on the CD, is particularly good, telling of an old love that just didn't work out, but the guy hopes to see her again this evening...the chorus carries the theme of his song well: 

'Evelyn leave your door unlocked tonight
Close up all the curtains and turn out the bedroom light...
Evelyn you don't have to give a damn
Let me hold you for awhile
You don't have to like me again
Just love me tonight.'


A "Happy" song...and a good one, is "If I Owned A Liquor Store." This is catchy, funny, and a good lead-off number for Jason and the boys.

© Jerry Briggs 1998Jason's ability to create a mood is evident in the last two cuts on the CD: the first is "More Alone Than Before." This song tells of the excruciating loneliness expressed by the guy after a breakup. She apparently wants nothing to do with him...

'I'd call you
But you might answer.
And then I'd have nothing to say.
And if your hello had that happy tone
I'd hang up the phone
And I'd still be alone
But I'd be more alone than before.'

The last cut may be the strangest song you will ever hear. It again creates a visual, this one unpleasant. You can imagine a loner peeking out the curtains of his house at his object of affection. I call this his "stalker" song, and referred to it as "Us"...but it's title is "Nobody Knows About Us."

© Jerry Briggs 1998'I got about a hundred pictures of you
I took them all myself.
I cut some in half
And pasted in me
Now I've got a picture of us!"

Jason's CD is original, covers a wide range of both tempos and of themes. It is an excellent first effort. His songs during a "concert" show evidence of a most creative mind, and he has material aching to be recorded for the next CD. Examples that come to mind are "Galway Waltz," a beautiful song...."Amazing Grace and Little ....Little," about circus performers from his childhood..."King For A Day," wishing he could be Elvis for just one day..."Indian Summer," a nice tune, and many, many more.
Jason's schedule of appearances is posted on the OH BOY roster. Check it out and see him if you are able. You will have an enjoyable evening performed with the original band members that did the recording.


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