June 5, 2021

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Jack Russell, the former lead singer of Great White, played a two-man acoustic show at Jergle's on Thursday night.

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Accompanied by guitarist Robby Lochner, the duo proceeded to dive into the Great White catalog as well as several of Russell's favorite songs.  The show kicked off with "Call It Rock N Roll" and "Can't Shake It" from Great White's Hooked lp. 

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His body may be a little worse for wear, but his voice is still in excellent shape.  Russell told the audience that he "should have died a couple of times already," referencing that he was addicted to drugs and alcohol and has three stents in his heart.  However, he proudly noted that he has given up the drugs and booze and the only thing he's addicted to today is playing rock and roll.  

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Russell and Lochner pulled out a variety of deep cuts from several Great White albums including "On Your Knees" from the first album, "Sister Mary" from Can't Get There From Here and "Face The Day' from Shot In the Dark.​

 

Several great cover songs were sprinkled in throughout the set.  The Beatles "Hide Your Love Away" and "Here Comes The Sun" as well as CCR's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" and perhaps the highlight of the show "Old Man" by Neil Young.

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Of course, some of the hits were played too.  On "Save Your Love" and "Rock Me" Russell sounded exactly as he did in 1987 when Once Bitten was released.

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Toward the end of the set, Russell said he was going to do something that he had never done before.  He had to leave the stage to run to the restroom.  

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I guess those Diet Cokes were going right through him.

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While he was gone, Lochner took the opportunity to show some fancy finger work on his guitar by playing bits of "Fur Elise" and "Spanish Fly."

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Russell soon returned and played an excellent cover of "Going To California" and Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy."  The seventeen song set came to a close with "Wasted Rock Ranger."

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Local duo, The Farren Brothers opened the show with a hand full of cover songs as well a a couple of nice original songs. 

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Review and photos by Greg Drugan

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