Possum Jenkins

Since coming together during their final year at Boone, North Carolina’s Appalachian State University in 2004, rising Americana quartet Possum Jenkins has toiled and triumphed in bars, clubs and at festivals across their home state, as well as venturing into South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. A sonic Southern recipe of simple but effective melodies married to boundless, off-the-rails energy finds the tight-knit group zeroing in on a sound that seamlessly incorporates strains of the timeless mountain music of Appalachia, the compelling alt. country of East Nashville and Austin, a touch funky Memphis soul and a helping of unabashed Southern rock. It’s not hard to see why Possum Jenkins is just as comfortable sharing stages with outlaw legend Billy Joe Shaver as they are with blues rockers the North Mississippi Allstars. Fans of Shaver’s raw, heartfelt country as well as those of the Allstars’ brand of hill country boogie have both identified with the hard-driving and passionate Americana of Possum Jenkins that finds common ground in both traditions. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Possum Jenkins named their new CD On Time. With production on the seven song mini-album beginning in fall of 2006, On Time suffered numerous delays, taking nearly a year to complete. Though anything short of a four-disc boxed set might seem inadequate, the band’s sophomore effort, released in October 2007, confidently features a maturing band sporting a more refined brand of Americana than that of their successful 2005 release, To What’s Her Name, Wherever The Hell She Is. Relying on a classically simple guitar-bass-drums underpinning, On Time is fleshed out considerably by the tasteful keyboard work of project engineer and co-producer Aaron Burleson. Also featured on the release is former Emma Gibb Band harmonica player Brent Buckner, whose harp textures breathe life into songs “Stranger’s Heart” and “Kraut Creek.” Though it’s evident that Possum Jenkins is not trying to stylistically reinvent the wheel, the band is certainly kicking it into high gear and carrying their music to the next level.