Jameson and the Sordid Seeds: The Next Big Thing

On a warm Friday night, the jazzy guitar riffs and reggae rhythms of Jameson and the Sordid Seeds drew students from all over campus as they rocked the Agora stage. Frequently labeled as a blend of the Black Keys and Sublime, the band assembled in 2009 and quickly became popular all across the nation for their funky beats and passionate performance.After playing at venues such as the Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues in Las Vegas, the band began a tour on the East Coast, where they stopped at Exeter with the help of lower Sean Taylor.“The group is from my hometown, Whitefish, Montana, so I have been a fan of theirs for a few years. I realized the first time I heard them that they were very talented, and ever since, I have been listening to them play around Whitefish,” Taylor said. “Their music appeals to a wide variety of people, so I thought Exonians would appreciate them, so I mentioned it to Ms. McGahie back in November.”It seems Taylor’s predictions were correct, since the Sordid Seeds dazzled the Exonian crowd with their musical flair and peculiar sound.“I am a huge fan of Sublime, so I thought it would be cool to see a reggae rock band. It was fantastic, and I was glad to see artists trying to spread their music,” upper Jonathan Regenold said. “Reggae rock is definitely a dying breed, so it was good to see that people are still trying to continue it. It is important to support these artists by spreading their music around people of our generation.”Taylor added, “I always love their performances, but this one was by far the best I have seen. They were full of energy, going from one song to the next quickly, and they got up there and had fun. And the students were having fun, too.”Many Exonians went to the event intrigued about the genre and left loving it.“I was kind of glad to see a bluesy group make their rounds. They were a down to earth and talented bunch,” said senior Andres Mejia. “I am not usually a big fan of rock music, but I really liked the band. I thought the band seemed really into what they were doing, and their enthusiasm definitely was shared by the audience,” he said.Lower Minh Nguyen shared a similar outlook.“Curious, I went, and it was a blast. I myself did not expect so many people to come to the Agora to listen to them,” he said. “Their style of music seemed to combine reggae, rock, funk, a bit of blues and overall liveliness. I was tapping my fingers and feet the whole time. I think these events are great.”After long, tiring weeks, Jameson and the Sordid Seeds was a a great break from the normal Exeter weekend events.“They brought a lot of energy to Agora. I was a little skeptical about how they could pull off ‘a mix of Black Keys and Sublime,’ but they really nailed it,” prep Issay Matsumoto said. “Regurgitating and juggling are both fun to watch on a Friday night, but I think an education in rock is an important part in our development as functioning members of society.”Since Exonians do not have quite as much liberty to go to concerts and explore the world of music, especially such alternative styles as Jameson and the Sordid Seeds, the performance was refreshing for many students.“I think these events are great. Being able to have different bands come over and share their music does not happen that often, if ever, and having the Agora filled with pumped up students is just something else,” Nguyen said.Mejia said, “It is always important to have events like this one, it brings students back into the real world, it is fun, and honestly far more exciting than other comparable events.”