Are you fed up with your current selection of jam bands? Totally Phished out? What happens when you don’t feel like listening to Dave’s large booze and his Groo Grux whatever? If that’s you, don’t fret. Free Henry! would like you to give them a chance.

From Buffalo, New York, Free Henry! takes the lead from jam bands everywhere with a rich sound and enjoyable concert atmosphere. On their Web site, lead singer Bob Buckley explains that Free Henry “strive(s) to connect with our fans on all levels and will continue to mature throughout our career.” While I don’t doubt that idea, Free Henry! has lot going their way already.

Free Henry! features Alexander Gavin Foote on lead guitar and piano, Bob Buckley’s vocals, lyrics and guitar, Derek Presti on bass, and Pat Mannella on the drums. Their February 2009 release Summers on Neptune is a smooth jazz-rock entry into the jam-band genre.

Buckley’s vocals are reminiscent of John Mayer’s--as least they would be if John Mayer could sing. Buckley singing rasps less, finds a wider range of tones and emotions, thus ensuring that he sounds better while doing it. His opening bars on the album’s first track “Smoke” will back me up on this one.

As with many jam bands, Free Henry! emits an easy-going vibe while keeping your ears attentive with groovy tunes and slick guitar riffs, performed to perfection by Foote. The difference to me is that they don’t seem to be high as a kite as other groups of a similar nature.

I’d actually want to hang out with Free Henry!. They’re a younger, cleaner, snappier-dressed DMB. What could be wrong with that?

While the work of Buckley and Foote is nothing short of stellar, Presti’s bass lines are as skillfully laid down as anybody’s and Manella flawlessly provides the rhythm and backbone of Free Henry!’s ambience.

Each quarter of this group brings a communicable enthusiasm to their work, and Summers on Neptune exemplifies their collective contagion. “Beware of the Dog” and “Too Much Too Soon” are among the groovier and juicier tunes on Neptune.

If you’re looking to discover a band before their big break-out, try Free Henry! on for size. They will be performing all over the Buffalo area throughout the summer, with ten performances set between now and the end of August. With all that jamming, you’re sure to satiate your Free Henry! hunger. 

You can pick up Summers on Neptune from iTunes, Amazon, or direct from Free Henry! on their website. Head over to their MySpace page to stream most of their album before you buy! Continuing their technological prowess, you can also follow them on Twitter: @FreeHenry.

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