Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers formed more or less spontaneously over a 6-month period starting in early 2002 at Hank’s Saloon in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. The Blind Pharaohs, Sean’s rockabilly band, had been holding court at Hank’s every Sunday since the beginning of 2001, but following the grim events of 9/11 the mood grew somber and neither the band nor the ever-slimmer audience had much enthusiasm for maintaining a weekly party.

Sean decided to forge ahead on his own, hosting country, bluegrass and rockabilly bands while acting as MC and performing solo or with a friend or two. He also brought a snare drum, electric guitar and amplifier along in case anyone wanted to jam. Sure enough, good friends Izzy Zaidman and Charles Aceto started dropping by to accompany him on lead guitar, and a friend of the bartender (Daria Klotz), Gerald Menke sat in one night on pedal steel guitar and wound up making it a regular gig. Add Rob Novick on bass and Mark Ehrhardt on drums (both ex-Pharaohs) and the first incarnation of the Ramblers arose. At this point, Charles took over as lead guitarist and Izzy took up the mandolin. When Izzy’s friend and “Nieces & Nephews” bandmate Jack Ward joined the fray, the 7-piece format of the New Jack Ramblers was established.

Everyone noticed one thing right away: Sunday nights at Hank’s were not only fun again, they were a whole lotta fun. The band, continuing the tradition of spontaneity, didn’t practice or use set lists, instead launching into songs as Sean would call them out. This caused a few train wrecks at first but ultimately led to a band that plays very intuitively and listens to each other in a way that few bands do, while maintaining a damn-the-torpedoes attitude and an atmosphere where anything can happen next, and often does.

And this extends to the audience, affectionately dubbed “Saloonatics” . The motley collection of punk rockers, bluegrass enthusiasts, greasers, rastas, and the old folks who had been drinking there all along are a show unto themselves. Dancing continues throughout the night, and in the warmer weather it spills out into the street. Styles range from swing to two-step to, no kidding, breakdancing. Sometimes an NYPD cruiser will pull up to take in some good ol’ honky-tonk music and munch a burger hot off the grill.

Ah yes, the grill: It flames, smokes and sputters all night long, providing free greasy vittles to one and all.
Considering that Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers started out as an informal side project for a bunch of guys in more established bands (see below), they sure picked up a lot of press attention. TimeOut NY first noticed them in March ’02, and accolades followed from local press and as far away as Athens, GA and Miami; they recently made New York Magazine’s “Best of” issue (March 22 ’04; click on “Press”). A few forays have been made outside of Hank’s Saloon as well, to such places as Hogs’n’Heifers North in Manhattan and the Hook in Brooklyn. The Ramblers recently had the pleasure of appearing on the same stage as Norah Jones, and are slated for some fairly high-profile opening slots. Folks from places like Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia are pleasantly flabbergasted that something this good could happen in New York City…or Brooklyn.