Jet Puppy Unleashes Rock and Roll Frenzy with Debut Single “Shake, Rattle and Roll”
Jet Puppy, a dynamic and highly entertaining rock and roll band from Toronto, Ontario proudly announces the release of their debut single, “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”
With its catchy and nostalgic up-tempo beat, “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” is a vibrant ode to the heyday of rock and roll. The band’s commitment to preserving the joy, exuberance, and timeless sound of North American popular music is evident in this track, flawlessly embodying the essence of both rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Alec “Ears” Pham engineered the band’s live sessions which proved to be a revelation, making the band’s positive and shared aspirations crystal clear.
The song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” cements the foundation of Jet Puppy’s roadside tavern. Bursting with energy and positive vibes and showcasing how much fun making music can be. Jesse Stone wrote the song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” in 1954; and is typically credited to him under his songwriting pen name, “Charles Calhoun.” Big Joe Turner was the first to record the song that year, and it landed at No. 127 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Weekly gatherings at the home of the band’s founder, Adam Faux, featuring Scotch, camaraderie, and a passion for classic tunes, evolved into the formation of the band, Jet Puppy.
“Jet Puppy was born out of a desire to socialize and to honour the R&B and R&R vernacular of North American popular music,” says Faux. “More precisely, to perform music from an era when broadcasting, recording, electric guitars, and transistor radios, all flourished at the same time. To celebrate an era when dancing and joy reigned, and performers shared musical tradition and the stage, no matter their creed or culture, and in deference to those who would attempt to separate them.”
The group is comprised of gifted musicians, each of whom adds a distinct sound and unique flavour to the mix.
Adam Faux (vocals/guitar), has an extensive career in live television, recording, and engineering. Mary Sound (bass), a former lifeguard turned bassist and singer-songwriter is known for her incredible songs and captivating voice. Multi-instrumentalist Fraser “The Pocket” Koval’s’kyj (drums) adds a more complex sound to Jet Puppy with his post-punk patina and commanding presence behind the drum kit. Ph.D. candidate Jon “Doc” McSpadden (piano) adds a wide range of tonal options to the band with his classical expertise and eclectic musical background. The son of a jazz musician, Brent “Professor Pedal Down” Welbourn (guitar), gives the band’s sound a unique take on melody by fusing together majestic, lively, and moving guitar styles.
Care to introduce yourself?
Hi! I’m Adam Faux, but in the Jet Puppy world, I’m Eddy Greer. Long story short, I found out that my birthname was “Edward” at the age of 35, and the Greer is borrowed from my great aunt Melba, who in many ways was a mother figure to me. She was born a short distance from where I now live, at Queen E and Jarvis.
I’ve been a professional musician, songwriter, and engineer/producer for 35 years, and I started university at the age of 49, to study music of all things. I’m presently putting the final touches on a PhD, that fuses music pedagogy and Buddhist Philosophy. I call the project Liquid Composition. For roughly 24 years, I’ve been producing music using the Digital Audio Workstation to accompany film, dance, songwriting, and live performances. Most recently as part of my research, I studied in varied disciplines that include the Philippine Rondalla and Gangsa, Swahili music and culture, and the Sanskrit language and Devanagari script.
Past Band memberships include two records and touring with post-punk outfit “Pigfarm”, two albums with The Lost Dakotas, three solo albums, and three albums with the punk rock icons “Garage Baby”.
My most recent co-write and production work with Faun Stella, aka Megaan LeBlanc, birthed the number one charting “Isle and the Sea” in 2023.
I also book a club called C’est What in Toronto.
Tell us about the process of recording “Shake, Rattle and Roll’?
Recording “Shake”, and the rest of the album was the culmination of a series of events, and a desire to learn and share music that epitomized the North American experience of cultural fusion. I wanted to make people dance. I wanted to understand the bedrock of popular music. Most of all, I wanted to get together with other musicians who would embrace the rhythmic pocket and improvisational aspect of the music. We prepared by practicing in my living room, which didn’t necessarily please my neighbours much.
The engineering was done by Alec Pham, a student who started hanging around the University’s studio that I was teaching from. We used techniques and gear that would have been used in the 50’s and a very large space. We had sixish hours from set up to wrap, and we recorded live. I replaced the lead vocal later. It was a dash and dine kind of situation, with all engines firing for about two hours of recording time, in which we laid down 7 tunes.
The band has two present graduate students. Myself, and classically trained Metal enthusiast “Doc” Jon McSpadden, one previous student of music, singer-songwriter “Mary Sound” on bass. Brent “Professor Pedal Down” and I have shared guitar duties in a few outfits, and we both hail from the Queen St scene. Our drummer Fraser “The Pocket” Koval’s’kyj, is also a songwriter and performer in his own right.
What’s it like being an artist in Toronto?
I’m lucky to have moved to Queen Street in my teens in the early 80’s. On aa given day I could catch Blue Rodeo, Molly Johnson, Change of Heart, Peaches, Sarah Harmer, Mary Margaret Ohara, Jane Siberry, Handsome Ned …I rehearsed across the hall from Bruce Cockburn, and shared space with the Look People. In short, Toronto was and is perfect for meeting, experiencing, and sharing musical ideas. To say nothing of the international acts that played the clubs would be remiss; Dinosaur Jr at the Cameron, Toots, and the Maytals at the concert Hall. At the time, there were a lot of Studio warehouse spaces too, so Ideal for rehearsal and after-hours clubs!
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
The Good Brothers at an outdoor show in Gravenhurst when was 8ish. I also used to sit and watch folk artists play at the St Lawrence Market as a kid, while my mom shopped for food. She’d just plunk me down and tell me not to move; that was heaven!
I’m always hearing new music and loving it, so it’s hard to choose. Recently I was re-introduced to Steven Foster of Omhouse, ‘cause we bumped into each other on the Subway. Steven’s work is always just enough outside, but also supremely crafted and performed.
You’ve been making music for a bit of time now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Be present, be in the moment, be ready, and don’t worry about the person people think you are. The stuff that is hard to share and hard to discuss; share it. That’s the juice that will make you interesting to others (so you get gigs) and it will bring like minds into your world.