Mr. Eck never intended to play in a jug band. His goal from boyhood was to play in an outrageous punk rock group and spend all of his gig money on black clothes, tattoos and piercings. He succeeded. While still a teenager, his first combo, suitably called The Plague, lived up to its name. So did their album, Suckin’ In The Wind. The wake of devastation is legend…

Upon regaining consciousness, and looking to increase the odds of reaching his 21st birthday, Mr. Eck switched to the relative safety of playing loud dance music to gyrating hipsters. Chefs of the Future were aptly hardcore (in a Hank Williams meets Husker Du - kind of way) and, yes, they could “core a apple.” Stomplistics kept them grooving all night. And E Plemnista pioneered “melodic thrash pop for people who drink.” The band names changed but the show rolled on…

A second consciousness-raising episode occurred late one evening while loading out two truckloads of gear. Mr. Eck saw a carefree musician leaving a gig at a nearby venue with just an acoustic guitar case. A light went on! He closed the truck door. The light went off. And thus began Mr. Eck’s career as a “maximum solo acoustic” singer/songwriter. Granted, his first gig was a little rough, especially when he realized that he needed more than just an acoustic guitar case…there had to be a guitar in the case, too! Three albums and countless low-paying, low-profile gigs followed…

Finally, after hearing over and over again, from the older, more wizened Stompers, of the good life to be had playing in a jug band, Mr. Eck called their bluff. To the horror and amusement of his former bandmates in The Plague (Stiggy – in the witness protection program; Flem – a reality TV show extra; and Lob – President of Hair Club for Men), he now plays mandolin, dobro and jug in a hillbilly jug band. He is also the only member of RJS who has once driven a car in a demolition derby.

For more information on Mr. Eck’s exploits as a painter and performer, visit Michael Eck

INFLUENCES: Patti Smith, Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash, D. Boon, Dave Van Ronk, Fritz Richmond

DISCOGRAPHY:

Ramblin Jug Stompers - “Hobo Nickel” (Jug Stompers Records, 2009)

Ramblin Jug Stompers - “Crooked Songs: Live At Caffe Lena” (Jug Stompers Records, 2006)

Michael Eck - “Small Town Blues” (Dancing Druid, 2000)

Michael Eck - “Resonator” (Mandala Hand, 1998)

Michael Eck - “Cowboy Black” (Mandala Hand, 1996)

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