Best Local Band
Probably the best way in town to get your r 'n' r fix, the Jarflys play Armadillos every Tuesday night. For two bucks, you'll hear a mind-melt of rock, funk, reggae, and blues, steeped in a loose, improvisational approach that begs you to leave the barstool behind to kick down your best dance moves. These playahs (two guitars, bass, drums, keys and sax) make for a Saturday-night-special every Tuesday. Jarflys, Tuesdays at Armadillos, 132 Dock St., Annapolis. 410-280-0028.www.jarflys.com

ALEX CORTRIGHT
Morning Show & “Fresh Cuts” Host

Joe Strummer - Streetcore
Warren Zevon - The Wind
Ben Harper - Diamonds On The Inside
Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions
Super Fury Animals - Phantom Power
Al Green - I Can't Stop
The Jarflys - Anonymous
Sam Roberts - We Are Born In A Flame
eels - Shootenanny
Beth Orton - The Other Side of Daybreak
Honorable Mentions:
Radiohead - Hail To The Thief
Solomon Burke’s - Don't Give Up On Me
James Brown’s - In the Jungle Groove

AMY FREEDMAN
Midday Host

Damien Rice - O
Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions
The White Stripes - Elephant
Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears
Jack Johnson - On and On
Al Green - I Can't Stop
Dave Matthews - Some Devil
The Jarflys - Anonymous
Matthew Ryan - Regret Over the Wires
Beth Orton - The Other Side of Daybreak
Honorable Mention:
Warren Zevon’s - The Wind

MICHAEL MACEY
“Saturday Night Rhythm & Groove” Host

Pancho Sanchez - Out of Sight
Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions
The White Stripes - Elephant
The Funky Meters - Fiyo At the Fillmore
Al Green - I Can't Stop
The Jarflys - Anonymous
Los Straitjackets - Supersonic Guitars in 3-D
The String Cheese - Incident Untying the Knot
Kid Creole and the Coconuts - Too Cool to Conga
Blue Man Group - The Complex

SCOTT JAMES
Weekend Host

Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears
The White Stripes - Elephant
Trey Anastasio - Plasma
Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come (Deluxe OST)
eels - Shootenanny
Joe Strummer - Streetcore
Dave Matthews - Some Devil
Warren Zevon - The Wind
The Jarflys - Anonymous
Super Fury Animals - Phantom Power

Live at Armadillo's (Every week) Everyone has habits. Some are detrimental to your health and others are good for you. Seeing The Jarflys every tuesday at Armadillo's in Annapolis, MD is a good thing. The Jarflys started out as a collection of songs that Jimi Davies had written that didn't fit with the style of his other band, Jimi's Chicken Shack, and then added a core set of musicians to form a band. The core Jarflys band consists of Jimi Davies (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Noel White (Drums), Bryan Ewald (Lead Guitar, Vocals) and Larry Melton (Bass). These guys put together some great tunes that are a pure joy to listen to. The Jarflys have a collection of originals and covers to cover a two set evening and I, for one, find myself staying for the whole thing every week. With the core group and the rotating extra members The Jarflys are always fresh and interesting. Armadillo's fills up pretty quickly so if your looking to have a seat show up early. Be prepared to have a good time as well.

The Jarflys “Anonymous” The debut record from the Jarflys is a revelation. Initially begun as a side project by Jimmie’s Chicken Shack founder Jimi HaHa, the Jarflys first took shape as a rotating lineup of area musicians designed to give life to HaHa creations that were not entirely suitable for the Shack’s sonic assault. In HaHa’s words, the Jarflys provide him with an opportunity to “shed a different skin,” and not unlike contemporaries Nada Surf, he has seized the opportunity and dared to grow up. By ignoring grunge’s trappings, “Anonymous” instead delivers the kind of mature songwriting that would make Shawn OR Elliott Smith proud. By virtue of its weekly Tuesday night gig at Armadillo’s, the Jarflys have become Annapolis’ official house band, so what began as an experiment has morphed into a formidable foursome consisting of HaHa, guitarist Bryan Ewald, bassist Larry Melton, and drummer extraordinaire Noel White. White and Melton form a tasteful rhythm section - never overshadowing, always accenting, often propelling. Ewald’s Duane Allman-influenced work adds shade and tone while avoiding over-emoting even when complementing HaHa’s most poignant work. And poignant it is. While the contemplative nature of many of the songs chosen for the record belie the often raucous nature of the Jarflys live, but it doesn’t render them any less effective. Jimi has always known how to write a song, but his tremendous growth as a lyricist is on full display on “Anonymous.” With Ewald’s weeping guitar adding the perfect flourish to “Predictable,” the result is not only the best local song of the year, but one of the best songs of the year, period. If you’ve ever felt stuck - in a relationship, in a job, in an anything - “Predictable” conveys that drifting sort of helplessness that is always difficult to put into words, until that is, HaHa does it for you. On “Man In The Corner,” HaHa writes “Picture yourself in a boat downstream/endless searching for the sights unseen/my kingdom for a song/yeah might settle down but that would take too long,” and that theme of searching and longing pervades the record. As an example, “InDifferent Ways” works in so many different ways, it should be taught in Songwriting 101. Backing vocals throughout “Anonymous” by the ever-luminous Meg Murray help matters even further, and her work on “Check Please” in particular adds both emotional heft and pop sensibilities to the record’s catchiest song. Evocative, articulate, and flat-out terrific, the fine debut of the Jarflys portends that they will not remain “Anonymous.” Enjoy them in small venues while you can - we will not have them all to ourselves for long.

from music monthly 6/03 (print)
by susie mudd

I expected to not like jimi haha's new jarflys release "anonymous", but I was so wrong. this is so different from anything i have heard from jimi. I expected hard, but it is not. it is allkinds of things, and i love it.

produced by jimi and frank marchand of waterford digital studios, the sound is impeccable. members of the jarflys includes noel white, bryan ewald, larry melton, and (edit by jimi: she lists everyone on the site who has ever sat in with us so it looks like we have 17 people in the band)

anonymous is the freshman release from jarflys. initially begun as a side project of jimi's, it has turned into a regular thing. he brought together some of the best musicains he knows and they put this record out. it is so much more than anything he has done before. jimi wrote a bunch of songs, just him and his guitar. he then brought them to these players and this is the result. it's a little bit of everything. meg murray's voice joined with jimi's is nothing short of remarkable. I love the two of them together. actually, I love this disc. it is so fun and full of life and there is so much magic here. the guitars are awesome. the drums smoke and the production is excellent.

I couldn't even give you a song I like the most because I like them all. this is not what i expected and I am thrilled! any fan of jimi's needs this release, any music fan also should put out for this release.

exceptional!

Jarflys - Anonymous

Different people have different methods of baring their souls. Jimi Davies (A.K.A Jimi HaHa of Jimmies Chicken Shack) has always used his music and lyrics to get out his deepest feelings. Some of the music that Jimi wrote just didn't work for J.C.S. but deserved a loving home, and thus was created Jarflys, and 10 out of the 75+ songs written became the debut album Anonymous.

The 10 track debut album from the Jarflys is extremely mellow, with acoustic guitar as the driving instrument. To back himself up, Jimi brought some close friends and amazing musicians on additional guitars, bass, background vocals, and even a steel drum band. Bryan Ewald is featured time and time again throughout the album with many amazing lead guitar lines and background guitar. As for background vocals, the voice that sticks out the most would belong to Meg Murray, who provides a perfect female background vocal to tracks such as "Lullabye".

The music ranges from the extremely simple song "Predictable" which consists of one chord with a changing bass note, the intricate "Indifferent Ways", to the almost trippy sounding "Tender Leigh". Rhythm aside, Bryan Ewald provides soulful guitar leads, in addition to background guitars that continue to shape the songs and make them full and grand.

In addition to the music ranging from simple to complex, the lyrics provide a bit of intrigue as well. Many times the lyrics seem fairly simple, but if you read the lyrics as you listen, it often provides insight to some double meanings hidden throughout the album that often make you sit back and just think, "whoah."

All in all, I highly recommend this album to anyone who even slightly enjoys peaceful mellow music, or to people looking to broaden their horizons. Jimi Davies is a brilliant songwriter/singer/guitarist and through his work with Jarflys he lets his abilities shine.