Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band’s “Bless This Mess”
For years we took for granted that the mainstream music industry was in a calamitous free fall, spiraling towards cataclysmic implosion. We were so sure of this diagnosis, we used it as the crux of all our music theories. Then lo and behold, the industry figured out how to pull out of the tailspin, and independent artists that years before we’d never dream of seeing getting big breaks began to get noticed. Hellbound Glory has been out on arena tours. Sturgill Simpson is touring with Dwight Yoakam. The Alabama Shakes are playing SNL, Shovels & Rope is playing ACL, and everyone is playing Letterman. All of a sudden it’s not appropriate to be so sullen about the direction of music.
But if you’re looking for an act that is still virtually unknown, one that is buried deep in the underground and that embodies the raw energy of the roots movement and not just a commercially-viable watered-down derivative, one whose active ingredient still works on even the most hardened of roots addicts, then Jayke Orvis and The Broken Band might be your drug.
A founding member and the mandolin player for the groundbreaking .357 String Band, Jayke Orvis may have taken a long and windy road to finding his way in the music world, but if his current sonic output is any evidence, he has found his path, and it is righteous. What made the .357 String Band so singular was that it was four dudes testing the very limits of human ability with instrumentation, while positively debilitating you with the emotion of their songwriting. When Orivs was undutifully released from .357 (the band eventually disbanded in late 2011), he became more of a singer/songwriter type of performer, sometimes favoring the guitar over his mandolin.
As the name alluded, Jayke’s “Broken Band” was a hodgepodge of plug-in players that all did dutiful jobs, but never had the stability to congeal enough to hone in on everything that the music could be. Orvis himself was a revolving member of the Gothic roots outfit The Goddamn Gallows, and regularly borrowed from their players for his Broken Band on dual Orvis/Gallows tours. The collaborations were enthralling and memorable in their own right, but never allowed Jayke the intimate focus on his own music that it needed to realize its true potential.
Jayke finally declared earlier this year that he was taking his last tour with the Gallows, and trained his attention solely on a solid, permanent Broken Band lineup that includes guitarist James Hunnicutt, and former Bob Wayne Outlaw Carnies’ Liz Sloan and Jared McGovern on fiddle and upright bass respectively. With stability and a shared vision of making a band around Jayke’s music, but one where all musicians are treated as equal, Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band have re-captured the fervor and spellbinding performance aspect that made the .357 String Band such a force of music nature. If anything, The Broken Band may be taking it a step further with a deeper attention to composition, pushing all four players to the edge of their abilities, and the edge of human capability itself, balanced by slow and mid-tempo songwriter material.

Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band are the underground roots equivalent of the Punch Brothers, and are one of the top tier performers of the underground sub-genre. But as Jayke explains, he’s not looking for recognition from the Americana Music Association or berths on arena tours with big country names. “I want to open for Slayer,” Jayke told me right after their live set at Austin, TX’s Scoot Inn on 5/06. “Well I mean that may be a little hard now, but I want to show punk and metal kids that roots music can be cool.”
As the overall roots world seems to be benefiting from a rising tide, it’s not hard to wonder if some of the best of the underground are being left behind, and how long this rising tide will last before the popularity arch begins to fade. Jayke Orvis is one of those artists who has stuff that could catch fire. He’s one that could benefit when roots fans conclude that Mumford & Sons just doesn’t have the mustard to hold their attention long-term.
Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band recently released their 2nd album, Bless This Mess on Farmageddon Records. His first album It’s All Been Said constituted the formation of that record label. Though the album has officially been out for a while, you won’t find it on Amazon or iTunes. You can’t stream it on Spotify or Pandora. I secured my copy at a live show, and was told there was only a few more copies left in their merch bag before they would be able to restock in a few days. A good problem to have in some respects, but one that makes the outreach of the music problematic when people can’t get it.
Bless This Mess didn’t have a well-promoted release date, if any true release date at all. No promotional push paralleled its availability. No review copies were sent out to independent music outlets, including Saving Country Music which named Jayke Orvis its 2010 Artist of the Year. In 2013, statistics show that for every song bought, 100 are streamed, and that albums that are streamed for free prior to their release sell more copies. To not make an album available at all digitally puts the album and the artist at an unparallelled disadvantage. This does not necessarily mean this is neglect on the part of Jayke or his label. All of this very well may be on purpose, and I’m sure it will be available digitally eventually. But the point of releasing music is to get it in as many hands as possible, and an artist holds no more potent promotional tool than when they release an album.
When I loaded Bless This Mess into my computer, the tracks were unmarked. I got “Unknown Artist” and “Unknown Songs” with the track times and numbers. If the idea is that this is an underground approach to releasing music, this is somewhat misguided. Jello Biafra was such a genius because he was able to get his music right beside the music of big labels in record stores by doing it the right way. Legions of hopeful artists with awful music release albums every day that in no way reach the quality level of Bless This Mess, but get more attention because they’re released the right way. You want to know what so much popular music sounds so bad? Because some people are willing to understand the correct approach. Jayke Orvis’s music is too good to put limitations on it by not following the easy and well-established modes of how to release an album.
The counter-point is that Jayke’s fan base is so loyal, all these concerns are silly. But the goal of any artist, even one that is not driven by fame or money, is to attain a healthy sustainability that hopefully factors in at least some moderate growth.
Though Bless This Mess seems like it may be one step behind where Jayke & The Broken Band are right now with their live show, it still boasts some excellent arrangements and performances, and a wonderful lineup of both originals and covers. Hank’s “Kaw-Liga,” Ralph Stanley’s “Bound to Ride,” and The Weary Boys’ “Pick Up The Steam” round out a remarkable set of well-interpreted renditions. Banjo player and part-time Broken Band member Joe Perreze also offers up one of the albums standout instrumentals in “Clankertown.”
This all leads into Jayke’s original material. Whether its blazing instrumentals like “Murder of Crows,” or more singer/songwriter-style material like “West Wind,” and what may be the album’s legacy track “Crooked Smile,” Jayke Orvis shows himself as one of the premier purveyors of Gothic-infused American string music worth a wide ear and critical acclaim. And let’s not gloss over that Jayke also scores well on the intangibles. With the way he presents himself and his stage presence, he has that essential charisma to hold an audience captive, while at the same time the humility to defer to his players and make it more about the music than himself.
Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band is a name that deserves to be ready on the tongue whenever folks query for names of top flight string bands to check out. But it will only get there if at least cursory attention is paid to the promotional side of things. Making good music isn’t enough. Marking track names on albums and distributing an album digitally is the easy part. The hard part is making music that touches you on a human level, and does so in a pioneering way, and this is what Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band do with almost unfair effortlessness.
Two guns up on the Jayke Orvis live show
1 3/4 of 2 guns up on Bless This Mess
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Purchase Jayke Orvis’s Bless This Mess
May 12, 2013 @ 11:25 am
Jayke Orvis and the Broken Band are a pure pleasure to listen to and see live. If you have to opportunity to do one or both, do it! The four members of the Broken Band are exceptional at what they do! When you listen to the albums, you can help but wonder how they can play that well at those speeds. Then you see them live and they are playing even faster and it sounds even better! They produce an unmatched energy like no other group/band out there today.
The Broken Band is one of the few out there today that give us ordinary folks something real to tap our toes to! I ordered this album on vinyl through the farmageddon website! I have been counting the days til it arrives!!!
May 12, 2013 @ 1:43 pm
Note that the album _is_ available for digital purchase on Jayke’s reverbnation page:
http://www.reverbnation.com/store/index/artist_767467
May 12, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
This album is amazing and everyone should own it. Jayke continues to amaze and enthrall us with his gifts. And the musicians he works make every band of his a super group. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Liz, Jared, and Hunnicutt, all superior musicians in their own right.
Yeah, I’m annoyed by the lack of detail in the track listings and cd info too. Come on people, get it together. And I’d like to point out that there’s a law for us consumers who buy something: it must be shipped within 30 days of purchase (even pre-orders cannot take the money until shipment). There must be a better way to get the production part of the music financed in a timely manner, no?
May 12, 2013 @ 6:39 pm
I think I’ll buy this in the morning once I sober up.
May 12, 2013 @ 7:00 pm
Everyone needs to buy this album and support great indie music. I’ve seen Jayke numerous times with the Gallows. Finally got to see the Broken Band. Wow what a great show. I’ve met alot of people in the music industry and sadly most are asses. The Broken Band stayed at my house the other night and they are all wonderful people, nice as can be.
May 12, 2013 @ 9:31 pm
I hanged out and partied with this band 3 times this year. From meeting them at the initial show to my utter sadness departing from them. Its been an ecstatic bliss. The music moved me like no other (well maybe scott biram) , and the chance to chat with people like Jared, Liz, and James for lengthy period of time has been as pleasurable as the music. They are some of the most down to earth people you could ever meet. And Jayke. Well that dude is dam wild lol. The initial hearing of Hank Williams Kaw lija, resonates aww, and a majestic mood from another time period or era. Maybe it is mythological. Not sure.
Well anyways from start to finish, you dont even want to move until the jazzy feeling of a crooked smile song. What other artists can make such a perfecto album. Jayke is and his band are geniuses. Maybe mad geniuses. But geniuses. I wish I can raise a million dollars to shout this out in all corners of the world.
The hillbilly Muslim gives this album 2 mystical thumbs up. thanks for the review Trigger man.
May 13, 2013 @ 3:37 am
I haven’t heard the whole album yet, but “Clankertown” rules! Epic shit to the ROOTS!
May 13, 2013 @ 5:48 am
The album is tits and Jayke, James, Liz, Jared, Monica, and Olabelle are great folks. A friendly group just loaded with talent.
May 13, 2013 @ 8:23 am
Weary Boys also did “Bound to Ride” on the same album “Pick up the Steam” was on. I wanna here Jayke’s version, gonna go get it. Darren Hoff / Weary Boys version is great. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFMdePv_i-A
May 13, 2013 @ 8:31 am
It’s nice to see (Austin’s) the Weary Boys mentioned. I put “Pick Up The Steam” in my tunes-to-learn pile. And Wills’ “Bound to Ride” is on their album, too. And that makes me like the Broken Band without hearing a streamed note.
May 13, 2013 @ 8:33 am
found it. pretty cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRpNPBlS2ig
May 13, 2013 @ 8:52 am
I’ll be honest when I first seen Jayke Orvis with his tattoos and dreads playing a mandolin at a bar one night, I thought what the hell has happened to country music…lol But I thought I got to check this dude out to see if he wasn’t just some poser from the death metal world trying to do country after metal sort of died or a Hank III copy. Wow was I totally wrong!! This guy is an amazing mandolin player and creates some great music. Now he is one of my favorite acts to see when they travel through the area. It amazes me that he has not been noticed by the larger roots/americana world yet. He is the first person I recommend now when someone mentions they like bands like Trampled by Turtles or any bluegrass artists. Can’t wait to hear more and more of his music. I love seeing that Liz is now with the band because she is a perfect fit.
May 13, 2013 @ 8:59 am
One of the best live acts around today. They do shows like I would imagine the string bands of the old days did. Travelling constantly and doing it because they love to. And, with Joseph Huber on the first leg of the tour this should have made front page headlines! It was as close as most people will get to seeing the .357 String Band.
May 13, 2013 @ 9:06 am
Jayke and the crew are top shelf. Anyone who hasn’t seen the live show is missing out.. and the new songs are great from what I have heard! Get em!
May 13, 2013 @ 9:10 am
Got to see them live for the first time recently, was so impressed had to buy the new album. Their live show has a crazy frenetic energy that leaves you high as a kite. They somehow manage to do this without sacrificing musicality. The album is slightly more reserved but equally as enjoyable. It carries a strong roots americana theme while incorporating the feel of gypsy, punk, jazz, and country. Great band, great show, great music, great album!
May 13, 2013 @ 9:22 am
Agreed, Trigg. In my humble opinion, the best band out there today. Top notch group of people, too. always a real treat when our paths cross.
May 13, 2013 @ 12:23 pm
just paid 13 bucks to download this record off bandcamp and the download only contained one song. any thoughts on how to get the whole album. kinda bummed
May 13, 2013 @ 12:51 pm
i emailed jayke and he got right back to me, he apologized and said he would get me the remaining track asap…good people make good music, i was a big fan of his first solo effort syked to hear this one.
May 13, 2013 @ 1:03 pm
Yes, it looks like the Bandcamp has the album price, but only the first track uploaded.
May 13, 2013 @ 2:17 pm
I have the same issue :-/
I guess we have to wait..
May 13, 2013 @ 1:13 pm
Amazing album, better than his first release IMO. On another note, just got the new Boland CD in the mail today, album of the year for me thus far, one of the rare CD’s where every song hooks you on the first listen. The CD was also autographed at no extra charge, very cool.
May 13, 2013 @ 1:22 pm
Forgot to ask, do you have a copy for review yet, Trig?
May 13, 2013 @ 1:33 pm
I’m sure you will see a Jason Boland review on here soon…
May 13, 2013 @ 6:40 pm
saw Jayke and the Broken Band at their Milwaukee show! They were having some tech issues and Jayke wanted to play in the Beer Garden/Smoking Deck, unfortunately the club quickly stopped that from happening so they just unplugged and went on the dancefloor and jammed! Such an awesome and energetic show and it was cool to get to see Jayke play in his hometown since I only saw him play with .357 once. Man he is an amazing mandolin picker!
May 14, 2013 @ 4:49 pm
My wife and I saw these guys at Small’s in Detroit and it was absolutely excellent. James Hunnicutt’s solo set before Jayke & The Broken Band just made it all the more awesome. Picked up the album and it has been living in my car ever since.
June 24, 2013 @ 9:18 am
I can’t say enough about Jayke and the Broken Band. I love their music and I love each one of them. Something that I think is completely amazing is that the music they make is not only incredible but it has the power to bring generations together. My husband and I are 40 (ish) and our son is 20. We go to every show together and I can’t tell you the feelings of happiness to enjoy great music and get to hang out with our kid; because he wants to be there. For that, I must say Thank You!