Having a well known sibling (Curtis) can be a help or a hindrance. But had Jake not been given his brother's drum kit he might not now be releasing No Vacancy - a short 7 track 'mini' album and follow up to his 2004 debut Comin' Back Again.

Raised in Idaho, Jake cut his teeth on a diet of Steve Miller, The Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones and The Who. After outgrowing the local scene he headed to New York with his band The Velvet Roots. There he build a solid reputation, gaining comparisons with Jagger, The Black Crows and Steve Miller (amongst others) and was soon getting support slots with the likes of Patti Rothberg, Albert Lee and older brother Curtis. Meanwhile the band were unfurling their wings working with Lenny Kravitz, Tina Turner, Bo Diddley and more.

Jake's first album sold over 5000 copies. How No Vacancy will fare remains to be seen. It's a beautifully recorded piece of work and Stiger's influences shine through - Ride With You has a Bolan Get It On riff played with the weight of Aerosmith, End Of The World has Lenny Kravitz written all over it, Tomorrow Never Comes has Steve Miller overtones, while Riding With The King is pure Jagger, Stones, INXS.

And therein lies the rub. It's a great good time rock 'n' roll record and it's undeniably radio friendly (at least, Stateside). It may not be particularly original, but then that never did Lenny Kravitz any harm. Did it?

***½

Review by Pete Whalley

She's A Woman
© 2006 Jake Stigers. All rights reserved.