Jonny Burke: “Cracka Jack”
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Jonny Burke considers himself a bit of a road warrior. His last tour took him up the East Coast and then back through Montana in the stretch of about 6 weeks – all of this in a mini-van with a bunch of dudes, mind you. Burke says he’s apt to go a little crazy if he’s not moving around, so the ridiculous tour schedule is right up his alley.
Burke grew up in New Braunfels and says over the years he’s picked up a thing or two from singer/songwriter James McMurtry and other Austin music staples. He got his start in a band called Deadringers (which was named Best New Group of 2008 in the Chronicle’s music poll) but split off to begin writing and recording his own solo material. (The other members of Deadringers ended up forming a neo-60 rock group called The Happen-Ins). Burke spent most of 2010 working on a new full length, Distance and Fortune, which showcases his gritty, honest approach to rock-and-roll song craft.
“Cracka Jack” is a stand-out track from the new LP. Austinist called the tune a “tale of bottom feeders and petty criminals backed up by revved-up Chuck Berry licks that would make the New York Dolls proud.” This live, stripped-down version of the tune was recorded when Burke was in Austin before hitting the road once again.
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