A little of this, a little of that
By Denise Baran-Unland Correspondent March 14, 2013 1:14PM
Isaac John Kleefisch (bassist) (from left), Kyle Eul (drummer), Otis Tapper (rhythm guitar/lead vocal) and Jake Alberico (lead guitar) are members of OD Jo. | submitted photo
If you go
What: OD Jo
When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Tap House Grill, 24402 W. Lockport St., Plainfield
Contact: 815-733-5540
Updated: April 16, 2013 3:05PM
Classic rock ‘n’ roll roots, a danceable funky sound and lyrics that underscore the fun side of life: That is the essence of OD Jo, a 7-year-old Plainfield-based band comprised of five members in their late 20s
“This is the best way to describe us,” said Otis Tapper, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. “If Led Zeppelin and Parliament-Funkadelic had a baby, that would be us.”
Although OD Jo has played a few out-of-state engagements, the band mostly performs in the Joliet and Chicago areas. Upcoming shows include Sunday at Tap House Grill in Plainfield and April 5 at Mojoes of Joliet.
New to OD Jo? Although you might hear a few cover songs, you can expect to hear plenty of original tunes. Their brand of music appeals to teens and adults. The band’s name is a fun hybrid of “Otis” and “Joseph,” Tapper’s middle name.
OD Jo’s two most popular songs are “Leonard Brown,” the story of a rock musician that rose, fell and rose again, and “Bumblebee,” a sexually subtle love song. Musical influences ran the gamut of genres: rock and roll, blues, soul and funk.
“We all have big creative imaginations,” Tapper said. “I like writing songs with short stories and humorous scenarios. Everyone else comes with new material and we weld it together. We don’t restrict ourselves to anything. We’re always adding to our own amusement park.”
Other members of OD Jo are Isaac Jon Kleefisch (bassist), Kyle Eul (drummer) and Jake Alberico (lead guitar). OD Jo’s producer, Mike Caplan of Lombard, occasionally plays percussion.
The band’s two CDs, “OD Jo” and “Potato,” are available at concerts and from the band’s website, although a few songs can be purchased through iTunes.
OD Jo’s roots began in high school, when Tapper and Eul, who both wanted to start a band, began jamming together. Tapper partly credits the band’s longevity and the fact OD Jo is still performing with its original members by waiting to find musicians with that perfect fit.
“We love what we’re doing,” Tapper said. “Eventually, we’d like to quite our day jobs and just tour.”
Visit OD Jo at www.odjo.com. Find OD Jo on Facebook and YouTube.
