Heavy blues troubadour Jack J Hutchinson has earned a reputation for being one of the most stylish acts around, sartorially as well as musically. Drawing audiences in with thundering yet melodic songs with grooves for days, his latest album Soul Believer is available for pre-order now.
What’s the most Metal thing you’ve ever done off stage?
Touring Spain in a Renault Clio. We did two weeks travelling around Spain, full band, bassist, drummer, me, amps, full drum kit, merch, everything in a Renault Clio. And then at the end we were driving up to the ferry, the car just stopped working, so we pushed it onto the ferry and got rid of it when I got back to the UK. But it could have broken down at any point in those previous two weeks.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played, and why?
I did a lot of gigs when I was younger when I was in rock bands where singers would just ring me up in the morning and say, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing the show tonight because my voice is fucked because I’ve been out all night partying.’
I did a gig years ago where that happened. I was opening for Fun Loving Criminals at Lancaster University, and that happened. So I said, well, I’m gonna do the fucking gig. It’s the first time I’d ever done a show singing. It was really hard, and it turned what could have been an absolute car crash into me convincing myself that I could be a singer. The actual gig was a bit ropey, but it led me into doing what I’m doing now.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played, and why?
Playing at The 02 on the same night Jeff Beck played was phenomenal, and I got to meet Jeff backstage and Jimmy Page as well, so two of my absolute heroes. I headlined a festival in Brazil to about 8,000 people. That was incredible.
Playing at Maid Of Stone last year, where we did it as a four-piece. Me, Greg Smith on bass, Phil Wilson on drums and then we had Ash Wilson on second guitar, and that was great. The weather was atrocious, but it felt like we were in it with the crowd. Those are the best gigs where you feel like you and the crowd are as one going through the experience, and it was amazing.
Would you choose a platinum record or one perfect, legendary live show?
It’s always been about performing live for me. After you spend eight months in the studio recording a record, then when you take it out on the road, that’s when you know whether the songs are any good. When you’re stood 5 ft away from somebody, and hopefully they have a really positive response to it. It’s an electrifying feeling when that happens.
What’s your greatest fear?
Despite the fact I’ve probably done about 1,000 gigs over the years, there’s always the fear that your guitar’s gonna fail, or you’re gonna forget the words or something like that in the back of your mind. In general life, probably Manchester United getting relegated would be my absolute fear.
What’s the trait you most deplore in yourself or other musicians?
How long have you got? The one thing that I really despise in musicians is unfounded arrogance, so people who believe they’re God’s gift to music and almost imagine themselves as Freddie Mercury. I’ve come across a lot of musicians like that from doing blues jams in Soho, where people get on stage and think they’re Jimi Hendrix, and actually you feel like unplugging the guitar cos it’s terrible.
There have been moments where I’ve felt a bit like that, where I get a bit overconfident. But fortunately I’m from Burnley in the northwest, and I have a lot of friends who, when I told them I’d got an album in the charts last year, none of them gave a shit. They just wanted to talk about football.
Describe yourself in three words.
Honest. Passionate. Loyal.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
I’m quite happy listening to a bit of pop. My wife listens to a lot of pop music, so she’ll stick on Taylor Swift or something. But I actually think that’s helped my songwriting. I think that gives me a sense of melody, and I always want big choruses that people can sing along with. And there’s nothing wrong with a bit of ABBA.
What does a great riff feel like to write?
I don’t write riffs on electric guitar. I actually sing them and then work out what I’ve sung separately. It has to be melodic, and it has to be something that is memorable, something that touches me emotionally, and that can be a vocal line or a riff that, when you’ve sung it, it’ll affect you more.
What’s the worst thing a fan has ever said to you?
I’ve had a lot of shit actually. I had a large amount of fans that got into my music through acoustic blues, but I’ve never just listened to Robert Johnson or Elmore James or BB King. My music has evolved over the years, and I’ve had some quite harsh conversations with people. I don’t like those kinds of conversations where people can be narrow-minded about it.
What’s the worst thing a critic has ever said to you?
At Ramblin’ Man Fair, almost 10 years ago now. The worst thing about it was he was correct. I knew that we drank too much backstage. We were a bit pissed. We were focused on the partying aspect rather than delivering a kick-ass show, and it was a massive lesson for me actually.
At the time I was fuming, but in the cold light of day he had a point. I’ve never made that mistake again. It’s funny, I actually nearly ran the reviewer over driving in today to Maid Of Stone. Not on purpose, but he just happened to be walking where I was reversing, and I nearly knocked him over.
If you weren’t in music, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be an artist. Music’s this energetic explosion of emotion, and when I was making drawings, it was very meditative, calm, and actually more serene. I plan to do that again at some stage, so maybe when I’m a little bit older I’ll go back to it.
What keeps you awake at night?
Thinking about mixes of songs and getting the mastering done for my next record. Financing the band and how it all works. The end product is the gig and the recordings. But I’m an independent artist, and it’s a challenge to keep it financially going. Even last night I woke up at 3 in the morning thinking about a mix and whether it needs tweaking.
Riffs, royalties or recognition, if you had to choose?
It’s always about songwriting for me. I have these bonkers conversations with musicians. I had one last week where an artist was talking about writing a song specifically for radio. And I thought, would you not write a song for yourself? Surely that’s the best starting point. It’s going to be more emotional, and I think people can sniff when things aren’t authentic. If you get a bit of money, great, but it’s not about that for me. It’s always about being personal and honest to yourself.
How do you want to be remembered?
As a guy with a nice pair of shoes.
What’s the most important lesson the road has taught you?
That there’s fuck all to eat at two in the morning apart from WH Smith’s Ginsters Pasties.
What happens when the music stops?
I get treated for tinnitus, probably. I like to think that never will happen. I’ve been doing this for ten years, and I absolutely love it. My music has led me to meet such incredible people all around the world now, and I hope it continues for a long time.
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Jack J Hutchinson: Riffs, Road Miles And A Nice Pair Of Shoes first appeared on
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