The guitar guru talks about battling back from an arm injury to record his riffiest record yet
Last October, Jared James Nichols picked up a road case after a show and almost changed his life forever. The guitar guru broke his arm, requiring surgery. For brief moment, there was a chance he may never play guitar again. Now – one year, two months, and 16 screws later – Nichols is back with his brand new self-titled album. It arrives on January 13 via Black Hill Records and it just might be the riffiest record of his career.
“They get me in for the surgery, and I remember I’m talking to the doctor before it happens,” Nichols recalls the night of the incident. “I said, ‘I’m a guitar player. This is my livelihood, man.’ He said, “I play the guitar, too, and I’ve been listening to your music,’ and I was like, ‘What are the odds?’ So, long story short, man – all I remember is then he woke me up, and he was like, ‘Can you move your fingers? And I went [moves fingers] and he said, ‘You’re gonna be fine.”
Fast-forward to now, Nichols is back and arguably better than ever. His forthcoming 12-track LP was recorded live in the studio, bringing a new level of authenticity to his music. No editing, no auto-tune, and some random feedback here and there.
“When we made this record, we went in the studio and we went so old school,” Nichols said. “And, it wasn’t old school just for the sake of being old school, it was just ’cause we wanted to. We recorded all the instruments together live to tape, and then I just sang over it. So, we didn’t even use a computer on this record, man. Everything was done on an old tape machine and it was so cool because what you hear is what you get.”
To support the record, Jared is heading back to Europe early next year, he divulged exclusively to The Rock Revival. Two shows in Spain are already on the books. A North American run will follow most likely in the spring or summer. While there’s no word on special guests yet, he is pretty tight with those Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown dudes.
Nichols is celebrating his new LP with a string of intimate record release shows beginning on Tuesday, January 17 at The Basement East in Nashville. Jared will also be jamming in Los Angeles, Fresno, Chicago, and Milwaukee. A very limited amount of tickets are on sale now HERE.
In addition to digital download, Jared James Nichols will be available on CD, vinyl, and maybe even cassette.
Listen to the full chat now above.
Jared James Nichols – Album Release Shows
January 17 – The Basement East [with Ace Monroe] – Nashville, TN
January 19 – The Peppermint Club [with Joyous Wolf] – Los Angeles, CA
January 22 – Strummers – Fresno, CA
January 26 – Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL
January 28 – The Miramar Theatre – Milwaukee, WI