Jackpot Donnie began as a trio of musicians in search of a sound. Matt Love (guitar/lead vocals), Brian Wise (guitar) and Adam Campbell (drums) were high school chums, well-versed in basement jamming and general rock music etiquette; however, there was an integral piece of the puzzle missing. In 2003 a stroke of luck brought bassist Dave Langley to JPD’s doorstep. It didn’t take long for the individual styles of the four musicians to gel, and before the end of their first practice, they knew a band had been formed.
In late 2004, they composed their first monster ballad, and quickly realized that melodrama was not a part of their destiny. Since then, Jackpot Donnie has fused their ribald, energetic personalities with elements of all the genres of music they celebrate. Dave brings the funk on bass and grooves tightly in the pocket with Adam, while Matt and Brian’s guitars deliver both smooth reggae flavor and classic head-banging riffs. All the while, Matt’s soulful vocals keep the music firmly rooted in the Chicago blues tradition. The band released their first full-length album “Music Nightly†in April of 2008, “featuring a crisp, even professional vibe that's seldom heard on debut records from indie acts,†according to the Chicago Examiner’s Frank Krolicki.
Jackpot Donnie has established their identity as some of Chicago’s hardest rockers, and they’ve been spreading it across the city and beyond. These days, you can find JPD in some of the city’s most respected rock venues, like The Abbey, Elbo Room, Double Door, and the Bottom Lounge. On the stage, their priority is to move the crowd, make ‘em laugh, and keep them coming back for more. And that’s what they’ll continue to do, at least until Glam Rock comes back into style.
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