BAND SPOTLIGHT | Jukebox Casanova

Any telling of the story of this band comes drenched in sadness with the recent loss of founding member Ben Underwood (mandolin, vocals, occasional drums). But as co-founder Bernie Flesch (vocals, guitar) says better than anyone could, “We continue on as that’s what he would have wanted without a doubt.” And indeed they have, by performances and now an EP/CD called We’re Wolves (recorded by Brandon Carnes at Southtown Studios). It all began with Ben and Bernie in a band called Ghost Hollow Road with Phil, Ben’s brother. When Phil moved away, Bernie, also in Two Trick Pony at the time, was encouraged by Ben to start a new band to focus more on original music. An assortment of talented musicians wafted through the group, but when the right combination of instruments and individuals clicked “almost instantly,” Bernie and Ben joined with Matt Combs (upright bass, vocals), Matt Skinner (drums) and Mick Conboy (lead guitar), along with Hobie Tucker (saxophone, strings, keys) and Schy Wilmore (fiddle) to become Jukebox Casanova.